Colchester headteacher calls for Ofsted system change

St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School, in Colchester, was rated outstanding by Ofsted after four inspectors visited the site in November last year.

The inspection at the school, in Priory Street, was its first in more than a decade, having also been rated outstanding back in 2008.

Following the report, headteacher Bridget Harris said the school was “delighted” with the findings, saying the words in the report “truly reflect” the school.

Outside St Thomas More's in Colchester, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted in its recent inspection (Image: St Thomas More's)

However, despite the overwhelmingly positive inspection, Ms Harris has now said the current inspection system “needs to change”.

“The expectation and pressures on schools have increased over the last few years,” she said.

“And although there has to be accountability in schools, the current inspection system does perhaps need to change too.

“The tragic loss of Headteacher Ruth Perry highlights the real pressure some feel over the result of an Ofsted.

“It is, after all, just a snapshot over a couple of days to ‘judge’ what a school does over time but maybe the written report, which highlights the strengths of the school and where it needs to go next, should be enough? 

“It is that single word judgement that puts each school into a ‘box’ and is that really necessary?"

Ruth Perry was a headteacher Caversham Primary School, in Reading.

Tragic - a photograph of Ruth Perry attached to the fence outside a school (Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

She took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.

At her inquest, coroner Heidi Connor concluded the Ofsted inspection “likely contributed” to Mrs Perry’s death.

Ofsted’s new chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said he was “shocked and saddened” by the death of Mrs Perry.

He added: "As the new chief inspector, I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent such tragedies in the future.

“We accept the coroner’s findings and have responded to the recommendations of her report in full.

“We must carry out our role in a way that is sensitive to the pressures faced by leaders and staff, without losing our focus on children and learners.”

Since the inquest, the watchdog has made some changes, and has published a policy on how school inspections can be paused in exceptional circumstances – including where the headteacher requires support.