As reported in the December 2007 issue of Computers in Classrooms (publication date 18th December), the UK's inspection body is toying with the idea of no-notice inspections.

In my opinion, that's an excellent idea, and nothing to be afraid of. In this article I suggest ten ways in which the ICT (educational technology) subject leader can be ever-ready for a surprise inspection.
In no particular order:

• Adopt a scheme of work which your entire team follows.
  
  
• Know how the pupils are doing, and where the issues are.
  
  
• Have a practical plan for addressing the issues.
  
  
• Ensure that each pupil knows how she is doing, and how to improve.
  
  
• Ensure that the work is challenging, ie slightly beyond the pupils' comfort zone.
  
  
• Set homework, and make the homework an integral part of the course.
  
  
• Know your area: the pupil:computer ratio, how much budget you have, what you have spent it on, and so on.
  
  
• Ensure that all members of your team contribute to unit and lesson preparation, resource creation and leading on training.
  
  
• Ensure that each member of your team has plenty of opportunities for taking on a leadership role.
  
  
• Know how ICT fits into the school development plan, and how it could be better integrated into the life of the school.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.