How do you think teachers feel after a poor Ofsted inspection?
This blog has been published in light of the death of Ruth Perry, who had been head teacher for 13 years, took her own life in January 2023 while awaiting Ofsted's report.
Below is an audio recording I made in January 2017 after a special measures inspection.
Silenced for three months!
To capture the unjust process, I wanted to publish this audio in January 2017, but nobody was allowed to discuss the report publicly with anyone for
Thank you for sharing this. As a HT I experienced a very difficult Ofsted weeks before becoming a new mother. The process and aftermath was horrendous and being on maternity leave , no one checked on my well-being. It completely consumed me while trying to care for a newborn and pick up the pieces. They were very dark days and I felt I had no choice but to resign. Ten years later I still find it difficult and after finally seeking help yet again to help me move forward, have been diagnosed with PTSD as a direct result of the inspection process and impact.
I’m sorry to hear this – I think a lot of people who have lived, this will recognise your story. For those who have never experienced Ofsted as a senior leader, they may find this hard to believe, but for me, it is very real, and I can totally relate to some of the things that you’ve described. recent events regarding Ruth Perry bring back all those traumatic experiences, which is why so many people have been speaking up. I hope you are moving forward and that your newborn is all older, wiser and healthy…
Teachers deserve respect and support. The Education system as epitomised by Ofsted has become abusive. This must and can change. I developed the concept of Peaceful Schools to provide a means of creating healthy and respectful schools where everyone can feel and be happy, experiencing peace and being peace builders.
Thank you for sharing. I left the profession in 2016 a profession I dreamt about being in, deeply cared about and had invested in for over 25 years. I was a new Head and it wasn’t Ofsted but it was the ideals of Ofsted that drove me out. It was local school improvement and Governors relentless in their approach with minimal insight and lack of understanding of what was really happening in the school. I had a previously sailed through quite several gruelling Ofsted’s and a Siam’s. In this case I didn’t feel like I had a team and that was the difference. I felt ultimately responsible and that broke me. Like Ruth Perry I became very suddenly and seriously unwell and my career ended. I don’t want to be dramatic but It was my career or my life. I had a small child and three older children so although I was experiencing extreme anxiety I walked away. I knew there was nothing I could do at that point. I have since trained to become a psychotherapist and actually returned to teaching to break the thoughts that I lost it all. Reading about Ruth brought it all back and the reasons I went into a therapeutic field was to offer supervision to Headteachers from a lived experience. This is my next goal. I wonder about alternatives to Ofsted and how we need to find a balance in the educational sphere that is intent on being the biggest and the best.
Thank you for sharing your comments. The more I research and write about Ofsted, sharing stories, the more I am inundated with stories like yours. It’s good to hear that you are giving back in another way, and I am sorry to hear that you went through such trauma; even though this is common, it should NOT be the norm. Lovely to hear that you took the brave step to go back into teaching. If you’re interested, I’ve tried to offer a balanced approach, with some alternatives…
This is heartbreaking to read. Ruth Perry’s death sheds a devastating light on the immense pressure and emotional toll that Ofsted inspections can place on educators. Your decision to share your experience, even after seven years, is incredibly brave and highlights how deeply such moments can scar individuals and teams.
Thank you – it still cuts deep; I’d still be doing the job IMO