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Tragic headmistress, 53, contacted mental health crisis team after school was downgraded – and later took her own life

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A HEADMISTRESS who took her own life after her school was downgraded contacted a mental health crisis team, an inquest heard.

Ruth Perry, 53, had been head at Caversham Primary School in Reading since 2010 but killed herself on January 8 this year.

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Ruth Perry, 53, had been head at Caversham Primary School since 2010Credit: BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR CHILDREN/UNPIXS

Senior Coroner for Berkshire Heidi Connor told an inquest that the troubled headteacher was in contact with a mental health crisis team on November 21 last year.

That was just days after the Ofsted inspection which resulted in her school being downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate”.

Ruth’s GP and the crisis team member she was in touch with will appear in person at the full inquest hearing as witnesses.

The coroner ruled that the inquest at Reading Coroner’s Court, which is set to take place in five weeks, will examine “the Ofsted inspection in terms of how it was conducted that day” – but will not dispute the grading itself.

The inspection had been the school’s first in 13 years, after rules exempting “outstanding” schools from being looked at in-depth were dropped.

The report graded the school as “good” in every category other than leadership and management, where it was said to be “inadequate”.

It criticised the school for poor record keeping, with gaps in employment checks possibly putting pupils at risk.

This rating dropped the entire school into the lowest category possible – “inadequate”.

Inspectors noted that “most pupils behave sensibly and rise to the staff’s high expectations”.

It added: “Pupils know who to turn to if they have a worry or a problem, feeling confident that they will get the help they need.

“Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and supportive. Incidents of bullying are rare.”

You’re Not Alone

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.

And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

 

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