Abstract

As part of the national project PON-VALeS (AS 2014-2015), INDIRE has coordinated the activity of 150 School Improvement Partners in about 300 schools, with the aim to support School Directors and teachers of the Teams for Improvement in the design and implementation of improvement actions. A mixed method study surveyed perceptions and feedbacks from the various stakeholders - SIPs, SDs, Teams for Improvement - on critical issues and strengths of the counselling model in the interaction with the school-system, the competences, expected and required by schools, the perceived effects and the level of satisfaction. The research shows some good effects of the consultation, at a basic level (supporting the phase of planning) and at a secondary level (improving processes and relationships of the organization), and the role played by the SIPs as mediators between external and selfevaluation; it also points out some problems and suggestions for improvement.