This week the coroner’s report on the death of Ruth Perry was published.
Mrs Perry was the headteacher at Caversham Primary School, Reading for 13 years. An Ofsted inspection was carried out at her school in November 2022; she took her own life in January while waiting for the inspection report to be published.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor said that the inspection ‘lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity’ and was at times ‘rude and intimidating’.
Ms Connor said: ‘The evidence is clear in this respect, and I find that Ruth’s mental health deterioration and death was likely contributed to by the Ofsted inspection.’
It’s not surprising that there’s been a significant response from Ruth Perry’s family, from the teaching profession, and from Ofsted.
As a headteacher I’ve experienced inspectors that were fair, constructive and helpful; they helped our school to improve. However, I’ve also experienced the pressure that an inspection can bring to a school leader.
I’ve seen good teachers fearful, pressurised, crumbling and becoming physically and mentally sick because they have been treated badly by inspectors. I’ve seen good headteachers and teachers leaving the profession because of inspections…
It’s yet another example of attempting to bring change by confrontation. We see it in international disputes and wars, community and family disagreements. Power, strength and aggression confronts weakness, goodness and gentleness with destructive consequences.
Musing…
…James chapter 4: ‘What causes fights and quarrels among you?’ leads to ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ …
…This season of advent
Hostility… Ruth Perry’s inspectors, world leaders, ordinary people seeking to bring change by hostility… reflecting on a baby born during the aggression of the Roman Empire
Harmony… We long for peace and understanding; in John Lennon’s words that ‘the word will be as one’ …reflecting on the one who came to be ‘The Prince of Peace’.
Humility… In searching for an alternative to hostility we reflect on an unnoticed small baby, born in a smelly stable to an unmarried teenage mother.
malcolmsmusings.org 
I’d just been thinking what does “The government shall be upon his shoulders” mean? Another version gives “Authority rests upon his shoulders”. Food for thought there.
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Good to hear from you, Bryan. I’ve always assumed that it is about the shoulders being where you carry heavy loads – but I could well be wrong!
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And this Christmas, the inspector monsters will eat, drink, and be merry, whilst Mrs. Perry’s family mourns their first Noel without her. Lord, have mercy. May they each one be visited by Mrs. Perry’s ghost and come to a true repentance.
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You’re right, Mark. It is and will be a sad time for Mrs Perry’s family. I think that from the inspection ‘rooting out bad teachers’ rhetoric that is so damaging to ordinary good teachers, there is a danger that we go to the equally damaging ‘all inspectors are uncaring and ruthless’. It’s returning to remember that we’re dealing with people – school staff, inspectors and children.
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It is disheartening beyond words to see the results of man’s inhumanity to man. My prayer is that Mrs. Perry’s untimely and unnecessary death will lead to changes in the teacher evaluation process across the UK.
Sadly, students are also suffering under unreachable goals and unreasonable expectations.
Thank you for speaking up, Malcolm. Your contributions to this discussion matter.
Blessings!
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That’s certainly my prayer too. When teacher appraisal and evaluation first came in 35+ years ago it was always positive, building on strengths, helping teachers to improve and do a better job. Sady, when it moves to a deficit model where we our weaknesses and faults are punished then it becomes destructive.
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In the picture you shared of Ruth Perry, the stress in her kind eyes is apparent. It doesn’t appear that teachers can be creative and teach according to their muse any longer. Being imaginative and encouraging critical thinking (not dictating fact learning) spreads the infectious desire to learn and discover new knowledge. 🙂
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I agree Nancy. A broad and balanced curriculum in which teachers can be creative and children can discover what they are good at has been replaced by a narrow academic curriculum where many youngsters are shown what they can’t do – certainly here in the UK.
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Good evening Malcolm many thanks for your comments today it brings back many memories, good and not so good. But i would not want it any other way.
Christmas greetings to you and family
Mark and Sue
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Thanks, Mark. Good to hear from you. I think our experience of Ofsted was better than many, but it still wasn’t as good as it could have been!! And a happy Christmas to you and yours too.
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