Ofsted Curriculum Requirements
How To Showcase Your School Curriculum On Your Website
The DfE School Website Requirements specify that you, as an education facility in the UK, have to publish the “content of your school curriculum in each academic year for every subject”.
Leading many to question: what are Ofsted looking for in the Curriculum? And how do I showcase my school curriculum on our website?
Providing a broad and balanced education for all learners at the school, knowing what the DfE and Ofsted are looking for on your school’s website can become confusing; with so much to cover across several different subjects and age groups.
Join us as we delve into what DfE and Ofsted look for on your school’s website along with some examples of how you can use your curriculum to impress prospective parents and Ofsted:
How To Display Curriculum Information On Your School Website
When it comes to showcasing your school curriculum online, content is key, the curriculum content on your school website needs to clearly convey what is studied at your school as well as why it’s taught in the way it is.
Usually broken down into specific year groups, sometimes by individual classes, many schools publish their curriculum plans termly. Including important and relevant information such as subject title, what will be covered in the lessons and the overall curriculum.
Found as part of the main navigation of many school websites, the Curriculum page would be a direct link to a landing page displaying the range of subjects available alongside information regarding how the school’s curriculum is developed and taught.
Ofsted Curriculum Requirements
How To Showcase Your School Curriculum On Your Website
The DfE School Website Requirements specify that you, as an education facility in the UK, have to publish the “content of your school curriculum in each academic year for every subject”.
Leading many to question: what are Ofsted looking for in the Curriculum? And how do I showcase my school curriculum on our website?
Providing a broad and balanced education for all learners at the school, knowing what the DfE and Ofsted are looking for on your school’s website can become confusing; with so much to cover across several different subjects and age groups.
Join us as we delve into what DfE and Ofsted look for on your school’s website along with some examples of how you can use your curriculum to impress prospective parents and Ofsted:
How To Display Curriculum Information On Your School Website
When it comes to showcasing your school curriculum online, content is key, the curriculum content on your school website needs to clearly convey what is studied at your school as well as why it’s taught in the way it is.
Usually broken down into specific year groups, sometimes by individual classes, many schools publish their curriculum plans termly. Including important and relevant information such as subject title, what will be covered in the lessons and the overall curriculum.
Found as part of the main navigation of many school websites, the Curriculum page would be a direct link to a landing page displaying the range of subjects available alongside information regarding how the school’s curriculum is developed and taught.
What Are Ofsted Looking For In The Curriculum?
When auditing a school website, Ofsted currently requires the following to be featured and easily accessible by all:
- The content of your school curriculum in each academic year for every subject – this includes mandatory subjects such as religious education, even if it is taught as part of another subject or subjects, or is called something else
- The names of any phonics or reading schemes you’re using in key stage 1
- A list of the courses available to pupils at key stage 4, including GCSEs
- How parents or other members of the public can find out more about the curriculum your school is following
- How over time you will increase the extent to which disabled pupils participate in the school’s curriculum, as part of your school’s accessibility plan
Unsure whether your school’s curriculum features all the above-required information?
We here at Design Office offer School Website Ofsted Audits to schools throughout the UK. These audits allow you to easily see what may be missing or incorrect throughout your current website.
To learn more about our Ofsted Website Audits and how they can help your school, reach out to our team on 01270 252106 or send an email to sales@designoffice.co.uk.
What Are Ofsted Looking For In The Curriculum?
When auditing a school website, Ofsted currently requires the following to be featured and easily accessible by all:
- The content of your school curriculum in each academic year for every subject – this includes mandatory subjects such as religious education, even if it is taught as part of another subject or subjects, or is called something else
- The names of any phonics or reading schemes you’re using in key stage 1
- A list of the courses available to pupils at key stage 4, including GCSEs
- How parents or other members of the public can find out more about the curriculum your school is following
- How over time you will increase the extent to which disabled pupils participate in the school’s curriculum, as part of your school’s accessibility plan
Unsure whether your school’s curriculum features all the above-required information?
We here at Design Office offer School Website Ofsted Audits to schools throughout the UK. These audits allow you to easily see what may be missing or incorrect throughout your current website.
To learn more about our Ofsted Website Audits and how they can help your school, reach out to our team on 01270 252106 or send an email to sales@designoffice.co.uk.
