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Ofsted boss rejects calls to pause school inspections Ofsted boss rejects calls to pause school inspections
(39 minutes later)
Watch: Lisa Telling said her friend Ruth was 'under enormous stress before she died' Watch: Lisa Telling said Ruth knew her school's Ofsted result for 54 days but couldn't tell anyone
Watch: Lisa Telling said her friend Ruth was 'under enormous stress before she died' Watch: Lisa Telling said Ruth knew her school's Ofsted result for 54 days but couldn't tell anyone
Stopping or preventing school inspections in England would be against "children's best interests", the chief inspector of Ofsted has said.Stopping or preventing school inspections in England would be against "children's best interests", the chief inspector of Ofsted has said.
Amanda Spielman said they played an important role for schools and parents. Teachers have called for them to be paused, after head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school.
Unions have called for them to be paused, after head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life while waiting for a report that downgraded her school. In the outcry since her death, some teachers have worn black armbands during inspections in tribute to her.
The government said Ofsted has a crucial role to play in upholding education standards. Amanda Spielman said inspections are important for both schools and parents.
Ms Spielman said the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a "legitimate one", but added that "any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government".Ms Spielman said the debate about reforming inspections to remove grades is a "legitimate one", but added that "any changes to the current system would have to meet the needs both of parents and of government".
Under the current system, schools are rated outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate after an inspection in England. Under the current system for schools in England, Ofsted inspectors give ratings of either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.
The gradings "give parents a simple and accessible summary of a school's strengths and weaknesses" and are used to guide government decisions about when to intervene, Ms Spielman said.The gradings "give parents a simple and accessible summary of a school's strengths and weaknesses" and are used to guide government decisions about when to intervene, Ms Spielman said.
But president of the National Association of Head Teachers Paul Gosling called for the "cliff-edge" grades to be scrapped, suggesting they are replaced with a list of what a school does well and what needs improving. But president of the National Association of Head Teachers, Paul Gosling, called for the "cliff-edge" grades to be scrapped, suggesting they be replaced with a list of what a school does well and what needs improving.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the one-word assessments do not give parents much information because schools are so complex. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the one-word assessments do not give parents much information, because schools are so complex, and called for an immediate review of its "one-size-fits-all" strategy.
He stopped short of calling on Ofsted to pause inspections but asked for an immediate review of its "one-size-fits-all" strategy. He also pointed to recruitment struggles, funding pressures and pandemic legacy issues as factors putting school leaders under extra strain. He said school leaders were also under extra strain because of recruitment struggles, funding pressures and the continued impact of the pandemic on education.
What is Ofsted and why are outstanding schools being downgraded?What is Ofsted and why are outstanding schools being downgraded?
Head teachers call for Ofsted to be replacedHead teachers call for Ofsted to be replaced
The dam has burst on Ofsted strength of feelingThe dam has burst on Ofsted strength of feeling
Lisa Telling, a head teacher in Reading who knew Ms Perry well, said she had been under "enormous stress" before her death as Ofsted's rules restricted her from sharing the school's new "inadequate" rating with colleagues. Lisa Telling, a head teacher in Reading who knew Ms Perry well, said she had been under "enormous stress" before her death, as Ofsted's rules restricted her from sharing the school's new "inadequate" rating with colleagues.
She told BBC Breakfast that Ms Perry had to bear the "world-destroying" verdict by herself for 54 days, saying head teachers live in fear of inspections as they can be "personally damaging".She told BBC Breakfast that Ms Perry had to bear the "world-destroying" verdict by herself for 54 days, saying head teachers live in fear of inspections as they can be "personally damaging".
She added: "I know that when I had an inspection two-and-a-half weeks ago, I said to my daughter 'if this inspection doesn't go well, our lives might change, I might lose my job'". Appearing later in the programme, former chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said Ofsted had been "a force for good", but admitted he did not think it was "appropriate" that heads should have to sit on the result of an inspection for so long.
Ms Spielman said it would be wrong to say too much ahead of the coroner's inquest but added that Ms Perry's suicide "was met with great sadness at Ofsted". Since Ms Perry's death, some head teachers have removed references to Ofsted from websites, job adverts and letters.
And on Thursday, the National Education Union handed a petition to the government calling for Ofsted to be replaced.
Ms Spielman said it would be wrong to say too much ahead of the coroner's inquest, but added that Ms Perry's suicide "was met with great sadness at Ofsted".
"Our school inspectors are all former or serving school leaders," Ms Spielman said. "They understand the vital work head teachers do and the pressures they are under.""Our school inspectors are all former or serving school leaders," Ms Spielman said. "They understand the vital work head teachers do and the pressures they are under."
Some head teachers, including Flora Cooper, from Berkshire, are wearing black armbands during school inspections, following Ms Perry's suicide Some head teachers, including Flora Cooper from Berkshire, are wearing black armbands during school inspections, following Ms Perry's suicide
Ms Spielman acknowledged inspections "can be challenging" but said inspectors always aimed to conduct them "with sensitivity as well as professionalism".Ms Spielman acknowledged inspections "can be challenging" but said inspectors always aimed to conduct them "with sensitivity as well as professionalism".
But school improvement adviser Julie Price-Grimshaw said that was "definitely not the case".But school improvement adviser Julie Price-Grimshaw said that was "definitely not the case".
Speaking to 5Live Breakfast, she said many head teachers are getting "very ill, stressed and having breakdowns" as a result of inspections and "that's not acceptable under any framework". Speaking to BBC 5Live Breakfast, she said many head teachers are getting "very ill, stressed and having breakdowns" as a result of inspections and "that's not acceptable under any framework".
Ms Price-Grimshaw, who used to be an Ofsted inspector herself, said it was "impossible for teachers and head teachers to raise standards if they're feeling broken, demoralised, stressed and anxious".  Ms Price-Grimshaw, who used to be an Ofsted inspector, said it was "impossible for teachers and head teachers to raise standards if they're feeling broken, demoralised, stressed and anxious". 
"I'm sure people don't want their children taught by stressed and demoralised teachers," she added."I'm sure people don't want their children taught by stressed and demoralised teachers," she added.
Ms Spielman said Ofsted aimed "to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can" and would remain focused on improving how it worked with schools and "how inspections feel for school staff". Ms Spielman said Ofsted aimed "to make inspections as collaborative and constructive as we can" and would remain focused on improving how it worked with schools, and "how inspections feel for school staff".
She admitted it was a difficult time to be a head teacher, particularly since the pandemic, as absence was high, mental-health problems had increased, and "external support services are unable to meet increased demand". She admitted it was a difficult time to be a head teacher, particularly since the pandemic, as absence was high, mental health problems had increased and "external support services are unable to meet increased demand".
But it was important inspections continue as they play an important role for schools and parents, Ms Spielman added, saying: "It looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed." But it was important inspections continue, as they play an important role for schools and parents, Ms Spielman added: "It looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed."
Darren Morgan, a primary school head teacher in Stockport, said there was a "feeling of grief and anger" in the profession and warned there could be more tragic cases if the system is not reformed. Darren Morgan, a primary school head teacher in Stockport, said there was a "feeling of grief and anger" in the profession, and warned there could be more tragic cases if the system is not reformed.
He said the amount of pressure on school heads "is not sustainable".He said the amount of pressure on school heads "is not sustainable".
A Department for Education official said Ofsted had a crucial role to play in upholding education standards and ensuring children were safe in school. A Department for Education official said Ofsted had a crucial role to play in upholding education standards and ensuring children were safe in school: "They provide independent, up-to-date evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding and leadership, which parents greatly rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child."
"They provide independent, up to date evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership, which parents greatly rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child," the official added.
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