Quality Control
Commitment to Quality: How We Maintain Educational Standards
At Safir Language Academy, we place immense importance on the educational quality we deliver. Our Quality Control Department plays a pivotal role in ensuring the highest educational standards through regular classroom observations. These observations enable us to ensure that each teaching session not only meets our organisational standards but also provides a meaningful and impactful learning experience for our students. Our commitment to quality underpins all the educational programmes and services we offer to our student community.
Why Observation
Observation within educational settings is fundamental to ensuring high-quality learning experiences at Safir Language Academy. This critical process facilitates a thorough understanding of the educational environment by allowing us to witness firsthand the interaction between teachers and students, and the application of pedagogical strategies. Through diligent observation, we meticulously evaluate the effectiveness of teaching methods, the relevance and impact of educational materials used, and the level of student engagement and comprehension. This enables us to pinpoint precisely what works and what needs refinement, ensuring that each course not only meets our rigorous standards but also resonates with and benefits our students. Furthermore, systematic observation helps in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, where feedback from these sessions informs future teaching practices and curriculum adjustments. By embedding observation deeply into our quality assurance framework, we commit to an ongoing enhancement of educational practices that equips our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.
What to Observe
In the realm of educational quality control, focusing on what to observe is crucial for obtaining meaningful data that informs our teaching practices. We concentrate on three foundational elements: measurement, methodology, and materials. Each of these components plays a critical role in our observation process, helping us to ensure that our educational offerings are both effective and of the highest quality. Measurement allows us to quantify the impact of our teaching, Methodology provides insights into the instructional approaches used, and Materials assesses the suitability and effectiveness of the educational resources employed. Together, these elements enable a comprehensive evaluation of our educational environment, guiding our continuous efforts to enhance the learning experience for all students. Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these three components.
Methodology
Ensuring the effectiveness of teaching methods is at the heart of our quality control process. The methodology we follow for evaluating and improving teaching practices is based on two key assessment forms:
- Teacher Portfolio Assessment Form: One of the primary tools we use is the TPA form, which is designed to assess teachers based on the techniques they were trained in during our Teacher Training Courses. This form provides a comprehensive evaluation of how effectively these techniques are applied in the classroom. The score teachers receive through the TPA is directly linked to their Quality of Teaching (QT), offering them valuable feedback on their strengths and areas for improvement. By maintaining this rigorous assessment process, we ensure that our teachers consistently meet our high standards of teaching excellence.
- Supervisory Observation Form: SUPOB evaluates teachers based on their organisational behaviour and the learning environment they create in the classroom. This includes important factors such as positioning, lighting, etc., which play a critical role in creating an effective and comfortable learning space. If there are any issues with the classroom environment, we ensure that they are promptly addressed to maintain the optimal conditions for learning. Through SUPOB, we can make the necessary adjustments based on the specific needs of the teacher, students, or the classroom setup, ensuring a high-quality educational experience.
Observations are conducted as part of a supervisory process aimed at monitoring and enhancing the organisational and professional performance of teachers.
Debriefing Sessions: Once the observation session is completed, a debriefing session is arranged with the teacher. In this meeting, the feedback from both the TPA and SUPOB forms is thoroughly discussed, and appropriate guidance is provided to help the teacher improve their performance and enhance the learning experience for students. This structured feedback process ensures that teachers receive the support they need to continuously grow and develop in their roles.
Materials
Our QC team carefully oversees the comprehensive use of all educational materials in the classroom. This includes ensuring the full utilisation of the student book and incorporating exercises from the workbook into the class schedule to reinforce learning. In addition to these core resources, we monitor the use of supplementary materials, such as Video Resource Book, storybooks, vocabulary and grammar resources, which enrich the learning experience and provide diverse ways for students to engage with the content.
We also assess the type and quality of the audio-visual aids (AVA) used in the classroom, ensuring that they meet our high standards for clarity and effectiveness in enhancing lessons. Furthermore, we track how consistently teachers follow the progress chart provided, which serves as a guide to ensure that learning objectives are being met and that the course progresses according to the planned curriculum.
Observations focus on monitoring the organisational and professional aspects of teaching, learning, and the classroom environment. Key areas of focus include:
- Teachers
- Learners
- Learning environment
- Syllabus Coverage
Reports from these observations are submitted to CEO every week, term, or six months, as required.
By maintaining strict oversight of these materials and tools, we ensure that students receive a well-rounded, engaging, and effective educational experience.
Measurement
Quality Control in Safir Language Academy extends to the precise measurement of student performance through both midterm and final exams. We ensure that all tests meet the highest standards of content validity, construct validity, and reliability, ensuring they accurately assess the intended skills and knowledge. Furthermore, our quality control team makes sure that the scoring system is applied uniformly across all teachers, following the same standards to guarantee fairness in assessment.
Consistency is also maintained in the way teachers evaluate Class Participation (CP). We ensure that expectations for student participation are applied equally by all teachers, ensuring unity in how student involvement is measured and rewarded.
Additionally, Oral Exams follow clearly defined standards set by the branch managers, ensuring that they are conducted with the same level of quality and consistency. This standardisation guarantees that every student is assessed fairly and accurately, providing a reliable measure of their progress and abilities.
How to Observe
We take a structured and thoughtful approach to classroom observations. To guide this process, we’ve created an observation pamphlet that clearly outlines the steps involved. This pamphlet covers everything from when and how teachers are observed, to how the observation process is communicated, and the timing and length of post-observation debriefing sessions. It also provides detailed guidance on the administration of the observation process, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and consistently.
With this approach, we ensure that the entire observation process is handled with transparency and care, allowing us to offer meaningful feedback that supports our teachers and maintains the high quality of our educational programmes.
Frequency of Observations
The regularity of classroom observations is crucial for maintaining consistent teaching standards and fostering continuous improvement. Ongoing observations allow us to monitor progress, provide timely feedback, and ensure that any areas needing adjustment are addressed promptly. By observing teachers at appropriate intervals, we help them refine their skills and ensure a high-quality learning experience for students throughout the academic year.
We have two distinct types of observation sessions:
- Internal Observations: These are conducted by the branch managers and can take place multiple times a year depending on the teacher’s QT score. Teachers with a QT grade 3 are observed once per term, those with a QT grade 2 are observed twice every six months, and teachers with a QT grade 1 are observed once every six months. This structured system ensures that all teachers receive the support and feedback they need based on their individual performance levels.
- External Observations: These sessions are conducted by the QC team. They are carried out randomly or when necessary, providing an additional layer of oversight to ensure that teaching standards are consistently upheld across all branches. This allows us to maintain objectivity and provide targeted feedback where it is most needed.
By employing both internal and external observation methods, we ensure that teaching practices are continually monitored and improved to deliver the highest quality of education.
