Deep Dives at secondary - excessive observations

[noblegiraffe]

New Ofsted Framework - I knew that this had been causing workload issues at primary where subject leaders with no TLR or planning time are suddenly expected to have massive in-depth knowledge of the curriculum, but I just saw this on twitter about how it is working at secondary.

twitter.com/jxanna91/status/1184198287135518720?s=21

The list of questions I suppose seem fair enough for a HoD, although in my school we have faculties of sometimes unrelated subjects so the HoF would presumably be grilled intensively about a subject they’ve never taught.
The bit that really caught my eye though was

“Where a subject has been selected for a DD, some teachers were observed for 4 lessons, 20 minutes at each time”.

Can you imagine the stress of being that teacher? Of the changes made to Ofsted inspections in recent years, the stopping of grading of individual teachers and the lighter touch when it came to classroom observations has been the most welcome.

This, I think, is too much. Has anyone experienced it?

[Piggywaspushed]

I presume the observations are of different teachers, though?

[noblegiraffe]

It says some teachers were observed for 4 lessons, not 4 lessons were observed.

If it were different teachers then that wouldn’t be worthy of comment, just business as normal?

[Piggywaspushed]

I honestly don't think she means that, though. She means within the subject, there were 4 observations. She has commented on everything, worthy or not, I'd say. From what I have read elsewhere , my reading of it fits.

[Piggywaspushed]

In other words for some, read a selection of... it's ambiguous English usage!

[noblegiraffe]

Maybe I’m coming from a maths perspective? I’d expect Ofsted to observe 4(+) maths lessons whether selected for a deep dive or not.

Good if your reading is correct! Presumably if a small department subject is picked for a deep dive then 4 lessons would mean the same teacher being observed more than one?

[ValancyRedfern]

I'm the only teacher in my dept so it would be all me. We had an Ofsted just before the summer so I'm hoping this has all blown over by the time they get back to us!

[noblegiraffe]

How often were you observed during your old framework inspection? Not sure what’s normal for non-core departments.

[ooopsupsideyourhead]

I teach in a very small secondary school. came this week and one of their Deep Dive focus subjects (none core) has one teacher (also subject lead!) who yes, was seen four times in one day. And had two meetings of 45 mins each.

[noblegiraffe]

Oh bloody hell that’s awful. And given the prominence that the deep dive would be given in the report, incredibly stressful. A non-core subject lead isn’t paid enough for that kind of pressure.

Where are the unions on this?