A teachers union has rejected criticism from a former Ofsted chief who claimed schools are wrongly acting as therapeutic institutions. Baroness Amanda Spielman argued that children are being encouraged to find problems when they should focus on normal education.
The Conservative peer, who ran Ofsted from 2017 to 2023, told the Sunday Times that schools have "reconceived themselves as therapeutic institutions and are looking for things to be wrong with the child". She warned this creates a "negative spiral of unintentionally encouraging children to find things to be unhappy about".
Union defends therapeutic approach
NASUWT union hit back, saying teachers have no choice but to help children through mental health problems after years of austerity. Matt Wrack, the union's general secretary, said teachers are now expected to be "social workers, food banks and therapists".
He said that therapeutic approaches will be essential to comply with Ofsted's proposed new school inspections. Wrack added that schools face "a litany of crises" including lack of funding, poverty, Covid's impact and dwindling external support services.
Background controversy over Ruth Perry case
Lady Spielman was Ofsted chief inspector when headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life in 2023 after an inspection downgraded her primary school over safeguarding concerns. An inquest found the inspection was a contributory factor in her death.
Ofsted's response to the tragedy was later criticised as "defensive and complacent" by an independent review. Professor Julia Waters, Ruth Perry's sister, called the ex-Ofsted head being "rewarded" with a peerage "a disgrace and an insult" to her sibling's memory.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Sunday Times" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
