Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the statement by Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman concerning the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
“We have not asked Ofsted to halt inspections entirely, but merely to pause them to allow time to review their impact on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and teachers. The death of Ruth Perry is an extreme example of the damage done by the high-stakes nature of the inspection system, but the truth is that it often has a catastrophic effect on individuals. A short pause to inspections to consider this matter seems a very moderate request, and would help Ofsted show the profession that it is listening. The Chief Inspector acknowledges that reforming inspections to remove blunt and reductive one-word of two-word judgements is a legitimate debate, but there are no plans by Ofsted or the government to even consider this question as far as we know. There must surely be some reflection following this tragedy.”
