Family of primary school headteacher who killed herself blast ‘unfair’ and ‘sensationalist’ Ofsted report – as another school prepares to refuse inspectors entry today and unions urge watchdog to halt all inspections this week
- Caversham Primary School’s Ruth Perry killed herself after poor Ofsted report
- The family of headteacher Perry blasted the report as ‘unfair’ and ‘sensationalist’
The family of a primary school headteacher who killed herself has blasted Ofsted’s ‘unfair’ and ‘sensationalist’ report.
Mother-of-two Ruth Perry, 53, took her life in January, a month after the watchdog downgraded Caversham Primary School, in Reading, Berkshire, from outstanding to inadequate.
After the outcry about the system, the John Rankin Schools in Newbury, Berkshire, is preparing to refuse inspectors entry today and unions have urged Ofsted to stop all inspections this week.
Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, said in a statement on behalf of the family that she was under ‘intolerable pressure’ as she waited for the report that would label her primary school in Reading as inadequate, which is the lowest rating.
She said: ‘We are in no doubt that Ruth’s death was a direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome of an Ofsted inspection at her school.
Mother-of-two Ruth Perry (pictured) killed herself in January, a month after Ofsted downgraded Caversham Primary School, in Reading, from outstanding – an experience she called the worst day of her life
It comes after Mrs Perry’s sister Ms Walters (pictured together) called on headteachers and unions to ‘boycott Ofsted’
Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury has said she will refuse Ofsted
She made the announcement on Twitter and called for other schools to support her
‘We do not for an instant recognise Ofsted’s ‘inadequate’ judgement as a true reflection of Ruth’s exemplary leadership or of the wonderful school she led.’
The family said that inspector’s conclusions were ‘sensationalist and drawn from scant evidence’ and that for Ms Perry teaching was her ‘passion and vocation’.
They said ‘massive reform’ was needed of the inspection system.
The family added: ‘School inspections should be a welcome and positive contribution to improve standards in education.
‘They need to be genuinely supportive and so to safeguard the health and wellbeing of hard-working, talented, altruistic headteachers and staff.
‘This is a vital part of ensuring the best educational environment for children, who are of course everyone’s priority, as they were for Ruth.’
Ms Perry’s sister Professor Julia Walters called for schools to ‘boycott Ofsted’.
Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury, Berkshire, has said she will refuse to let Ofsted in the building during a planned visit today and called on other schools to do the same.
Ms Cooper tweeted: ‘I’ve just had the call. I’ve refused entry. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!’
Ms Perry had been principal at Caversham for 12 years, always working long hours, and her family want the way in which schools are inspected and graded to be changed
Paul Whiteman, (pictured last week) general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, is now urging all policymakers to listen to the ‘important’ message from Mrs Perry’s family regarding their determination that ‘something like this should never happen again’
After a technical change, schools that were previously given outstanding ratings are being inspected for the first time in ten or more years.
Since September last year, 359 schools that had previously been called outstanding were inspected.
Only 140 stayed in the top band and five went from outstanding to inadequate.
Paul Whiteman, the head of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: ‘It cannot be right that we treat dedicated professions in this way. Something has to change.
‘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.’
His remarks and call to pause inspections this week was echoed by two other unions representing teachers and school leaders.
The Department for Education said school inspections were a ‘legal requirement’ but offered ‘deep condolences’ to the family.
A spokesman said: ‘Inspections are hugely important as they hold schools to account for their educational standards and parents greatly rely on the ratings to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child.
‘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.’
Matthew Purves, Ofsted’s chief for the southeast, 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.’
Julia Waters said her sister was anxious about the ‘countdown’ to the inspection report
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.’
The union leaders spoke out after Ms Waters launched a campaign to reform the ‘punitive’ watchdog, after claiming: ‘Ruth killed herself because of this Ofsted report.’
In a Facebook post, Ms Walters called on headteachers and unions to boycott the watchdog ‘until a thorough, independent review has been conducted and changes implemented’.
An impassioned Ms Walters also called for schools to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry and remove all reference to their school’s ratings online.
She previously told MailOnline: ‘This one-word judgement is just destroying 32 years of her vocation, education was her vocation. Thirty-two years summed up in one word, ‘inadequate’.
READ MORE: ‘Ruth killed herself because of this report’: Sister of headteacher who took her own life campaigns to reform ‘punitive’ Ofsted
‘It just preyed on her mind until she couldn’t take it anymore. She was a huge loss, she was my little sister and she was only 53, she had so much more still to give, so much more that she could do.’
The headteacher had an extraordinary bond with the school, having been a pupil there. She returned in 2006 as deputy headteacher, being promoted to principal in 2010.
Mrs Perry’s sister said there is a sense of ‘complete injustice’ about the process behind the inspection and the report.
The inspection report found the school to be good in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be inadequate.
A petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Caversham Primary School has more than 39,000 signatures.
Mrs Perry had been principal at Caversham for 12 years, always working long hours, and her family want the way in which schools are inspected and graded to be changed.
The primary school had been ranked ‘outstanding’ since 2009 until November 15, when three Ofsted inspectors arrived.
This was Caversham’s first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt.
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, carried out inspection of outstanding schools, downgrading many of them.
Mrs Perry claimed inspectors told senior staff they had seen a boy ‘flossing’ – a popular dance move with tens of millions of children around the world thanks to social media – and that this was evidence of the ‘sexualisation of pupils’ at the school.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: ‘We’ve seen that a headteacher has tweeted their intention to refuse entry to an Ofsted inspection team, and this shows very clearly the strength of feeling following the tragic death of Ms Perry.
In a Facebook post, Ms Walters called on headteachers and unions to boycott the watchdog ‘until a thorough, independent review has been conducted and changes implemented’
It was Caversham Primary School’s first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt
‘Many school and college leaders and their staff find inspections and Ofsted judgments very traumatic, and this is often damaging to their wellbeing.
‘This case has brought matters to a head and something has to change. We will be discussing this with Ofsted as a matter of urgency.’
After Mrs Perry’s death, 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.’
MailOnline has approached Ofsted for a response to the planned protest.
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