(TW : discussion of Ruth Perry's suicide) To feel uncomfortable with the way Ruth Perry's death was described as 'the fault' of Ofsted?

The 'it's worse for trans teens' comment is being misinterpreted by you.

I have already explained that what I meant was that media reporting of trans teenager suicides was 'worse' in that it used things like suicide note pictures and listed the method in some cases, breaking more Samaritan guidelines. Whereas the only questionable thing in media reporting of the Perry case was apportioning blame to Ofsted which Samaritans also advises against.

I don't know the ins and outs of this case. It doesn't sound a great set of circumstances for a vulnerable adolescent whatever you think of trans issues.

I don't really get what it has got to do with Ruth Perry?

In Leelah Alcorn's case, the parents were criticised for removing from school and putting in virtual school and putting them in gay conversion therapy (as well as therapy to accept they were a boy, which obviously is NOT bad). The criticism wasn't just about wanting Leelah to accept they were a boy and refusing to use false pronouns.

Leelah's parents were not responsible at all for what happened. I can see how they probably wanted to isolate from trans networks who were probably encouraging the dysphoria, they were very evangelical and probably had been given info that gay conversion therapy was effective.

However, it doesn't seem impossible that gay conversion therapy and only virtual school could have inadvertently exacerbated mental health struggles. Online school during lockdown made a lot of teens depressed who had been fine before (obviously there were other factors, but I did have an effect).

The parents were NOT responsible. But I think it's fair to say that some reports weren't criticising refusal to affirm a false 'gender identity' but other actions which would probably be somewhat questionable to some people who don't believe TWAW nonsense

I've explained the answer to that. And so has the OP. It's quite clear.

What links the three suicides mentioned is that external factors were publicly blamed (Ofsted, the media, parents).

There are no other similarities between the three suicides.

I can think of countless jobs/careers that have extremely stressful elements. And certain positions where you are held accountable for decisions which could be very serious and even life and death. I wouldn’t be able to do that type of job but someone has to, unfortunately you can’t eliminate stress from these jobs.

Thank you! As I said in my OP, I am GC and came here originally due to that.

I can see that people are probably thinking, 'It's not wrong to refuse to give dangerous puberty blockers and affirm lies to a child. But it IS wrong to act the way Ofsted did.' And I agree.

But in ALL these cases, I'm uncomfortable with the media contravening the Samaritans guidelines, guidelines they have for a good reason. In Perry's case, I'm also wary of the coroner saying that, though that is different from media.

I didn't know about that..thanks for posting. This should be much more well-known.

I definitely agree that Ofsted should be scrutinised and criticised, as I said in my OP.

I feel uncomfortable with coroner & media explicitly saying they 'contributed to' her suicide. To me that goes a step further.

I'm not convinced by that.

But otoh I thought the Perry safeguarding error was a minor admin error?

Thank you it was a long time ago now. As an adult I feel awful for his ex as well; at the time I hated her (unfairly of course) but I now realise how much more complex and difficult it all is.

I do think it was an absolute tragedy but it could have led to some genuine consideration of the stress teachers feel over OFSTED and some reforms as a result. As it is, the one word ratings are back under another guise.

I do think that the media were irresponsible in how the death was reported. There was a good article in one of the broadsheets that addressed this at the time and I am trying to find it and can’t, probably because you have to pay for it! But I will say that the message that self sacrifice is the way to get reform is a very dangerous one.

No- where are you getting that impression? I said that the media reporting was worse for trans teens

well the fact you feel it’s “worse for trans teens”. Why are you bringing American teenagers not having their unrealistic expectations met into the suicide of a British teacher treated horrendously by her regulatory body?

The job wasn't what made her feel suicidal though. It was the inspection. They unfairly graded her when it seems there was no real problem.

If Ofsted contributed to her suicide, which they did, then it needs to be treated like a workplace death and investigated thoroughly, and changes made to prevent future reports.

If you insist on saying that we should pretend that Ofsted didn't contribute to her death, then what lessons could be learned?

No- where are you getting that impression? I said that the media reporting was worse for trans teens because it was even more contrary to the guidelines the Samaritans sets, reporting suicide methods, note contents etc

I'm saying that it's rightly been pointed out that linking a specific event/person etc to a suicide in media reporting has been recognised by the Samaritans as dangerous.
I agree with them.

No- where are you getting that impression? I said that the media reporting was worse for trans teens because it was even more contrary to the guidelines the Samaritans sets, reporting suicide methods, note contents etc

I'm saying that it's rightly been pointed out that linking a specific event/person etc to a suicide in media reporting has been recognised by the Samaritans as dangerous.
I agree with them.

Do you think that’s the right thing to do though? Safeguarding is pretty important. If procedures aren’t followed properly, the outcomes can be tragic. I’m not sure that the right thing to do is to brush over it and carry on when failings are identified. How many other high paid professionals can make huge mistakes and stay in their job without consequence?

Obviously the headteacher here needed more support than she had through the process. Suicide is a hive decision to take and then follow through, and if external factors are a contributor, then there has to be others equally as influential.

I didn't know about that..thanks for posting. This should be much more well-known.

I definitely agree that Ofsted should be scrutinised and criticised, as I said in my OP.

I feel uncomfortable with coroner & media explicitly saying they 'contributed to' her suicide. To me that goes a step further.

Thanks, this is very interesting.

The head of my old school became a commentator on education after retirement and she also mentioned that the higher a teacher moves up, the more management they have to do, and the less time they have for what they actually wanted to do : teach. This needs to be improved....