In a significant update, Ofsted has announced that starting in September 2024, ‘deep dives‘ will no longer be a feature of ungraded (Section 8) inspections. This change, affecting 40% of all school inspections, aims to reduce the burden on school leaders and offer a ‘more collaborative and flexible approach’. But what does this exactly mean for primary schools?

Key changes:

No more deep dives: Traditionally, deep dives involved detailed evaluations of specific subjects during inspections. Moving forward, these will be replaced by extended learning walks. A learning walk is a structured tour of the school where inspectors observe teaching, learning, and the overall school environment. 

This change resulted from feedback from small primary schools highlighting the challenges posed by deep dives. The new approach aims to ease the workload on school and subject leaders, making the inspection process less strenuous.

Preparation is still important!

While deep dives are removed from ungraded inspections, they remain part of graded (Section 5) inspections. Schools should continue preparing for deep dives, as ungraded inspections can occasionally transition to graded ones. Being prepared for deep dives ensures readiness for both types of inspections, with extended learning walks covering similar, albeit less intensive, ground.

To support schools in their preparation, Kapow Primary offers free deep-dive toolkits featuring a range of resources. These include a breakdown of inspection practices, inspection checklists, question examples and more. Also, being prepared for a deep dive helps subject leaders stay informed about their subjects, providing a thorough understanding of pupil progress and needs. These resources are invaluable for helping schools stay prepared for any inspection, ensuring subject leaders feel confident and thoroughly prepared for deep dives.

Additionally, Kapow Primary customers can access a wealth of documents, including progression documents and long-term plans, to support them in the deep dive process. These resources present all the scheme information in a clear and accessible manner, ensuring subject leaders and staff can enter the deep dive process or inspections feeling ready and prepared.

These changes are designed to create a more supportive inspection environment. By removing deep dives from Section 8 inspections, Ofsted hopes to create a more productive dialogue between inspectors and school leaders, focusing on continuous improvement and the overall development of the school. However, staying prepared for deep dives is still essential to maintain readiness for any inspection scenario.