UPDATE: Ofsted inspectors have been permitted to John Rankin Infant School in Newbury after the head teacher posted to social media to say that she would deny them entry.
Teachers at the school, however, appeared to make a statement this morning as they stood outside the front gates and observed a two-minute silence to show solidarity with the family of Ruth Perry.
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A HEADTEACHER in Newbury was the latest to contest Ofsted practices, following the death of Ruth Perry, on Tuesday.
Flora Cooper, executive head at John Rankin School, posted to social media on Monday, March 20, to say that she had received a call from Ofsted to inform her of an inspection.
Though inspectors said they would be visiting the school on Tuesday, March 21, she reported that she would not allow inspectors on site.
It would have been the first time a school denied access to premises for inspectors.
On Saturday, Ms Cooper shared a post from Ruth Perry’s sister, Julia Waters, which called for “meaningful action” to be taken to “ensure what happened to Ruth can never happen again.”
The post called on headteachers and teaching unions to support the boycotting of Ofsted until “a thorough, independent review” of Ofsted’s operations had been conducted and acted upon.
Ms Waters also called on school staff to wear black armbands during inspections, display photographs of Ruth, and to check inspectors’ risk assessments.
Her post finished by asking media organisations, estate agents, and parents to discontinue using Ofsted reports.
After Ms Cooper shared the post to Twitter she also tweeted that she would be taking part in the boycott.
She received the call from Ofsted just one day later and invited staff from other schools and educators to attend John Rankin School on Tuesday morning.
She has since posted to Twitter on Monday evening to discourage this, citing the safety of staff and students.
A tweet posted just before 10.20am on Monday read: “I just had the call. I’ve refused entry.
“This is an interesting phone call. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere.”
Ofsted has a legal right, however, to enter schools and nurseries, according to the Department for Education.
It comes as Ofsted practices have been called into question, including by Matt Rodda MP who released a statement following a meeting with the schools minister, Nick Gibb,
Ms Perry was the head teacher at Caversham Primary School, Reading, for 13 years, but was found dead in January.
Her 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 Waters said that staff had been told their rating would be dropping during the visit in November last year.
Following the news of her death in January, Ms Perry was described in a joint statement by the council and Brighter Futures for Children as a “hugely respected, experienced and a well-established figure at Caversham Primary.”
She became headteacher in 2010, having previously acted as Deputy Head in 2006, and had even studied at the school herself from 1973 and 1980.
She was 53 at the time of her death and the mother of two children.
In a statement following his meeting with the schools minister, Mr Rodda said: “The death of Ruth Perry was a devastating event for her family and our community.
“I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to her family as they continue to grieve for a much-loved daughter, mum, wife, and sister– I will continue to support the family as best I can.
“Ofsted must now ask themselves some tough questions about their role and how we prevent further tragedies in the future.”
