The transitional arrangements have been extended a number of times due to the on-going disruption of Covid-19, including significant student and staff absence.
Schools now have until September 2022 to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the EIF, not least with regards to the “intent, implementation and impact” of curriculum.
In an update to the School Inspection Handbook (paragraphs 230 and 231) published earlier this month, Ofsted states: “We intend to review whether these transitional arrangements are still needed in time for September 2022.”
The transitional arrangements are listed under the grade descriptors for the quality of education judgement and centre on the “good” judgement.
To achieve “good”, schools must normally demonstrate for their curriculum intent that:
- “Leaders adopt or construct a curriculum that is ambitious and designed to give all pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and including pupils with SEND, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.”
- “The school’s curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning and employment.”
However, the transitional arrangements state that if this is not the case then good is still achievable if “it is clear from leaders’ actions that they are in the process of bringing this about and are making any necessary amendments in response to the pandemic”.