School leaders’ unions have called for Ofsted inspections to be paused following a coroner’s finding that inspection likely contributed to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
In a joint statement, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, and Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said they were “calling for an immediate pause to Ofsted inspections to allow time for meaningful action to be taken to address the concerns raised by the coroner in the inquest into the death of Ruth Perry”.
The general secretaries said they would now be writing formal letters to education secretary Gillian Keegan and Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman.
Ofsted has said today that this is the final week of inspections this term and that headteachers who do not want their school inspection to go ahead can have it to deferred until 2024.
In their statement, the union general secretaries said: “The coroner set out seven areas of concern for her Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths.
“It is important that we have clarity from Ofsted about a plan and timetable to address each area before further inspections take place.
“This is vital in reassuring schools and colleges that appropriate steps are being taken to protect and support the welfare of education staff.”
Ofsted ‘likely contributed’ to Ms Perry’s death
The joint statement comes after the Headteachers’ Roundtable group also called for an immediate pause to inspection after the coroner concluded that an Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to the death of headteacher Ms Perry.
Earlier this year, Ms Perry’s family said that she took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her school, Caversham Primary School in Reading, 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.
The inquest into Ms Perry’s death was carried out last week, with senior coroner Heidi Connor stating that Ms Perry’s “mental health deterioration and death was likely contributed to by the Ofsted inspection”.
Ms Connor also said she planned to issue a Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths in such circumstances.
‘Final week for inspections this term’
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We recognise and understand the strength of feeling in schools, following the inquest into the tragic death of Ruth Perry.
“We are immediately introducing a number of measures that we described last week and talked through with our lead inspectors today. And we are developing new training for all inspectors, to include external experts, that will take place in early January.
“These measures address several areas of concern set out by the coroner. When we receive the coroner’s report, we will urgently address all remaining issues.”
The spokesperson added: “This is the final week for inspections this term. We will use our existing deferral policy to give headteachers the ability to defer their inspection to the new year if they don’t want it to go ahead this week.
“We will explain this when we make the notification calls tomorrow. It’s important that school inspections continue, in the interests of children and parents - but we are determined to work sensitively with headteachers and their staff.”
Appeal to Keegan to pause inspections
In the statement issued today, Mr Barton and Mr Whiteman added: “Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman issued a statement last week outlining some steps in response to the coroner’s concerns including a delay to inspections of a single day to bring together lead school inspectors. We do not think this goes nearly far enough.
“We will be writing to education secretary Gillian Keegan and the chief inspector formally requesting an immediate pause to inspections to give space for proper consideration.
“This is necessary for schools and colleges to have even a modicum of confidence in the inspectorate.
“We have also spoken about our concerns to the incoming chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, who begins his term of office in January, and we have arranged for a formal meeting with him as soon as he takes up his post.”
Ms Spielman apologised on behalf of Ofsted to the family and friends of Ms Perry for the distress its inspection caused her.
In one of several changes in response following the inquest verdict, Ms Spielman announced that the inspectorate will delay inspections next week by a day in order to bring all “lead school inspectors together ahead of further school inspections”.
However, Professor Waters said that Ms Spielman’s apology was “woefully inadequate”.
Speaking after the inquest verdict, Professor Waters added that the inspectorate had apologised “for the distress rather than for causing my sister’s death”.
Ruth Perry’s ‘legacy’
Speaking at education questions in the House of Commons today, Ms Keegan said the “legacy” of Ruth Perry must be built upon to ensure “such a tragedy never happens again”.
Ms Keegan said: “Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy that left a hole in the hearts of her family, her community and her school.
“Throughout this year I’ve been honoured to work closely with Ruth’s sister, Julia, and her friends to introduce important changes to inspection practice alongside Ofsted.
“They ensure headteachers can share their inspection outcome, including with colleagues, friends and family, and our new changes mean that if a school is graded ‘inadequate’ due to ineffective safeguarding but all other judgements are ‘good’, they will be reinspected within three months - which has now happened at Caversham Primary School, which was regraded as ‘good’ this summer.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: ”Ruth Perry’s death was heartbreaking and the coroner’s findings make clear that lessons need to be learned.
“As the education secretary said in the Commons today, Ruth dedicated herself to her school and we will work with her family and Ofsted to build on her legacy, ensuring the inspection system supports students and teachers.
“Following the inquest, it’s right that Ofsted is giving schools the choice to defer inspections until January as an extension of their existing deferrals policy.”
