S4E4: Calvin Henry on Ofsted - “It was brutal. Really brutal and unnecessary.”

SHOW NOTES Until recently, Calvin Henry was the headteacher of St. Mark’s C of E Primary School in North London. Last year, Calvin went through an experience that he describes as being “uncannily similar” to that of Ruth Perry, the headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Reading who tragically took her own life earlier this year following an Ofsted inspection that downgraded her school’s rating from “outstanding” to “inadequate”. Calvin has since left the teaching profession. In this episode, Calvin tells his story - which goes right to the heart of everything that is wrong with our current approach to schools accountability. LINKS Schoolsweek: “What Ofsted don’t seem to understand is the impact that single word has on people, and how it can destroy them” https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-left-head-feeling-powerless-weak-and-humiliated/ BBC News: Academy school bosses call for Ofsted rethink: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65140383 DON’T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod