Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 February 2025

Letter from NASUWT The Teachers Union on Inspection of Caversham Primary School, 25.01.25

Inquiry: The work of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted)

Summary

NASUWT writes to the Education Committee chair regarding testimony given by Sir Martyn Oliver (Ofsted) on 7 January about the 2022 Caversham Primary School inspection. The union disputes Oliver's claim that the inspection was conducted properly, citing the coroner's conclusion that the inspection was 'rude and intimidating' and lacked 'fairness, respect and sensitivity'. It urges the Committee to acknowledge the facts of Ruth Perry's death and ensure inspection reform prevents future harm.

Key findings

Sir Martyn Oliver told the Committee the inspector 'carried out an inspection against the framework in the way that the framework was written' with no suggestion of wrongdoing; NASUWT contests this characterisation.
The coroner's inquest into Ruth Perry's death (January 2023) recorded a narrative conclusion of suicide 'contributed to by the inspection'.
The coroner's Regulation 28 Report found the inspection was conducted in a manner lacking 'fairness, respect and sensitivity'—terms drawn from Ofsted's own Code of Conduct.
NASUWT states Oliver's evidence has caused 'considerable concern among teachers and school leaders' and 'deep distress to Ruth's family'.
The union calls on the Committee to acknowledge the facts of Ruth Perry's case and ensure Ofsted inspection reform prevents similar conduct.

Tone

Critical

Topics

education-inspectionteacher-welfaresafeguardingeducation-reform

Key actors

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT The Teachers Union, Helen Hayes MP, Sir Martyn Oliver, Ruth Perry, Ofsted

Notable line

“The coroner concluded that the inspection was at times "rude and intimidating".”

Key Quotes

“… carried out an inspection against the framework in the way that the framework was written. There was no suggestion that they did a bad job or did anything wrong whatsoever.”
— Sir Martyn Oliver · responding to the chair's question about lessons learned from Caversham inspection

“"[p]arts of the Ofsted inspection were conducted in a manner which lacked fairness …”
— The coroner (cited) · in the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths

“It is imperative that if effective lessons are to be learned from the inspection of Caversham Primary School, then the facts of that inspection and its consequences must be fully recognised and accepted …”
— Dr Patrick Roach · core argument to the Committee chair

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