Councils are 鈥渆ffectively hamstrung鈥 in their ability to provide high-quality support for school leaders due to policy and funding constraints, a review into the death of Ruth Perry has found. The report, commissioned by Reading Borough Council and published today, concluded Perry鈥檚 death shows the 鈥渇olly of the macho culture of high stakes accountability鈥. A coroner ordered a learning review into the support and guidance offered by Reading after ruling an Ofsted inspection contributed to the suicide of Perry, then head at Caversham Primary School. The review was run by two retired senior council children鈥檚 services leaders, who concluded 鈥渨e would have 鈥 responded in the same way鈥 as Reading officers did. However, it made wider policy recommendations, including for the role of councils in maintaining schools to be 鈥渃larified and funded鈥. It added that 鈥渓ocal authorities are effectively hamstrung in their ability to provide high-quality support for their school leaders by a combination of both policy and funding constraints鈥. Report 鈥榝ails to ask key questions鈥 Julia Waters, Perry鈥檚 sister, said the report鈥檚 鈥渇rightening鈥 conclusion exposes that councils 鈥渓ack the resources, power, authority and processes to look after their employees effectively, when faced with the trauma of a punishing Ofsted inspection鈥. The review found that the council and school took their roles seriously and prepared for the inspection. The authors said they would have probably responded in the same way as the Reading council officers, by 鈥渢rying to understand, help and do the right thing for the person concerned鈥. 鈥淚t would have been tempting to require Ruth to refrain from work but she expressed a clear desire for that not to happen.鈥 The report added: 鈥淭he council also finds itself in a position, through the most tragic circumstances, to highlight the folly of the macho culture of 鈥榟igh stakes accountability鈥.鈥 But Perry said it both 鈥渇ails to ask key questions鈥 about what support could have been offered to her sister and also 鈥渇ails consistently to address鈥 the coroner鈥檚 concerns. Councils have 鈥榓mbiguous鈥 school role The report mostly made recommendations more widely relating to the role of councils in the schools system. For instance, it found there was 鈥渁mbiguous and at times confusing national arrangements for maintained school support and effectiveness鈥. While the council employs maintained school staff, it 鈥渋n reality has few of the powers one would expect鈥, which are instead deployed through the board of governors. Councils have a statutory duty to promote 鈥渉igh standards鈥 but now rely on maintained schools choosing to de-delegate part of their budgets back to them to fund monitoring and intervention, it added. The report called for government clarity. However the report did say the council would facilitate 鈥渞estorative鈥 talks between those who 鈥渃ontinue to be deeply affected鈥 by Perry鈥檚 death. Suicide prevention training Other actions proposed to reduce the risk of a similar incident include considering peer support as part of safeguarding reviews, establishing a 鈥渃ritical incident policy鈥 and training for leaders on responding to stress. The latter would include specific training on suicide prevention. The council already now surveys its heads annual about their mental health. Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), the not-for-profit organisation which runs education in Reading, also conducts annual 鈥渄eep dive鈥 safeguarding audits with schools.