Amanda Spielman has apologised on behalf of Ofsted to the family and friends of headteacher Ruth Perry for the distress its inspection caused her.
In a statement issued following the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Perry’s death, the Ofsted chief inspector also announced a one-day delay to inspections next week as part of a first step to improve its training.
An inquest concluded on Thursday that the Ofsted inspection of the headteacher’s school, Caversham Primary School in Reading, “likely contributed” to Ms Perry’s death.
Ms Spielman said: ”Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy that deeply affected many people. My thoughts remain with her family, the wider Caversham school community, and everyone else who knew and loved her.
“On behalf of Ofsted, I would like to say sorry to them for the distress that Mrs Perry undoubtedly experienced as a result of our inspection.”
Spielman apology over Ruth Perry death
Ms Spielman added that Ofsted has made changes to reduce the pressures felt by school leaders and “will do more” to address concerns raised by the coroner, including a day long pause in inspections.
“We have started to develop training for all inspectors on recognising and responding to visible signs of anxiety. As a first step, we will delay our inspections next week by a day so we can bring all our lead school inspectors together ahead of further school inspections,” she said.
From next week, Ofsted will provide all schools with a phone number to call if they have concerns about their inspection. This will put them directly in touch with a senior figure at Ofsted, Ms Spielman has announced.
She said that it will now be made clear in inspection handbooks that school leaders can be accompanied by colleagues in meetings with inspectors.
Leaders can also share inspection outcomes with “colleagues, family, medical advisers and their wider support group, before they are shared with parents”, the Ofsted chief added.
Ms Perry’s family had said earlier this year that she took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her school from the watchdog’s highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.
Her sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said Ms Perry had the “worst day of her life” after inspectors reviewed the school in November last year.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor, who led the inquest into Ms Perry’s death, concluded that the Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to the death of the headteacher.
