A FRESH call to reform school inspections has been made by the sister of a Caversham headteacher.
Ruth Perry, who died by suicide following an Ofsted inspection, in which inspectors had deemed the school as inadequate.
Her death has led to calls for changes to the system.
Last week, a deputation, including Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, Lisa Telling, the chairman of Reading Primary Heads and Caversham parent Edmund Barnett-Ward visited the education secretary Gillian Keegan in a meeting facilitated by Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East.
“I am grateful to the Education Secretary for meeting me, Ruth Perry’s sister, Julia Waters, and other campaigners and for spending some time listening to our concerns about Ofsted,” said Mr Rodda.
“I am pleased that the Government is starting to listen, however, it is important that Ministers now take action and reform Ofsted, and reform should include ending single-word judgments on Ofsted Reports.”
The meeting took place at the Department for Education offices in London.
Mrs Keegan, education secretary and Conservative MP for Chichester said: “Ruth Perry’s death was a tragedy that has brought attention to how Ofsted inspections are carried out and the impact on teachers’ mental health and wellbeing.
“I’m grateful to Ruth’s family and members of the Caversham community for the opportunity to hear their concerns directly.
“Following the meeting, we will work together to make sure we have an inspection system that works for children, teachers, school leaders and parents.”
Ofsted currently has four ratings for state schools: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires Improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’.
The Labour Party has plans to scrap these one-word ratings in favour of a ‘report card’ for parents.
Back in 2019, Angela Rayner Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, then the Shadow Education Secretary announced plans to abolish Ofsted altogether and replace it with a new ‘inspectorate for education’ which would be staffed with full-time and expert inspectors.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has also called for Ofsted to be reformed, arguing the current system is ‘too blunt and reductive.’
Reading Today has pledged not to publish any stories relating to Ofsted inspection results until the system has been changed – editor.
