The school inspection process (Tilsyn)

Section 9 of the Friskoleloven (Independent schools act) states:

"It is the responsibility of the parents of children in an independent primary/secondary school to supervise the school's everyday activities. The parents themselves decide on the way in which the supervision is to be excuted ...”

 The Parents’ Association (foældreforening) and the Board of Directors must jointly ensure that one or more school inspectors assess the following:

1) the students' position in English, Danish, mathematics, and, if the school is covered by section 8 a, subsection 5, history.

2) that the school's overall teaching is in line with what is generally required in the primary and lower secondary school ... based on an overall assessment...”

About the external inspector

The school’s Board of Directors and the Parents' Association elect a certified inspector/consultant to supervise Skt. Josef's School. The Parents' Association has chosen to be inspected every year. According to the current inspection regulations, the school may choose to replace the personal inspection with a self-evaluation model. However, the school’s Board od Directorsand the Parents' Association have chosen to continue the good tradition of inspection, which requires that the inspector is state-certified for the task.

Inspection is executed through at least one annual school visit. During the visits, the supervisor attends the teaching in at least three different classes, and with three different teachers, in the subject areas stipulated by law. After which, time is set aside for a thorough conversation with the school leadership and the group of teachers that the supervisor has visited, where the following are discussed:

·         Use of time

·         Curriculum

·         Annual teaching plans

·         This year's focus areas and objectives, eg: the democratic classroom?

·         Exam/test Scores

·         The school's basic attitudes, ideas, values, etc.

Each year, the inspector suggests what form of inspection he or she will take to form an impression of the school's special character - it may be by attending school graduations or other major events, or by participating in an activity in a single class.

Every year in September, the inspector submits a report to the Parents' Association's annual general meeting, which includes the following points:

·         The school's academic position (the school's teaching is "goals with what is generally required in primary school")

·         The school's academic priorities (the time allocation plan and the curricula compared with the guidelines)

·         The spirit and atmosphere of the school among children as well as adults (an atmospheric impression)

·         The special character of the school (traditions, choice of subject, etc.)

·         The school's focus areas (where are they seen in practice)

Please find the inspection reports here (scroll to the bottom of the page - note, the reports are in Danish).