ASCL comment on appointment of Dame Christine Gilbert to lead review into Ofsted’s response to the death of Ruth Perry

Responding to the announcement that Dame Christine Gilbert will lead an independent learning review into Ofsted's response to the death of Ruth Perry, Tom Middlehurst, Inspection Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We welcome this important review, and the appointment of Dame Christine Gilbert, as it is vital that lessons are learned to ensure this tragedy is never repeated.

“Our concern remains that neither the review nor the Big Listen tackle the key issue of single-phrase judgements – the very feature of the system which makes inspections so high stakes and drives stress and anxiety. We recognise that reforming single-phrase judgements is not in the power of Ofsted and must come from the government. However, that should not have prevented Ofsted from asking that question in the consultation and it undermines the exercise that this is not the case.”