Curriculum & learning
2 articles
Quality of teaching & learning
- Looking at pupils' work and observing lessons: what is appropriate? What should I look for when looking at pupils' work? We relay advice from two of our associate education experts on how to approach book scrutinies and lesson observations from a governor's perspective. We also suggest questions you could ask when looking at work and visiting the classroom.
- 'Quality of education': monitoring teaching and learning Though the 2019 Ofsted framework did away with 'teaching and learning' as part of a specific judgement, you'll still need to monitor these aspects as part of the new 'quality of education' judgement. Understand how to monitor what teachers teach and pupils learn, and find some questions you can ask school leaders.
15 articles
The school curriculum
- Careers guidance: statutory requirements Understand what you and your school need to do to provide compulsory careers guidance for students in years 8 to 13, while meeting Ofsted's 'personal development' requirements.
- Cultural capital: what it is and how to monitor it Get a handle on what ‘cultural capital’ means and how Ofsted will consider it as part of your school’s quality of education. Find out what questions you can ask your school leaders so you feel confident pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain.
- Curriculum jargon buster There are lots of bizarre curriculum terms flying around. Get up to speed on what they mean.
- Curriculum monitoring: role of the local governing body You're in a unique position to know if your trust's centrally-developed curriculum meets the needs of all pupils in your school. Understand your role and how to raise any concerns you have about the curriculum.
- Curriculum reports: how to get the information you need Ofsted's 2019 inspection framework has put curriculum in the spotlight, so regular briefings on your school's offering should be on your agenda. Find out what to ask your school leaders to include in these reports, and what questions to ask them.
- Curriculum requirements: academies If your school's reviewing or updating its curriculum, find out what needs to be covered to stay compliant with requirements and meet DfE expectations.
- Curriculum requirements: maintained primary schools If your school's reviewing or updating its curriculum, find out what needs to be covered to stay compliant with requirements and meet DfE expectations.
- Curriculum requirements: maintained secondary schools If your school is reviewing or updating its curriculum, find out what it needs to cover to stay compliant with requirements and meet DfE expectations.
- Governors' role in monitoring physical education Find out how to monitor physical education (PE) in your school including what questions you can ask, so you can challenge your school leaders effectively.
- Governors’ role in monitoring relationships and sex education (RSE) Understand how to monitor relationships and sex education (RSE) in your school, including what makes good RSE and what questions to ask so you can challenge your school leaders effectively.
- Monitoring the promotion of British values Find tips on scrutinising how British values are being incorporated into your school, both through the curriculum and holistically through its wider culture, vision and ethos.
- Relationships and health education: requirements from 2020 (primary) Your school must teach relationships and health education under 2020 guidance. Find out what your school is expected to cover, what your role involves and what the guidance says about sex education.
- Relationships and sex education: handling complaints from parents You may continue to receive complaints from some parents about changes to your school's RSE curriculum after you've consulted on it. Learn when it's your job to step in and how to handle the most common complaints confidently.
- Relationships and sex education (RSE): requirements from 2020 (secondary) Your school must teach RSE and health education under 2020 guidance. Find out what your school is expected to cover and what your role involves. Understand a parent's right to withdraw their child from sex education.
- School trips and educational visits: governors' role Be clear on your role when it comes to school visits, so you know what your school leaders should have in place.