Ruth Perry - a Tragic and Unnecessary Demise

 I am writing this blog post with a feeling of deep anger, so I must apologise in advance if I sound over-emotional at times. Not that any apology is really needed. The suicide of the dedicated teacher and Headteacher, Ruth Perry, seen above, has shocked many, whether involved in education or not. Mrs Perry took her life in January, ahead of the publication of an adverse OFSTED report. I was in a school which failed its OFSTED inspection some years ago and I can empathise with the feelings of all staff at Mrs Perry's school (Caversham Primary School in Reading). Times will be tough for all staff at that school now; were Mrs Perry still with us, she would have had to resign. For a dedicated teaching professional of 32 years, that would have been galling and humiliating in the extreme. I can well see why Mrs Perry found it unendurable.

Regular readers of this blog will remember that OFSTED was one of my principal targets for criticism some years ago. This was because I had recently retired after the best part of eleven years in a school which had failed its OFSTED in 2000 and gone into Special Measures. During those years, we were subjected to repeated visits from OFSTED and HMI inspectors. We, as a staff, worked slavishly to get the school out of those measures. Even when they ended, OFSTED still retained an interest. Even after my retirement in 2011, and I worked as a supply teacher, I saw the pressure on school staff when OFSTED were due to pay them a visit. Consequently, I took great pleasure in exposing what I considered to be the follies of OFSTED.

Of course, OFSTED is not the only burden that teachers have to bear. There are the constant bureaucratic pressures of planning, target setting and assessment. There are the unremitting onslaughts of  government initiatives and, latterly, financial constraints. For many teachers, especially in secondary schools, there is the regular hazard of pupil indiscipline, leading to abuse and assault. No wonder, then, as The Independent said, in 2017:

"The suicide rate among primary school teachers in England is nearly two times higher than the national average, figures have revealed."

These figures have not been updated, but when they are, I predict that, post-pandemic, they could well be higher. Risk of suicide among primary and nursery school teachers was 42 per cent higher than patterns in the broader population of England during the period 2011 to 2015, according to data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The Independent goes on to say:

"There were 139 suicides among teaching and educational professionals during the period, and almost three quarters (73 per cent) of these — or 102 suicides — were recorded as primary and nursery schoolteachers."

When these figures are updated, it hardly needs to be said that Ruth Perry's tragic demise will be included. 

And, of course, this is all part of a bleak picture for teachers. The National Education Union (NEU) points out:

"44% of England’s state-school teachers plan to quit by 2027, according to the latest NEU poll. Half of those (22%) intend to leave within two years.
Schools are struggling to fill vacant posts, leading to a doubling up of roles. 73% of teachers say this has worsened since the start of the pandemic.
Over half (52%) of teachers say their workload is either ‘unmanageable’ or ‘unmanageable most of the time’, up from 35% in 2021".

The OFSTED response to this whole tragedy reads like a computer-generated blurb, quoted by the BBC:

"Matthew Purves, Ofsted regional director for the south east, said: "We were deeply saddened by Ruth Perry's tragic death.
Our thoughts remain with Mrs Perry's family, friends and everyone in the Caversham Primary School community."

This resembles previous OFSTED statements issued after previous OFSTED-related teacher suicides. No positive measures, such as counselling, in order to prevent further tragedies, are even remotely considered. The government response is equally bland:

The Department for Education said inspections were a "legal requirement".

A spokesman said: "Inspections are hugely important as they hold schools to account for their educational standards and parents greatly rely on the ratings to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child.
We offer our deep condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Perry..."

Most kind - I don't think.

To come to the point, I shall say that, while I have completely retired from teaching now for eight years, I am a serving school governor. My school recently passed its OFSTED inspection - deservedly so. The Head, deputies and teachers are dedicated, hard-working and consummate professionals. In spite of this, I would not change places with any of them. I only wish them, and all serving teachers the best of luck.

Finally, I know that I speak for all readers of this blog in sending condolences to the family of Ruth Perry and to the staff and children of Caversham Primary School in Reading.

For all readers of this item who are outraged at this latest loss of a dedicated teacher and who wish to take some positive action, the NEU has started a petition to replace OFSTED. You can sign by clicking on this link HERE. Either alternatively, or as well as, there is a petition on Change.com calling for an inquiry into the OFSTED inspection at Caversham Primary School which is LINKED TO HERE.