Reading University waives one-word Ofsted rating following Ruth Perry’s death

In protest against the way the education regulator works, it refused to use a one-word grade given by Ofsted.

The University of Reading’s Institute of Education, which trains teachers, received an “outstanding” rating following an inspection in May.

However, it said the association would not use the term in any of its marketing materials following the death of Caversham headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after her school’s rating was downgraded to ‘inadequate’.

Ofsted said the decision on whether to use quotes from its reports in advertising content rests with the provider.

The award was presented to the university training center for primary and secondary school teachers on June 21.

While the institute said it was “proud” to use some content from the Ofsted report, it did not want to focus on the one-word grade because it wanted to bring about a change in the way the inspectorate assesses schools.

Mrs Perry, the headteacher of Caversham Primary School – one of the Institute of Education’s partner schools – committed suicide in January 2023.

Schools and organisations are inspected by Ofsted every four years or 30 months, depending on their status. They receive a report and are graded accordingly:

Dr Catherine Foley, co-director of initial teacher education at the Institute of Education, said: “Will we use content from the reports on our website? Yes.”

“But you won’t find this one-word verdict in our email signatures, banners or marketing materials.

“It is time to stand with all those who are campaigning for change – Ofsted must be reformed.”

Ofsted told the BBC that it had not required providers to display Ofsted judgements, logos, banners or quotes in promotional materials.

A spokesman added: “Some people want to celebrate their success and that is their choice. If others don’t want to, that’s fine too.”