Caversham Primary School

A headteacher is planning to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry to her school after the death of fellow school leader Ruth Perry in January and vowed that she ...

We will be discussing this with Ofsted as a matter of urgency.' It comes after Ms Perry's sister Professor Julia Walters called for schools to 'boycott Ofsted' and today Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury, Berkshire, tweeted: 'I've just had the call. Ms Walters previously told MailOnline: 'This one-word judgement is just destroying 32 years of her vocation, education was her vocation. 'It just preyed on her mind until she couldn't take it anymore. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!' In a Facebook post, Ms Walters called on headteachers and unions to boycott the watchdog 'until a thorough, independent review has been conducted and changes implemented'.

Flora Cooper, head of the John Rankin schools in Newbury, made the choice after the Caversham Primary School head, Ruth Perry died. | ITV News Meridian.

We will be discussing this with Ofsted as a matter of urgency.” “Having spoken with Ruth’s family, we know they are determined that something like this should never happen again. Mr Barton added: “Ofsted should undertake an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and staff, and a pause in the inspection cycle would allow for a period in which this could happen.” “Many school and college leaders and their staff find inspections and Ofsted judgments very traumatic, and this is often damaging to their wellbeing. 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. I’ve refused entry.

Ruth Perry, former headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life in January - now the head of another local school says she's ...

But in a follow-up tweet she called off the protests out of concern for her pupils and staff, and said: "Please can people not come to school now in the morning. "We were not aware this was going to happen and we are now in conversation with relevant partners to find a way to resolve these issues. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!" I've refused entry. She went on to ask supporters to gather at the school in Newbury to show support, claiming she was "taking a stand" against Ofsted. This is an interesting phone call.

Initial call for protest came after family of headteacher Ruth Perry said she took her own life after news of lowest rating.

Dr Mary Bousted, the NEU joint general secretary, said: “That they are phoning leaders this week and initiating inspections speaks to the arrogance of Ofsted and their absolute lack of empathy. This case has brought matters to a head and something has to change.” A Department for Education spokesperson said it was a legal requirement for schools and nurseries to be inspected by Ofsted. In the US, the [National Suicide Prevention Lifeline](https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)is at 988 or chat for support. The NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman, said: “Ruth Perry’s death is an unspeakable tragedy and it is clear that school leaders across the nation have been deeply affected by the news. “Our only hope is that Ruth’s sudden, appalling death will be the last to occur as a result of the intolerable pressures caused by the Ofsted system. She went on: “In our opinion, the findings of Ofsted were disproportionate, unfair and, as has tragically been proven, deeply harmful in their implied focus on one individual. Perry’s family said she killed herself in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which downgraded her school from outstanding to the lowest possible rating. Later in the day, Cooper sought to defuse the situation and tweeted: “Please can people not come to school now in the morning. That is how she felt and it just crushed her.” I have to protect our children, our staff and our community. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!” She called for outside support: “Can I please get everyone here tomorrow?

Ms Perry, who was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, killed herself in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the lowest ...

We will be discussing this with Ofsted as a matter of urgency.” “Having spoken with Ruth’s family, we know they are determined that something like this should never happen again. Mr Barton added: “Ofsted should undertake an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and staff, and a pause in the inspection cycle would allow for a period in which this could happen.” [Association of School and College Leaders](/topic/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. It is understood that Ofsted is in contact with the school and is trying to resolve the situation. I’ve refused entry.

Now, Flora Cooper, Executive Headteacher at the John Rankin Schools, Newbury, says she has told inspectors not to turn up for a scheduled inspection. In a tweet ...

I remember the very first day I saw her, rather than just speaking to her on the phone, a couple of days after the end of the Ofsted inspection, she came, she was an absolute shadow of her former self." In a series of tweets, Ms Cooper called for other people to join her at the school on Tuesday morning at 8am. The report, which was published last week, found the school to be Good in every category, apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be Inadequate, the lowest rating. Ms Waters went on: “Ruth took her own life on January 8, all during that process every time I spoke to her, she would talk about the countdown. A petition has also been launched in light of Ruth's death. I don't do things for Ofsted (as you know), but I will take a stand to change the system. In response, one person asked for Ofsted to be abolished to which Ms Cooper replied: "But what could they do if we refused them? I am." "I'm taking a stand. Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!" Now, Flora Cooper, Executive Headteacher at the John Rankin Schools, [Caversham](https://www.getreading.co.uk/all-about/caversham) Primary School in [Reading](https://www.getreading.co.uk/all-about/reading), took her own life in January whilst waiting for a negative [Ofsted](https://www.getreading.co.uk/all-about/ofsted) report.

Headteacher Ruth Perry died in January 2023 after Ofsted gave her school the lowest possible rating during an inspection at Caversham Primary School.

We offer our deep condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Perry following her tragic death and are continuing to provide support to Caversham Primary School at this difficult time.” The Department of Education has said that Ofsted inspections are a "legal requirement" for both nurseries and schools of all level. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Ruth Perry’s death is an unspeakable tragedy and it is clear that school leaders across the nation have been deeply affected by the news. Inspectors found the school to be 'good' in almost every category, apart from leadership and management which were judged to be 'inadequate'. Please for the protection of our children and staff." Ms Cooper had asked those wanting to support the cause to join her outside John Rankin School the following day.

