Background and Context
As a key component of the government's policy for the introduction of performance management into schools, the role of external adviser has been created.
The role of the external adviser encompasses the provision of advice to the appointed governors on the setting of performance objectives for the headteacher and support for the appointed governors with undertaking the process of reviewing that performance at the end of the review cycle.
External advisers need to have personal and professional credibility to manage what can be sensitive relationships with schools. They need to have a sufficiently broad picture of the education system in Wales in order to implement a system that supports appointed governors in carrying out their responsibility to review headteacher performance.
The external adviser service to schools will be organised through five regional performance management consortia in Wales, the same consortia as are used to implement the Threshold Assessment system.
Throughout the entire external adviser process equality of opportunity will be ensured regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnic origin, marital status, trade union affiliation, religion or sexual orientation.
Advisers are available to support and advise appointed governors in setting performance objectives for the headteacher, and in reviewing the headteacher's performance against those objectives at the end of the review cycle.
Consortium co-ordinators will quality assure the process and manage the system for handling complaints.