Ofsted inspections are “untenable” and should be halted until after the government has published an action plan responding to the Ruth Perry inquest report, unions have said today.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the NAHT school leaders’ union have warned of a “serious risk to the health and safety of education staff” if inspections continue, in a letter sent to the Department for Education and Ofsted today.
“We cannot see how inspections can continue to take place in schools and colleges after such a serious risk to the health and safety of education staff has been highlighted,” the unions wrote, referring to a report published yesterday by the coroner of the inquest into the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
The report called on the department and the watchdog to publish an action plan by 7 February, setting out how they will respond to concerns raised by the coroner to prevent a risk of future deaths taking place.
“It is our conclusion that Ofsted inspections are now untenable and should be halted until the actions advised by the coroner are undertaken by Ofsted and the DfE,” the letter, signed by general secretaries Geoff Barton (ASCL) and Paul Whiteman (NAHT), reads.
It also highlights that Ofsted inspectors themselves will be put in an “impossible position” by ”presiding over procedures where there is an identified health and safety risk”.
The demand from the unions comes after a coroner warned that there is a “risk of future deaths” if Ofsted does not take action following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Prevention of future deaths
Coroner Heidi Connor issued a prevention of future deaths report following an inquest that concluded earlier this month into the death of Ms Perry.
It also raised concerns about the impact of Ofsted grades and the inspectorate not carrying out a “learning review”.
The coroner has told Ofsted and the DfE that they have to respond to her concerns by 7 February 2024.
Pause Ofsted inspections
The ASCL and the NAHT have previously called for Ofsted inspections to be paused following the death of Ms Perry, but ”no decision has been made to pause inspection activity”, they write today.
The unions said they do not believe the “number of immediate steps, including training for all inspectors starting in early January and the offer made by Ofsted last week to heads to defer inspections upon request until the new year, goes far enough” and that “this situation demands a much greater sense of concerted action”.
They also said that they are “keen to work” with Ofsted’s new chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver, who will be taking over from Amanda Spielman in January next year.
“The coroner has set out seven areas of concern and asked for a response containing details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out a timetable for action, by 7 February”, they write in the letter.
“In our view, Ofsted and the DfE must fully address each area of concern and cease inspection activity until this is done.”
The DfE and Ofsted have been approached for comment.
