Head teachers at top-rated schools have been told to stop ‘self-indulgent boasting’ because it increases ‘pressure’ on others who are doing less well.

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the NAHT union, which represents mostly primary heads, hit out against those who gloat about their Ofsted score.

He also criticised heads who ‘compete’ to attract pupils – because it means ‘enjoying success at the cost of colleagues’ failure’.

In a speech at the union’s annual conference in Belfast, Mr Whiteman urged heads to stop ‘defining’ themselves’ by ‘reductive’ Ofsted inspections.

It comes after a year-long campaign by the NAHT against new Ofsted reforms rolled out in the autumn, which mean schools are rated on a wider range of criteria.

The union took legal action against the changes last year, saying they create more stress for heads, but this failed.

Mr Whiteman said ‘lives are at risk’ from the pressure of inspections, referencing the tragic death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life over a negative Ofsted report.

Addressing delegates, he said: ‘I am angry, yes mad as hell, that Ofsted, the Government and the judiciary see fit to allow lives to be left at unnecessary risk right now.’ 

Head teachers at top-rated schools have been told to stop ‘self-indulgent boasting’ because it increases ‘pressure’ on others who are doing less well (pictured: Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the NAHT)

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the NAHT union, which represents mostly primary heads, hit out against those who gloat about their Ofsted score (file picture)

He also criticised heads who ‘compete’ to attract pupils – because it means ‘enjoying success at the cost of colleagues’ failure’ (pictured: Ofsted’s new report card template)

He said the ‘education establishment is on notice’ and claimed it would bear ‘responsibility’ for any further ‘tragedy’.

‘But we must look to ourselves as a profession too,’ he added. ‘This profession has allowed itself to be defined by inspection and simplistic measures, with new ones seemingly added every day.

‘We talk of collaboration but compete over falling rolls. Enjoying success at the cost of the failure of your colleagues down the road is no cause for celebration. 

‘Self-indulgent boasts of those judged exceptional. Offering advice devoid of context on how we can all do it simply does not help, it just adds to pressure. So, I say stop.’

He claimed Ofsted’s regime demands a ‘single model of delivery’ that ‘clobbers good people’ regardless of ‘human consequences’.

And he said school inspections should ‘not be about pressurising dedicated professionals to the point of destruction’.

Reacting to the remarks about ‘boasting’, Chris McGovern, a retired headteacher who used to be an Ofsted inspector and NAHT member, said: ‘The union boss is a snowflake killjoy. Schools are absolutely right to celebrate success and most do so.

‘It can be a good thing to embarrass failing schools if it forces them to improve. The real problem with Ofsted is that its grading of schools is over-generous.

‘Facing up to this truth, rather than covering up failure, is what is in the best interests of children.’ 

Mr Whiteman said ‘lives are at risk’ from the pressure of inspections, referencing the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry (pictured), who took her own life over a negative Ofsted report.

Mrs Perry took her own life in 2023 after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.

An inquest into the headteacher’s death found the inspection was a contributory factor.

After Labour came to power, ministers ordered the immediate scrapping of overall single word judgements of ‘outstanding’, ‘good’ ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’.

A wide-ranging overhaul followed, which unions had hoped would make teachers’ lives easier.

However, the new inspection report cards are more complicated, with a wider range of criteria assessed and each area given one of five grades – with the highest being ‘exceptional’.

The Department for Education has been contacted. Ofsted declined to comment.