‘Some change needs to come of this’: Call for new school inspection system after headteacher’s suicide
A friend and colleague of Ruth Perry has told Sky News her death must lead to change in the way schools are inspected.
Ruth Perry, head teacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, killed herself after finding out that Ofsted inspectors had downgraded her school.
Sophie Greenaway, headteacher at nearby Thameside Primary, worked with Mrs Perry for many years.
Speaking of the impact on Mrs Perry’s family, she said: “They’ve lost their mum, they’ve lost their wife, and us speaking out now can’t bring her back but she has to not have died for no reason.
“Some change needs to come of this because this can’t happen to anyone else.”
Mrs Greenaway described Ofsted inspections as being like “the biggest interrogation of your life”.
She said that, from the moment of being informed her school would be inspected, “immediately it’s anxiety, worry and it’s so intense”.
Schools are contacted the day before a two-day inspection.
‘I’m so scared of letting people down’
“I’m so scared of letting people down, of letting my school down by saying the wrong thing,” Mrs Greenaway said.
“And that’s what’s so terrifying – that you can say something and it can be taken the wrong way and then your entire school judgement for the next five years on a piece of paper can be reliant on that one thing.”
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‘They had a dedicated, caring and expert headteacher’
She said that once an inspection is complete, a small number of school leaders are called together by the inspectors.
“You get the word told to you that you are going to be judged on and defined by for four years, five years… and then you’re told in no uncertain terms that you cannot share that outside that room.
“Otherwise you do risk a reassessment of that judgement being taken away from you.”
That grading can only be shared with staff and parents once Ofsted’s assessment is published.
Mrs Perry had killed herself in the period when only she knew that her school had been downgraded.
“That pressure to keep it within you from your family and from members of staff is intense,” Mrs Greenaway said.
A ‘high-stakes single judgement’
Under the current assessment system schools are awarded a rating of outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.
Ofsted data show on their last inspection in England 72% of schools were judged as “good”, with 17% given the top rating and just 12% rated in the bottom two categories.
The National Association of Headteachers is calling for the system to be reformed, arguing inspections currently give a “high-stakes single judgement” of a school.
Teaching unions have been calling for Ofsted inspections to be paused following Mrs Perry’s death.
Read more:
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‘Our aim is to raise standards,’ Ofsted says
But Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman has resisted those calls, saying: “I don’t believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children’s best interests.
“Our aim is to raise standards, so that all children get a great education.
“It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.”
She said: “Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy.
“Our thoughts remain with Ruth’s family, friends and the school community at Caversham Primary.
“I am deeply sorry for their loss.
“The broader debate about reforming inspections is a legitimate one, but it shouldn’t lose sight of how grades are currently used.
“They give parents a simple and accessible summary of a school’s strengths and weaknesses.
“They are also now used to guide government decisions about when to intervene in struggling schools.”
Ofsted inspections are like ‘the biggest interrogation of your life’, says Sophie Greenaway
‘It’s absolutely agonising waiting for the call’
Lisa Telling, the executive head at Katesgrove Primary, another school close to Caversham Primary, knows her school will be one of the next to be visited by Ofsted, as its inspection is overdue.
“It’s absolutely agonising waiting for the call. It’s stomach churning,” she said.
“Sunday night I don’t sleep.
“I start to get that anxious feeling in my tummy.
“Monday I come to work and every time I jump… I instantly think Ofsted.
“We’re just on tenterhooks all the time and it’s genuinely wretched.
“We need to have a consistent system that when the inspectors come through the door they’re going to work with you.
“We’re asking for a pause after Ruth’s death to re-look at this.
“As leaders, as Ofsted inspectors, we all want the same thing.
“We all want the best education for our children, the same as our parents.
“We can do this together.
“Let’s just stop. Let’s not be adversarial, let it be together, because actually together we can achieve more.
“Let’s work together.”
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
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16-year-old boy died following a collision between an electric bike, a pedestrian and a car in Sheffield, police have said.
Emergency services responded shortly after 4.50pm on Wednesday to reports of an accident in Staniforth Road in the Darnall area of Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said it is understood that a grey Audi drove towards three electric bikes, colliding with one rider.
The car continued to travel following the crash with the electric bike and was further involved in a collision with a pedestrian.
