Residents of Caversham have welcomed the launch of an independent Ofsted inquiry to examine its response to the suicide of local headmistress Ruth Perry.
Perry, 53, took her own life in January 2023 after inspectors downgraded Caversham Primary School’s rating over safeguarding concerns.
New chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver says he is “determined” to prevent similar tragedies by introducing a raft of new measures.
Under the plans, inspectors must now undergo mental health awareness training and headteachers can pause inspections if staff show signs of distress.
Ruth Perry took her own life in January 2023 after inspectors downgraded Caversham Primary School’s ratingPAOther plans will see inspectors ordered to act with “empathy and respect” whilst headteachers will be able to raise any concerns directly with Ofsted.
Richard Zarywacz, 65, a retired retailer whose daughter attended the school told GB News: “This matters to us personally. Inspectors need to be aware that the effect on the people they’re inspecting can be catastrophic. It's time that this culture of fear in inspections is done away with.”
Describing the changes as “well overdue”, Andrew Stout, 42, a gas company manager said: “it won't change what has happened but it might prevent any occurrences in the future.”
Roy Ferrerira, 45, a management consultant, said he had been “stunned” by the “shocking” death of Perry.
He said that as a father of two Ofsted’s new measures “make sense and give me assurance that it is doing all it should be.”
However, Aidan Tamplink, 37, a warehouse worker, raised a note of caution saying the ability of headteachers to pause inspections “should depend on the situation”.
With school inspections set to recommence on Monday, Ofsted says parents and school leaders will be able to directly discuss all of the changes as part of a new consultation exercise dubbed ‘The Big Listen’.