Peer Review in School Self-evaluation: Cultivating Skills in Data Use

This paper is focused on peer review used by schools as a potential means of support for mutual learning and the development of staff professionalism. It is based on empirical material obtained from The Road to Quality Improvement1, a Czech national project designed to support self-evaluation in schools. Data from 32 schools were collected by questionnaire surveys, interviews, focus groups and document analysis. Main findings are as follows: (1) a prerequisite for successful peer review is previous experience of evaluation activities and work with data; (2) peer review develops participants’ sensitivity in terms of the need for the development of evaluation skills; (3) evaluation activities and work with data develop participants’ professionalism and their potential to contribute to school development.