Ofsted bows to pressure and halts inspections after Ruth Perry’s suicide New leader Martyn Oliver says he will heed unions’ call, after coroner ruled inspection had contributed to headteacher’s death The Guardian - UK · Jan 2, 2024
‘Teaching is deeply personal’: Ofsted’s new chief on inspections and schools’ struggles Sir Martyn Oliver says he is a proud northerner who has taken on some of the most ‘difficult and damaged’ schools The Guardian - UK · Jan 2, 2024
Labour plans thousands of nursery places in English primary schools Party has asked former Ofsted head Sir David Bell to find new ways to increase levels of childcare The Guardian - UK · Dec 28, 2023
Buying guide to Oxfordshire: the best market towns and quaint villages for London commuters From Wantage to Watlington, here are all the best places to house hunt in Oxfordshire for country living within commuting distance of London Evening Standard · Dec 28, 2023
Profiteering fears as global investment firms increase stakes in England’s child social care Observer investigation finds homes backed by private equity more than doubled in five years, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds among investors The Guardian - UK · Dec 23, 2023
‘Transphobic bullying is rife’: a 15-year-old trans boy’s view of coming out at school Newton Carey gives his view after draft guidance was issued by the UK government The Guardian - UK · Dec 20, 2023
The damage done to children goes beyond Ofsted’s effect on schools Letters: Alasdair Macdonald on education policies that Labour could introduce at virtually no cost, and Alison Walton and Nick Frost on the Ofsted regime’s harmful impact on children’s social services The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2023
Schools are failing children like mine The classroom is a hostile environment for my autistic son. No wonder so many pupils are skipping school The Guardian - UK · Dec 17, 2023
Strictest academy schools in England suspend 30 times more pupils than the national average 200% suspension rates at ‘zero tolerance’ trusts in England could affect highly vulnerable children, experts warn The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2023
‘Poisonous cocktail of pressures’ on headteachers as school leaders seek help for mental health National Association of Head Teachers poll comes following death of headteacher Ruth Perry, as coroner concluded Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to her suicide The Independent UK · Dec 15, 2023
Ofsted has much to learn after the Ruth Perry inquest Letters: A school governor, a former headteacher and a former Ofsted inspector write in response to the verdict on the death of the former headteacher The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2023
The Ruth Perry tragedy must mark the end of Ofsted’s reign of fear The bullying of schools stifles recruitment and condemns children to pressure-cooker learning, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2023
Unions ask education secretary and Ofsted chief to halt school inspections NAHT and ASCL call on Gillian Keegan and Amanda Spielman to allow time to address concerns raised by coroner The Guardian - UK · Dec 11, 2023
Make Ofsted inspections more transparent and end single word judgements, say parents Report comes in the wake of the death of headteacher Ruth Perry Evening Standard · Dec 11, 2023
The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2023 Ofsted chief ‘should quit now’, says Ruth Perry’s sister as briefing memo is revealed Family of headteacher who killed herself calls on Amanda Spielman to resign over inadequate response to coroner’s verdict
The Independent UK · Dec 10, 2023 Ruth Perry: Ten more headteachers left suicidal in wake of Ofsted inspections, former inspector reveals A former Ofsted inspector helping struggling headteachers claims it’s ‘not unusual’ for leaders to consider suicide following an ‘inadequate’ rating
The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2023 The school reports are in – and they’re not good Far from being places of safety, fun and enlightenment, many children just don’t see the point of school any more
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2023 School complaints about bullying Ofsted inspectors soar to ‘ridiculous’ levels in England Education consultants say headteachers approaching in record numbers, after inspection ruled a factor in Ruth Perry’s suicide
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2023 Sister of headteacher who killed herself condemns Ofsted chief’s ‘crass’ comments Chief inspector said death was being used to ‘discredit’ body, days before coroner ruled inspection contributed to Ruth Perry’s death
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2023 ‘Will I be able to avoid swearing at the inspector?’: a headteacher on an Ofsted inspection An anonymous headteacher writes of the anxiety and long hours involved in their recent graded inspection
The Independent UK · Dec 7, 2023 How Ofsted reduced headteacher Ruth Perry’s life’s work to one devastating word: inadequate Perry’s family and campaigners have vowed to see Ofsted overhauled to prevent other headteachers from facing the same ordeal. Amy-Clare Martin reports
Evening Standard · Dec 7, 2023 Ofsted inspection ‘likely contributed’ to Ruth Perry’s death, coroner concludes Ruth Perry took her own life in January after her school was downgraded by Ofsted following an inspection last year
Evening Standard · Dec 7, 2023 Ruth Perry: Ofsted inspection 'likely contributed' to headteacher's death, coroner says Ruth Perry took her own life in January after her school was downgraded by Ofsted following an inspection last year
The Guardian - UK · Dec 7, 2023 ‘Dark thoughts’: how Ruth Perry’s resolve fell apart after Ofsted visit Experienced Reading headteacher suffered rapid psychological decline after stressful inspectors’ visit
The Guardian - UK · Dec 7, 2023 Ofsted inspection contributed to headteacher’s suicide, coroner rules Inquest examined watchdog’s role in Ruth Perry’s decline after Reading primary school’s rating was downgraded