Feedback so far on Ofsted’s new education inspection framework shows that “people find working on curriculum plans and strategies for effective teaching of the curriculum much more rewarding than over-elaborate marking, assessment, data capture and data analysis”, according to Ofsted’s latest annual report.

Whilst recognising that changes to the inspection framework do create some work, Ofsted says that responses to the new framework have been very positive so far.

The new education inspection framework came into effect from September 2019 with an emphasis on what Ofsted calls “the real substance of education: a rich and broad curriculum”. Inspections start with a top-level view of the curriculum followed by “deep dives” into individual subjects.

According to the annual report, the intent of the new framework has released leaders and teachers from believing that they must teach to the test or narrow the curriculum to secure success at inspection, welcoming the opportunity to think more carefully about the curriculum. Ofsted is clear however, that attainment does still matter: “It would be hard to describe a curriculum as high quality if it does not lead to substantive educational achievement”.

Ofsted will be working to be able to inspect multi-academy trusts so that the processes for decisions about finance, curriculum and behaviour can be inspected at the Trust level.

Future work will also include a new programme of thematic subject reviews around national curriculum subjects.

Overall, the proportion of good and outstanding education providers remains at similar levels to last year.

Offering a national picture of education, Ofsted’s 124-page annual report covers schools, early years, further education and skills and children’s social care and is based on evidence from inspection visits and research.