Family calls for reform of school inspections after death of headteacher

THE family of a headteacher who took her own life as she feared a bad inspection report has called for reform of the education watchdog Ofsted.

Ruth Perry, 53, who had been the headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Hemdean Road since 2010, died in January.

She had been told that the school was to be downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate” during a two-day Ofsted inspection in November.

Her sister, Julia Waters, told BBC South said the inspectors reported that a boy doing a “flossing” dance move, from the video game Fortnite, was evidence of the sexualisation of children at the school.

She said inspectors told staff they had seen child-on-child abuse, which turned out to be a playground fight.

Ms Waters said: “One of the most hurtful things was initially the sense of complete injustice, that this was a complete exaggeration, seeing something and jumping to a completely different conclusion.

“Ruth took her own life on January 8. All during that process, every time I spoke to her, she would talk about the countdown. I remember her clearly one day saying: ‘52 days and counting’. Every day she had this weight on her shoulders hanging over her and she wasn’t officially allowed to talk to her family.”

She said that when she saw her sister a couple of days after the inspection, she was “an absolute shadow of her former self”.

The Ofsted report, which was published last week, rated the school’s quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and early years provision as good but its leadership and management were deemed inadequate, bringing down the school’s overall rating.

The report said: “Pupils enjoy coming to this welcoming and vibrant school. They respect and celebrate differences between themselves and others. Pupils can discuss what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like and how to be a good friend. They know how to stay safe, including online.”

It acknowledged that the school was previously graded as outstanding but added: “Leaders do not have the required knowledge to keep pupils safe from harm. They have not taken prompt and proper actions when pupils are at risk. They have not ensured that safeguarding is effective throughout the school.

“Governors have an ambitious vision for pupils and staff. However, they have not ensured that they fulfil their statutory safeguarding responsibilities. Until the inspection, they were unaware of significant weaknesses in the school’s arrangements to keep pupils safe.

“The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Leaders have a weak understanding of safeguarding requirements and procedures. They have not exercised sufficient leadership or oversight of this important work.

“As a result, records of safeguarding concerns and the tracking of subsequent actions are poor. Leaders have not ensured that all required employment checks are complete for some staff employed at the school.

“These weaknesses pose potential risks to pupils. Some staff have not had the necessary training to be able to record concerns accurately using the school’s online system. However, staff know how to identify concerns about pupils and to report these to the appropriate leader.

“The pastoral support provided for pupils is a strength and they appreciate this level of care.

“Leaders do not fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. They have not exercised sufficient oversight and rigorous monitoring of safeguarding processes.

“Leaders need to improve their own safeguarding expertise and ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and understood by all staff at the school.

“Leaders, including governors, have not maintained effective oversight of safeguarding. They do not have strong systems in place to ensure that record-keeping and subsequent follow-up work are effective. Leaders and governors must ensure that robust systems are implemented so that they are assured actions taken are prompt and proper.

“Leaders have not ensured that there is always appropriate supervision during break times. This means that pupils are potentially at risk of harm. Leaders need to urgently address these significant weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements.”

Ms Waters, who is a professor at Reading University, has called for a boycott of Ofsted until an independent review had been conducted.

She called for the removal of Ofsted ratings from school websites and estate agents’ sales particulars for houses.

She also urged the media to stop reporting on Ofsted reports and called on parents to stop considering these ratings when choosing a school for their children.

In a statement, Mrs Perry’s family said: “As the many tributes to her from the broader school and Caversham community attest, Ruth cared deeply not just about academic results, but also about the general wellbeing and happiness of the pupils and staff whom she taught and led.

“Caversham primary was a very happy school under Ruth’s leadership and, despite the many challenges that always go with the role of head, she was happy there too. Ruth was a dedicated headteacher and an excellent teacher.

“She loved the pupils and the staff and was very proud to have been headteacher for 12 years and previously deputy head for four years.

“Ruth was a force for good in her life and we want her to be a force for positive change after her death too.”

Neil Walne, chairman of governors, said: “Ruth was an integral part of the school community for many years. She was a hugely respected, experienced and well-established figure.”

The National Education Union, school leaders’ union NAHT and the Association of School and College Leaders have called for inspections to be halted.

Matt Rodda, the MP for Reading East, said he raised the issue with the schools minister and Ofsted’s regional director.

He said: “It’s fair to say that there are local concerns about the way the inspection was carried out. Also about the way that the Ofsted framework and other regulations affecting Ofsted effectively work and the wider pressure on headteachers.”

In a statement, Ofsted said: “We were deeply saddened by Ruth Perry’s tragic death. Our thoughts remain with Mrs Perry’s family, friends and everyone in the Caversham Primary School community.”