Recent reports
Probably the only way to read OFSTED’s mind is to see what they commit to print. By trawling through the most recent I form a picture of the most commented on issues. In the posts below you’ll see a mixture of verbatim reports (where they are illuminating and interesting) and summaries (when they are not!) I will publish these termly so you can see any changes in OFSTED’s emphasis.
What are OFSTED saying about history in their 2024 reports?
It is not always easy to find detailed references to history in recent school reports despite the fact that history features more frequently than most other foundation subjects when it…
Read MoreOFSTED’s latest findings on primary history 2023
Periodically, OFSTED offers a report that codifies the main findings of their most recent subject specific visits. The last major report was in 2011 but two years ago they also…
Read MoreOFSTED Webinar on primary and secondary History 2023
Many of you will have read the lengthy OFSTED paper on research findings into the history curriculum published in 2021, and many more will have read my summary of the…
Read MoreSome key findings from OFSTED’s English curriculum report that affect history – May 2022
1. SEND While pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are highly likely to need much more frequent repetition, the general principles from research into effective teaching are just…
Read More
10 things OFSTED tend to comment on in primary history reports
I have just finished my analysis of all OFSTED’s primary history monitoring reports for the last 2 years. There has been a perceptible shift in the nature of the comments…
Read MoreExcerpt from recent OFSTED report from 2021
As its impossible for you to know what comments OFSTED are making when commenting on history in individual schools, we undertake a systematic trawl from time to time to ensure…
Read More10 vital things primary history subject leaders should draw from OFSTED’s review July 2021
On 14 July 2021 OFSTED published its lengthy review of research findings into school history. You can access it here. I actually think there are good reasons NOT to read…
Read MoreHistory in outstanding primary schools – OFSTED’s view of strengths and weaknesses April 2021
Posted by:Tim Jenner HMI, Subject Lead for History, Tim Jenner HMI, Ofsted’s subject lead for history report April 2021, reports on the findings from our history subject inspections. Between January…
Read More
Recent ‘remote’ OFSTED report Spring 2021; systems for testing pupils’ subject knowledge July 2021
The recent focus on pupils knowing the content of subjects has given rise to some interesting observations from OFSTED. In one of the most recently published reports on a primary…
Read MoreMarch 2020 inspection
The history curriculum is currently being reviewed. You and your subject leader know that current planning in history does not emphasise with enough precision what the school intends pupils to…
Read MoreFull sample recent primary history report January 2020
Pupils in your school thoroughly enjoy learning history. They like the enquiry-based approach you take to learning in the history curriculum, as they learn to ask and answer questions about…
Read MoreReport on leadership of primary history 2020
One of the key features underpinning the high quality of history learning was that history has a high status throughout the school, recognised by the headteacher. The subject leader attended local network meetings and time…
Read MoreAnalysis of OFSTED reports November 2019- February 2020, with my commentary
Analysis of OFSTED reports November 2019-February 2020, with my commentary By trawling through the most recent pre-Covid reports from November 2019 until February 2020, I have started to form a…
Read MoreWritten by Neil Thompson
All content on Keystage history is written and quality assured by Neil Thompson, a former history teacher, county history adviser and Ofsted inspector with more than 30 years’ experience in history education.