Teaching union launches legal action against Ofsted

A school leaders' union says it is taking legal action against Ofsted over proposed changes to the way it inspects schools in England.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has asked for a judge to review plans for new school report cards, which are due to be introduced in the autumn after Ofsted got rid of its old one or two-word judgements.

Its general secretary, Paul Whiteman, said the plans amounted to "another crude grading system to hang over the heads of leaders", and should be scrapped.

Ofsted said supporting mental health was an important part of the proposals, and that the union's legal claims were "plainly untenable".

The NAHT said it had issued a claim with the High Court for a judicial review on Friday, as school leaders gathered for its national conference in Harrogate.

The decision comes after the sister of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection, called for the new system to be delayed.

A letter signed by Professor Julia Waters with more than 30 others last week, including the general secretaries of four teaching unions, warned the changes would "continue to have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of education staff and hence on students' school experience".

On Friday, Mr Whiteman told NAHT members: "Following Ruth's death, we were promised change.

"What we've been offered, if you scratch beneath the surface, is more of the same - another crude grading system to hang over the heads of leaders."