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

I agree, it has felt wrong since this happened to be blaming OFSTED. They have their fault, but if they were responsible for suicide then there would be a lot more head teachers either dead or in psychiatric wards.

There may have been a particularly unfriendly inspector, but OFSTED are quite clear on their expectations and it’s not that hard to a avoid an inadequate rating.

I think it could be a more supportive role.
More frequent inspections where you feel like the inspectors want to improve your school instead of catch you out.
You could agree a target to work on and have an agreed timescale …. I mean after all, no one working in a school wants it to not be achieving what’s best for the children.

It’s tricky. I personally think suicide is a very personal decision. There are very, very few things that would make me consider ending my life and I’ve had a long and hard one compared to a lot of people.

But scenarios that would seem like the end of the world to me may seem recoverable or even inconsequential to others. Some people just aren’t as resilient as others through no fault of their own, some people have mental or other health conditions going on, some people find it difficult to see the bigger picture or are more prone to sudden, regrettable decisions or just get caught unawares by a bad period.

We are all so different and it’s entirely dependent on the person and circumstances. I tend to think that if a person chooses to end their life then that is their decision and theirs alone. A different person would have reacted differently so we can’t blame the stressor, it’s an individual choice.

By not having the outcome have such high stakes. By allowing headteachers to be supported following the outcome rather than having to keep it a secret.

Have you not read any of the reporting into this?

You know that she couldn't seek appropriate support with her feelings about the inspection outcome because Ofsted wouldn't allow it?

Why should Ofsted not be held accountable for that?

Schools do need a form of being held accountable

They do, and the problem is that being held accountable publicly is always going to be highly stressful and uncomfortable is the judgement is a negative one. I’m genuinely not sure how to get around this.

I'm not sure the solution to Ofsted contributing to headteachers committing suicide is to suggest that they quit or stop being martyrs.

Unfortunately, there was a prevention of future deaths report, and Ofsted appear to have ignored it. The trials of the new system show it seems to put even more pressure on school leadership teams.

It is very uncomfortable.

OFSTED should absolutely hold schools to scrutiny over safeguarding. I am saying that as a teacher myself.

Have you been through an ofsted?
I’m not even a head but it’s just horrific - the pressure, the feeling of trying to prove your worth, the weight of the expectation of others.
Schools do need a form of being held accountable but the current system will be even worse… being judged on enrichment and SEND inclusion when we can’t afford to support children properly or to book trips?

They drove her to it.

Why blame Ofsted when we could blame a society that thinks it's normal for people to work so hard at their jobs, and normalises that? She could have said "sod this" and quit at any time.

Why should anyone EVER feel trapped in their job? Is it love of prestige or money or some kind of martyr syndrome that society encourages, that makes people feel trapped? I wish I could think it's "vocation" but I'm pretty sure there are plenty of jobs people do as vocation without ending up feeling trapped by the work, much less putting up with enormous stress to do it.

Obviously it’s up to you whether you agree or disagree with the implication.
As a teacher who has been through many Ofsteds, in a poor inspection there is a perfect storm of professional criticism, personal criticism potentially if you are a school leader, sense of responsibility failing the well-being and progress of children in your community etc and on top of that not being allowed to talk about the outcome to anyone until it is published.
My friend was previously a chair of governors at a secondary which did poorly in an inspection and she was worried the head was going to hurt himself when she spoke to him on the phone.

What’s the alternative to identifying organisations or people who “contributed to” a suicide?
If we don’t acknowledge contributory factors, particularly bullying, then we’re saying the person just choose to do it because they wanted to? That’s clearly not true.
some suicides come from within, but some clearly have an external cause.

This seems very inappropriate and insensitive. I’m sure Ruth’s family really appreciate your insights, Not !! Sorry it’s making you feel uncomfortable , I’m sure her family feel a whole lot worse than your slight uncomfortableness.

"Reading comments made by Ms Perry before she died, the coroner said: “Ruth stated that ‘This is the most untherapeutic and inhumane system, to have this on one person’s shoulders. I am amazed there are not more heads killing themselves… the shame, the pressure, loss of income, where do I go next, I am too young to retire. The Ofsted system has to change. It is totally wrong that one person is made to feel like this.’”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ruth-perry-inquest-ofsted-alan-derry-report-b2460018.html

Also am I right in thinking Ms Perry was not the only head teacher who took their own life. I’m sure there was one here in Plymouth with similar circumstances. It’s so awful and such a huge loss

But it definitely did contribute towards her suicide? Have you read the notes she made?

There is a large body of scientific literature on suicide. The psychological experience of 'entrapment' is highly correlated with suicide. It seems clear that the experience with ofsted produced that feeling in Ruth. It's right that they are scrutinised and criticised when the stress of this experience is implicated in a woman losing her life.