Ruth Perry, who was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, killed herself in January.

I’m taking the stand!”. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Ofsted should undertake an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and staff, and a pause in the inspection cycle would allow for a period in which this could happen.” Ms Waters went on: “Nevertheless, we are in no doubt that Ruth’s death was a direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome of an Ofsted inspection at her school.” The family are calling for the system to be reviewed and changed to focus on the welfare of teaching staff as well as schoolchildren. Ms Perry’s sister, Professor Julia Waters, said in a statement on behalf of the family that some of the Ofsted inspectors’ conclusions were “sensationalist” and “drawn from scant evidence”, such as gaps in record-keeping and typical childish behaviour. The sister of a headteacher who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection has said the watchdog’s report was “deeply harmful” in its “implied focus on one individual”.

Head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life while waiting for the publication of an Ofsted report.

"We offer our deep condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Perry following her tragic death and are continuing to provide support to Caversham Primary School at this difficult time." A spokesman said: "Inspections are hugely important as they hold schools to account for their educational standards and parents greatly rely on the ratings to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child. The Department for Education said inspections were a "legal requirement". The family statement said: "We are in no doubt that Ruth's death was a direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome of an Ofsted inspection at her school. The Department for Education said inspections were "hugely important". The National Education Union, school leaders' union NAHT and the Association of School and College Leaders have called for inspections to be halted.

Ruth Perry, who was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the ...

I’m taking the stand!”. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Ofsted should undertake an immediate review of the impact of inspections on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and staff, and a pause in the inspection cycle would allow for a period in which this could happen.” “Given the strength of feeling and the need for a period of calm reflection, Ofsted should pause inspections this week.” She said: “Ofsted should pause all its inspections and reflect upon the unmanageable and counter-productive stress they cause for school leaders, and the impact on leaders.” Ms Waters went on: “Nevertheless, we are in no doubt that Ruth’s death was a direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome of an Ofsted inspection at her school.” The sister of a Berkshire headteacher who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection has said the watchdog’s report was “deeply harmful” in its “implied focus on one individual”.

A primary school headteacher said she would refuse entry to Ofsted inspectors if they came into her school to take a stand against the inspection process.

It said: “Ofsted need to look into this case specifically, review the inspection and the actual wording of that report, what could have been done better. It was the first since Ruth took office, after rules around monitoring of Outstanding schools were changed. Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department that inspects schools and other education services. It accused the school of poor record keeping and failings in employment checks, which could have put children at risk. [She tweeted](https://twitter.com/FloraSCooper/status/1637760884243066881) on Monday morning (March 20): “I’ve just had the call. [ ‘taking a stand](https://twitter.com/FloraSCooper/status/1637760884243066881)’ against the inspection process. They need to be smarter, quicker and more supportive.” She said inspectors told staff they had seen child-on-abuse, which turned out to be a playground fight. Ruth then took her own life on January 8. Flora Cooper, head of John Rankin School in Newbury said she is She said the family were in “no doubt” that Ruth’s death was a “direct result of the pressure put on her by the process and outcome” of the inspection.” She said: “Our hope is that Ruth’s sudden, appaling death will be the last to occur as a result of the intolerable pressures caused by the Ofsted system.” [ took her own life](https://www.thestar.co.uk/read-this/primary-school-headteacher-took-own-life-after-learning-of-ofsted-downgrade-from-outstanding-to-inadequate-4069031) in January after learning of the Ofsted downgrade, which the family described as leaving her in a "shadow of her former self" following an inspection last November.

Teachers and parents gathered outside John Rankin School on Tuesday, attempting to block Ofsted inspectors. Ellen (left) and Liz (surnames not given) ...

I’ve been through an Ofsted [inspection] in the last five to 10 years and they come into your classroom and you teach in the way you are told to teach for Ofsted. “The system is so antiquated and needs a complete reform. She said: “I just wanted to come out and show my support to Flora, who has bravely come forward. She said: “I passionately believe that Ofsted is divisive and not something that helps teachers. We do not for an instant recognise Ofsted’s ‘inadequate’ judgement as a true reflection of Ruth’s exemplary leadership or of the wonderful school she led.” The school had previously been rated “outstanding”. Speaking to PA news agency, she said: “It is just unimaginable. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. “She didn’t just care and dedicate herself to her school and her pupils, she was also a huge support for schools in the Reading area and beyond.” [Schools Weekly](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-inspection-to-go-ahead-after-headteacher-planned-boycott/) that she wanted to “stand up” for schools, teachers and students, but admitted she was unaware of the “legal implications” of staging a boycott. Her family released a statement saying her death was a “direct result” of the pressure she was under due to the “deeply harmful” [A school has attempted to boycott Ofsted with a protest outside the gates](https://inews.co.uk/news/education/ofsted-revolt-school-inspections-headteacher-ruth-perry-suicide-2222615?ico=in-line_link) in support of the primary school headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life while waiting for the publication of a negative inspection report.