‘Layering’ Peer Enquiry as a System Change Strategy: Some Lessons from Wales

This chapter describes a peer enquiry process developed by headteachers in Wales. Peer enquiry was one of the key collaborative school improvement approaches used within a regional challenge that aimed to develop a more ‘self-improving system. The chapter discusses the potential of peer enquiry for bringing about system change by gradually replacing ‘vertical’ accountability structures by more collaborative and reciprocal ‘horizontal’ approaches. The key differences for those involved in undertaking a peer enquiry, rather than a peer review, arose as much from the context in which it took place as they did from any substantive differences in the processes used.