A headteachers’ union has written to chief inspector Amanda Spielman demanding inspections be suspended “while steps are taken to address the risk to the mental health of school staff”.
The NAHT school leaders’ union said the letter is the first step in taking judicial review proceedings.
The letter cites Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which the unions said sets obligations on public authorities to take reasonable steps where there is a real and immediate risk of a loss of life.
Education unions made calls for inspections to be paused earlier this month following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, but Ms Spielman said last week that a temporary halt to school visits would be against the best interests of pupils.
There was a huge outpouring of emotion across the school sector after Ms Perry’s family said she had taken her own life after an Ofsted inspection.
An inquest into her death has not yet taken place.
The NAHT has today written to Ofsted calling for inspections to be halted “while steps are taken to address the risk to the mental health of school staff and enable suicide risk prevention to be put in place”.
General secretary Paul Whiteman said: “It shouldn’t take a tragedy to force change, but Ofsted has shown no inclination to change on its own.
“We have requested that Ofsted works with the NAHT, as recognised representatives of school leaders, to identify and agree immediate actions that can be taken.
“It is essential that these actions are discussed and agreed with the NAHT if it is to make any meaningful difference. It needs to be done with us, not to us. Up until now, those requests have been ignored. As such, we have no alternative but to go down this route.”
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We are surprised by claims that Ofsted has ignored requests to engage in discussions with NAHT.
“Amanda Spielman has met senior NAHT representatives twice in the last week, and she has clearly indicated Ofsted’s willingness to continue having constructive discussions about these issues.”
