Intent, Implementation and Impact: A curriculum guide
Are you embarking on a curriculum redesign? This article outlines some of the principles Ofsted look for in a broad and balanced curriculum.
What is Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact?
The 3 'I's' of education or 'Intent, Implementation and Impact' have been derived from the Ofsted inspection framework 2019. Intent indicates what is taught in schools and why it is taught. Implementation is to apply a framework within an institutional context to help children thrive and impact shows what the results will be and how something is going to make a difference.
This language has been used a lot when talking about the engagement of pupils, in this article we will attempt to unpick what it actually means and how you can design for curriculum impact. It's one thing making your curriculum intentions clear, but how do you make sure that your disadvantaged pupils and higher performing pupils are both developing their cognitive skills? If your teaching staff are in the process of rethinking how are you deliver a broad curriculum approach then you need to explore the Universal Thinking Framework. Our tools and resources will enable school leaders to build the background knowledge of their pupils alongside the academic skills needed to become lifelong learners.
What is different in the Ofsted framework?
Since September 2019, Ofsted inspectors are spending less time with the senior leaders. They are talking more to the middle leaders about curriculum intent, implementation and impact and they are more interested to know what happens in the classroom. Hence, it is much needed than ever that the middle leaders are prepared and confident. Many subject leaders have been questioned by inspectors and weren't ready for depth needed in the 'deep dives'. Just to remind us, the following are the four inspection categories of Ofsted:
What is assessed under the heading of 'Quality of education?'
This category has 3 ‘I’s: Intent, Implementation, Impact that work as subcategories and are not separately graded. The category 'Quality of education' requires more time to familiarise oneself with and is likely to cause the most interest in the new framework.
- Intent: In Curriculum Intent the inspectors will look for the curriculum and the aspirations education institutes have for their learners.
The New Inspection Framework emphasises that each primary school needs to have equal or higher expectations, providing a balanced curriculum for all.
There appears to be more focus on making the knowledge-rich and varied curriculum; nonetheless, the new framework strongly insists that the learning curriculum must not be limited to, or confused with, merely memorising facts. There must not be excessive and unnecessary attempts to ask students to learn long lists or glossaries of disconnected facts.
The other main curriculum aspect is that it must provide cultural capital demonstrated in the handbook as the fundamental knowledge that students need to be informed citizens, providing them with the best that has been said and thought and helping them to show the best of achievement and human creativity.
There is also more emphasis on teaching the inclusion of skills in the curriculum, specifically regarding preparing students for the future practice of learning and employment.
The message of depth about Curriculum Intent that is delivered clearly and loudly throughout the framework is that:
- The schools must have a balanced and broad curriculum;
- The curriculum subjects must address a wide range of topics;
- The curriculum must be coherent and well-sequenced, with skills, knowledge and cultural capital.
Implementing a Varied Curriculum
The Ofsted's chief inspector will judge schools for taking a radical curriculum continuity approach fairly. Ofsted gives positive feedback when school leaders build an effective curriculum design with pertinent curriculum intentions, coverage, sequencing and structure and implement it effectively. The evidence inspectors will collect, from dialogues with the senior and subject leaders, will mainly focus on education through curriculum intent and curriculum construction using appropriate and specific content, sequencing and the endpoints of the content.
- Implementation: Ofsted inspectors will assess how educators and other teaching staff do various tasks and what level of support they get from their senior or middle leader. They particularly assess the quality of presentation of material, subject knowledge, feedback, assessment, recall of material and responsive teaching.
Ofsted does not prefer any specific way to present the material. Teachers can apply any educational approach to present the material, according to the students' key stage and the nature of key concepts being taught to the students.
Interestingly, the inspectors give special attention to how teachers will build learners’ interest and confidence in reading. In the early education classrooms/ 1 3-year key stage levels, students' ability to read materials is closely matched to their phonics knowledge.
Special attention is given to the reading, under the headings of Impact and Implementation. The handbook also clarifies that in good schools students will be able to effectively apply mathematical procedures, concepts and knowledge, according to their age.
Inspectors will judge implementation by drawing evidence of curriculum implementation from discussions with subject leaders, classroom teachers, through observing and interviewing the students, through reviewing contextual planning, schemes of work and performing scrutiny of the students’ work. Even if good work is not fully implemented, Inspectors might give positive feedback for finding evidence of attention to curriculum implementation in progress.
Judging curriculum impact
Impact: Ofsted inspectors will assess whether or not the learners develop detailed skills and knowledge across the curriculum and achieve well as a curriculum impact.
But the emphasis isn’t only on data. The new Ofsted framework also establishes that there should be an emphasis on doing tasks that ‘allow [students] to get to destinations for meeting their aspirations, interests, and the intent of their course of study. The Inspectors don't judge impact solely on basis of academic success, they have more ways to define success.
The impact will not be judged solely on basis of schools’ internal data of assessment as evidence. The inspectors look at nationally created performance data that is available in the IDSR (inspection data summary report).
