According to an inquest, Ruth Perry was concerned that her role as a headteacher was in jeopardy due to a negative Ofsted evaluation. She expressed to her husband that the lead inspector was a bully with personal biases.
According to Jonathan Perry’s statement to the coroner’s court in Berkshire, his wife initially left their home feeling content on the first day of the inspection. However, after meeting with lead inspector Alan Derry, she became greatly upset.
The investigation is looking into the death of Perry, which happened earlier this year following an inspection of Caversham primary school by Ofsted. Perry was the headteacher of the school. Ofsted lowered the school’s rating from “outstanding” to “inadequate” due to inadequate safeguarding measures.
Jonathan Perry recently made his first public statement following his wife’s passing. He stated that she was not excessively burdened by the upcoming school inspection. However, during a phone conversation on the first day of the inspection, he reported that she seemed extremely distressed and described the inspection as a traumatic experience.
He mentioned that when they saw each other later on, she appeared to be “pale and stressed”. She described her initial encounter with the inspector as awful, expressing her dislike for him. She felt like he had a predetermined plan.
“I attempted to calm her fears by expressing that he had most likely not yet made a decision and she should not be overly concerned. I recall her stating, ‘I believe I may lose my job.’ Despite my efforts to reassure her, she responded with, ‘If we fail on safeguarding, it’s over. I know the consequences, it will ruin my career, I will be devastated.'”
He expressed, “I had never witnessed Ruth in such a state. I attempted to reassure her of her exceptional abilities as a headteacher. However, she was extremely upset and could not be consoled. Upon returning home from work, Ruth was in a state of distress. She reiterated her belief that the lead inspector had ulterior motives. She believed he was a bully and that he would accuse her of denial if she disagreed with his interpretation of something.”
If a school receives an inadequate grade for safeguarding, it will have an overall inadequate grade. This may result in the school becoming an academy and the replacement of senior staff, including the headteacher, Perry.
During the inquiry, Nicola Leroy, the school’s business manager, also provided testimony. She stated that after a meeting with Derry on the first morning, she encountered Perry who appeared to be very upset and unable to communicate clearly.
Leroy mentioned that the person in question was overwhelmed by a constant barrage of questions, leaving no room to pause or process before moving on to the next subject. He believes this may have made her feel intimidated.
Leroy stated that Perry disclosed to her and another colleague after the inspection that she had contemplated ending her own life. They promptly notified both Reading Borough Council, as Perry’s employer, and the school’s governors of their concerns.
Leroy described Perry as being strong in managing challenging discussions with both parents and colleagues. He observed, “I had never witnessed Ruth’s behavior during the inspection, it was unlike any Ruth I had seen before.”
During the inquest, Derry reported observing Perry showing signs of discomfort during meetings towards the end of the inspection. The inquest also heard that Perry emitted a low, mournful noise and when asked to speak, she simply expressed her sadness.
Derry acknowledged that he did not address any worries about Perry’s welfare with the school’s governors or during a discussion with a representative from the local government. However, he stated during the inquest that he possesses a comprehensive understanding of mental health.
Derry stated in reply to inquiries from Ofsted’s legal representative that he had previously undergone a “notable psychotic episode” which had caused him to be absent from work for a year. He further stated, “I am familiar with the feeling of wanting to end my life and having suicidal thoughts.”
Derry and the rest of the inspection group were inquired about whether they should have halted or stopped the inspection due to Perry’s distress.
When asked about Perry’s response, Gavin Evans, one of the three inspectors, stated that it is common for there to be tears, upset, and frustration during inspections, as both a school leader and an Ofsted inspector.
The investigation is set to proceed for an additional three days.
Source: theguardian.com