Engaging Parents Through Your School Website Curriculum Pages
Webpages As Bespoke As Your Curriculum
Partnering with schools throughout Cheshire and the UK, our team have been a part of the rise of bespoke school website curriculum pages that represent the school’s curriculum, values and unique branding.
Starting The Educational Journey
Barnton Community Nursery & Primary School
Welcoming pupils ages 5-11, located in Northwich, Barnton Community Nursery & Primary School are well-established as part of the Weaver Trust.
Keen to further explore and showcase their curriculum online for pupils and prospective parents, Barnton opted to introduce a brand new section to their website. Infusing the already-established website appearance and branding. The ‘Our Curriculum’ section was transformed into a hub covering the entire school curriculum.
Found in the main navigation, the ‘Our Curriculum’ landing page brings the school’s goals to the forefront in “developing confident, happy, articulate learners”. Partitioned into four colour-branded sections; Curriculum Accountability, Curriculum Design, Metagocnitive Principles & Intent, Implementation and Impact.
These explore the vital elements of the school’s Curriculum that are required by the DfE and are searched for during Ofsted inspections. Going into detail about the development and implementation of the curriculum the school follows alongside the impact this has on the pupils within the school, parents can gather a full understanding of the potential opportunities their children can explore at Barnton.
Attracting More Attention With Bespoke Design
Venturing beyond the landing page and the regularly designed webpage, our goal was to push the boundaries of what is usually seen with a school’s curriculum page.
This led our team to the research and development of horizontally scrolling web pages.
Developed as part of the existing site, these horizontal sections are separated into individual year and term overviews, exploring the curriculum that each year will be following throughout the upcoming school year.
Expanding the curriculum in such a way generates intrigue and promotes Barnton’s curriculum to stand out against other local schools. With a page view increase of 70% to the ‘Our Curriculum’ pages since launch, this new way to demonstrate the information has been a proven success.
Introducing New Functionality
As part of the newly developed horizontal scrolling pages, icon buttons were introduced to several of the specific curriculum topics linking each to downloadable PDFs full of more in-depth information.
Exploring topics such as UK Regional Geography and Coding these documents, although featured on the previous version of the curriculum, are now easy to locate and appear as part of the educational journey rather than separate components lost within the website.
Starting The Educational Journey
Barnton Community Nursery & Primary School
Welcoming pupils ages 5-11, located in Northwich, Barnton Community Nursery & Primary School are well-established as part of the Weaver Trust.
Keen to further explore and showcase their curriculum online for pupils and prospective parents, Barnton opted to introduce a brand new section to their website. Infusing the already-established website appearance and branding. The ‘Our Curriculum’ section was transformed into a hub covering the entire school curriculum.
Found in the main navigation, the ‘Our Curriculum’ landing page brings the school’s goals to the forefront in “developing confident, happy, articulate learners”. Partitioned into four colour-branded sections; Curriculum Accountability, Curriculum Design, Metagocnitive Principles & Intent, Implementation and Impact.
These explore the vital elements of the school’s Curriculum that are required by the DfE and are searched for during Ofsted inspections. Going into detail about the development and implementation of the curriculum the school follows alongside the impact this has on the pupils within the school, parents can gather a full understanding of the potential opportunities their children can explore at Barnton.
Attracting More Attention With Bespoke Design
Venturing beyond the landing page and the regularly designed webpage, our goal was to push the boundaries of what is usually seen with a school’s curriculum page.
This led our team to the research and development of horizontally scrolling web pages.
Developed as part of the existing site, these horizontal sections are separated into individual year and term overviews, exploring the curriculum that each year will be following throughout the upcoming school year.
Expanding the curriculum in such a way generates intrigue and promotes Barnton’s curriculum to stand out against other local schools. With a page view increase of 70% to the ‘Our Curriculum’ pages since launch, this new way to demonstrate the information has been a proven success.
Introducing New Functionality
As part of the newly developed horizontal scrolling pages, icon buttons were introduced to several of the specific curriculum topics linking each to downloadable PDFs full of more in-depth information.
Exploring topics such as UK Regional Geography and Coding these documents, although featured on the previous version of the curriculum, are now easy to locate and appear as part of the educational journey rather than separate components lost within the website.
