Ruth Perry. A Lovely Woman And Teacher. Rest In Peace.

This is so difficult to write because it is speaking of the dead and it will ruffle the feathers of teachers - the easiest of feathers to ruffle - but a sense of perspective IS needed.

Tragically, head teacher Ruth Perry committed suicide after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading to "inadequate".

As a journalist of 30 years standing I know that, in the wake of most deaths, somebody HAS to be to blame. Those deaths can't ever be treated as blameless, just a tragedy which happened. Grieving is a terrible process to have to undergo but, if you have a hook on which to hang all your emotions, finding a "culprit" makes that process easier.

In Ruth's case, a coroner found that the offending Ofsted inspection "contributed" to her decision to take her own life. I believe every right-minded person would agree. How could they not? The key point is, was that inspection THE REASON for her death?

The answer is "No". Everyone outside Ruth's family, supporters and teachers' campaigners must surely see the key cause of Ruth's death was her mental fragility.  Countless other head teachers criticised by Ofsted have NOT killed themselves as a result.

Workers in other sectors face daily denigration of their work but they do not take the nuclear option. This sounds so cruel and heartless but facts have to be faced. Loving a job, your institution and your work is not a justification for robbing your family of your existence and causing them unimaginable grief because you were criticised, however harshly.

Ofsted was NOT responsible for Ruth's death. She was, and she alone.