Teachers blast Ofsted's 'toxic inspections' after headteacher took her own life while waiting for report
22.03.2023 - 20:12
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Teachers in Manchester have criticised what they claim is a 'broken' Ofsted system following the death of a headteacher.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Ruth Perry's death have made headlines around the world. Her family said an inspection at her school - Caversham Primary School in Reading - had turned her into 'an absolute shadow of herself'.
Sister Professor Julia Waters said inspectors claimed a boy doing a 'floss' dance move, from the video game Fortnite, was evidence of the sexualisation of children at the school and that the 53-year-old took her own life waiting for a negative Ofsted report.
READ MORE: Nursery boss says 30 hours free childcare scheme will never work unless 'workforce crisis' is addressed
The tragedy has sparked an outcry across the profession, with the National Education Union; school leaders' union NAHT; and the Association of School and College Leaders calling for inspections to be halted.
One headteacher in Berkshire, Flora Cooper, said she would refuse access to inspectors after receiving the call from them earlier this week. West Berkshire council later confirmed a visit would go ahead as planned.
Photos later emerged of Flora wearing a black armband in tribute to Ruth and holding a photo of her displayed at the school gates.
Manchester teacher Lee Parkinson has shared a petition set up calling for an inquiry into the inspection at Caversham, which has amassed 170,000-plus signatures in less than a week.
After being inundated with stories from fellow teachers and headteachers about what he claims is a 'toxic inspection process', he decided to set up a form on which teachers can share their experiences anonymously.
It has so far received almost 2,000 reports, most of them critical of