The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is set to encourage schools to “pause” inspections that appear to negatively affect the mental well-being of their staff. This initiative is part of Ofsted’s formal response to the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
*The schools inspectorate for England is also committing to a public consultation involving families and teachers where all perspectives will be considered. This includes potential revisions to how safeguarding is inspected and graded.
However, Perry’s family and school leaders express disappointment, stating that neither the Department for Education (DfE) nor Ofsted’s responses address the use of single-phrase judgments like “inadequate” in grading schools, which they argue impedes genuine reform.
Chief Inspector Martyn Oliver, outlining Ofsted’s response to a coroner’s findings into Perry’s death last year, emphasizes the need for sensitivity in inspections. Perry’s suicide was ruled to have been contributed to by an Ofsted inspection that downgraded her school, Caversham primary school, from outstanding to inadequate.
“As the new chief inspector, I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent such tragedies in the future,” said Oliver, who assumed his role at the beginning of the year.
Perry’s sister, Prof Julia Waters, finds encouragement in Ofsted’s new direction, stating, “Had these reforms been in place just over a year ago, perhaps my beautiful sister Ruth might still be with us today.”
The proposals aim to provide clarity on when and how inspections can be paused, ensuring it does not adversely affect judgments about a school. Ofsted plans to collaborate with school governors, local authorities, and trusts to safeguard the welfare of school leaders.
Other initiatives include a comprehensive “big listen” consultation process involving various stakeholders, such as children and parents. While education organizations acknowledge the positive steps taken by Ofsted, they assert that these proposals do not fully address their concerns.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, emphasizes the need for a continuous improvement process that makes the inspection system fairer, less punitive, and more supportive.
Despite positive steps, Barton warns that gaining the confidence of a sector battered by a harsh inspection system will require time and effort.
The DfE, in its response to the coroner, acknowledges the tragedy of Ruth Perry’s death and pledges to learn from the incident. However, Perry’s family expresses disappointment that the government has chosen to retain single-word judgments, which they argue can be misleading and harmful.
Waters emphasizes the importance of engaging with the details of inspection findings, rather than fixating on one or two words, asserting that simplicity, while convenient for bureaucrats, works against the true interests of children, parents, and teachers.