By Sheila Mckenzie-
Former Chief Inspector of Schools Amanda Spielman has broken her silence on the contentious inspections conducted by Ofsted that led to the death of former headteacher, Ruth Perry.
Shedding light on the challenges faced by both inspectors and educators in the wake of tragic outcomes, Spielman insisted that frank rulings inevitably impacted some school heads more.
Spielman’s remarks, made during an interview with broadcaster Rachel Johnson for her Difficult Women podcast, presents her perspective into the inner workings of Ofsted and the complexities inherent in evaluating the performance of schools.
The interview comes after a coroner’s ruling that an Ofsted inspection contributed to the suicide of Ruth Perry, the head of Caversham Primary School in Reading.
Key points from Spielman’s interview provide insight into the rationale behind Ofsted’s actions and the difficult decisions faced by inspectors:
When pressed on whether Ofsted had erred in its inspection of Caversham Primary School, Spielman stopped short of admitting fault, stating: “I absolutely did what I think was the right thing at a tremendously difficult time, when it would have been very easy to say we got the inspection wrong.
I couldn’t do that. I didn’t do that.” Some will view this steadfast defense of Ofsted’s actions underscores the organization’s commitment to upholding standards, even in the face of criticism and tragedy. Others will see it as Ofsted refusing to admit its own inadequacies.
Spielman acknowledged the delicate balance inspectors must strike between delivering tough messages and showing sensitivity to the individuals affected.
Drawing parallels to a doctor delivering a difficult diagnosis, she emphasized the necessity of providing honest feedback, even when it may be met with resistance or discomfort.
Spielman said the case highlighted a “big tension between the interests of the adults in schools and the interests of children”.
“It’s like a doctor, sometimes the doctor has to give you a difficult diagnosis. And you cannot not be upset by it, however kindly and sympathetically they give it to you.
“It’s the same for Ofsted inspectors. There are times when they have to give people really tough messages.”
Spielman added she had “found people incredibly unwilling to acknowledge and discuss…that there is no possible way that you can ever make everybody perfectly happy and totally protect the interests of children and make sure that you never have to say anything to an adult that could disappointment or upset them.
“Are we in a world where it is impossible to give a tough message or if somebody who gives a tough message is assumed to be bad by reason of giving the message? I think it’s a really dangerous place to head.”
However, she lamented the reluctance of some to acknowledge the inherent tension between the interests of adults in schools and the welfare of children.
Reflecting on the unique challenges faced by primary school leaders like Ruth Perry, Spielman acknowledged the disproportionate burden placed on individuals in smaller organizations.
She stressed the need for inspections to extend beyond the individual school level to encompass multi-academy trusts, where decisions are often made that impact a broader swath of students and educators.
While Spielman acknowledged the sense of uncertainty and jeopardy created by the threat of academization for failing schools, she maintained that this was beyond Ofsted’s purview.
Despite criticism of Ofsted’s single-word judgments, Spielman deflected the question, focusing instead on the broader implications of academization for school leaders and communities.
Despite Ofsted’s assertion that its actions were justified, the coroner’s ruling and Perry’s family’s testimony paint a troubling picture of the inspection process.
Only time will tell whether Spielman’s successor, Sir Martyn Oliver, will heed these lessons as he navigates the turbulent waters of educational governance.