‘Urgent lessons’ must be learned by Ofsted from Ruth Perry’s death, family say

The family of Ruth Perry said “urgent lessons” must be learned after a coroner concluded an Ofsted inspection contributed to the headteacher taking her own life, but added they had “no confidence” the watchdog would make the reforms needed. Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. Staff at the school said the headteacher was left tearful and incoherent after the inspection on November 15 and 16 last year.