Ofsted school inspections to restart on 22 January after mental health training

After a cease in operations for additional staff training in response to mental health issues following the tragic suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry, Ofsted will recommence school inspections in England from January 22. Newly appointed chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver, had enforced the halt to facilitate enhanced training, as a reaction to severe disapproval of Ofsted's lack of sensitivity and intimidating conduct during the investigation into Perry's death by a coroner. Oliver declared the resumption date following dialogues with union leaders and Prof Julia Waters, Perry’s sibling.

Ofsted's 3,000 inspectors operating within schools, higher education, social care and childhood care facilities, are to participate in two training programs commencing next week, with Oliver leading the early session which will be made public. The expectation is for all inspectors to complete the training by March's end. Additional sessions will be run in smaller groups to provide inspectors with the necessary skills to identify potential mental health problems during inspections as per Ofsted.

"Inspections is highly significant in ensuring the children and learners are provided with the necessary education and care. Therefore, we must resume our work promptly,” said Oliver. He also emphasized the importance of learning from Perry's tragic incident and the necessity for Ofsted to improve as an effective inspectorate.

The reconfiguration begins with mental health awareness training, which is of vital importance, especially in assuring those sectors Ofsted collaborates with that it is committed to making changes.

Oliver, having once been a headteacher himself, has characterized his meeting with Waters as "constructive," promising her that they will commemorate a minute of silence in remembrance of Perry during the training on the anniversary of her death. This was the inaugural meeting between Ofsted and Perry's loved ones.

Last month, the senior coroner of Reading enumerated a list of suggestions for both Ofsted and the Department for Education in a “prevention of future deaths” report. Oliver's dedication to reform was received "cautiously" by Waters. “A deep and radical structural and cultural transformation in Ofsted is paramount, which this training kickstarts,” she told the BBC.