CYP Now - Ofsted inspectors to undergo mental health training after Ruth Perry’s death

Compulsory mental health training for all inspectors is among a series of changes Ofsted has vowed to make following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

An Ofsted inspection 'likely contributed' to Ruth Perry's death, an inquest ruled. Picture: Brighter Futures for Children

An inquest into the headteacher’s death ruled that an Ofsted inspection which saw Caversham Primary School, in Berkshire, downgraded to “inadequate” “likely contributed” to her suicide.

In response to a Prevention of Future Deaths report by senior coroner Heidi Connor, Ofsted’s chief inspector Martyn Oliver vowed that the inspectorate would make changes based on her recommendations.

However, he stopped short of scrapping the inspectorate’s one-word judgments despite calls from the sector.

Oliver pledged that Ofsted would “always act with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect”.

Changes include having all inspectors complete mental health training by March this year to ensure they are equipped to “to recognise and respond to signs of distress in school leaders”.

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