Ruth Perry death: Ofsted against stopping school inspections

TCN Service/London

Over two months after headteacher Ruth Perry’s death, Ofsted on Thursday made it clear that stopping or preventing school preventions will not be in the interests of children, parents or the UK government.

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said their thoughts and prayers are with Ruth Perry’s family, friends and school community at Caversham Primary. But school inspectors are all former or serving school leaders.

“They understand the vital work headteachers do, and the pressures they are under. For so many colleagues, this was profoundly upsetting news to hear.

The sad news has led to an understandable outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education. There have been suggestions about refusing to cooperate with inspections, and union calls to halt them entirely,” Spielman said.

“I don’t believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children’s best interests. Our aim is to raise standards, so that all children get a great education.

It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.

Inspection plays an important part. Among other things, it looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed, and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed.

We help parents understand how their child’s school is doing and we help schools understand their strengths and areas for improvement. It’s important for that work to continue,” she added.

Spielman stated that any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs of both parents and of the government.

“The right and proper outcome of Ofsted’s work is a better education system for our children.

To that end, we aim to do good as we go and to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can.

We will keep our focus on how inspections feel for school staff and on how we can further improve the way we work with schools,” she added.

Ruth Perry, headteacher at Caversham Primary, allegedly took her own life in January this year after alleged pressure from inspectors as her school was rated as ‘inadequate’.

This has led to widespread protests from the teaching community to abolish the system and even refusing to cooperate with Ofsted inspectors.