Sister of tragic headteacher demands Ofsted U-turn as rating anger grows

The sister of a headteacher who took her own life has called on ministers to delay a controversial school inspection shake-up - saying lessons have not been learned.

Professor Julia Waters, whose sister Ruth Perry died in 2023, has joined education chiefs, ex-inspectors and unions warning proposed Ofsted changes will make things worse. Today is the final day of a consultation on a new grading system after one-word ratings were scrapped.

In an open letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Prof Waters and more than 30 experts, including the heads of major teaching unions, warn the new measures could make inspections even less reliable. They will continue to drive excessive pressure, ill-health and stress, the letter states.

Ms Perry took her own life ahead of the publication of a report downgrading her school, Caversham Primary in Reading, from "outstanding" to "inadequate". A coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection in November 2022 "contributed" to Mrs Perry's death.

The letter praised the Government for taking steps "in the right direction". But it claimed there had been "little meaningful attempt" to deal with problems causing "catastrophic" harm to school staff.

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It said: "We believe the proposed new system will continue to have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of education staff and hence on students’ school experience."

Proposed new report cards and a new grading system will not addressa coroner's recommendations following Ms Perry's tragic death, it says. The letter goes on: "The proposed new system will continue to drive excessive pressure, ill-health and stress for the profession, with the very real risk of causing further, preventable deaths."

Under the proposals, Ofsted would create a new report card with more detailed information for parents. Ms Phillipson said this would offer a more "granular insight" into the school so parents can make more informed decisions.

From autumn 2025, schools will instead be issued with a colour coded report card, with every issue ranked. The letter is signed by the heads of the National Education Union (NEU), the NASUWT, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

It questioned whether Ofsted can be held to account, saying there must be a robust complaints and appeal process.

Announcing new changes in February, Ms Phillipson said: "Our searchlight on poor performance must now become brighter to see the problems of today and tomorrow quickly and clearly.

"So a more rigorous system, raising the bar on expectations, on what good really looks like when it comes to the futures of our children."

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