An education union boss says Ofsted inspections should be banned following the death of a primary school headteacher who took her own life while waiting for the publication of a negative inspection report.

Ruth Perry,  was the headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, who killed herself in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the lowest rating, her family said. 

Professor Julia Waters, Ms Perry’s sister, said the education watchdog’s report was “deeply harmful” in its “implied focus on one individual”.

The inspection report, published by Ofsted on Tuesday, found the school to be “good” in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be “inadequate”.

The Bolton News:

Julia Simpkins, a Bolton NEU official said: “Last year was the 30th anniversary of the Ofsted

“But for many years we have known the added stress that is put on everybody that works at the school, because of Ofsted.”

Ms Simpkins is calling for Ofsted to be abolished as she feels that more harm than good is being done by their presence in schools.

She said: “I have been a teacher for 40 years and they come in for a couple of days and create havoc then go away.

“You are given less notice of when they are coming so that they will see schools as they are but they don’t see this because them being there is not a normal situation.”

The education union boss maintained that parents will still know which schools are good for their children without needing an Ofsted report.

Joshua Atkinson, a workplace representative from the Bolton branch of the National Education Union, has also spoken out against the organization, stating that it is a "soul-destroying" organisation that causes undue anxiety to educators.

 

He said, "Seeing Ruth's face as a happy, smiling person who loved her school and profession to what happened after Ofsted shows what a soul destroying organisation does to those who give so much. Ofsted is not fit for purpose, it tests schools in a few days visit what has taken years to implement."

 

Mr Atkinson also spoke about the negative impact that Ofsted can have on educators. "The anxiety levels of all your work being pulled to pieces is a horrible experience to go through."

 

"It's time to get rid of Ofsted and make the system about the children and not a business looking for results," Mr Atkinson added.

 

The National Education Union's Bolton branch is urging the Government to take action to address these concerns and to ensure that the education system is focused on the needs of the children.