ABSTRACT
In this chapter the author examines how the introduction of staff appraisal to two schools has led him to believe that the process must be directly linked to a discussion of aims and objectives for all the school as well as of its consituent parts. He uses use 'evaluation' to refer to a systematic review of a school in terms of its procedures and achievements, based on its aims, objectives and targets. Appraisal is the assessment of performance of staff based on the context within which they work. It is important to emphasize that staff appraisal can only be viewed as forming part of a whole-school approach to evaluation and professional development. Evaluation is clearly a major innovation and it is essential, therefore, to involve all staff at all stages in developing the process that will be used in the school. The first stage in the process is the development of commitment by the headteacher.
