Ofsted hit by mass revolt after headteacher's suicide with schools threatening to refuse entry to inspectors
Ofsted has been hit by a mass revolt after a headteacher's suicide
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Ofsted has been met with fury from teachers across the UK after a headteacher killed herself while waiting for a report which gave her school the lowest possible rating.
The watchdog faced silent protests from teachers this week as it inspected a school near to Caversham Primary School, where Ruth was headteacher.
Police were present at John Rankin School in Newbury which had initially threatened to deny Ofsted access to the school.
Other schools have removed the watchdog’s rating from their website.
Flora Cooper wore a black armband this morning in a silent protest
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Executive headteacher at John Rankin School, Flora Cooper, tweeted on Monday: “We have to do this! I’m taking the stand!”
However, she later posted: “Please can people not come to school now in the morning. I have to protect our children, our staff and our community.
“Please for the protection of our children and staff.”
A spokesperson for West Berkshire Council said on Tuesday morning: “An Ofsted inspection at John Rankin School will now go ahead today following discussions between the parties involved yesterday afternoon.
Flora Cooper U-turned on the decision to boycott Ofted
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“We understand that the inspection process can be a busy and stressful time for teachers, governors and school staff.
“As a council, we work closely with all of our schools to support them through the inspection process and address any individual concerns.”
Cooper also reiterated that the inspection would be going ahead and said she would make a statement at the end of the day.
Former teachers stood outside the school in protest and held signs that read “RIP Ruth”.
One woman, Liz, who was mentored by Ruth, described the situation as “unimaginable”.
“There is not a day where I don’t think about Ruth and the loss not only obviously to her family but the entire teaching community.
She continued: “She was absolutely brilliant and the pressure and the stress that she was under was immense.”
Ruth’s sister said the Ofsted findings were “disproportionate, unfair and, as has tragically been proven, deeply harmful in their (implied) focus on one individual”.
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