How should teacher performance for the academic year be judged?

The exam season is finally over and my students have been evaluated internally by me and externally via different exam boards. My school administrators are now busy ending the academic year evaluating my performance along with that of my colleagues. So how should teacher performance for the academic year be judged?

Research shows a strong correlation between teacher effectiveness and student achievement. And I am extremely proud of the excellent results my students get both at the IGCSE and IB examinations simply because I invest a lot of effort in preparing them well for these external examinations.

However, there is a small voice in my head that refuses to be silenced. Several of my students undertake private or group tutorial sessions in biology after school. That makes me question whether their exam achievement is a reflection of my performance, or their tutors, or, perhaps, it is a joint effort? And indeed, if I was an effective educator why would my students feel the need to take tuition in the first place?

The Education Bureau mandates that teachers should be evaluated on performance and not personality and should focus on three specific areas of teaching and teaching-related duties, non-teaching duties and professional and personal competence.

The EB also recognises that the appraisal system applicable to one school may not be so for another. And before establishing the teacher appraisal system, schools should understand their culture, their educational goals and the needs of various parties (the school, teachers and students) before deciding on the methods and criteria for appraisal.