What? 

A bundle pack containing guidance of what an Ofsted deep dive entails and how you can utilise a similar internal process in your own subject monitoring. It contains five comprehensive templates:

 

1. Writing, SPAG and Spoken Language Deep Dive and Subject Evaluation Audit (Primary) - over 100 deep dive questions about all aspects of primary writing and spoken language to ask stakeholders, including senior leaders, subject leaders, teachers and pupils. As a subject leader of English, writing or oracy, you can utilise these to reflect on the current picture of writing and spoken language in your school and explore specific areas further when listening to staff and pupil voice. Many literacy subject leads find it useful to practise them with other leaders to build their own confidence in preparation for a English Ofsted deep dive.

 

2. Writing, SPAG and Spoken Language Subject Knowledge Question Bank - content-specific questions for spoken language, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation (SPAG) covering EYFS, KS1 and KS2 . They’re ideal if you’re wanting to explore the finer details of staff members' English writing subject knowledge.

 

3. Deep Dive Process Overview - use this to structure your internal deep dive in writing, working through the process of identifying your perceived strengths and weaknesses, observation and questioning, and creating a plan of action. 

 

4. Deep Dive Evidence Exploration - a handy place to collate all your observation notes when conducting a deep dive, including observing writing or GPS sessons and looking through work or folders.

 

Whether you have an Ofsted inspection due or not, conducting an internal deep dive can help you to identify your subject’s strengths and weaknesses. Use it as a collaborative process that can support other staff members to develop and use your findings to report back to SLT, governors or trustees as part of your curriculum quality assurance. 

 

Please note that only primary writing, SPAG and spoken language are explored in this pack. Primary reading and phonics are covered separately, as is secondary English and Drama.

 

What sorts of deep dive questions will Ofsted ask in Writing, SPAG or Spoken Language?

The answer to this will depend on your setting and what an observer sees in practice, but here are some examples of the questions covered in this Writing, SPAG and Spoken Language Deep Dive pack:

 

• How does curriculum planning prioritise progression and knowledge of language and its forms, usage, grammar and vocabulary?
• How do pupils gain expertise in key transcription elements, such as handwriting and spelling, so they are increasingly accurate writers?
• How do you encourage pupils to read as writers and write as readers?
• How do writing, speaking and listening fit together in your context?
• Can you share examples of how you inspire and motivate pupils to have a genuine interest in English?

 

There are many more in the bundle that literacy or English subject leads can work through to ensure they know their subject's strengths and weaknesses. 

 

Who? 

English subject leaders or those leading on key elements of the English curriculum, such as a writing lead or vocabulary lead, will find this pack useful. It's especially helpful for those who are new to an English leadership role but anyone with responsibility over the English curriculum will feel supported when monitoring teaching and learning, or if preparing for an Ofsted deep dive in English. Curriculum leaders, senior leaders, headteachers or anyone else with responsibility for teaching and learning will also find the pack beneficial, whether they use it to conduct a deep dive themselves or support their English and literacy subject leader to prepare for an Ofsted inspection. The writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and language deep dive questions are particularly useful in reflecting on your setting's current practice.

 

How long? 

Start as soon as you download the pack, and use it as part of your monitoring and evaluation schedule or to build confidence about a deep dive in primary Writing and spoken language.

 

When? 

If you’re a new subject leader or you’ve never gone through a deep dive process (either internal or conducted by Ofsted) before, this pack will walk you through the steps of what this looks like in practice and what questions you could be asked in an English deep dive. Even if you're a more experienced subject leader, it can be useful to revisit your English writing curriculum's intent, implementation and impact as a form of monitoring and quality assurance, and this deep dive pack is perfect for that. Either way, you don’t have to wait to be due an Ofsted inspection to use the pack - it’s useful at any time to explore the strengths and weaknesses of your English curriculum with regard to writing, SPAG and spoken language.

Why? 

Knowing you may have to go through an Ofsted deep dive can cause feelings of stress, anxiety and worry, especially if you’re thinking about what questions Ofsted will ask about Writing or the English language and how you’ll answer. This pack supports that thinking process, especially if you work alongside other leaders to consider what makes great teaching and learning in primary writing, and how your school does or doesn’t do this. 

 

However, it’s not just about preparing for an Ofsted inspection or doing things because Ofsted might want to see them - it’s about understanding the picture of your subject and knowing its strengths and weaknesses so you can get fantastic outcomes for all of your pupils. It’s also important to know that even if you conduct an internal deep dive and find there are gaps, you can use this to formulate your next steps in an action plan, which will help to ensure improvement for all.

 

Key questions answered:

• What is a deep dive?

• What is the purpose of Ofsted’s deep dives into areas of your curriculum?

• What does an Ofsted deep dive look like?

• Why might I want to conduct my own internal deep dive?

• Who should I involve in an internal deep dive?