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Ofsted inspection goes ahead at John Rankin school despite teachers’ protest

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Teachers at Newbury school wear black armbands during protest ahead of Ofsted inspection

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Staff from John Rankin School in Newbury, Berkshire, wore black armbands on Tuesday morning (21 March) as they stood outside the gates ahead of an Ofsted visit.

Headteacher Flora Cooper tweeted on Monday (20 March) saying that she would refuse entry to inspectors following the death of fellow headteacher Ruth Perry in January, before later reversing the decision.

Ms Perry took her own life while waiting for an Ofsted report which gave her school the lowest possible rating, her family said.

The 53-year-old was headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, 20 miles away from John Rankin School.

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