Chief Inspector pauses school inspections for short period to allow for inspector training in wake of Ruth Perry inquest findings

The new Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Sir Martyn Oliver, has begun his tenure by announcing a short pause in routine school inspections in the wake of the Ruth Perry Inquest.

The move is to accommodate mental health awareness training for inspectors, initially led by Sir Martyn, in the first week of term. The session will also include training and support from Mental Health First Aid England, who will then lead a rolling programme of further mental health awareness training for all inspectors.

Last month Senior Coroner Heidi Connor ruled that an Ofsted inspection "contributed" to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Ms Perry was the head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, who took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school to "inadequate".

Connor said the inspection "lacked fairness, respect and sensitivity", during which Ms Perry’s mental health “deteriorated significantly”.

The coroner’s verdict was recorded as "suicide, contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022."

Ofsted’s full response to the coroner’s findings will be made “in the coming weeks”.

Sir Martyn, who has been appointed to a five-year term, will also embark on a “Big Listen” with all sectors Ofsted inspects and regulates.

Ofsted said this programme, to begin later this term, would allow the new Chief Inspector to hear directly from parents and professionals about the strengths and weaknesses of Ofsted’s current approach to inspection and regulation.

Sir Martyn Oliver said: “My full job title highlights the breadth of our work. We help raise standards for children and learners at every stage of their lives.

“But the public probably know us best for inspecting schools. Over the last year, since the tragic death of Ruth Perry, our inspections have come under great scrutiny. I’m determined that we learn from this to improve the way we work and respond fully to the coroner’s inquest, taking tangible actions to address the concerns raised.

“A lot has been done already, but a lot more can be done now – starting with a robust programme of mental health awareness training for all our inspectors. That begins next week and will become an integral part of how we train and develop our people.”

Sir Martyn said Ofsted was determined to bring about a fresh start in the New Year “to inspire greater confidence in our work among parents and the sectors we inspect and regulate”.

Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, said: “Sir Martyn Oliver has an exceptional record of delivering excellence as a school and trust leader. I know that he will bring vision, empathy and leadership to successfully take Ofsted into its next chapter.

“I am looking forward to working closely with Sir Martyn to ensure Ofsted continues to evolve whilst maintaining the accountability necessary to improve lives by raising standards in education and children’s social care.”

Ofsted has recently announced a range of changes to school inspections including:

• scheduling inspectors to return more quickly to schools graded inadequate because of ineffective safeguarding but which are otherwise performing well
• changes to Ofsted’s complaints process following a consultation held last year
• the introduction of a duty helpline to take calls directly from providers during and after an inspection
• changes to school handbooks, to make clear that school leaders can be joined by colleagues in meetings with inspectors, and can share inspection outcomes with colleagues, family, medical advisers and their wider support group, before sharing with parents
• delivering seminars across all Ofsted’s regions to support leaders of previously exempt outstanding schools ahead of their next inspection

The watchdog added that further changes will be announced soon.