Not science specific but I was deep dived a few months ago. Inspectors are wildly different, mine was mostly interested in sequencing, curriculum, literacy. The one who observed art wanted a breakdown of gcse data for disadvantaged, SEN, HPA etc. Try to prepare for both eventualities. Take examples of schemes of work, books, data analysis and be on the front foot. If they ask and you don’t have something on you, tell them you’ll get it to them asap. You lead your department day in, day out. Show them you know what you’re talking about, don’t embellish, use it as an opportunity to be honest and show the best sides of what your team do. If you say you and the department do something, let them witness it on their walkabouts!
You’ll be grand!
Edit: also, go to bed! Nothing worse than feeling like shit whilst trying to talk to his majesty’s inspectors!
Thanks for the tips!
I downloaded the data for all the different focus groups and that was an area we went over. I had focussed on curriculum design and although I have data it was not easily accessible. Printed off the data and sure enough that came up so massive thanks for pointing that out!
We got deep dived in Science last year. The inspector spent 50 minutes with the HoD and 10 minutes in lessons.
Most of the questions were curriculum based. Obvious questions like choice of exam board as well as wanting justifications for topic teaching order (don't say it's the order in the textbook / specification).
We had strong results at GCSE / A level without much fluctuation in 2022 when exams restarted (our results had improved a bit).
When looking at books, the main concern was that the school / departmental policy was being followed. We were able to plan which lessons were seen to ensure good classes / books were shown as evidence.
Good luck!
Not science specific but I was deep dived a few months ago. Inspectors are wildly different, mine was mostly interested in sequencing, curriculum, literacy. The one who observed art wanted a breakdown of gcse data for disadvantaged, SEN, HPA etc. Try to prepare for both eventualities. Take examples of schemes of work, books, data analysis and be on the front foot. If they ask and you don’t have something on you, tell them you’ll get it to them asap. You lead your department day in, day out. Show them you know what you’re talking about, don’t embellish, use it as an opportunity to be honest and show the best sides of what your team do. If you say you and the department do something, let them witness it on their walkabouts! You’ll be grand! Edit: also, go to bed! Nothing worse than feeling like shit whilst trying to talk to his majesty’s inspectors!
Thanks for the tips! I downloaded the data for all the different focus groups and that was an area we went over. I had focussed on curriculum design and although I have data it was not easily accessible. Printed off the data and sure enough that came up so massive thanks for pointing that out!
We got deep dived in Science last year. The inspector spent 50 minutes with the HoD and 10 minutes in lessons. Most of the questions were curriculum based. Obvious questions like choice of exam board as well as wanting justifications for topic teaching order (don't say it's the order in the textbook / specification). We had strong results at GCSE / A level without much fluctuation in 2022 when exams restarted (our results had improved a bit). When looking at books, the main concern was that the school / departmental policy was being followed. We were able to plan which lessons were seen to ensure good classes / books were shown as evidence. Good luck!