THE INQUEST into the role of Ofsted in the death of Ruth Perry has heard that inspectors had no guidance on how to deal with distress in staff.
The inquiry is taking place in Reading Town Hall after it was launched in March by MPs, and began last Tuesday, November 28.
It resumed on Monday, when it heard that there was no guidance for inspectors relating to how to deal with distressed teachers.
The only relevant guidance explains that inspectors should “take all reasonable steps to prevent undue anxiety,” but no information about what steps to take should they feel distress.
Ofsted’s national director for educated confirmed that there was no specific guidance for inspectors, and added that: “We feel that we train inspectors… in a way that minimises stress and anxiety.”
He was also quizzed by Hugh Southey KC, acting on behalf of Ms Perry’s family, as to whether there was any guidance for inspectors about the impact of inspections on the mental health of staff.
He said that we was “not aware” of any such guidance.
The question was also raised at the inquest as to whether there was any system in place by which an inspection could be paused or put on hold for any reason.
Ofsted confirmed at the inquest that inspectors were aware of the ability to put an inspection on hold for “public health” reasons, and cited cases where inspections were paused last year for staff illness and broken water pipes.
Last week the inquest heard that Ms Perry was “extremely distressed” and “upset” in the days surrounding the inspection at Caversham Primary late last year, and that she had said she feared she wouldn’t be able to “show her face” following the inspection.
It also heard from the coroner, Heidi Connor, that “insensitive” comments from Ofsted officials were “inappropriate.”
The inquest continues and is expected to conclude on Thursday, December 7.
