What is SPAMA?
SPAMA stands for School Planning and Management Assessment and it is a simple tool that can be used to evaluate a planning and management systems in a school. It is very easy to undertake and uses question-and-answer steps to develop a report that identifies the planning and management strengths and weaknesses of the school.
Why use SPAMA?
Schools know without tests and evaluation it is difficult to assess progress and learning. SPAMA is like a simple test. It allows users to get an understanding of what is working and what is not working at the school. This can be used as the basis for plans for improvement.
Who can use SPAMA?
Anyone can use SPAMA as it very easy to use. Ideally, it should be used by Principals, senior management teams, administrators and school government body members, as they are usually the ones best placed to use the results to develop plans for improvement.
How do I use SPAMA?
SPAMA requires good knowledge of the school, so it may be best applied by a group of people. It can also be done by a person, such as the Principal, who has good overall understanding of the school. SPAMA is undertaken by answering questions and the results are then used in the tool to generate a report. This report provides an indication of planning and management strengths and weaknesses at the school.
Once the SPAMA assessment has been completed, plans to address weaknesses and opportunities can be developed. This uses the second part of the SPAMA tool. Here priorities are identified and actions that respond to these, developed. This ensures that the results of the SPAMA are integrated into plans that improve the school over time.
How long will SPAMA take to do?
SPAMA can be undertaken very rapidly and can be completed within 15 – 30 minutes. However, planning what to do with the results takes longer. This is because SPAMA may identify shortcomings or opportunities which need to be addressed. Proposals for actions and plans need to be developed, discussed and agreed.
Where can I get a copy of SPAMA?
Copies of SPAMA are available from the Educationinfrastructure.co.za website and can be downloaded from the Shop.