Curriculum subject reviews
In April 2021, Ofsted began publishing a number of curriculum subject reviews to support and inform those leading the thinking of these subjects in our schools. The research reviews collate currently available research evidence with consideration of what the evidence indicates about a high-quality education in each subject.
- Science research review – 29 April 2021
- Religious education research review – 12 May 2021
- Mathematics research review – 25 May 2021
- Languages research review – 7 June 2021
- Geography research review – 17 June 2021
- Music research review – 12 July 2021
- History research review – 14 July 2021
- PE research review – 18 March 2022
- Computing research review – 16 May 2022
- English research review – July 2022
- Art and design research review – 22 February 2023
Subject reports
Alongside these, Ofsted has also published a number of subject reports:
- Subject series report: science – 2 February 2023
- Subject series report: maths – 13 July 2023
- Subject series report: history – 13 July 2023
- Subject series report: geography – 19 September 2023
- Subject series report: PE – 20 September 2023
- Subject series report: music – 21 September 2023
- Subject series report: English – 5 March 2024
- Subject series report: religious education – 17 April 2024
Inspecting the curriculum
Ofsted’s Inspecting the curriculum document (May 2019) explained how inspectors will look at the quality of education with revised methodology under the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) introduced in September 2019, whilst recognising that each individual inspection is different. This has subsequently been subsumed into the Ofsted EIF.
Changes to Ofsted school inspections
From November 2025, further changes will be made to school inspection, including the proposed introduction of an Ofsted ‘report card’ and new school inspection ‘toolkits.’ Therefore, routine inspections will be paused from the end of the summer term 2025 and delayed recommencement until November 2025.
From autumn 2025, it’s proposed that Ofsted will no longer carry out ungraded inspections of state-funded schools. This means every school will know that its next routine Ofsted inspection will be a full, graded one.