Ofsted inspections halted after headteacher Ruth Perry's suicide
02.01.2024 - 12:34
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
School inspections have been halted following the death of a headteacher who killed herself after a negative Ofsted grading.
Ofsted’s new chief inspector has announced that routine inspections will not take place in schools in England at the start of term but will be halted until later in the month to ensure inspectors receive mental health training.
The decision, taken by Sir Martyn Oliver, who started in the new role on New Year's Day, comes after school leaders’ unions called for Ofsted inspections to be suspended to allow time for 'meaningful action to be taken' following the inquest into the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
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Mrs Perry killed herself after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. Her death sparked widespread criticism of the education watchdog, with teachers in Manchester and beyond criticising the 'toxic inspection' process and calling for it to be overhauled.
Last month, senior coroner Heidi Connor concluded that the Ofsted inspection on November 15 and 16 in 2022 'likely contributed' to her death.
Sir Martyn, who has taken over as Ofsted’s chief inspector, has launched a package of training for inspectors, who, starting next week, will receive training from Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England who will then lead a rolling programme of further mental health awareness training for all inspectors.
The new chief inspector will focus on Ofsted’s