1.
Design and technology (D&T) in
secondary school
Through the lens of inspection: myths,
reality and things to consider
Diana Choulerton
National Lead for Design and Technology
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 16/07/2017

2.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 26/07/2017
Inspectors make four key judgements:
 effectiveness of leadership and management
 quality of teaching, learning and assessment
 personal development, behaviour and welfare
 outcomes for pupils.
And state clearly whether safeguarding is effective.
Where relevant, inspectors also make judgements about:
 the effectiveness of the early years provision
 the effectiveness of 16 to 19 study programmes.
Full inspection judgements – schools
(section 5)

3.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 36/07/2017
 Before making the final judgement on the overall effectiveness,
inspectors must evaluate:
 the effectiveness and impact of the provision for pupils’
spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
 the extent to which the education provided by the school
meets the needs of the range of pupils at the school
including:
 pupils who have disabilities
 pupils who have special educational needs.
Full inspection judgements – schools
(section 5)

4.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 46/07/2017
Short inspection judgements (section 8)
Short inspections for good schools and academies – approximately
every three years, for one day. Also for outstanding special schools, pupil
referral units and maintained nurseries.
Two judgements only:
 Is the school still good?
 Is safeguarding effective?
Greater professional dialogue during the inspection and regular
reporting to parents and pupils.

5.
Inspection myths
http://bit.ly/Ofstedmyths
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 56/07/2017

6.
Lesson planning
Ofsted does not require schools to provide individual
lesson plans to inspectors. Equally, Ofsted does not
require schools to provide previous lesson plans.
Ofsted does not specify how planning should be set
out, the length of time it should take or the amount of
detail it should contain. Inspectors are interested in the
effectiveness of planning rather than the form it takes.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 66/07/2017

7.
Grading of lessons
Ofsted does not award a grade for the quality of
teaching or outcomes in the individual lessons visited. It
does not grade individual lessons. It does not expect
schools to use the Ofsted evaluation schedule to grade
teaching or individual lessons.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 76/07/2017

8.
Lesson observations
Ofsted does not require schools to undertake a
specified amount of lesson observation.
Ofsted does not expect schools to provide specific
details of the pay grade of individual teachers who are
observed during inspection.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 86/07/2017

9.
Pupils’ work
 Ofsted does not expect to see a particular frequency or quantity
of work in pupils’ books or folders.
 Ofsted does not expect to see any specific frequency, type or
volume of marking and feedback; these are for the school to
decide through its assessment policy.
 While inspectors will consider how written and oral feedback is
used to promote learning, Ofsted does not expect to see any
written record of oral feedback provided to pupils by teachers.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 96/07/2017

10.
The reality
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 106/07/2017

11.
Inspecting the curriculum
When judging the effectiveness of leadership and management,
inspectors will consider:
 the design, implementation and evaluation of the curriculum,
ensuring breadth and balance, and its impact on pupils’
outcomes and their personal development, behaviour and
welfare
 how well the school prepares pupils positively for life in
modern Britain
 how well leaders and governors promote all forms of
equality.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 116/07/2017

12.
Inspecting teaching, learning and
assessment: key points
Inspectors will consider:
 how information at transition points between schools is used
effectively so that teachers plan to meet pupils’ needs in all
lessons from the outset
 whether work in all year groups, particularly in key stage 3,
is demanding enough for all pupils
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 126/07/2017

13.
Inspecting teaching, learning and
assessment: key points (continued)
 scrutiny of pupils’ work, with particular attention to:
 pupils’ effort and success in completing their work, both in and outside
lessons, so that they can progress and enjoy learning
 how pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills have developed and
improved
 the level of challenge and whether pupils have to grapple appropriately
with content, not necessarily ‘getting it right’ first time, which could be
evidence that the work is too easy
 how well teachers’ feedback, written and oral, is used by pupils to
improve their knowledge, understanding and skills.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 136/07/2017

14.
Inspecting teaching, learning and
assessment: key points (continued)
 In evaluating the accuracy and impact of assessment,
inspectors will consider how well:
 teachers use any assessment for establishing pupils’ starting
points, teacher assessment and testing to modify teaching so
that pupils achieve their potential by the end of a year or key
stage
 teachers make consistent judgements about pupils’ progress
and attainment, for example within a subject, across a year
group and between year groups.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 146/07/2017

15.
Inspecting the impact of the teaching of
literacy and numeracy
Inspectors will consider:
 the impact of the teaching of literacy on outcomes across the
curriculum
 the impact of pupils’ mathematical knowledge, understanding
and skills on outcomes across the curriculum.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 156/07/2017

