Ruth Perry supporters raise concerns at 'positive' meeting with minister

Supporters of headteacher Ruth Perry held a three-hour meeting, described as a positive start, with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The delegation urged reform of the school inspection system led by Ofsted.

Ms Perry took her own life after learning her school, Caversham Primary in Berkshire, would be downgraded from outstanding to inadequate.

Ms Keegan described the meeting as "very constructive".

The death has fuelled a campaign by unions for the system to be changed.

On Monday an article in the British Medical Journal said at least eight other teachers had killed themselves in circumstances related to Ofsted inspections.

Ms Perry's sister, Julia Waters, said the meeting was a positive start.

She said: "Gillian Keegan genuinely was listening. She acknowledged our concerns.

"There was a genuine recognition in the room that something went terribly wrong, that Ruth was not an inadequate teacher and therefore that the whole system needs to be looked at.

"So I'm encouraged by three hours of very positive discussions and listening and by the commitments that have been made that in Ruth's name we will push forward for a more humane and more effective, fit-for-purpose inspection system for schools."

Ms Waters said a further meeting had been arranged with the secretary of state.

Ofsted has previously said inspections were carried out professionally and sensitively, in the interests of children.

Watch the full story on BBC iPlayer: Tested To The Limit - The Ruth Perry story

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