Ruth Perry: family blame Ofsted inspection for head teacher’s death

The family of a head teacher who took her own life have said that her death was a “direct result” of the pressure put on her during an Ofsted inspection at her school.

Ruth Perry, head of Caversham Primary School in Reading, died in January before the final report from the schools watchdog had been issued.

In the report published this week Ofsted “gave the school the lowest possible rating despite being good in every category bar leadership and management”, reported Sky News.

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Perry’s family accused inspectors of reaching conclusions that were “sensationalist and drawn from scant evidence”. They were “in no doubt” that Perry’s death was “a direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome of an Ofsted inspection at her school”.

Ofsted has come in for heavy criticism in recent months. One of its former inspectors, Paul Garvey, told the Independent that the Perry case showed that it was “time that Ofsted should be abolished”. He said: “It’s a toxic organisation, it’s costing people’s lives.”

The publication of the Ofsted report has unleashed an “outpouring of angst about the system”, said the BBC’s education editor Branwen Jeffreys. But there “is also a bigger debate about whether single grades for schools make sense, with the Labour party saying it would move to a system of report cards”.

According to The Telegraph, the Primary Headteachers’ Association in Suffolk has “written to the schools inspectorate saying its members have discussed wearing black armbands and holding a one-minute silence during future Ofsted visits”.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT union, said Perry’s death must be a “watershed moment”. “It cannot be right that we treat dedicated professionals in this way. Something has to change,” he added.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said inspections were a “legal requirement” and “hugely important as they hold schools to account for their educational standards”.

“We offer our deep condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Perry following her tragic death and are continuing to provide support to Caversham Primary School at this difficult time.”