Funding pressures hamper curriculum quality

Ofsted's report into the ways in which schools are dealing with funding pressures has found that curriculum breadth and quality of education may be coming under pressure.

It found that some schools are responding to funding pressure by reducing curriculum breadth, with languages, computing, design and technology and music most affected.

Extra-curricular provision has also been cut in a number of schools. This may reduce pupils’ opportunities to enrich their experiences and grow cultural capital.

Ofsted will be carrying out research to see whether it is helpful for inspectors to go into schools with some financial indicators, and what conversations with leaders, governors and trustees may help inform our judgements on leadership and management and quality of education. It will then decide whether to include these elements in future school inspections.