How Ofsted inspects curriculum and teaching

Be clear on how your school's curriculum and teaching will be inspected under the 2025 framework.

Last reviewed on 22 September 2025See updates
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Contents
  1. Your role as a governing board
  2. Curriculum and teaching is graded on a 5-point scale
  3. How your school will be graded 
  4. Evidence Ofsted will want to see
  5. Inspectors will take account of your school's context

Your role as a governing board

As a governing board, you won't be inspected under Ofsted's 'curriculum and teaching' evaluation area. Find out how governance is inspected.

The sections below are about how Ofsted inspects your school's curriculum and teaching. You don't need to know this information in great detail, but understanding the basics can help you monitor your school's approach.

Read our article to find out what questions inspectors might ask you.

You have a role in monitoring your school's curriculum and teaching year-round, to help make sure your school's provision is at a high standard. See our resources on monitoring the curriculum for all governors and the the local governing body

Curriculum and teaching is graded on a 5-point scale

Each evaluation area will be graded using Ofsted’s new 5-point grading system, with Ofsted expecting most schools