School inspection reports will be will be made public for the first time in January, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today.
Speaking in the Dail today the Minister said that she was determined to provide more information, for parents about schools in a way that ensures a fair and comprehensive.
"As I have said on many occasions, I am strongly opposed to the publication of crude league tables based solely on examination or test results. Such tables provide an unbalanced and grossly limited indication of a school's performance."
"In contrast to school league tables, I believe that school inspection reports from Whole School Evaluations (WSE) and other inspections, when read in their entirety, can provide balanced and well-informed information on schools.
"The Whole School Evaluation process involves an examination of all the varied activities of a school - from the quality of teaching and learning to the availability of extra-curricular activities and the implementation of policies in areas such as bullying, and health and safety.
"The inspection process also includes consultation with the school's board, parents and staff members, and, at second level, with the school's students," she said.
Teachers unions, concerned that league tables should not be published, reacted positively to the proposal when it was announced last month but were concerned that individual teachers could be identified.
Schools will have the right to reply to any criticisms and have them published alongside the reports, according to new Department of Education proposals.
The reports will not give exam results but will constitute the department's assessment of the school's performance.