Ruth Perry’s sister accuses Ofsted of ‘marking its own homework’ in death review
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Ruth Perry’s sister has accused Ofsted of “marking its own homework” after a former chief inspector was appointed to lead the review into the head teacher’s suicide.
Mrs Perry took her own life after Ofsted downgraded her school, Caversham primary in Reading, from its highest rating to its lowest, in November 2022.
In December, a coroner ruled the “rude and intimidating” visit from a schools watchdog inspector “likely contributed to her death”.
Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perry’s sister, said she and her family welcomed the independent review into Ofsted’s response.
Prof Waters said they would need reassurances that Dame Christine Gilbert, a former head of Ofsted, who is leading the review, could give an impartial assessment.
She said: “Given that Dame Christine Gilbert is a former head of Ofsted, we and others will need to be convinced that she has the necessary independence of perspective that is required for the task.
“The review needs to be rigorous and explore Ofsted’s systems, practices and culture in depth if it is to learn the lessons required to lead to significant change. I hope we get that assurance, and I hope she can do what is needed.”
Prof Waters added: “It could feel a bit like Ofsted has set its own homework and has got an old friend to mark it.
“I hope that isn’t the case. Only a truly independent and deep inquiry will be able to reassure my family, and teachers, parents and others that Ofsted is serious about change.”
She recognised that the review should not drag on unnecessarily, but called for Dame Christine to interpret the scope of the case in a way that “provides opportunity to properly review what Ofsted does and how it can improve”.
“I look forward to meeting Dame Christine and sharing my family’s experiences and concerns with her,” Prof Waters added.
Last week, Amanda Spielman, the former Ofsted chief, suggested adults’ feelings must not be put before children’s needs.
In her first interview since leaving Ofsted, Ms Spielman defended the inspectorate’s right to have “difficult conversations”, likening it to a doctor giving a “difficult diagnosis”.
Ms Spielman, who was in charge of the watchdog for seven years, said there was no “perfect world in which everyone can be happy”.
The 63-year-old said focusing on “being nice to the adults” who work in public services often came “at the expense of the service users”.
She warned that Britain was heading to a “dangerous place” where it was “impossible to give a tough message”.
Ofsted has come under greater scrutiny since Mrs Perry’s suicide in January last year. Her school was downgraded before her death from “outstanding” to “inadequate” over safeguarding concerns.
At the start of this year, Ofsted inspections were paused in England to ensure inspectors were given mental health awareness training.
The watchdog also published new guidance for schools on how to request an Ofsted inspection be paused, if staff show signs of distress.
Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, said he was grateful to Dame Christine for agreeing to lead the review, with her “wealth of experience in schools, in inspection, and in undertaking a range of reviews”.
Dame Christine has taken part in previous education reviews as well as Baroness Casey’s report into the Metropolitan Police last year.
Ofsted said she would have access to relevant internal records and be able to speak with any member of Ofsted staff.
The Big Listen public consultation, seeking views about Ofsted, was launched last month.
Tom Middlehurst, inspection specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed Dame Christine’s appointment, but said his concern remains “that neither the review nor the Big Listen tackle the key issue of single-phrase judgments – the very feature of the system which makes inspections so high-stakes and drives stress and anxiety”.
