Headteacher Ruth Perry’s sister has hit out at Ofsted for appointing a former chief inspector to guide an unbiased overview into to its response to her loss of life.
In a broadside in opposition to the choice, she known as for a “rigorous” inquiry, including: “It might really feel a bit like Ofsted has set its personal homework and has obtained an previous buddy to mark it.”
The feedback come after the faculties’ watchdog introduced former chief inspector Dame Christine Gilbert will perform a overview into their response to Ms Perry’s suicide.
The headteacher took her personal life after an Ofsted report downgraded Caversham Major Faculty in Studying from its highest ranking to its lowest over safeguarding issues.
In December, a coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection in November 2022 contributed to her loss of life.
Ofsted mentioned Dame Christine will lead the unbiased studying overview, which was introduced in January in response to the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report from Ms Perry’s inquest.
Dame Christine was a trainer for 18 years and served as chief inspector at Ofsted from 2006 till 2011.
Responding to the appointment, Ms Perry’s sister Professor Julia Waters mentioned: “On condition that Dame Christine Gilbert is a former Head of Ofsted, we and others will must be satisfied that she has the required independence of perspective that’s required for the duty.
“The overview must be rigorous and discover Ofsted’s techniques, practices and tradition in depth whether it is to be taught the teachings required to result in important change. I hope we get that assurance, and I hope she will be able to do what is required.
“It might really feel a bit like Ofsted has set its personal homework and has obtained an previous buddy to mark it. I hope that isn’t the case. Solely a really unbiased and deep inquiry will be capable of reassure my household, and academics, mother and father and others that Ofsted is severe about change.”
She additionally raised issues concerning the overview’s scope, after Ofsted mentioned the overview wouldn’t look at the inspection of Caversham Major Faculty or the judgments made.
“A lot will rely upon how Dame Christine interprets the revealed scope and phrases of reference for her overview. Whereas it is vital that the overview has focus and doesn’t drag on unnecessarily, the revealed phrases of reference appear slightly restricted and limiting,” she added.
“We hope Dame Christine will contemplate decoding the phrases in a method that gives alternative to correctly overview what Ofsted does and the way it can enhance.
“I stay up for assembly Dame Christine and sharing my household’s experiences and issues along with her.”
The loss of life of Ms Perry, a 53-year-old mom of two, sparked widespread debate over Ofsted’s practices and their coverage of utilizing one-word abstract judgments to fee faculties.
NAHT, the faculty leaders’ union, mentioned the overview should be unbiased and neutral, noting some could have issues over it being led by a former Ofsted chief.
Normal secretary Paul Whiteman mentioned Dame Christine is a “broadly revered and educated determine in training” with the perception to hold out a “complete” overview.
“Nonetheless, it is very important confront head-on the priority that some would possibly specific a few former chief inspector reviewing the work of Ofsted,” he added.
“It’s due to this fact essential that the overview demonstrates a strong stage of independence and impartiality.”
The Nationwide Schooling Union (NEU) went a step additional, saying the overview “must be carried out by somebody from exterior Ofsted, slightly than a former chief inspector, in order that it has the belief of the career, and we will all think about the method”.
Its basic secretary Daniel Kebede mentioned the overview “will solely take us ahead whether it is neutral and unbiased”.
Dame Christine mentioned she’s going to take a “detailed and thorough” take a look at occasions from the tip of the college inspection to the conclusion of the inquest and can communicate with Ms Perry’s household.
She mentioned: “The loss of life of Ruth Perry was a deeply unhappy and surprising occasion. Ofsted has accepted that it’s vitally essential for it to be taught from this tragedy and has requested me to assist them try this.
“I intend to take a really detailed and thorough take a look at all areas of Ofsted’s work – from the second the Caversham inspection ended, via to the conclusion of the Coroner’s inquest.
“I’ll scrutinise the method taken and advise on future actions and revisions wanted to enhance Ofsted’s insurance policies and processes for coping with any tragic incident.
“Importantly, I’ll hear first-hand from the household of Ruth Perry to realize a greater understanding of the influence of Ofsted’s work. I want to thank them prematurely for agreeing to interact with my overview.”
Present chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver, mentioned: “I’m very grateful to Dame Christine for agreeing to lend her useful expertise and experience to main this essential overview.
“She has a wealth of expertise in faculties, in inspection, and in enterprise a variety of critiques. I’ve little doubt that her insights will assist us to mirror on, and be taught from, our response to Ruth Perry’s loss of life.
“I stay up for receiving her suggestions for enhancing our insurance policies and apply.”
Dame Christine, who additionally took half in Baroness Casey’s report into the Metropolitan Police final yr, will begin her overview this month and produce a written report on her findings later this yr, Ofsted mentioned.
It comes after the ‘Massive Pay attention’ public session, in search of views about Ofsted, was launched final month.
Tom Middlehurst, inspection specialist on the Affiliation of Faculty and School Leaders (ASCL), welcomed Dame Christine’s appointment, however mentioned neither the educational overview or the Massive Pay attention “deal with the important thing problem of single-phrase judgments – the very characteristic of the system which makes inspections so excessive stakes and drives stress and nervousness”.