School Programme Evaluation Checklist

Use this checklist before approving an external workshop, speaker, competition, partnership, vendor-led session or enrichment programme.

1. Need

• What specific problem or priority does this programme address?
• Which students or staff genuinely need it?
• What evidence supports the need?

2. Alignment

• Does it support the school’s curriculum, wellbeing, safeguarding or strategic priorities?
• Is the content age-appropriate?
• Does it fit the school’s values and policies?

3. Existing Capacity

• Can the need already be met by teachers, counsellors, coaches or internal specialists?
• Would the external programme duplicate existing work?

4. Educational Value

• What should participants know, understand or do differently afterwards?
• Is there evidence of quality?
• Is follow-up required?

5. Safeguarding and Compliance

• Have external facilitators been appropriately vetted where required?
• Are photography, data, consent and supervision arrangements clear?
• Are materials suitable for the age group?

6. Operational Demand

• How much timetable time will be used?
• Who will supervise?
• What communication, rooms, transport or equipment are required?

7. Cost

• What is the direct financial cost?
• What is the indirect cost in staff time and lost learning time?
• Would the programme still be worthwhile if it were not free?

Decision

Approve / Modify / Pilot / Decline / Defer

Record the reason for the decision so future proposals can be evaluated consistently.

Related reading: Free Does Not Mean Valuable: How School Leaders Should Evaluate External Programmes.