The driver of the Audi failed to stop at the scene.
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Witness recalls giving CPR
Graphic CCTV footage of the incident appears to show the car veer into the opposite carriageway before hitting the 16-year-old pedestrian at speed.
Forensics officers at the scene. Pic: YappApp
Pic: YappApp
The boy was taken to hospital. Despite emergency treatment, he died as a result of his injuries. The boy’s family has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
An 18-year-old man, who was the rider of the electric bike, remains in hospital with serious injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
A 20-year-old man in Kent has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
Three people, a 45-year-old woman and two men aged 26 and 46, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three remain in custody.
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Senior Investigating Officer in the case, Detective Chief Inspector Benjamin Wood, said: “This is a tragic incident in which an entirely innocent bystander, who was going about his daily business, has sadly lost his life. Our thoughts are with the boy’s loved ones, and we remain focused on securing justice for them.
“We know that this incident will have caused concern in the local community, and we have a team of detectives working at pace to piece together the circumstances which unfolded.
“We’re aware of footage being shared online and I’d like to reiterate our message to the public to withhold from speculating or circulating videos which may cause distress to the boy’s family.
“If you have any footage, imagery or information that may help our investigation then please share this directly with us – it may form an important part of our enquiries. We are also keen to hear from the riders of two electric bikes who were in the area at the time of the incident.”
A mother who abused her child so badly he had to have his legs amputated is to be released early from prison.
Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith were both jailed for 10 years in 2018 for torturing their son, Tony Hudgell, who is now 10.
Anthony Smith and Jody Simpson were jailed for abusing Tony
He was just 41 days old when he was assaulted by the pair and left untreated and in agony for 10 days.
The attack caused multiple fractures, dislocations and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.
The damage meant both his legs had to be amputated.
Simpson was due to be released on licence at the halfway point of her prison sentence in August 2022.
However, then justice secretary Dominic Raab referred her case to the Parole Board and her release was put on hold.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board on Wednesday confirmed Simpson was set to be released.
Paula Hudgell, Tony’s adoptive mother, criticised the decision in a social media post.
“Tony has life long injuries every day he suffers due to her hands,” she wrote on X.
Tony’s case led to a public outcry and calls for child abusers to be given life behind bars.
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, who led a campaign for the changes, which are also known as Tony’s Law, said on X: “I’m backing Tony as he faces the early release of his abuser – his birth mum.
“Tony lives every day with the pain caused by her crimes as a baby. We must do more to protect children like him.”
Tony has since gone on to be a successful fundraiser for charity – for which he has been honoured by the Royal Family.
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The Prince of Wales with Tony, who has raised millions for charity, during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May. Pic: PA
A statement from the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jody Simpson following an oral hearing.
“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.”
It added: “Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
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A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This was a horrific crime that saw Tony Hudgell mercilessly tortured by his birth parents and our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones.
“Now that the independent Parole Board has directed her release, Jody Simpson will be subject to strict supervision and licence conditions. She faces an immediate return to prison if she breaks the rules.”
Smith was due for automatic release in early September 2022, but his early release was blocked at the time.
Women taking weight loss jabs must use contraception, and wait up to two months after stopping the medication before trying to get pregnant, the government’s health agency has warned.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning around the use of GLP-1 medicines, which are used both for weight loss and to treat diabetes.
It says the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs) must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to pregnant or while breastfeeding. Women who are attempting to get pregnant have been warned to stop using the medicine for two months before trying to have a baby.
It is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the foetus.
The MHRA said it has received 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women taking the jab.
Mounjaro has also been found to reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight. This means anyone using the jab should also use condoms, particularly during the first four weeks and after any dose increase.
The weight loss jabs have been linked with a “baby boom”, with women reporting online they have surprise pregnancies, despite using contraception – nicknaming them ‘Ozempic babies’ or ‘Mounjaro babies’.
MHRA data found 26 pregnancy-related reports for women taking Mounjaro. Women do not have to specify in the report if the pregnancy is unintentional, but one did say as such.
There were eight reports relating to people taking Ozempic and Wegovy and a further nine for Victoza or Saxenda, with one woman saying her pregnancy was accidental.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said the “skinny jabs” were medicines, and “should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments”
“They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way,” she said.
She urged patients to read in the information leaflet, or have a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process.
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