Headteacher vows to refuse Ofsted entry after death of school leader

‘We have to do this, I’m taking the stand’: Headteacher vows to refuse Ofsted entry to her school tomorrow amid backlash at watchdog – after primary school leader killed herself following critical inspection

  • A headteacher is refusing Ofsted entry to her school in protest
  • In January school leader Ruth Perry killed herself after a poor report

A headteacher is planning to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry to her school after the death of fellow school leader Ruth Perry and vowed that she is ‘taking a stand’ for ‘school staff everywhere’. 

Mother-of-two Ms Perry killed herself in January, a month after the watchdog downgraded Caversham Primary School, in Reading, from outstanding to inadequate.

Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury, Berkshire, tweeted today: ‘I’ve just had the call. I’ve refused entry. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!’

She called on people to support her at the school tomorrow, when inspectors are due to arrive.

It comes after Ms Perry’s family said she had experienced the ‘worst day of her life’ during the Ofsted inspection.

Mother-of-two Ruth Perry (pictured) killed herself in January, a month after the watchdog downgraded Caversham Primary School, in Reading, from outstanding – an experience she called the worst day of her life

Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury has said she will refuse Ofsted

She made the announcement on Twitter and called for other schools to support her  

READ MORE: ‘Ruth killed herself because of this report’: Sister of headteacher who took her own life campaigns to reform ‘punitive’ Ofsted

Professor Julia Waters, her sister, previously told MailOnline: ‘This one-word judgment is just destroying 32 years of her vocation, education was her vocation. Thirty-two years summed up in one word, “inadequate”.

‘It just preyed on her mind until she couldn’t take it anymore. She was a huge loss, she was my little sister and she was only 53, she had so much more still to give, so much more that she could do.’

The headteacher had an extraordinary bond with the school, having been a pupil there. She returned in 2006 as deputy headteacher, being promoted to principal in 2010.

Mrs Perry’s sister said there is a sense of ‘complete injustice’ about the process behind the inspection and the report.

The inspection report found the school to be good in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be inadequate.

A petition calling for an inquiry into the inspection of Caversham Primary School has more than 39,000 signatures.

Mrs Perry had been principal at Caversham for 12 years, always working long hours, and her family want the way in which schools are inspected and graded to be changed.

The primary school had been ranked ‘outstanding’ since 2009 until November 15, when three Ofsted inspectors arrived. 

Julia says her sister (pictured together) ‘was a huge loss’ and ‘had so much more still to give’

It was Caversham Primary School’s first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt

This was Caversham’s first inspection in 13 years as previously those which had been ranked so highly were exempt.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, carried out inspection of outstanding schools, downgrading many of them.

Mrs Perry claimed inspectors told senior staff they had seen a boy ‘flossing’ – a popular dance move with tens of millions of children around the world thanks to social media – and that this was evidence of the ‘sexualisation of pupils’ at the school.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: ‘We’ve seen that a headteacher has tweeted their intention to refuse entry to an Ofsted inspection team, and this shows very clearly the strength of feeling following the tragic death of Ms Perry.

‘Many school and college leaders and their staff find inspections and Ofsted judgments very traumatic, and this is often damaging to their wellbeing.

‘This case has brought matters to a head and something has to change. We will be discussing this with Ofsted as a matter of urgency.’

After Ms Perry’s death, Matthew Purves, Ofsted’s regional director for the South East, said: ‘We were deeply saddened by Ruth Perry’s tragic death.

‘Our thoughts remain with Mrs Perry’s family, friends and everyone in the Caversham Primary School community.’

MailOnline has approached Ofsted for a response to the planned protest.  

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details 

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