Political correspondent
Amanda Spielman, who was Ofsted chief inspector when head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life after an inspection, is set to become a peer in the House of Lords.
She is understood to have been nominated for the honour, yet to be announced, by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch – who has not commented.
A Conservative source described her as a “brilliant thinker with a wealth of knowledge” who would be a “huge asset to parliament”.
Ms Spielman served as head of the schools watchdog from 2017 to 2023, with an independent review launched during her last year finding Ofsted’s response to Mrs Perry’s death had been “defensive and complacent”.
Mrs Perry took her own life in January 2023 after learning her school, Caversham Primary School in Berkshire, was set to be downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate”. Her inquest in December of the same year ruled the school’s inspection had contributed towards her death.
Ms Spielman received criticism after suggesting in November 2023 that Mrs Perry’s “very sad case” had been “used as a pivot” to “discredit” the schools watchdog.
Her sister, Julia Walters, called Ms Spielman’s comments at the time “grossly insensitive”.
Earlier this month, Ms Spielman criticised the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill , claiming “effective reforms are being reversed” – in reference to potential changes to rules around how academies pay their staff and the material they can teach.
Speaking about Ms Spielman’s peerage nomination, a Conservative source said: “Kemi [Badenoch] wants serious people who know how things work so they can make a real contribution to the House of Lords.
“You don’t get to the very top of your field without attracting critics, but Amanda is a brilliant thinker with a wealth of knowledge and will be a huge asset to Parliament.”
A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch declined to comment.
