Death of Ruth Perry explained

Ruth Perry
Death Cause:	Suicide, contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022.

Ruth Perry was a British head teacher who died by suicide on 8 January 2023 while awaiting the publication of an Ofsted report which downgraded her school's rating from "outstanding" to "inadequate".^[1] Perry was the head teacher of Caversham Primary School in Reading for 13 years.^[2]

Background

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, known as Ofsted, inspects and regulates schools in England. Schools are graded with one of the four one-word ratings: "Outstanding"; "Good"; "Requires Improvement"; or "Inadequate".^[3]

A private memorial service was held at Reading Town Hall.

Inquest

The inquest by Heidi Connor, Senior Coroner for Berkshire, concluded on 12 December 2023. The coroner concluded that Perry's death was a result of "Suicide, contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022".^[4]

Notes and References

News: 20 May 2023 . Ruth Perry: Memorial service held for Reading head teacher . . 13 August 2024 . 13 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813191348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-65647695 . live .
News: Jeffreys . Branwen . George . Sallie . 7 December 2023 . I.N.A.D.E.Q.U.A.T.E - Ruth Perry's despair in handwritten notes . . 13 August 2024 . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731122313/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-67612233 . live .
News: Clarke . Vanessa . 25 April 2024 . What is Ofsted and how do school inspections work? . . 13 August 2024 . 5 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805160801/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65013919 . live .
Book: Connor, Heidi . Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS . 12 December 2023 . . 13 August 2024 . 17 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240717061508/https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ruth-Perry-Prevention-of-future-deaths-report-2023-0524_Published-1.pdf . live .