07 December 2023 , 22:56
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Ofsted has apologised to the family of headteacher Ruth Perry and vowed to “do more” to reduce the pressure on schools.
The 53-year-old was found dead in January this year after being told her school – Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire – was being downgraded from "outstanding" to "inadequate", the lowest possible rating. Her family said she took her own life after a report from the watchdog.
This week an inquest found an Ofsted inspection "likely contributed" to Ruth’s death. Her sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said Ms Perry had experienced the "worst day of her life" after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year.
Julia Waters, Ruth's sister, speaking to the media (PA)Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman apologised on behalf of the schools regulator to the family and friends of Ruth Perry. She 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. After Mrs Perry’s death we made changes to the way we work, to help reduce the pressure felt by school leaders. We will do more. The Coroner highlighted a number of areas of concern. We will work hard to address each of these as soon as we can, and we are starting that work straight away.”
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She added the watchdog was delaying next week’s inspections by a day and setting up a hotline for schools with concerns, saying: “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.
"As well as addressing the issue of anxiety, we will be clear with inspectors what to do if a pause is needed. We will also make it clear through our inspection handbook that school leaders can be accompanied by colleagues in meetings with inspectors, and that they can share inspection outcomes with colleagues, family, medical advisers and their wider support group, before they are shared with parents. From next week, we will provide all schools with a number to call if they have concerns about their inspection. This will put them directly in touch with someone senior from Ofsted.
“It’s right that we inspect first and foremost in the interests of children, their parents and carers. But in the light of Mrs Perry’s sad death, it’s also vital that we do all we can to minimise stress and anxiety when we inspect. Our inspectors are all former or current school leaders.
"They have a deep understanding of the work that schools do and the demands on school leaders – because they have done that work themselves. We will continue to listen to heads and teachers, and to refine and improve the way we work, with school staff in mind.”
Speaking at Reading Town Hall following the inquest, Ruth Perry's sister said the headteacher was "let down by an Ofsted system that was beset with glaring gaps, inconsistencies, and blind spots". She said: "Ruth was a head teacher, and also a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a dear friend to so many people. She died 11 months ago tomorrow. Her death has left an unfillable hole in all our lives.”