Headteacher planning to refuse Ofsted entry after death of fellow school leader
Flora Cooper is executive head of the John Rankin Schools in Newbury, Berkshire.
A headteacher has asked people not to come to her school after calling for support for her plan to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry following the death of fellow school leader Ruth Perry.
Ms Perry, who was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, killed herself in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the lowest possible rating, her family said.
Unions representing school leaders and teachers have called on the watchdog to pause all inspections this week following the death of Ms Perry.
Earlier on Monday, Flora Cooper, executive headteacher of the John Rankin Schools in nearby Newbury, Berkshire, called on people to support her at the school on Tuesday morning, when inspectors are due to arrive.
Hours later, Ms Cooper tweeted: “Please can people not come to school now in the morning.”
“I have to protect our children, our staff and our community. Please for the protection of our children and staff,” she added.
The headteacher earlier posted that she planned to refuse Ofsted inspectors entry to her school and called for support.
She tweeted: “I’ve just had the call. I’ve refused entry.
“Doing this for everyone for our school staff everywhere!”
