Schools which self-assess and reflect upon their results for improving attention to diversity

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Attention to diversity requires and educational response that enables all students to meet goals that are in line with their possibilities, something which is often not achieved, especially in secondary education. The overall aim of this article is to analyze the results obtained from eight centres - five infant and primary schools and three secondary schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain) – from self-assessments made by the teachers of students’ achievements in terms of knowledge acquisition, values and gaining the high school qualification. A non experimental descriptive study of a quantitative nature was carried out with 130 teachers who, for the sake of convenience were selected no probabilistically. The ACADI (Autoevaluación de Centros parala Atenciónala Diversidaddesdela Inclusión– School based self-assessment of diversity awareness from an inclusive approach) was used, specifically, the field D "Results". The analyses revealed that teachers take into consideration the initial situations of their students, especially those of the most vulnerable and respond educationally by applying strategies, measures and support to facilitate learning and the certificate of graduation at the end of compulsory secondary education.  Likewise, the findings show the practice of inclusive values, good behavior habits and use of dialogs to resolve conflicts. The conclusions state that attention to student diversity is present, that the application of attention to diversity measures has improved students’ achievements and that there is a need to continue to boost the participation of all educational agents so that inclusive education filters through to all actions performed.