16.
Personal development, behaviour and
welfare – main points
 Inspectors will evaluate the extent to which the school is successfully
promoting and supporting pupils’:
 pride in achievement and commitment to learning, supported by
a positive culture across the whole school
 self-confidence, self-awareness and understanding of how to be a
successful learner
 choices about the next stage of their education or employment
and training, from impartial careers advice and guidance
 knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy, both emotionally
and physically, including through exercising and healthy eating
 personal development, so that they are well prepared to respect
others and contribute to wider society and life in Britain.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 166/07/2017

17.
Outcomes
In judging achievement, inspectors will give most
weight to pupils’ progress. They will take account of
pupils’ starting points in terms of their prior attainment
and age when evaluating progress. Within this, they will
give most weight to the progress of pupils currently in
the school, taking account of how this compares with
the progress of recent cohorts, where there are any.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 176/07/2017

18.
Outcomes (cont)
Inspectors will consider the progress of pupils in
all year groups, not just those who have taken or are
about to take examinations or national tests.
As part of pupils’ progress, inspectors will consider the
growth in pupils’ security, breadth and depth of
knowledge, understanding and skills.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 186/07/2017

19.
Things to consider
The curriculum
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 196/07/2017

20.
D&T pathways
Food and D&T at GCSE. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider.
2024/6/2017
From here to where ? | 20
KS4
GCSE: Food preparation & nutrition
Technical certificate:
hospitality & catering
KS4
GCSE: Design & technology
Engineering
Technical certificate:
CBE, engineering, manufacturing
Mathematical,
scientific and artistic
skills and knowledge
Professional cookery
Professional chefs
KS3
KS1 & 2
D&T: product design
D&T: fashion and textiles
D&T: engineering design
16-19
A Level – L3
Food science and nutrition Design & craft
engineering
Apprenticeships – L2 L3
Cookery
Hospitality
Food and beverage services
Construction & BE
engineering
Construction & BE
engineering
Tech Certificates / Awards – L2
EYFS
Applied General Level – L3
Tech Level – L3

21.
Key stage 3
• To what extent is your key
stage 3 curriculum preparing
pupils for the new GCSEs?
‘The design, implementation
and evaluation of the
curriculum, ensuring breadth
and balance and its impact
on pupils’ outcomes and
their personal development,
behaviour and welfare’.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 216/07/2017

22.
Do your schemes of work from Year 7 onwards enable pupils to:
 solve creative real-life problems – derived from a context
 engage in an iterative design process
 develop an understanding of electronic systems and programmable
components that can apply when designing
 develop and apply their understanding of modern and smart materials
 fully consider environmental and ethical implications
 fully develop a design concept rather than just slightly tweak the teacher’s
design
 recognise the wide range of ways of materials that can be deployed in
product design and make genuine choices based on desired function?
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 226/07/2017
Preparing pupils well for D&T GCSE

23.
Preparing pupils well for food preparation
and nutrition GCSE
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 236/07/2017
 Do the schemes of work from Year 7 onwards enable pupils to
progressively develop and apply knowledge of:
 principles of health and nutrition?
 functional and chemical properties of food?
 food safety?
 food provenance?

24.
Preparing pupils well for D&T and food
GCSE
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 246/07/2017
 Are pupils developing the literacy and numeracy skills needed
to learn successfully?
 Do pupils develop sufficient understanding of the subject and
possible progression pathways to be able to make a sound
choice about key stage 4 options?

25.
Key stage 4
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 256/07/2017

26.
GCSE and /or Technical Certificate or Award?
When determining the qualifications to offer, consider
how you are:
• ensuring a curriculum that meets the needs and
interests of pupils and employers, nationally and in the
local community
• ensuring that the curriculum and careers advice
enables all pupils to be well prepared for the next stage
in their education, training or employment.
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 266/07/2017

27.
Key stage 4 – points to consider
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 276/07/2017
Are you clear about what would be good progress for
pupils with different starting points and how this will be
assessed? Do you know what pupils can and cannot do
and plan and teach accordingly?
Do your schemes of work build on key stage 3 and
support further progress providing suitable challenge for
the most able and enabling access for those who have
special educational needs and/or disabilities?

28.
Key stage 4 –points to consider (continued)
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 286/07/2017
Are you giving pupils a broad and balanced
understanding of the subject that will equip them well for
the future?
Does teachers’ feedback help pupils make good progress?
Does your approach to teaching pupils at key stage 3 and
4 prepare them well for progression post-16, including
apprenticeships?

29.
Ofsted on the web and on social media
www.gov.uk/ofsted
http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk
www.linkedin.com/company/ofsted
www.youtube.com/ofstednews
www.slideshare.net/ofstednews
www.twitter.com/ofstednews
www.twitter.com/DianaChoulerton
D&T in secondary school. Through the lens of inspection: myths, reality and things to consider. Slide 296/07/2017