Claims by the Ofsted chief inspector that critics used the death of headteacher Ruth Perry 鈥渁s a pivot to try and discredit鈥 its work have been described as 鈥済rossly insensitive鈥 by her sister. In an unapologetic parting shot to detractors, Amanda Spielman 鈥 who leaves the watchdog next month 鈥 also claimed that its role was 鈥減oorly understood鈥 and budget cuts had 鈥渃urtailed鈥 its work, comments school leaders deemed 鈥渢one deaf and crass鈥. Speaking to BBC Radio 4鈥檚 Woman鈥檚 Hour yesterday, Spielman said there was 鈥渘o question that there鈥檚 a great deal of activity in the sector to create anxiety鈥. Her comment followed a new survey by the leaders鈥 union NAHT, which found 85 per cent of members who responded were 鈥渦nconfident鈥 in the inspectorate. 鈥淭here was a very sad case in the spring that has been used as a pivot to try and discredit what we do,鈥 Spielman added, later clarifying that the comment was related to Perry. The Reading headteacher鈥檚 family believe the 53-year-old took her own life in January before the publication of an Ofsted report rating her school as 鈥榠nadequate鈥. An inquest will begin on Tuesday. ‘A shocking lack of understanding’ Her sister, Julia Waters, said Spielman鈥檚 comment was 鈥渘ot only grossly insensitive to my family鈥檚 grief but shows a shocking lack of understanding of the concerns of the teaching profession鈥. The 鈥渙utpouring of anger and anguish鈥 following Perry鈥檚 death was 鈥渘ot a 鈥榙ebate about accountability鈥. It is the alarm call of a profession in crisis.鈥 Perry鈥檚 death led to huge pressure on the government, which introduced changes to the inspection framework earlier this year. Ruth Perry Spielman鈥檚 comments came as Ofsted published its annual report weeks earlier than usual. In a foreword, the chief inspector said the watchdog was 鈥減oorly understood鈥, with many people not recognising that 鈥渁s a matter of government policy, Ofsted鈥檚 schools week has long been limited to the diagnostic function of inspection鈥. It was 鈥渘ot a policy-making department and cannot decide to divert its resources to support work, any more than the driving test agency can decide to switch to giving driving lessons. 鈥淵et it is being argued that Ofsted is acting punitively or in bad faith by not doing so. Clarification is needed.鈥 Ofsted鈥檚 budget was 鈥渁bout a quarter of what it was 20 years ago鈥, which meant 鈥渕any strands鈥 of its work 鈥渢hat help build sector goodwill and reinforce our value to the sector鈥 were 鈥減rogressively curtailed鈥. 鈥淏ut despite all this, Ofsted continues to perform its role fairly, professionally, thoroughly and constructively.鈥 ‘Tone deaf and crass’ Jonny Uttley, the chief executive of The Education Alliance multi-academy trust, said the characterisation was 鈥渢one deaf and crass鈥 as education coped with a recruitment and retention crisis and high levels of leadership 鈥渂urnout鈥. 鈥淭he inspection system, which is no longer fit for purpose, contributes significantly to this.鈥 Caroline Derbyshire, the chief executive of the Saffron Academy Trust, said that scrutiny of Ofsted was not something that began this year. In 2021 the headteacher wellbeing service Headrest wrote to Spielman and the education secretary to demand a pause to 鈥渢oxic鈥 inspections that it said were driving leaders out of the profession. 鈥淸At the time] it felt quite a brave thing to say,鈥 Derbyshire said, adding that after Perry鈥檚 death, more had 鈥渇elt the bravery to be able to speak [out]鈥. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anyone whipping this up, I think it鈥檚 baked into the system.鈥 Paul Tarn, the chief executive of the Delta Academies Trust, said inspections 鈥減ut a lot of undue pressure on school staff鈥, but Spielman鈥檚 departure created an opportunity for the new chief inspector to review the framework. Spielman鈥檚 parting shot also came after it emerged she was on the shortlist to become the next chair of the BBC. are available 365 days a year. You can reach them on free call number 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit to find your nearest branch. Charity runs a confidential helpline for education staff and teachers 鈥 call 08000 562 561.
Frank Solarz 24 November 2023 I am sorry I have no respect for a Chief Inspector who has never done the job. How many driving examiners do not have a driving license?
Sandy Cameron 24 November 2023 I think Spielman may be being disingenuous. When people criticise Ofsted for doing or not doing, it is most likely aimed precisely at the fact that its remit is prescribed by government policy and legislation; sometimes at Ofsted guidance, which has been revised umpteen times over the years; and finally at the poor practice of some individual inspectors and their teams. Spielman has also omitted to recognise that in more recent years, government has claimed its policies follow what Ofsted thinks.
Frank Rispin 26 November 2023 Basically it did far far more harm than good. County subject advisers were a massive help to schools in the past. Ofsted only spread fear and stress.