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Mark Simpkins

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How To Conduct An Internal Deep Dive

Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, is the independent inspectorate for institutions and education providers in England. A deep dive is a process used by Ofsted inspectors to gain a detailed understanding of a specific aspect of a institution’s provision. In this blog, we’ll outline the steps involved in conducting an Ofsted deep dive, perhaps as something you may want to do internally before getting the call.

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Step 1: Define the area of focus The first step in conducting a deep dive is to define the specific area of focus. This could be a subject, such as English, mathematics, or SEND, or a specific aspect of the institution's provision, such as student behaviour or leadership and management. The area of focus should be chosen based on the institution's priorities and areas for improvement.

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Step 2: Plan the deep dive Once the area of focus has been defined, the inspector can plan the deep dive. This involves gathering information about the institution's provision in the chosen area of focus, reviewing relevant policies and procedures, and identifying the key staff members to be interviewed.

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Step 3: Gather evidence The next step is to gather evidence to support the inspection findings. This can be done through a range of methods, including lesson observations, interviews with staff, reviews of students' work, and analysis of data. The evidence should be gathered over a period of time, and triangulated, to provide a comprehensive picture of the institution's provision in the chosen area of focus.

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Step 4: Analyse the evidence Once the evidence has been gathered, it needs to be analysed to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The inspector will look for patterns and trends in the evidence, and use this to form a judgement about the quality of the institution's provision in the chosen area of focus.

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tep 5: Provide feedback The final step in the deep dive process is to provide feedback to the institution. This usually involves a meeting with relevant leaders to discuss the findings of the inspection and identify areas for improvement. The inspector will provide recommendations and guidance on how the institution can improve its provision in the chosen area of focus. This is then written up into a report.

In conclusion, conducting an Ofsted deep dive is a rigorous and thorough process that requires careful planning and analysis. By following these steps, inspectors can gain a detailed understanding of a specific aspect of a institution's provision, and provide feedback and guidance to support improvement.

Interested in conducting your own internal deep dive? I can help plan and conduct this type of activity for your institution. Book your FREE consultation with me today to find out how.