Ofsted chief vows to make changes after death of headteacher Ruth Perry
Ofsted’s chief inspector has vowed to make changes to the system in the wake of the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
Mrs Perry took her own life in January last year after Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, was downgraded from top grade, “outstanding”, to the lowest, “inadequate”.
The Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to her death, an inquest concluded.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor issued a series of recommendations in a Prevention of Future Deaths report, which Ofsted formally responded to on Friday.
Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver, appointed head of the education watchdog at the start of the year, said he is “determined to do everything in my power to prevent such tragedies in the future”.
In a statement, he said he accepted the coroner’s findings and pledged to carry out inspections “in a way that is sensitive to the pressures faced by leaders and staff, without losing our focus on our children and learners”.
“We intend to re-evaluate our internal policies and procedures in light of these findings, so we can identify where changes need to be made,” Sir Martyn said.
What did the coroner recommend?
The Prevention of Future Deaths report identified a number of areas of concern, including the impact the current Ofsted system has on the welfare of school leaders.
There is “an almost complete absence” of Ofsted training when a school leader shows signs of distress during an inspection, taking practical steps and recognising when it is appropriate to pause the inspection.
The report also pointed to the “absence of a clear path” to raise concerns during an Ofsted visit, if they cannot be resolved with the inspector.
There was no formal written policy about any confidentiality requirement after inspections – meaning teachers may fear discussing the outcomes with colleagues outside of the school and mental health professionals.
Ofsted has vowed to make changes to ensure ‘no one should feel as Ruth did’
Ms Connor also raised concerns about how fast Ofsted reports are published and the lack of policy for any “learning review” to be conducted.
Finally, she made reference to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan being quoted in an Ofsted publication last June as saying the department is “significantly expanding wellbeing support for headteachers”.
However, a witness during the inquest was unable to clarify what form the additional support had taken place.
What action will Ofsted take?
The education watchdog has already “done much” in the wake of Mrs Perry’s death but “there is a lot still to do”, Sir Martyn said.
Ofsted will provide mandatory mental health awareness training for all inspectors, due to be completed by the end of March this year, to not only spot signs of distress but also reduce anxiety.
New policies include allowing a rapid return for schools graded “inadequate” solely due to ineffective safeguarding – meaning they have a chance to fix problems and improve their grade before any formal intervention.
Inspectors will also be able to request a pause if, for example, a headteacher needs more support.
Sir Martyn Oliver was appointed Ofsted chief inspector on New Year’s Day this year
Headteachers can now share inspection outcomes with their personal support network.
An independent expert will be appointed to lead a learning review of Ofsted’s response to Mrs Perry’s death.
In addition, the watchdog will conduct a “comprehensive learning exercise” called The Big Listen, which gives a voice to parents, children, learners and professionals.
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Sir Martyn added: “I would like to express my deepest condolences to Ruth’s family and friends and apologise sincerely for the part our inspection of her school played in her death.
“I will do everything in my power to help ensure that inspections are carried out with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect, and with consideration for staff welfare.
“Such tragedies should never happen again, and no one should feel as Ruth did.”
Professor Julia Waters, sister of Ruth Perry, says she is disappointed that ‘single-word judgments’ have not been dropped
Mrs Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, said she was “disappointed that the government has opted to keep misleading and harmful single-word judgments”.
She said: “Whether these brand a school as ‘outstanding’ or ‘inadequate’, or the grades in between, these blunt verdicts obscure many of the important details. As the coroner noted, Ruth was devastated by the impact of such language.
“Parents, teachers, governors and others should be encouraged to engage with the details of inspection findings, and not just fixate on one or two words. Simplicity may be convenient for government bureaucrats, but it acts against the true interests of children, parents and teachers.”
A teaching union called for Ofsted inspections to be temporarily carried out ungraded to allow the watchdog to focus on longer-term reform.
Inspections were suspended to put mental health training in place but are due to resume on Monday.
An inquiry last November found Ofsted was “not fit for purpose” and had “lost the trust of the teaching profession and increasingly of parents”.
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Former Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman apologised to Mrs Perry’s friends and family, who blamed her death on the “deeply harmful” pressure of the inspection in November 2022.
The school was upgraded to “good” in July last year.
In a statement, Ms Keegan said: “Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy and the coroner’s findings made clear that lessons need to be learned.
“We are working to ensure inspections keep children safe while also prioritising the safety and wellbeing of school leaders serving in our schools, through expanded wellbeing support for leaders.”
:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Sky News can reveal that the government has rowed back on a national compensation scheme for victims of child sexual abuse, despite it being promised under the previous Conservative administration.
Warning – this story contains references to sexual and physical abuse
A National Redress Scheme was one of 20 key recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), but a Home Office report reveals the government has scrapped it because of the cost.
Marie, who is 71, suffered alleged sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at Greenfield House Convent in St Helens, Merseyside, between 1959 and 1962, and is still fighting for compensation.
Greenfield House Convent, where Marie says she was abused
As soon as she arrived as a six-year-old, Marie says her hair was cut off, her name changed, and she experienced regular beatings from the nuns and students.
She claims a nun instigated the violence, including when Marie was held down so that her legs were “spread-eagled” as she was sexually abused with a coat hanger.
Merseyside Police investigated claims of abuse at the convent, but in 2016, a suspect died before charges could be brought.
Marie has received an apology from the Catholic body that ran the home; she tried to sue them, but her claim was rejected because it was filed too long after the alleged abuse.
Marie, 71, is still fighting for compensation for the abuse she says she suffered as a child
In February, ministers said the law would change for victims of sexual abuse trying to sue institutions for damages, which was a recommendation from the IICSA.
Previously, people had to make a civil claim before they were 21, unless the victim could prove a fair trial could proceed despite the time lapse.
Campaigners argued for the time limit to be removed as, on average, victims wait 26 years to come forward. Changes to the 1980 Limitation Act could lead to more people making claims.
Peter Garsden, President of The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers
Civil cases ‘can take three to five years’
But Peter Garsden, president of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, worries that when it comes to historical abuse where the defendant is dead, institutions will still argue that it is impossible to have a fair trial and will fight to have the case thrown out of court.
Mr Garsden said it takes “between three and five years” for a civil case to get to trial.
He warned that claimants “can end up losing if you go through that process. Whereas the Redress Scheme would be quicker, much more straightforward, and much more likely to give justice to the victims”.
Victim awarded £10 compensation
Jimbo, who was a victim of abuse at St Aidan’s children’s home in Cheshire, took his case to the High Court twice and the Court of Appeal three times, but, after 13 years, all he ended up with was £10 for his bus fare to court.
Despite the Lord Justice of Appeal saying he believed that the abuse had occurred, Jimbo lost his claim because of the time limit for child sexual abuse claims to be made.
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Neither Marie nor Jimbo is likely to benefit from the removal of the time limit for personal injury claims, which is why Mr Garsden is calling on the government to implement a National Redress Scheme for victims of sexual abuse, as recommended by the IICSA.
Hundreds of millions paid to victims
The governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland have set up compensation schemes and paid hundreds of millions of pounds to victims.
In 2023, the then Conservative government said a similar scheme would be organised for England and Wales.
But the Home Office admitted in its Tackling Child Sexual Abuse: Progress Update that it “is not currently taking forward any further steps on the IICSA proposal for a separate, national financial redress scheme for all survivors of child sexual abuse”.
“In the current fiscal environment, this recommendation is very difficult to take forward,” it added.
For victims, the scheme was the last chance of compensation for a lifetime blighted by abuse.
“The money is about justice and about all the other people who have had to suffer this abuse,” Marie said.
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