Head teacher kills herself over OFSTED

Galaxy

The Ofsted inspectors I have worked with have generally been of a really high standard. I am as uncomfortable with the demonising of inspectors as I am with the demonising of social workers, etc.

This

growstuff you're right
I purposely didn't say HE was an OFSTED inspector. If I mentioned independent schools then the usual brigade would be out to say I shouldn't contribute to this thread.
However, ISI do follow OFSTED guidelines particularly in Safeguarding. In addition, we can can discuss either system's processes as a whole, and I'm sure that same inspector would not become the 😈 in disguise if he visited a state school!
So, if the thread moves into that area, in your experience, do you think that as a Head, my inspections in the past were less stressful than those for Heads of state schools?

I haven't read much about the case, apart from what I'm seeing on this thread. But I'm a bit puzzled as to how the safeguarding issue put the school straight into Special Measures. Why wasn't it Requires Improvement? Are Ofsted Inspectors required to go straight to SM if they find a safeguarding problem? IIRC, they do have a 'tariff', but this seems very extreme.

(And I'm slightly as to how you stop children ever fighting in the playground.)

The Ofsted inspectors I have worked with have generally been of a really high standard. I am as uncomfortable with the demonising of inspectors as I am with the demonising of social workers, etc.

children having a fight in the playground
Was it peer on peer abuse? Then that is a safeguarding issue, but what was the context? Was it just a playground fracas? We don't know.
another child dancing unsuitably
The dancing, well that's bonkers and not hurting anyone. Joe Wickes does a bit of it.

Marydoll

Galaxy

I work for the local authority currently and there is a support service for all staff with issues relating to mental health, I dont know how effective it is or what kind of support it offers though.

My former LA also offered counselling, but staff were reluctant to access it, because they thought there was a stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues.

I've experienced LA counselling services as a client. It was absolutely useless. My conclusion was that it was there so that LAs could tick the box to claim they were doing something.

Joseanne

It's so very very sad, and as said, we don't exactly know why the Head did this. OFSTED can't be blamed for everything. If they found shortcomings, or if other staff members lodged concerns, OFSTED has to report it and act. The safeguarding checks were not correct in this instance, and that reflects very poorly on the senior management. Yes, the buck stops there, and it has to be referred.
I know a school's inspector, (very well infact), and every time he enters an inspection it is with a kind and supportive attitude. Occasionally a Head might break down in tears due to all kinds of reasons.

But he's not an OFSTED inspector, if he's the one you've mentioned before.

The private and state school inspection processes are different. I've experienced both.

This is beyond sad. I’m so sorry for her family. OFSTED inspections are highly stressful and very unpleasant. I should know, I’ve gone through a few.

Ironically, I don't believe Ofsted is designed to improve education either. It's a tick box exercise paying lip service

I read that the school scored as 'Good' but then the inspector marked it down because they noticed what they perceived as two safeguarding issues.
Children having a fight in the playground and another child dancing to something from an unsuitable online game.

Teachers have a struggle as it is but also have to contend with what children are allowed to do or see when outside school too.

It does sound as if there is a tick-box attitude to the job.

Being the reason a person took their own life is the worst lesson any child could have.

Well done OFSTED.

I know I've not worked in a school for almost 2 years now, but I can say hand on heart, that out of all of the schools I worked in (secondary education - 9 in total) only one was supportive of anyone with mental health issues. 1 school dismissed (as in sacked) a colleague with a serious mental health condition and she was too ill to fight it. Another knew a colleague was struggling but didn't support her and instead put her on a capability plan (these are really ways to 'prove' a teacher isn't capable of doing their job and are a precursor to being forced out) which ended with her being forced to resign.

Schools aren't designed to support teachers. They cause huge amounts of stress and frequently lead teachers to nervous breakdowns (I'm in an online teachers support group, with thousands of members, all struggling and wanting to leave, many of whom are being badly bullied).

Ironically, I don't believe Ofsted is designed to improve education either. It's a tick box exercise paying lip service.

