Manchester Ofsted inspector quits in protest after death of teacher and brands watchdog "inadequate"

A schools inspector from Manchester has resigned in protest after a teacher took her own life. He has also branded Ofsted, who he worked for as "inadequate".

Ruth Perry took her own life in January, and her sister has said her death was a “direct result” of the "process and outcome" of an Ofsted inspection that saw the school’s rating downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate”. Her family said an inspection at her school - Caversham Primary School in Reading - had turned her into 'an absolute shadow of herself'.

The resignation of Dr Martin Hanbury, comes after last week a hundred headteachers in Salford called for Ofsted inspections to be halted after Ruth's death. In a letter they say of their profession that "an ethic of proud and humble public service is being eroded by a regime of fear and humiliation" conducted by the watchdog.

Dr Hanbury, from Chorlton, who is Chief Executive of the Chatsworth Multi-Academy Trust, in Salford, says in his resignation letter to Ofsted's Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, that he was "troubled" by the watchdog's "tone deaf" response to Ruth's death. He also says that Ofsted's decision to continue "normal service" during the COVID pandemic was flawed.

In his letter, he says: "It is with regret that I am writing to you to inform you of my decision to stand down as an Ofsted Inspector. I have served on thirty-three inspections since May 2017, leading thirteen of these, largely focused in the field of special education needs and disabilities. I have found inspection to be fulfilling and stimulating and hope I have contributed to the improvement and development of the schools I have inspected.

"However, in recent months I have increasingly felt that Ofsted is no longer achieving its