Taking The Next Step In Learning Together
Ruskin Community High School
Progressing through to KS3, Ruskin Community High School in Crewe wanted to showcase the progression of their school curriculum as the journey their pupils take throughout their time at the school.
Taking the pupils down a winding road of intrigue, curiosity and learning through every subject from years 7-11, Ruskin’s bespoke Curriculum Journey embodies these visions. Maintaining the pre-established branding each journey is designed to flow through the subject pages as an easy-to-follow pathway clearly displaying each topic along with its association to the school’s PSHCE and Careers programs.
Again found within the main website navigation the ‘Curriculum’ tab links directly to the bespoke landing page showcasing the core values of not only the curriculum but the school. Promoting the DfE school website requirements to be featured prominently.
Instantly Recognisable Iconography
Separating and expanding the pages to independently feature subjects, brought about the introduction of new specifically chosen icons used throughout to align with each topic matter.
From Physical Education to iMedia, across all subjects, four unique icons were designed that summarise and convey the core learning material within the educational journey. These icons have since become synonymous with Ruskin’s educational system, becoming part of print materials around the school building and promoting the unique curriculum to prospective parents.
New Ideas, New Marketing
When deciding how to showcase your school curriculum on your website, our team focuses on finding technological and design intricacies that can be expanded throughout the educational facility. Whether that be through print media or school workbooks, elements such as the bespoke icons used in Ruskin’s curriculum journey’s that have been used in all forms of promotional marketing.
Expanding the school’s branding, these details allow for the creation of full marketing suites that become instantly recognisable to those within and outside of the school.
In the competitive landscape of school registration, bringing forward these elements can be used to introduce new parents and pupils to an easy-to-understand educational landscape. Promoting the school’s topics and specialities ahead of any potential competition.
Taking The Next Step In Learning Together
Ruskin Community High School
Progressing through to KS3, Ruskin Community High School in Crewe wanted to showcase the progression of their school curriculum as the journey their pupils take throughout their time at the school.
Taking the pupils down a winding road of intrigue, curiosity and learning through every subject from years 7-11, Ruskin’s bespoke Curriculum Journey embodies these visions. Maintaining the pre-established branding each journey is designed to flow through the subject pages as an easy-to-follow pathway clearly displaying each topic along with its association to the school’s PSHCE and Careers programs.
Again found within the main website navigation the ‘Curriculum’ tab links directly to the bespoke landing page showcasing the core values of not only the curriculum but the school. Promoting the DfE school website requirements to be featured prominently.
Instantly Recognisable Iconography
Separating and expanding the pages to independently feature subjects, brought about the introduction of new specifically chosen icons used throughout to align with each topic matter.
From Physical Education to iMedia, across all subjects, four unique icons were designed that summarise and convey the core learning material within the educational journey. These icons have since become synonymous with Ruskin’s educational system, becoming part of print materials around the school building and promoting the unique curriculum to prospective parents.
New Ideas, New Marketing
When deciding how to showcase your school curriculum on your website, our team focuses on finding technological and design intricacies that can be expanded throughout the educational facility. Whether that be through print media or school workbooks, elements such as the bespoke icons used in Ruskin’s curriculum journey’s that have been used in all forms of promotional marketing.
Expanding the school’s branding, these details allow for the creation of full marketing suites that become instantly recognisable to those within and outside of the school.
In the competitive landscape of school registration, bringing forward these elements can be used to introduce new parents and pupils to an easy-to-understand educational landscape. Promoting the school’s topics and specialities ahead of any potential competition.
Aligning Your Curriculum With
The DfE School Website Requirements
Updating Your Website For Ofsted Approval
Needing to be updated regularly, the creativity of the curriculum information on your school website can quickly fall by the wayside.
It’s time to move on from uploading the same boring PDFs or text documents every year. Truly dive into your curriculum with passion and showcase the wonderful lessons, teachers and journeys your pupils explore as part of your school.
Bring to life your school branding by introducing unique elements, functionality and designs that impress prospective parents as they stick around on your school’s website to learn all you have to offer.
Partner with Design Office and explore the possibilities of a brand new and exciting online curriculum that parents, pupils and teachers will love. Reach out to our team on 01270 252106 or send an email to sales@designoffice.co.uk to get started.