Galaxy

I work for the local authority currently and there is a support service for all staff with issues relating to mental health, I dont know how effective it is or what kind of support it offers though.

My former LA also offered counselling, but staff were reluctant to access it, because they thought there was a stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues.

All the educational establishments I’ve worked in have had support for staff, whether that be in-house or via the local authority. However, that’s just like a sticking plaster, it doesn’t address the real issues. And Ofsted is a huge issue. We need to be working for children and young people, not for Ofsted.

I work for the local authority currently and there is a support service for all staff with issues relating to mental health, I dont know how effective it is or what kind of support it offers though.

30 years ago, our social work training department set up a scheme where 5 sessions of confidential counselling was available to anyone working in relevant agencies and involved in safeguarding. Teachers, health visitors etc. There was a focus on multi agency training so shared written procedures were in place, alongside efforts to build good working relationships. The counsellors were carefully recruited and properly qualified

Glorianny is right to say confidential support for school staff should be available. I expect the scheme we had was ditched as austerity bit. One of our local high schools had been outstanding for 30 years. It’s been down graded to needing improvement despite good academic, sporting, drama, music etc. its safeguarding policies have been found to need improvement. Inspectors reported hearing racist language from some pupils and a child was addressed by the wrong pronoun.

Sadly, not the first and probably not the last. Ofsted is simply not fit for purpose. It doesn’t benefit children in any way. I too know someone who was an Ofsted inspector - he actually gave it up as he found it to be so demoralising and not about supporting schools/colleges at all. It was a very poor workplace culture.

Surely, if things were going badly and she was in charge, the simple solution would have been to resign from her post. The OFSTED inspection system has been in place in various forms for decades, she knew it was part of the job and all these judgments on the OFSTED system were simply showing she was not suited to the job she had.

If you had children in the school while she was in charge, who did badly in their exams because of failings in the school, or were badly bullied, you might think differently.

While having every sympathy for those involved, the question that really needs asking is why this lady was appointed to a job for which she was clearly unsuited and why more was not done to quietly ease her out before this sad denouement. She was in post for 13 years.

If you take on an important job like this you agree to take on the responsibility it involves. And there is a well known phrase that even Presdients have been known to have on their desk. It says The buck stops here.

I believe there was a Labour Education minister who resigned because she said she could not cope with the job she had been appointed to.

That this lady became so depressed and unable to cope that she chose death as a way out, is a tragedy, but those around her and those trying to support her should have encouraged her to resign.

Sorry Ums disregard my post your second one hadn’t shown up when I posted

Oppps Ums I think you ve popped into the wrong thread

Love the cartoon! Have a good trip!

Bugger. Wrong thread - I’m really sorry!
I mustn’t be fully awake yet.
😮

Here’s Matt.

Good morning everyone from south Manchester where it’s damp but seems mild enough. I’ve just weighed myself and am joyous. I’ve lost 2sts in weight now (in a little over 6 months). I would be treating myself to a half bottle of Möet this evening to celebrate but we are off to Málaga this afternoon so I’ll buy one when we get home. This is a shorter holiday than planned at 12 days but we are both looking forward to spending time in our ‘happy place’.
😊

Hope Saturday is a pleasant day for us all. x

Nannagarra

Guesswhat

Apart from bereavements I’d say that OFSTED inspections were the most stressful events I’ve ever experienced.

That poor woman.

👏 👏 👏

I felt exactly the same, during our Scottish HMI inspections.

It wasn't the inspectors, who stressed us, they were fair and professional, it was our HT, who put us under enormous pressure.

I was so upset to read about this poor lady, who had devoted her life to educating children.

It's not an either-or situation though is it.

You can improve safeguarding and at the same time understand that the flossing dance is not necessarily a safeguarding matter (though of course it may be) - context is important too.

I haven't seen any photos BTW.

joseanne
most of his team wouldn't even have a clue what floss dancing is

Exactly 🙄