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The sister of a headteacher who died by suicide following an Ofsted inspection has criticized the government for not adhering to a coroner’s recommendations that could reform the school inspection process.
In a 2023 ruling, a coroner determined that an Ofsted rating, which significantly lowered the status of Caversham Primary School in Reading, was a contributing factor in Ruth Perry’s tragic death.
On Monday, Prof. Julia Waters, Perry’s sister, called on the government to halt its revisions to the Ofsted framework, asserting that the proposed changes would perpetuate an unsafe inspection system driven by “shame.”
In an interview on Radio 4’s Today program, Waters emphasized the need for a supportive and equitable system that genuinely considers the coroner’s warnings presented at her sister’s inquest. “It’s crucial that the system reflects a commitment to learning from devastating events like Ruth’s death rather than dismissing them,” Waters stated.
She also flagged the coroner’s caution about future risks if genuine learning from such tragedies was not prioritized. However, Waters criticized both Ofsted and the Department for Education, noting that they failed to recognize Ruth’s death in their consultations, instead proposing superficial changes that do not constitute the significant reform necessary.
In collaboration with school leaders and various national organizations, Waters has co-signed an open letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, advocating for a reevaluation of the proposed inspection changes.
Waters remarked, “The existing system remains fundamentally flawed, rooted in competitive pressures rather than constructive support, leaving headteachers vulnerable to the consequences of unreliable assessments.”
The letter addressed to Phillipson highlights concerns that the proposed system would negatively impact the wellbeing of education staff, subsequently affecting students’ experiences in schools.
It points out that the new report cards and grading frameworks do not adequately respond to the coroner’s recommendations following Perry’s death, nor do they address the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into Ofsted’s operations, initiated due to widespread concerns associated with Perry’s situation.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education defended the proposed changes, stating they are essential for improving educational standards. “The previous system placed undue pressure on teachers while providing limited information to parents,” they explained, promising that the feedback from the consultations would be taken into account before finalizing any approaches.
Last year, the government announced plans to eliminate the single-word grading system used by Ofsted, which previously classified schools as outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate. In February, Ofsted initiated a consultation to develop a new report card system that would assess schools across multiple domains, such as attendance and behavior, using a color-coded five-point scale.
Under the new system, schools would receive ratings ranging from red for “causing concern” to various shades of green representing levels of security and excellence.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted at freephone 116 123, or via email at jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor. In Australia, Lifeline can be reached at 13 11 14. For international crisis support services, please visit befrienders.org.
Source
www.theguardian.com