Ofsted inspections should be halted after a coroner ruled they contributed to head teacher Ruth Perry’s death, union bosses have warned.
Mrs Perry, 53, took her own life earlier this year after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.
At her inquest earlier this month, coroner Heidi Connor ruled an Ofsted inspection had “contributed” to her death.
Ofsted, the Department for Education, and Reading Borough Council, which was also sent the future deaths report, have 56 days to respond.
The general secretaries of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) jointly called for inspections to be suspended until Ofsted implements the changes suggested by the coroner.
Among her concerns were the impact on headteacher welfare that the current system may have and “the almost complete absence of Ofsted training” for inspectors looking for signs of distress in school leaders.
Ms Connor also said there was no “clear path” to raise concerns during an inspection.
The statement from Geoff Barton of the ASCL and Paul Whiteman of the NAHT said: “The coroner has warned that there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken over the inspection system.
“We cannot see how inspections can continue to take place in schools and colleges after such a serious risk to the health and safety of education staff has been highlighted.
