READING East MP Matt Rodda has invited the education secretary to talks as Ofsted continues to come under fire following the death of Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry took her own life shortly after an Ofsted inspection at Caversham Primary School, of which she was head teacher.
Staff at the school were informed that the school’s rating would drop from “Outstanding” to “Inadequate” earlier this year.
Mr Rodda addressed parliament on Monday, April 17, to pay tribute to Ms Perry and to request that the education secretary, Gillian Keegan MP, enter talks with him, Ruth’s family, and teachers.
In a statement, Mr Rodda said: “I pay tribute to my constituent Ruth Perry, the former headteacher of Caversham Primary School – she was a much-loved member of our local community.
“Will the Secretary of State consider the very serious local concerns when she looks into this matter, and will she agree to meet me, local headteachers, and Ruth’s family to discuss this important issue?”
Ms Keegan said: “I thank the honourable gentleman for his question, and of course I would be happy to meet.
“This is a tragic case, and I send my heartfelt sympathies to Ruth Perry’s family and friends, and all of the school community in the honourable gentleman’s constituency.”
It follows recent criticism of Ofsted, including from Mr Rodda, who said last month that Ofsted had “serious questions to answer.”
Despite growing concerns about the educational standards organisation, Ms Keegan has defended their practises and said that “undermining Ofsted” was “not the right approach.”
She explained that while she was aware that His Majesty’s chief inspector is “looking at” the issue, but said that the single-word assessments were “simple to understand” and ultimately made them clearer for parents.
It also comes just weeks after residents in Reading showed solidarity with educators and paid their respects to Ruth Perry with a walk in her memory on Saturday, April 8.
More than 100 people gathered close to Caversham Primary School before walking to Christchurch Meadows, where a number of contributors gave spoken tributes to Ruth.
Organiser James Denny said at the event: “Whilst I didn’t know Ruth personally, I’m familiar with her legacy, and I know how much this means.
“This is about all of you and your chance to say thank you to Ruth, and to stand in solidarity.”
Attendees took part in a minute’s silence, and then two young pupils at the school were invited to speak.
An Ofsted spokesman said that inspectors are: “all former or current school leaders” who “fully understand the pressures of the role.”
They explained: “We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative, and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are.”
Ms Perry’s family said that she had taken her own life just weeks after an Ofsted inspection, and just days before the school was expected to drop from an “outstanding” rating down to an “inadequate” rating.
Ms Perry’s sister, Julia Waters, said that she would often count down to the publication of the report, describing it as a weight “hanging over her.”
