OFSTED and the Power of Delusion

 For the first time in a long time, I had to stop myself from shouting at the TV. The OFSTED supremo, Amanda Spielman, seen above, was on the BBC about a week ago, defending the inspection results of Caversham Primary School. These results, as we know, contributed directly to the suicide of the much-loved headteacher, Ruth Perry. Ms Spielman's comments had wider connotations, and I think them worth commenting upon here.

Quoted in The Mirror from the BBC interview, Spielman said:

"I think the findings were secure and I think the inspection team worked with the professionalism and sensitivity I would expect from our inspectors. Pressed on whether she had any concerns at all over the downgrading of the school from outstanding to inadequate, she added: "From what I've seen I don't have any reason to doubt the inspection".

Let's ponder that. When we examine the reason for the school's downgrading, we find that the school was performing well in most areas. OFSTED, however, were not impressed. They found the school: “welcoming and vibrant”, staff/pupil relations “warm and supportive” but there was lack of “appropriate supervision during breaktimes” so pupils were “potentially at risk of harm."

Quite what is meant by appropriate supervision is not made clear. Professor Julia Waters, Ruth Perry's sister, quoted on WSWS, elaborated:

"Apparently, Julia told BBC South, an altercation in the playground between two boys and another incident involving a boy performing a floss dance, was the “scant” and “sensationalist” evidence for inadequate safeguarding. The playground fight was interpreted by Ofsted as evidence of child-on-child abuse and the dance as the sexualisation of children."

Speaking as a retired primary school teacher of 34 years' experience, and having done more playground duties than Spielman has had hot dinners, I can say that I have seen and intervened in an abundance of playground altercations, some very violent indeed. I don't know what a floss dance is, but I have seen numerous manifestations of what can be termed inappropriate behaviour. If fights and dances in the playground were grounds to fail a school, then half the schools I have ever taught in (full time and supply) would be judged "Inadequate". I note that OFSTED did not ask whether these incidents were  commonplace or not - nor if the pupils involved had special needs. And, of course, no positive or supportive measures were put in place by Ms Spielman's merry men and women. Downgrading was the order of the day, and a popular, caring headteacher was driven to take her own life. And Spielman has no doubts that her team did the right thing. Such is the power of delusion.

In a previous post, on March 24,  I have looked at previous teacher suicides related to OFSTED inspection,. WSWS notes another:

"Perry is not the first tragic victim of Ofsted inspections. Carol Woodward was the head of Woodford Primary School near Plymouth and took her own life in 2015 after a negative Ofsted inspection".

Even the normally anti-teacher Daily Mail reported on this case: 

"A popular headmistress hanged herself after Ofsted inspectors rated her school 'inadequate' when they visited ...Carol Ann Woodward was found in the garage of her home in Plymstock, Devon in July following a 'swift decline' in her mental health".

Ms Woodward's tragic death was not widely reported in the media.

 Research by the Hazards Campaign charity and University of Leeds has implicated Ofsted in coroners’ reports into the deaths of 10 teachers over the past 25 years. It reports teachers suffering cardiac arrests, strokes and nervous breakdowns due to the stress of inspections.  Andrew Morrish, a former head and inspector and founder of the helpline Headrest, said most calls from stressed heads are about Ofsted. "Inspection is a sensitive process", says Spielman. Yeah, right.

Another comment of Ms Spielman's delusional comments is of particular interest to me. She said, relating to inspections: "For the vast majority of schools, I know that it's a positive and affirming experience."

I found that statement hilarious. I have been in a school that failed its inspection, gone into Special Measures, been inspected by HMI inspectors every term for two years, emerging to a variation of educational parole. I can attest that none of us staff found it positive and affirming. We were just heartily glad that it was over.

On the other hand, as a school governor, I have played a part in a school previously rated as Good being inspected again after five years, and again being graded as Good. This time, all staff, governors and children breathed a huge sigh of relief. Positive? Affirming? Maybe - but I did help the the sole inspector leave through the school gate after the final briefing, which was surely an affirmation of a caring environment in the school. The most positive aspect for all staff is the knowledge that OFSTED won't be back for a while.

Ms Spielman has said that Ruth Perry's death was a "tragic event" and told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg show she was willing to speak with the family. As Ruth Perry's family have been justifiably outraged at the consequences of the inspection, the meeting, if it happens, should be a lively event.