Responding to the response from Ofsted and the Government to the
report of the Coroner following the death of headteacher Ruth
Perry, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the
NASUWT-The Teachers' Union, said:
“We welcome the response from Ofsted and the Government to the
report of the Coroner following the death of Ruth Perry, but much
more needs to be done to actively support the work of teachers
and school leaders and to secure the welfare and wellbeing of
those who, every day in our schools, work tirelessly and
selflessly to secure the very best for the nation’s children.
“For too long teachers and headteachers have suffered under the
tyranny of a flawed and egregious inspection and accountability
regime.
“At a time when inspection is contributing to the deepening
crisis in teacher morale, recruitment and retention, the new
Chief Inspector must be prepared to grasp the need for real
change, and further action from Government is also needed to halt
the exodus of new and experienced teachers and headteachers from
the profession.
“Better support for school leaders, better advice, counselling
and wellbeing support are welcome, but the remedy must also
include structural change, too, beginning with a pause on
inspections to enable a full assessment of the workload and
mental health impacts to be carried out in consultation with the
profession.
“No credible system should be applauding schools where workload
and working practices contribute to stress, burnout and poor
health of headteachers, teachers and support staff.
“Abolishing the punishing use of single-word inspection
judgements and requiring all inspection teams to be led by
professionals who have recent and relevant direct experience of
classroom practice is also needed.
“And, we need an independent process for dealing with complaints
about inspection as part of a programme for rebuilding trust and
confidence with the profession.
“The new Chief Inspector Martyn Oliver has had the courage to
apologise. Now he and Ministers must demonstrate that they have
the will to deliver the changes needed for the sake of our
children, young people and their teachers.”
