The new Ofsted framework really gives more time to look at areas and subjects in some depth: the now-famous Jacques Cousteau ‘deep dive’. This allows the school time to talk in rich detail about its teaching in different subjects.

What Is An Ofsted Deep Dive?

Ofsted deep dives are a key part of the new Ofsted Inspection Framework’s curriculum focus. An Ofsted inspection of any school, primary or secondary, will now include ‘deep dives’ into particular subjects or areas (e.g. maths or EYFS) which Ofsted will choose and inform you of prior to the inspection.

An Ofsted deep dive is an in-depth examination of a subject by inspectors. It is part of the inspectors requirement to monitor the 3 Is – Intent, Implementation and Impact – of the curriculum.

According to the new framework, the intent behind a deep dive is to “establish a coherent base on quality of education”; so multiple deep dives will give inspectors a connected sample of lessons with which to establish a clearer idea of the overall teaching quality of the school.

With a renewed focus on the quality of your school curriculum, this one-day course will look at how judgements will be informed through the evidence available in your school.

Guiding you through questions and lines of enquiry, this workshop will help you feel prepared and ready to articulate your approach with clarity and confidence.

Course Aims

• To clarify the Ofsted expectations.
• Give time to exploring the progress within subjects and how this is monitored in school.
• To be prepared for a ‘deep dive’ line of enquiry.
• Plan necessary actions that will enable you self-evaluate with accuracy and approach inspection with confidence.

Course Overview:

Session 1 The Inspection Framework

• Headline changes in the new Ofsted framework
• Unpacking the ‘Quality of Education’ standards
• Intent, Implementation and Impact and Cultural Capital

Session 2 Your Curriculum

• Progression of knowledge and skills
• Age and stage appropriate learning
• School pedagogy
• Sources of evidence

Session 3 How judgements are made

• What subject leaders need to know
• Lesson Visits and work scrutiny
• Use of assessment
• Pupil Outcomes

Session 4 Planning for a deep dive in your school

• Sample questions for subject leaders
• Work scrutiny examples
• Planning for accurate self evaluation

Presenter Profile

Julie Bloor has a career in education that spans over thirty years, with twenty of those in senior leadership. Her career saw her become a successful Head of Humanities before she was promoted to leadership. Over the past thirteen years she has been a Principal, Executive over several schools and an NLE, trained as an Ofsted Inspector, run a Teaching School, worked as a director for a large Multi-Academy Chain and Chief Education Officer for another.

In her first two Headships she took both schools from the bottom of their local authority league tables to the most improved schools, each with an Ofsted grade of Outstanding. She also became a Pupil Premium Reviewer due to the excellent outcomes her school achieved for their disadvantaged students. The School Improvement work she has undertaken, across a wide range of schools, has always had a significant impact. School improvement is Julie’s passion, as is ensuring all children have a first-class education that changes their life chances. Julie is currently a Trustee for Astrea Academy Trust and works delivering the new NPQHs for Ambition Institute. She lives in a village in Cambridgeshire with her husband, enjoying gardening, running and holidays to France when possible.

Cost: £250 per delegate; £299 for 2 teachers from the same school booking on this course

Booking Form

The information will be used solely to process your booking. You can see further information on our privacy statement here.