Ruth Perry Death – An inept staff member’s ruthless and “rude and intimidating” Ofsted assessment was one of the factors that led to headteacher Ruth Perry’s suicide, a coroner found. Senior coroner Heidi Connor of Berkshire said that the inspection “contributed to Perry’s suicide” following her leadership of the school during an Ofsted inspection in November 2022.
Connor declared that “during and after this inspection Ruth’s mental health deteriorated significantly” before to Ruth’s suicide on January 8, 2023. “Every witness who knew Ruth stated that the inspection did contribute, more than minimally, to her death,” the coroner’s statement adds. “In this regard, the evidence is clear, and I firmly believe that Ruth’s mental health decline and eventual death were significantly influenced by the Ofsted inspection.”
Perry’s sister Julia Waters spoke on behalf of the family in her testimony, claiming that the inquest’s conclusions revealed the “brutal inhumanity” of Ofsted assessments. Waters told the British broadcaster, “We don’t think Ofsted can or will make the extensive, systemic changes to its culture and system that are so desperately needed, given its current leadership and management.”
She then added, “I will keep demanding accountability from Ofsted if it becomes necessary.” To ensure major improvements are carried out, I will continue to communicate with the state education secretary and the newly appointed chief inspector of Ofsted, Martyn Oliver. At the time of the inspection, Perry had been the headteacher of Reading’s Caversham Primary School for thirteen years, a position that the local families much valued.
At the inquest, friends, colleagues, and family members stated that she occasionally felt so stressed out from meeting with Ofsted inspectors that she was unable to speak. The inspectors gave the institution’s safety protocols a failing grade overall because they were judged to be ineffective.
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