Sister of head who killed herself after Ofsted report slams inadequate reforms

11 June 2023 , 23:01

429     0

A photograph of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life while waiting for an Ofsted report, on the gates of a school (Image: PA)

The sister of a headteacher who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection has blasted the watchdog for failing to scrap single-word gradings for schools.

The inspectorate has been at the centre of a storm of criticism following the death of Ruth Perry in January.

The Caversham Primary School head was expecting her school to be downgraded from 'good' to 'inadequate' when she killed herself.

Her family have blamed the "deeply harmful" pressure of the inspection for her distress.

Relations between schools and the watchdog have dramatically deteriorated since her tragic death, with teaching unions warning the inspections regime "isn't fit for purpose".

Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’

Today, Ofsted announced a formal consultation on changes to the complaints system and said schools will also be given more notice around timing of their inspections.

But it stopped short of banning the single-word ratings.

Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the changes were "a start", but failed to "adequately address the many problems that the system creates".

Ruth Perry's sister Julia Waters said the changes didn't go far enough (BBC South Today)

She added: "I am disappointed that no mention is made about removing harmful and misleading single-word judgments.

"I can understand the need to provide clarity and simplicity for parents about an inspection, but too much is hidden or lost behind a headline judgement of just one or two words."

But she welcomed plans to remove a requirement that the inspectorates' findings stay confidential before results are published and additional funding for mental health support.

Under the plans, inspection reports will refer to schools rather than individuals from September and allow heads to share outcomes with colleagues.

Schools graded inadequate due to ineffective safeguarding will see inspectors return within three months of a report being published - more quickly than the present system.

The Education Support programme, which provides wellbeing help for school leaders, will be doubled in size to support 500 more headteachers by March 2024, Ofsted said.

Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman insisted the watchdog was listening to concerns listening to the concerns raised in the wake of Ms Perry's death and has been "thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents".

Striking teacher forced to take a second job to pay bills ahead of mass walkout

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman has been under pressure since the death of headteacher Ruth Perry (PA)

But union leaders said the reforms would fail to deliver the change needed to the inspections regime.

Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: ‘This announcement signals that Ofsted recognise the need for change.

"Unfortunately, Ofsted fails to comprehend the scale of change which is needed to restore the confidence of the profession in its judgements on school quality."

School leaders union NAHT said the system will "remain fundamentally flawed" while single-word ratings are used.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: "It has taken far too long for the government and Ofsted to announce this relatively modest set of measures and school leaders remain immensely frustrated at the lack of urgency and ambition being shown. NAHT continues to call for more fundamental reform of the inspection process.

"While the Government insists on consigning schools to simplistic single word judgements, the system will remain fundamentally flawed and put unnecessary pressure on school leaders."

Ellen (left) and Liz (surnames not given) protest against Ofsted outside the gates to John Rankin Schools in Newbury, Berkshire, in March (PA)

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the plans were only a "modest" improvement and said single word gradings create a "trapdoor that is both demoralising and counterproductive".

General Secretary Geoff Barton said: "The use of single-word descriptions to judge a school or college must be scrapped, and replaced with a system that is less blunt and reductive.

"The application of an 'inadequate' rating dismisses everything that a school or college does in a single stroke and takes no account of circumstances such as funding and teacher shortages. It is a trapdoor that is both demoralising and counterproductive."

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Ofsted is central to this Government’s success in raising school standards, and it is right it continues to evolve.

“We must ensure our school leaders have the support they need, which is why today we are significantly expanding our wellbeing support. This expansion will help make sure head teachers have access to support whenever they need it.

“Taken together, today’s announcements are a really important step. I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death.”

* Follow Mirror Politics on,, and.

Lizzy Buchan