Head threatens to bar Ofsted in tragedy protest
...but parents hit back at disruption
A HEAD teacher caused fury among parents yesterday after threatening to block Ofsted inspectors from her school.
Flora Cooper had pledged to deny officials entry to John Rankin Schools in Newbury, Berkshire, in protest over the death of fellow headteacher Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry, 53, took her life while waiting for a report that would label Caversham Primary School in Reading ‘inadequate’ – the lowest possible rating.
Her heartbroken family branded the watchdog’s report findings ‘unfair’ and ‘ deeply harmful’.
In an effort to make a stand against Ofsted, Ms Cooper called on supporters to flock to her school’s gates as inspectors arrived yesterday. But hours later, she called off the protest and hinted the inspection would go ahead.
Furious parents told of the disruption caused by the stunt. Vanessa Pummell, a teacher at a nearby school, had to take her son and daughter to work after she was told lessons would start late.
She said: ‘I understand the cause but it is not a great way of handling it. It is one of those things that have to be done [inspections]. And it’s just disruption for the children again, after the strikes and everything.’
Angela Jarman added it was ‘frustrating’ that Ms Cooper, understood to have been in her
job since September, had ‘disrupted’ her morning. The 66year- old had to drop off her granddaughter at the nursery instead of the girl’s parents, who were rushing to work.
She said: ‘I don’t think [the teachers] should be doing what they’re doing at all. I quite agree with what Ofsted are doing.’
As staff filtered into the school, teachers – some wearing black armbands – held a
silent protest at the gates. They were joined by ex-teachers Liz, 50 and Ellen, 44, who held placards reading ‘RIP Ruth’.
Holding a speaker, Ms Cooper emerged, blasting Justin Timberlake’s song Can’t Stop The Feeling! Liz, who was mentored by Ms Perry, said: ‘It is just unimaginable. There is not a day where I don’t think about Ruth.’
Teaching unions have urged Ofsted to pause inspections this week. The calls were echoed by Ms Perry’s sister Julia Waters. Ahead of this week’s inspection, Ms Cooper was asked if she was concerned about parents’ frustration over the protest. ‘No, it had to be done,’ she said.
She is understood to have had meetings with the governors on Monday as the Department for Education warned inspections were a ‘legal requirement’. A governors’ spokesman said the school would ‘fully engage’ in the inspection.
Primary school leaders in Suffolk yesterday met to decide whether to take ‘ collective action’ during Ofsted inspections, such as wearing black armbands.An inquest into Ms Perry’s death will take place later this year.
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‘There isn’t a day I don’t think of Ruth’
NO ONE can feel anything but sorrow for the grieving family of Ruth Perry, the head who killed herself shortly before Ofsted downgraded her school to inadequate.
the fact her loved ones blame the education watchdog for her death, claiming inspectors put her under intolerable pressure and reached sensationalist conclusions, clearly needs taking seriously and requires review.
Yet even before this tragedy is fully explained, it has been seized upon by teaching unions desperate to see the assessment regime brought down.
Yes, inspections can be stressful. But it is vital an independent body ensures schools provide the best possible educations.
By driving up classroom standards that had floundered for decades, Ofsted has benefited pupils, parents – and teachers.