AN Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, senior coroner Heidi Connor has told an inquest in Reading.
Ruth Perry‘s family say she took her own life after a report from the watchdog downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.
Not known, clear with picture deskHeadteacher Ruth Perry killed herself in January after her primary Caversham in Berkshire was downgraded from outstanding to inadequate[/caption]
Her sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said Ms Perry had experienced the “worst day of her life” after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year.
After Mrs Perry’s death there were widespread calls for Ofsted to revamp its school ratings system, with headteachers leading the backlash.
An inquest which explored the impact of the inspection on Mrs Perry concluded today, with senior coroner Heidi Connor delivering her findings at Berkshire Coroner’s Office.
Staff at the school said the headteacher was left tearful and incoherent after the inspection on November 15 and 16 last year.
Her husband, Jonathan Perry, previously told the inquest that his wife felt “completely devastated” in the weeks following the inspection, and that she worried about the impact of the school’s downgrading on the local community.
Mrs Perry’s GP, Tom Back, also said that he believed that there was a “link” between the inspection and the headteacher’s mental health deterioration and death, adding it contributed “in a more than minimal way”.
Concluding her inquest, senior coroner Heidi Connor said: “The evidence is clear in this respect, and I find that Ruth’s mental health deterioration and death was likely contributed to by the Ofsted inspection.”
She said the evidence was very clear in this respect.”
She added the conduct and results of the inspection, the Ofsted grading system, the confidentiality requirements, and the length of tine between the inspection and the report publication all contributed to Ruth’s death.
Ofsted inspector Alan Derry, who led the inspection at the school, said Mrs Perry was “tearful” and kept saying “it’s not looking good is it?”.
Jonathan Perry, Mrs Perry’s husband, told the inquest his wife felt the Ofsted inspector was a “bully” with an “agenda”.
He said that she was concerned that failing on child safeguarding would be the end of her career.
Mrs Perry’s GP Dr Tom Back said the Ofsted inspection of her school contributed to her death.
An inspection report, published on Ofsted’s website in March, found Ms Perry’s school to be “good” in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be “inadequate”.
Inspectors said school leaders did not have the “required knowledge to keep pupils safe from harm”, did not take “prompt and proper actions” and had not ensured safeguarding was “effective”.
Ms Connor said Mrs Perry, 53, was found by police having hanged herself at an address in Reading on January 8 this year.
A statement from one of the officers said police found a diary belonging to Mrs Perry, with entries ranging from November 14 2022 to January 6.
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Not known, clear with picture deskSenior coroner Heidi Connor ruled that the Ofsted inspection ‘likely contributed’ to the headteacher’s death[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