The Inspectors also look for first-hand evidence of how students are performing. They draw together evidence from the interviews (including dialogues with students about what do they remember about the content they studied in the classroom), scrutinise work, make observations and review curriculum quality through students’ exercise books, folders and nationally published information about the goals pupils have achieved before leaving the school. The inspectors will listen to how pupils read in primary schools.
Teachers need to allow sufficient learning opportunities according to a child’s stage of development and age. Practitioners with sufficient knowledge of child development understand how to assist children as they refine and practise their knowledge and skills in each area of learning and development. They support young learners, using high-quality teaching practices and a balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning experiences. The curriculum in schools must include authentic and timely assessment practices involving educational activities suitable for the eventual pupil outcomes.
Using the framework for addressing Intent, implementation and impact
Intent
Many schools have become well accustomed to the concept of knowledge organisers. These one-page documents comprise the detailed knowledge covered in any particular topic. What's missing? If the knowledge organiser contains the 'what?' of the curriculum (the to be learnt material), what's missing is the 'how?' of learning.
The Universal Thinking Framework addresses the application of skills within the curriculum. The taxonomy enables teachers and pupils to talk about the learning process and understand how to move their thinking forward. It allows teachers to think about the embedding of knowledge and how the academic content can be fully covered.
The framework can be used at departmental planning meetings to talk about how a child is going to learn a particular domain of knowledge. This can be used as the intent, you can demonstrate how are you are going to promote a deeper understanding in your classroom.
Implementation
The frameworks learning actions guide children through a course of action. Each of those actions has a corresponding set of key questions that can be used to interrogate the essential knowledge. Over time, children begin to understand what these actions mean and can engage in the learning process more effectively.
Additional questions can be integrated into the sequence of learning and the children's journey can be adapted with new lines of enquiry. On a practical level, the icons of the actions can be integrated into PowerPoint, worksheets and also the children's desks.
Impact
More recently, we have turned our attention to how the framework can be used as an assessment tool. Using the learning actions along with the key question can help teachers very quickly develop assessment tools that check for deeper knowledge. These academic skills enable pupils to understand what is meant by 'knowing' something.
For example, developing the accumulation of knowledge is one thing but what purposeful activities can you use this knowledge for? The framework allows teachers to check for understanding during the learning process, here are some examples:
- Generate three further questions.
- Rank the most important ideas you came up with.
- Think of three new adjectives that describe the main character.
- Summarise the key findings of the experiment.
- Elaborate with the rest of the class on your key findings.
Quality of Curriculum Examples for School Leaders
In primary education, understanding and demonstrating curriculum intent, implementation, and impact is crucial for preparing for school inspections. Here are nine fictional examples across various subject areas:
- Mathematics: The school's curriculum intent was to ensure students have a solid understanding of basic arithmetic before progressing to more complex concepts. Teachers implemented this by starting with hands-on activities like counting objects before moving onto abstract concepts. The impact was measured by students' ability to solve complex problems without counting aids.
- English: The intent was to develop students' love for reading. This was implemented by incorporating a variety of genres in the reading list and dedicating time for independent reading. The impact was seen in students choosing to read during their free time.
- Science: The intent was to foster curiosity and scientific thinking. Teachers implemented this by incorporating experiments and observations into lessons. The impact was evident in students asking insightful questions and making connections between their observations and scientific theories.
- History: The intent was to help students understand the significance of historical events. This was implemented by relating historical events to current affairs. The impact was seen in students' ability to draw parallels between past and present events.
- Geography: The intent was to develop students' understanding of the world. This was implemented by incorporating virtual field trips and guest speakers from different countries. The impact was seen in students' increased awareness of global issues.
- Art: The intent was to encourage creativity and self-expression. This was implemented by allowing students to choose their own art projects. The impact was seen in the variety and originality of students' artwork.
- Physical Education: The intent was to promote physical health and teamwork. This was implemented by incorporating team sports and health education into the curriculum. The impact was seen in students' improved physical health and teamwork skills.
- Music: The intent was to expose students to different musical genres and instruments. This was implemented by incorporating music appreciation lessons and instrument tutorials. The impact was seen in students' ability to identify different musical genres and play basic tunes on various instruments.
- Social Skills: The intent was to develop students' interpersonal skills. This was implemented by incorporating group projects and role-play scenarios. The impact was seen in students' improved communication and conflict resolution skills.
These examples demonstrate how schools can clearly articulate their curriculum intent, implement it effectively, and measure its impact. By doing so, they can prepare for inspections and ensure they are providing a high-quality education for their students.
Key Insights:
- Clear articulation of curriculum intent, implementation, and impact is crucial for school inspections.
- Curriculum should be designed with the end goal in mind and implemented effectively.
- The impact of the curriculum should be measurable and evident in students' learning outcomes.
What does intent, implementation and impact look like in EYFS?
In the field of early years education, the national curriculum sets out the curriculum content and learning goals that children should achieve. Intent, implementation, and impact are key concepts that help to ensure that the curriculum is effective in promoting the development of children. Intent refers to the goals and learning outcomes that inform the curriculum content. It is important to ensure that these goals are appropriate for the age and stage of the children and reflect a progression of knowledge and skills.
