Ofsted halts inspections to train staff in empathy after suicide

OFSTED will halt its inspections until assessors receive training in protecting the well-being of school staff in the wake of a head teacher’s suicide, its chief announced.

Ruth Perry, 53, took her own life following an Ofsted inspection of Caversham Primary School in Reading. The “rude and intimidating” inspection, in Nov 2022, “likely had an effect on Ruth’s ability to deal fully with the inspection process”, a coroner found.

After the ruling, a notice outlining problems for the body to address was issued, and the general secretaries of the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) called for inspections to be paused.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector at the time, apologised to the family for the “distress that Mrs Perry undoubtedly experienced as a result of our inspection”. Sir Martyn Oliver, the new chief inspector of education in England, said an inquiry into Ofsted’s role in Perry’s death would be launched.

He said staff would also receive “immediate training and support” to reduce the stress placed on teachers during inspections. He told the BBC: “Ultimately we have to be about high standards and say to parents, ‘These are the standards that are being provided.’ But I think we can do that in a way that is far more empathetic.

“I am determined that we shall learn those lessons and we shall review our practices, we shall work with others and we shall respond fully to the coroner’s inquest.”

He said the training was part of a programme to help inspectors manage the well-being of those they are assessing.

Next week, inspectors will receive training from Mental Health First Aid England, which will then lead a rolling programme of further mental health awareness training for all inspectors.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of NAHT, said: “This announcement shows that the new chief inspector has a greater understanding of the problem.”

Perry’s family claimed Ofsted’s handling of its inspection led to her declining mental health resulting in her death.

The inspection found the school Perry led to be “inadequate”, meaning it was at risk of being forced to join an academy chain and her job was under threat.

Last month, a briefing memo emerged stating that Ofsted’s lead inspectors would spend just 90 minutes on a briefing addressing concerns raised following Perry’s death.

‘We have to be about high standards… but I think we can do that in a way that is far more empathetic’