Watchdogs urged to postpone school inspections after headteacher's suicide

Published on Friday 18 December 2009 22:09

A SHERIFF has been urged to call for formal procedures to be introduced relating to school inspections in the wake of the tragic death of a headteacher.

Irene Hogg, 54, is thought to be the first headteacher in Scotland to take her own life as a result of the stresses of a school inspection.

On the final day of a fatal accident inquiry into her death, her family called on Sheriff James Farrell to make recommendations relating to local authority procedures.

Lawyer Gareth Hale told Jedburgh Sheriff Court there should be a formal step within councils to request postponements of inspections if they could be found to be stressful or staff illnesses needed to be flagged up.

He described it as a "moment of reflection" in their preparation for a school inspection.

Mr Hale also called for additional support to be put in place in schools prior to an inspection.

The cause of Miss Hogg's death was given as "immersion in water and paracetamol toxicity" after her body was found submerged in a stream in the Cheviot Hills in March 2008 – just days after the inspection when her leadership was verbally criticised.

Sheriff Farrell said of the death of Miss Hogg – headteacher of Glendinning Primary School in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, for 19 years

: "I would have thought it unlikely to reach the conclusion that she did not take her own life. It is pretty plain she had."

Advocate Vinit Khurana, representing Scottish Borders Council, defended the local authority.

He said there were no signs that Miss Hogg was not performing her job well and had shown no signs of any problems before the inspection.

He said: "Then following the outcome of the investigation she proceeds to self-harm. If a connection is going to be made, it is the outcome of the inspection.

"There is no more Scottish Borders Council could have done."

Sheriff Farrell highlighted the evidence of retired headteacher Mary Ross, who was the last person known to have had "significant contact" with Miss Hogg.

This was through a telephone conversation on Easter Monday – the day before she was reported missing.

Miss Hogg had told Mrs Ross that the inspection had not gone down well and that she felt she had let everyone down.

Mrs Ross said they had arranged a theatre trip for the Wednesday – the night Miss Hogg was found dead – but Miss Hogg had replied she was not sure if she was going to be there.

Miss Hogg was said to be "distraught" after her leadership at Glendinning was verbally criticised in a feedback session with inspectors from HMIE on Good Friday – 21 March, 2008.

She failed to turn up for school on the Tuesday following the Easter break, and a full-scale search was launched.

Her Peugeot car was found close to the Towford Outdoor Centre, near Morebattle, Roxburghshire, in the Cheviot Hills on the evening of 26 March, 2008.

Miss Hogg had been in teaching for 32 years and was head of the 91-pupil Glendinning Terrace Primary School, where she also taught P6 and 7 children.

Sheriff Farrell said he would deliver his determination early in the New Year.