Ofsted Inspection 'Contributed' to Headteacher's Suicide, Coroner Rules

Ofsted pledges reform in response, but faces criticism for not apologizing for causing the death

Ruth Perry, a headteacher at Caversham Primary School, took her own life less than two months after an Ofsted inspection downgraded her school from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'.
The senior coroner for Berkshire, Heidi Connor, ruled that the Ofsted inspection 'contributed' to Perry's suicide.
Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, apologized for the 'distress' caused by the inspection but has been criticized for not apologizing for causing Perry's death.
Ofsted has pledged to reform the inspection process to reduce pressures felt by school leaders and 'will do more' to address concerns raised by the coroner.
Perry's sister, Julia Waters, has criticized Ofsted's response as 'woefully inadequate' and has called for more fundamental changes to the school inspection system.