Responding to calls in the British Medical Journal for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate all suicides linked to work, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

"We welcome this powerful intervention and the calls for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate all suicides linked to work, including in schools, and to launch an inquiry into work-related stress in education.

“The outpouring of grief and anger across the profession following the tragic death of Ruth Perry, has been accompanied by upsetting evidence of other school leaders who have been left in very dark places due to Ofsted inspections. At our recent annual conference, speaker after speaker offered shocking and heart-rending testimony demonstrating that change is absolutely urgent.

“As well as the suggested involvement of the HSE, we need the government and Ofsted to accept what they are hearing loud and clear from school staff, and work with the profession to agree and deliver root and branch reform to inspection.”