NSEAD's review of the Ofsted Research Review: Art and Design, 2023, will help teachers and researchers to unpack and identify key takeaways.
This review is member-led and driven by feedback, our Ofsted panel discussion, evidence and research.
This review is a positive and welcome reminder of art educators professional responsibility and that teachers are not mere curriculum operatives. There is indeed a great deal of helpful subject advocacy to celebrate.
In particular, we are pleased that the need for school leaders to provide adequate time, resources and professional development for teachers is recognised. Encouragingly also, Ofsted says that ‘Art should command an important place in every school.’ NSEAD would of course go further – to ensure every child has access to high-quality art, craft and design education, we believe that art must have an important place in every school.
Our response and takeaways follow Ofsted's five areas of focus – we have colour coded each section. We have aimed to make the content as accessible as possible and highlighted our key takeaways.
We welcome Ofsted's explicit references to the complexity of our subject, that there are no curriculum orthodoxies or a singular pedagogical approach. We also welcome the emphasis on the importance of art, craft and design in your curriculum, community, and for every learner.