London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Quit your Ofsted roles, Perry's sister tells heads

Quit your Ofsted roles, Perry's sister tells heads

Head teachers in England should stop serving as Ofsted inspectors, says the sister of a head who took her own life after an inspection.

Ruth Perry died while waiting for a report that downgraded her school.

Prof Julia Waters was speaking to members of a head teachers' union which is also asking members who work as Ofsted inspectors to consider quitting.

Ofsted said most school leaders thought inspections were "constructive and collaborative".

It comes as a school in Cambridge is set to challenge Ofsted in court for not following correct procedures, after an inspection left its head teacher feeling suicidal.

In an emotional address at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) conference, Prof Waters said a "terrible injustice" had been done to her sister, and she would not "give up until Ofsted is radically reformed".

Ms Perry took her own life in January, weeks after an Ofsted inspection. The Ofsted report, published after her death, downgraded her school's rating from Outstanding to Inadequate - going from the top to the bottom of the grading scale.

"The injustice of that one-word judgement destroyed Ruth's career, her world and her sense of self," Prof Waters said.

She said head teachers who served as inspectors were "no doubt" doing their "best", but were working with "a flawed, inhumane system".

She called on them to remove references to Ofsted grades from their websites and schools.

"Stand up to Ofsted, speak out, take down your banners, hand in your badges," she said. "Ofsted must be reformed."

The NAHT also passed an emergency motion asking members to "consider refraining from carrying out inspections".

Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January, had been waiting for an Ofsted report rating her school as "inadequate"


Prof Waters previously told the BBC that Ofsted inspections should be paused, so that an independent inquiry into what happened at Ms Perry's school, in Reading, could take place - as well as a review of the culture of inspections at Ofsted.

Last week, Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that she believed the findings of last year's inspection were "secure".

She said the inspection team had "worked with the professionalism and sensitivity that I would expect".

Asked if she had concerns about what happened, she replied: "From what I've seen, I don't have any reason to doubt the inspection."

Prof Waters said Ms Spielman's response was "totally inadequate".

Ofsted has described Ms Perry's death as a tragedy.

A spokeswoman for Ofsted said their inspections were "first and foremost for children and their parents - looking in depth at the quality of education, behaviour, and how well and safely schools are run".

"We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are," she added.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×