Cyclical Reviews in Selected Western Sydney Government Schools (2006-2009): The Influence on Participating Principals

Abstract

Over the period 2006 to 2009, the then Western Sydney Region of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training developed a Framework for School Cyclical Reviews and piloted these reviews in nine regional government schools. The study examined the influence the Cyclical Review process had on participating school principals. Insight was sought into the use made over time of both the evaluation processes and evaluation results by the participating principals, including impressions from the principals of the factors that had influenced them in the course of the review. From the insights gained it was expected to make recommendations about the appropriate selection and preparation of principals for reviews and review teams, and the future conduct of reviews, as well as comment on the usefulness of current research into evaluation influence.