Ofsted will resume inspecting schools in England on 22 January after a pause for its staff to receive better training on the mental health challenges involved following the death of the headteacher Ruth Perry.
Sir Martyn Oliver, the new chief inspector of Ofsted, had suspended inspections to allow for the extra work after Ofsted was strongly criticised for insensitivity and intimidation by a coroner investigating Perry’s death by suicide.
Oliver announced the restart date after meetings with union leaders and Prof Julia Waters, Perry’s sister.
Ofsted’s 3,000 inspectors working in schools, further education, social care and childcare facilities are to attend two training sessions, starting from next week, with the initial session to be led by Oliver and shared publicly. The training is expected to be completed by all inspectors by the end of March.
Sessions with small groups of inspectors will also be held “to help them understand and recognise any mental health issues they may encounter on inspection”, according to Ofsted.
Oliver said: “Inspection plays a vital role in making sure that children and learners are getting the education and care they need and deserve. So we need to get back to that work as quickly as we can.
“But I’ve also been very clear that we must reflect on the findings of the coroner, learn from the tragic events of last year and emerge as a better and more effective inspectorate. That means being trusted by parents and respected by the education and social care professionals we work with.
“This mental health awareness training is a first step – but for me a critical first step – in reassuring the sectors we work with that we are serious about change.”
Oliver, a former headteacher, said he had a “constructive” meeting with Waters, and told her the training on 8 January would include a minute’s silence in memory of Perry on the first anniversary of her death.
The meeting was the first between Ofsted and Perry’s family. Last month Reading’s senior coroner issued a “prevention of future deaths” report that listed a series of recommendations for Ofsted and the Department for Education.
Waters said she had been “cautiously reassured” by her meeting with Oliver. “What Sir Martyn has said, and what we have been pushing for, is there needs to be really radical change, systemic change, cultural change at Ofsted – and this training is just the start,” she told the BBC.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
