OFSTED inspections don’t represent how good a school is because it is a "failed system", Reading readers say.

The education watchdog has received a lot of backlash regarding "brutal" inspections, following the death of Berkshire headteacher Ruth Perry.

Ruth Perry died in January after an Ofsted report found Caversham Primary School in Reading – where Ms Perry was headteacher – to be “good” in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be “inadequate”.

We asked Reading Chronicle readers if they think Ofsted inspections give an accurate representation of a 'good' school.

The overwhelming response was 'no' with readers giving opinions as to why Ofsted inspections do not accurately represent a school.

Several readers said the inspections aren’t accurate as “everyone knows when it’s happening”.

Other readers said it is more important to ‘see for yourself’, rather than wait for Ofsted inspections.

Sarah-Jane Roberts commented: “No I’ve always visited the school and looked at it through my child’s eyes to see if I thought it was a good fit.”

Elaine Dowding added: “Absolutely not. I’ve known a school that were continuously rated as outstanding, but not one parent in the playground had a good word to say about the head. After that I ignored Ofsted ratings end went on my gut feeling.”

Kate Dew agreed with Elaine regarding parents’ opinions: “No as too many schools are rated higher than they should be! Ofsted should be asking parents directly how they feel the school is run, they’d certainly paint a different picture!”

Mark Palmer added to the point: "If they don't measure pupils' self-confidence, empathy and overall happiness, then definitely NO!"

Ofsted inspections are a “brutal process” and they need to change, the vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has said.

Reading Chronicle reader, Cliff Marriott, agreed: "It's a failed system. Doesn't help pupils, schools or teachers in any meaningful way. Dedicated, caring, brilliant professionals have been broken by Ofsted."

Steve Fawke added that the process puts "teachers and head teachers under too much pressure".

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, is said to be “considering urgent actions” to change the way school inspections operate after Ruth Perry's death.