The self-evaluation wheel - how to choose and apply it
What is a self-evaluation wheel?
A self-evaluation wheel, also known as a coaching wheel, is a valuable tool for supporting self-evaluation.
Using a wheel can help you to explore current reality and critically reflect on yourself as a professional and your practice.
A self-evaluation wheel can help you to create clarity about the areas of the Professional Standard(s) you wish to focus on and perform a simple gap analysis about where you are now, and where you would like to be.
You may use this independently or as part of a structured coaching discussion.
Find out more about Coaching and Mentoring
Selecting a self-evaluation wheel
Self-evaluation wheel: Professional Standards for Teachers
Self-evaluation wheel: Standard for Provisional Registration
Self-evaluation wheel: Standard for Full Registration
Self-evaluation wheel: Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning
Self-evaluation wheel: Standard for Middle Leadership
Self-evaluation wheel: Standard for Headship
Plotting your self-evaluation wheel
Take a few minutes to complete your wheel. Consider each point on the wheel in turn.
Think about where you might gauge yourself on the wheel and mark the number that matches your thoughts with a dot:
- 0 = really not confident/lots of areas to develop or work on;
- 10 = feel very confident/accomplished in this area.
Think about ‘why’ you place yourself on that point on the scale. You may want to make some notes on the side.
Join the dots around your wheel.
Looking at your completed self-evaluation wheel and ask yourself:
- What do I notice?
- What stands out?
- What’s the gap?
- What’s my priority?
- What’s most important?
- What’s a key strength?
- How might these areas impact on each other?
See more reflective questions below.
Coaching conversations
The self-evaluation wheels also work well when used with a partner.
Once you have finished mapping your thoughts on your wheel, swap wheels and encourage your partner to reflect upon their wheel and any observations they may have.
Ask them:
- What do you notice?
- What stands out?
- What’s the gap?
- What’s your priority?
- What’s most important?
- What is the key strength?
Reflective questions for a self-evaluation wheel
From your reflections or coaching discussions, select an area/areas of the standard you wish to explore in more depth.
You may wish to use the full standard or summary guide on the back of each wheel to unpack this in more detail.
These reflective questions may be useful:
- How is ‘this area of the standard’ reflected in your work context?
- Where would you like to be with ‘this part of the standard’ in 6 months/this time next year?
- How would you coach a colleague to help them further develop ‘this part of the standard’?
- How will you seek ongoing feedback concerning ‘this part of the standard’?
- What resource do you need to better develop ‘this part of the standard’?
- What development needs do you have concerning ‘this part of the standard’?
- How do you plan your professional learning to enable you to develop in these areas? What support would you require to meet those needs?
- In what ways do you engage with professional literature, theory, research and policy to challenge and inform your thinking and practice?
- How do you share accomplishments and expertise with colleagues?
- How do you lead developments within and beyond the school community?