Implementation is about the quality of teaching and the ways in which the curriculum is delivered. This includes a combination of child-initiated and adult-supported activities, as well as opportunities for children to develop key skills such as communication and social interaction. Quality of teaching is essential to ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds receive an equal and inclusive education.
Finally, impact refers to the achievement of learning goals and pupil progress. It is important to carefully monitor the progress of all children to ensure that they are making the expected progress and that they have opportunities to reach their full potential. The effective implementation of the national curriculum ensures that all children have equal opportunities to succeed and develop into confident learners.
9 Ideas for Demonstrating Intent, implementation and impact
For UK state school leaders aiming to align with OFSTED's guidelines on the intent, implementation, and impact of their curriculum, it is vital to demonstrate how these elements are actively being addressed within their schools. Here is a list of nine key points that can be used to showcase the curriculum's effectiveness, focusing on its delivery and impact:
- Curriculum Mapping: Initiate comprehensive curriculum mapping that details how each subject, including its content and pedagogy, aligns with the school’s educational goals. This should highlight the structured acquisition of knowledge and showcase the connectivity between different learning stages.
- Balanced Curriculum: Develop and maintain a balanced curriculum that not only meets academic standards but also incorporates elements of the wider curriculum such as arts, sports, and citizenship. This approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that promotes both intellectual and personal growth.
- Formation of Curriculum Teams: Establish curriculum teams consisting of teachers from various disciplines to collaborate on integrating and enhancing the curriculum. These teams play a crucial role in ensuring that the curriculum remains dynamic and responsive to student needs and current educational trends.
- Metacognitive Strategies: Embed metacognitive strategies within teaching practices to enhance learnability and self-awareness among students. This involves teaching students to think about their own learning processes, thereby improving their ability to manage and direct their own learning effectively.
- Responsive Teaching: Implement responsive teaching strategies that adapt instructional techniques based on real-time assessments of student understanding. This ensures that teaching is always aligned with the learners' needs, enhancing both engagement and educational outcomes.
- Exploratory Talk: Encourage exploratory talk within classrooms to foster a deeper understanding of curriculum content. This dialogue-driven approach helps students articulate their thoughts and refine their ideas through peer and teacher interaction.
- Tactile Learning Opportunities: Integrate tactile learning opportunities into lessons where applicable, such as in science and maths, to reinforce theoretical knowledge through practical application. This hands-on approach aids in solidifying students’ understanding and retention of complex concepts.
- Documenting the Learner Journey: Systematically document the learner journey across various subjects and topics to track progress and identify learning milestones and challenges. This documentation can be used as evidence of curriculum effectiveness during inspections.
- Professional Development on Subject Pedagogy: Regularly provide professional development opportunities focused on subject pedagogy to enhance teachers' instructional skills and knowledge. Continuous learning for teachers is crucial in maintaining a high standard of curriculum delivery and keeping abreast of the latest educational practices.
By employing these strategies, school leaders can effectively demonstrate their curriculum's intent, implementation, and impact, ensuring compliance with OFSTED standards and promoting an educational environment that is both enriching and accountable.
Further reading on Intent Implementation and Impact
Here are four studies with potential synergies with OFSTED's "intent, implementation, and impact" framework, particularly exploring its origins and implications in educational settings:
1. How do implementation intentions promote goal attainment? A test of component processes
Authors: Thomas Llewelyn Webb, P. Sheeran
Summary: This study investigates how implementation intentions enhance goal achievement by mediating the accessibility of specified situational cues and the strength of cue-response links. It provides a foundational perspective on how such intentions might underpin OFSTED's focus on intent and impact, illustrating the psychological mechanisms that facilitate goal-directed behavior in educational contexts.
2. Implementation matters: Using complier average causal effect estimation to determine the impact of the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) curriculum on children’s quality of life
Authors: Margarita Panayiotou, N. Humphrey, Alexandra Hennessey
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of the PATHS curriculum, using an implementation framework that aligns with OFSTED's criteria, showing small but significant improvements in children's psychological well-being. The research underscores the importance of implementation quality in achieving educational outcomes.
3. Implementation Matters: A Review of Research on the Influence of Implementation on Program Outcomes and the Factors Affecting Implementation
Authors: J. Durlak, E. P. DuPre
Summary: Durlak and DuPre review over 500 studies to conclude that the level of implementation significantly affects outcomes in educational and prevention programs, reinforcing the OFSTED model's emphasis on effective implementation to enhance educational impacts.
4. Evaluation of a Muslim Pre-School in the United States Using Elements of the Ofsted Model
Authors: H. Elannani
Summary: This study applies OFSTED's evaluation criteria to a Muslim pre-school in the U.S., demonstrating improvements in educational practices following an OFSTED-style inspection. The findings support the model's utility beyond the UK, impacting curriculum and teaching enhancements.