Reflections on the Ofsted Update – Issue 1

Last week, we welcomed HMI Christopher Stevens to present an Ofsted update on music in schools. 

We were surprised by the volume of questions that attendees submitted to Chris that we at Music Mark exist to answer: we are here to support, connect and influence, and are happy to take your questions at any time. This series of articles will summarise the key messages Chris shared and answer your questions.

In this first issue, we’ll focus on the new revised framework and quality marks. The next two articles will cover assessment and inspecting music.

What do you need to know about the renewed Ofsted framework, as a music educator? 

Overview 

• The Education Inspection Framework (EIF) has a renewed approach – not a new approach. 
• The EIF that has been used up until now, and the renewed framework are designed to evaluate the quality of education in schools. They have never been designed to evaluate the quality of education in individual subjects. 
• ‘Striking the right note’ and the music research review are still relevant as they make sense of the principles set out in the EIF within the context of music education.  

What is new?

• The Renewed EIF takes effect from November 2025. 
• Report cards will be introduced from November 2025. 

New toolkits 

This inspection toolkit is based on statutory duties and non-statutory guidance, professional standards, research and inspection evidence. What inspectors are looking for is based on the same research that underpinned the EIF. The State-funded school inspection toolkit shows how Ofsted will assess and grade all providers in different evaluation areas. For schools (including early years and further education) there is an evaluation area for curriculum and teaching. As before, inspectors are considering how well the curriculum is sequenced and how well teachers adapt their approaches for pupils with different starting points. 

 New inspection methodology 

Evidence during inspection will no longer be gathered with deep dives. If music is an identified strength of the school, encourage leaders to tell inspectors during the ‘planning call’. The aim of the planning call is ‘to have a meaningful and professional conversation about the school, its context, and leaders’ views about its strengths and priorities for improvement’.  

Your questions answered by Music Mark Schools Manager

You asked: ‘How do we get the Music Mark’ and ‘How do we get Artsmark’?

Abi answers: ‘It is GREAT that teachers are asking how they can work towards a quality mark for the music education they deliver in school. We know you are extremely proud of what you do and what your pupils achieve, so here are three clarifications on quality marks’: 

1. There is no quality award for music called the Music Mark. We, Music Mark, are one of the subject associations for music education, and despite the word ‘mark’ being in our organisation name we do not award schools with a ‘Music Mark’. We do have membership for schools to access training and events, and we launched the ‘Music Mark of Recognition’ for schools in September. Find out more about the Music Mark of Recognition for schools here.
2. The Artsmark award is the only award for arts and culture provision in England. It is a whole school development tool accredited by Arts Council England with a framework designed to work alongside your school intent, implementation and is awarded based on the impact you can demonstrate. Your commitment to music can be the focus of your Artsmark journey. For further information visit artsmark.org.uk.
3. We work closely with the other two subject associations for Music Education – The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) and The Music Teachers Association (MTA). MTA have recently launched the MTA Quality Mark, find out more here. 

Issue 2 of Reflections on Update from Ofsted will be published next week and will focus on your questions about Assessment.  

You can watch the recordings from the most recent Ofsted session and all previous sessions by searching ‘Ofsted’ on our resources page.  

Please email any further questions you have to info@musicmark.org.uk.