Ofsted under pressure as school refuses visit after teacher took own life over report

School inspectors Ofsted are under mounting pressure after they were barred from entering a school following the death of a headteacher after a negative report. Ruth Perry, former headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berks, took her own life in January while waiting for the results of an Ofsted inspection.

Ms Perry, 53, had been told that her school was being downgraded from Outstanding to Inadequate following what she described as the “worst day of her life” when inspectors visited on November 15 and 16 last year. She died by suicide in January.

Now Flora Cooper, executive headteacher at John Rankin School in nearby Newbury, Berks, claims she has informed inspectors not to turn up for a new inspection at her own school.

In a tweet posted on Monday, which has received more than 20,000 likes, Ms Cooper said she was taking ‘the stand’ and wrote: “I’ve just had the call. I’ve refused entry. This is an interesting phone call. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!”

But in a follow-up tweet she called off the protests out of concern for her pupils and staff, and said: “Please can people not come to school now in the morning. I have to protect our children, our staff and our community.”

A petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Caversham Primary School has more than 66,000 signatures.

Three unions representing teachers and school leaders have urged Ofsted to pause inspections this week. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said it is “important” that people listen to what Ms Perry’s family have to say regarding their determination that “something like this should never happen again”.

He added: “Whilst it should never take a tragedy like this to prompt action, this has to be a watershed moment.

“The anger and hurt being expressed currently by school staff is palpable. It is essential that all policymakers, including Ofsted, listen and respond.

“Given the strength of feeling and the need for a period of calm reflection, Ofsted should pause inspections this week.”

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), called it “the height of insensitivity” for Ofsted to inspect schools or colleges this week.

She said: “Ofsted should pause all its inspections and reflect upon the unmanageable and counter-productive stress they cause for school leaders, and the impact on leaders.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Ofsted should undertake an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and staff, and a pause in the inspection cycle would allow for a period in which this could happen.”

Matthew Purves, Ofsted’s regional director for the South East, said: “We were deeply saddened by Ruth Perry’s tragic death. Our thoughts remain with Mrs Perry’s family, friends and everyone in the Caversham Primary School community.”

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