The school curriculum

  • Careers guidance: statutory requirements (secondary)
    Understand what you and your senior leaders need to do to provide compulsory careers guidance, while meeting Ofsted's 'personal development' requirements.
  • 'Cultural capital’: expanding narrow definitions
    'Cultural capital' doesn't have to be limited to culture that's mostly white, middle-class and male. Find out how your school can provide your pupils with cultural capital that celebrates all cultures and values diversity, to prepare them for life in modern Britain.
  • 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
    Curriculum is central to Ofsted's 2019 inspection framework. We summarise what you need to know about it in a single page, which you can download as a ready-made resource to share with colleagues.
  • 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
    Your school's curriculum is an important aspect of Ofsted's quality of education judgement, 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 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.
  • Curriculum requirements: special schools
    Learn about the curriculum requirements for different types of special schools. Find out what your school needs to cover for your pupils with special educational needs (SEN), to stay compliant.
  • Governors' role in monitoring PE
    Find out how to monitor 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.
  • Governors' role in monitoring the curriculum
    Learn what Ofsted means by 'curriculum', how to know if your school's is good and how to challenge it to make it even better. See questions Ofsted might ask you and tips on how to think through your answers.
  • How to monitor the promotion of British values in your school
    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 sex education: handling complaints from parents
    You may receive complaints from parents about your school's RSE curriculum due to the sensitive nature of the topics taught. Learn when it's your board's job to step in and how to handle the most common complaints confidently.
  • Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE): requirements
    Get a summary of the requirements to teach relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education, which differ for primary and secondary schools. Find out what you’re expected to cover, and details on parents' right to withdraw their children 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.