Ofsted 'deep dives': geography (primary)

Last reviewed on 8 March 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 38834

Find out what Ofsted inspectors might ask during a geography 'deep dive'. Read our curriculum questions – they're based on inspections under the 2019 framework.

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Contents

  1. How deep dives work
  2. Impact of coronavirus 
  3. Questions Ofsted might ask during geography deep dives
  4. Ofsted may not do a geography deep dive

Ofsted inspectors use subject 'deep dives' to inspect your curriculum.

They use them to consider the 'intent, implementation and impact' of your curriculum as part of the 'quality of education' assessment.

How deep dives work

Who's involved?

Your senior leadership team, curriculum leads, subject leads, teachers and pupils.

How will inspectors do this?

  • Conversations
  • Lesson observations (typically 4 to 6 lessons)
  • Work scrutinies (typically at least 6 workbooks or pieces of work in the lessons they visit, scrutinising work from at least 2 year groups)
  • Looking at curriculum documentation

You can read more about how deep dives work in this Ofsted guidance.

You don't need to prepare special curriculum documentation to help inspectors carry out deep dives.

They won't expect to see curriculum planning or evidence in any specific format, as long as they can easily access it, as explained in paragraph 75 of the School Inspection Handbook.

Ofsted recognises the challenges placed on

Read next

Also in 'Inspection criteria'