The nomination by Conservatives of the former chief inspector of schools has been met with outrage by the headteacher’s family, and called ‘obscene’ by school leaders Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector when headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life after a bruising inspection, is poised to join the House of Lords after being nominated by the Conservatives, the Observer can reveal. Spielman, who earlier this month launched what was widely seen as an overtly political attack on Labour’s schools bill, is one of several names on former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s list, due to be put forward for King Charles’s approval as part of the annual birthday honours. Her nomination was met with outrage by Perry’s family, while school leaders described it as “obscene” and “an insult to every teacher in the country”. Continue reading...

Statue was beheaded in 2024 during series of anti-colonial acts targeting British memorials