Ruth Perry’s sister calls Ofsted reforms ‘rushed’

The sister of a head teacher who took her own life after her school was downgraded by Ofsted inspectors has labelled the proposed new assessment system as “rushed” and added the process has the “same risks” as before. 

Speaking to Today on BBC Radio 4, Julia Waters said there was “no evidence the new system will work”.

She said: “The proposal that’s coming out, in this new report card, just fundamentally fails to address the key concern which is the very real and present risk of more terrible and preventable deaths like my sister’s.”

The news comes as Waters was one of a number of signatories part of an open letter The Department for Education (DfE) that said they were “deeply concerned” about Ofsted’s proposals for a new inspection system.

“In particular, we believe the proposed new report cards and the new grading system fail to address the recommendations of the Coroner following the tragic, preventable death of Ruth Perry. They also fail to address the recommendations of the Education Select Committee’s inquiry into the work of Ofsted, which was launched as a result of wider concerns highlighted by Ruth’s terrible death. The proposed new system will continue to drive excessive pressure, ill-health and stress for the profession, with the very real risk of causing further, preventable deaths,” the letter read.

The letter adds that the signatories urge the government to delay the proposals to “take the time needed to get change right”.

It comes after an inquest into Perry’s death concluded that the negative Ofsted inspection on her school contributed to her suicide. The coroner highlighted a lack of fairness, respect, and sensitivity during the inspection process.

Concerns were also raised about the absence of clear procedures for inspectors to identify and respond to signs of distress in school leaders, as well as the lack of mechanisms for pausing inspections when necessary.