What is Education? Guest speaker (Russell Grigg)

Dr Russell Grigg
Dr Russell Grigg is the head of the South West Wales Centre of Teacher Education. He came in to talk to us about Estyn. Estyn is the inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. He went on to explain what it is that Estyn does and also his involvement within it. Estyn inspects quality and standards in education and training providers in Wales. Examples of some of the institutes Estyn is responsible for is

• primary schools
• secondary schools
• special schools
• local authority education services for children and young people
• teacher education and training
• work-based learning
• and more...

They also provide advice to the Welsh Assembly Government on quality and standards in education and training in Wales and promote the spread of good practice in education and training.
He showed us a few examples of Inspections and reports. There were 2 different trypes. Annual and Thematic.
Thematic Reports - Each year, the Education Minister asks the Chief Inspector for advice on a range of themes in relation to education and training to help inform policy development and to monitor progress.
Annual Reports - Annual Reports provide an  overview of standards and performance of schools, and other education and training providers in Wales.

There are many things that need to be taken into account when it comes to making sure that schools are regularly inspected and that everything is how it should be. Regualar inspections in schools will ensure that children are being taught the right way, and will improve the way they learn making sure that all children are working to the best of their ability.