Based upon:
‘Deep dives’ removed from ungraded inspections
Sir Martyn Oliver's speech at the NAHT conference
'On ungraded inspections, we will no longer conduct deep dives from September…The emphasis of these inspections will be on providing school leaders with opportunities to demonstrate where they have improved and to discuss where they still have work to do.' Sir Martyn Oliver
Sir Martyn Oliver's announcement at the recent NAHT conference signals a change in Ofsted inspections: subject deep dives will cease in ungraded inspections from September 2024. This decision demonstrates Ofsted's commitment to listening to feedback, particularly from small schools who found the deep dive process overwhelming. Let's examine how this shift impacts school leadership.
Understanding the Change
Ofsted will continue examining key areas like the quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. However, in ungraded inspections, there'll be no individual subject grading. This aligns with standard practice in ungraded inspections.
The rationale is simple: reduce the burden on small schools and their subject leaders. While deep dives are insightful, their format can be intensive in smaller settings.
What This Means for Schools
- Types of Schools Still Facing Deep Dives: Schools rated 'inadequate' or 'requires improvement', those 'outstanding' before July 2015, or those with a recent ungraded inspection recommending a full inspection will still face graded inspections with deep dives.
- Risk Assessment for Others: 'Good' or 'outstanding' schools undergo an Ofsted risk assessment. This includes analysing DfE data, parent views, complaints, pupil mobility, and previous inspections. This assessment determines if a graded inspection is necessary.
Recommendations for School Leaders
- Internal Deep Dives Remain Crucial: Continue conducting internal deep dives. They empower subject leaders to evaluate the curriculum, find strengths to build upon, and identify areas for development.
- Focus on Student Progress: Deep dives, internal or external, are tools, not goals. The ultimate focus should always be continuous improvement in student outcomes.
Ofsted's Evolving Approach
This change shows Ofsted prioritising dialogue and a more monitoring-like approach for ungraded inspections. While subject deep dives are gone for some, examining the curriculum will remain. It will be interesting to see how this manifests in practice.
This shift offers school leaders a chance to reshape their approach to curriculum evaluation. By continuing internal deep dives, focusing on improvement, and embracing Ofsted's evolving methods, schools can ensure the best possible outcomes for their students, regardless of inspection type.
Let's continue this conversation. How will this change impact your school?
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