Science Deep Dive and Subject Knowledge Bundle

A bundle pack containing 8-page 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. Science Deep Dive and Subject Evaluation Audit (Primary) - over 100 deep dive questions about Science to ask stakeholders, including senior leaders, subject leaders, teachers and pupils. As Science subject leader, you can utilise these to reflect on the current picture of Science in your school and explore specific areas further when listening to staff and pupil voice. Many Science and STEM subject leads find it useful to practise them with other leaders to build their own confidence in preparation for a Science Ofsted deep dive. 

2. Science Deep Dive and Subject Evaluation Audit (Secondary) - KS3, KS4 and KS5 Science deep dive questions for secondary leaders and Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics department heads to consider. While there is crossover with the primary set of deep dive questions, this resource focuses on secondary Science and includes questions about secondary-focused areas, such as the routes available for pupils who wish to take their knowledge of Science into further education, employment or training. 

3. Science Subject Knowledge Question Bank - content-specific questions for Science covering KS1, KS2 and KS3. They’re ideal if you’re wanting to explore the finer details of staff members' Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics subject knowledge as well as the understanding of the Working Scientifically skills that pupils need to acquire. 

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

5. Deep Dive Evidence Exploration - a handy place to collate all your observation notes when conducting a deep dive, including observing Science lessons, asking pupils about their learning in Science and looking through work and or evidence from practicals and experiments.

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. 

Science subject leaders or those leading specific content within the science curriculum, such as Biology leads, Chemistry leads or Physics leads. It's especially useful for those who are new to Science leadership or have taken up a role as second in science; anyone with responsibility over the Science curriculum will feel supported when monitoring teaching and learning, or if preparing for an Ofsted deep dive in Science.

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 Science subject leader to prepare for an Ofsted inspection. The Science deep dive questions are particularly useful in reflecting on your setting's current practice.

Knowing you may have to go through an Ofsted deep dive in Science can cause feelings of stress, anxiety and worry, especially if you’re thinking about what questions Ofsted will ask about Science 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 Science 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 amazing 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.

This pack can help you to understand:

• 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?
• What questions do Ofsted ask in a Science deep dive?

Deep dive packs for all other national curriculum subjects are available from Honeyguide. Even better, if you buy two or more packs, you get 20% off each one - perfect for if you lead multiple subjects or want to get together with other subject leader colleagues to get more value.

Core Subjects:

• Primary English (Reading and Phonics) Deep Dive 
• Primary English (Writing, SPAG and Spoken Language) Deep Dive
• Secondary English Deep Dive
• Maths Deep Dive
• Science Deep Dive

Foundation Subjects:

• Art and Design Deep Dive
• Citizenship Deep Dive
• Computing Deep Dive
• Design and Technology (DT) Deep Dive
• Geography Deep Dive 
• History Deep Dive 
• Languages / MfL Deep Dive
• Music Deep Dive 
• Physical Education (PE) Deep Dive 
• PSHE, RSHE and RSE Deep Dive
• Religious Education (RE) Deep Dive 

Looking for every deep dive pack in one bundle?

If you're a head, senior leader, trust leader or hold responsibility for the full curriculum, our Deep Dive in Every Subject: Full Curriculum Set is the best value-for-money option to purchase all 16 packs.

• Deep Dive in Every Subject: Full Curriculum Set

If you lead the Early Years Foundation Stage, this EYFS Deep Dive pack can help you to explore your EYFS provision in-depth and build confidence for an upcoming Ofsted inspection or deep dive.