Ofsted chief admits to ‘culture of fear’ around England’s school inspections

Amanda Spielman says for vast majority of schools it's a positive and affirming experience'

The head of Ofsted has admitted that a culture of fear" exists around England's school inspections but said she had no reason to doubt the system of school gradings that has been blamed for the death of a headteacher.

Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools in England, made the comments in her first interview since the death of the Berkshire headteacher Ruth Perry following a critical Ofsted report that abruptly downgraded Perry's school from outstanding" to inadequate".