ISBL Professional Standards:
Self-Assessment

Following the launch of the updated Professional Standards in May 2023, ISBL has developed a self-assessment tool for all ISBL members. 

The ISBL diagnostic self-assessment tool allows members to assess themselves and reflect on their areas of responsibility, experience and expertise across the various discipline areas of the ISBL Professional Standards. 

Members can complete their self-assessment by identifying the level of practice that best fits their current areas of responsibility and levels of accountability through a set of simple, multiple-choice questions. The tool has been designed flexibly to cater for both generalist and specialist practitioners across the sector: Generalists may choose to complete all six discipline sections of the self-assessment, whereas specialists may choose to complete fewer sections that are relevant to their individual role. 

The only section of the self-assessment that is mandatory is Operational Leadership because this is a core discipline area and central to all of those involved in school or trust operations. 

Progress can be saved at any time during the assessment, meaning members do not need to worry about committing extensive amounts of time to completing the process in one single review period.

Non-member options

The self-assessment tool is free to all membership levels including individual, trust and corporate membership. If you not a member of ISBL and do not wish to benefit from membership or you want to purchase access to self-assessment(s) on behalf of a local authority then you can do so for £50 per self-assessment / per person. You can purchase access to the tool by clicking below:

On completion of the self-assessment, members will be provided with a report that summarises where they are currently in relation to each discipline area, identifies an overall practitioner level, and can be used to assess developmental progress on an ongoing basis. The report can be used to identify areas of strength and potential areas for development, as well as professional development opportunities that members may want to consider to improve their knowledge, skills and experience within the relevant discipline area. 

The self-assessment report is an important tool that members can use to support performance management processes, either for their own appraisal or with any members of staff they may line-manage.

If you are an active member of ISBL and would like access to the self-assessment tool, please click the link below and complete your details:

Please note: Due to limits on the number of assessments that can be completed, the window may be closed or there may be a delay in being sent your assessment link. Once registered by the ISBL Team, you will be sent a link to access the tool by email.

A user guide and frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be downloaded to assist you with completing the self-assessment below:

Self-Assessment Guide and FAQs