Family of headteacher Ruth Perry refused legal aid for inquest into her death

Public bodies involved including Ofsted will have costs paid for hearing at Berkshire coroner’s court

The family of the headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death after a critical Ofsted inspection will be the subject of a high-profile inquest this week, have been refused legal aid to fund their representation just days before the hearing is due to start.

While other interested parties, including Ofsted, the local council and NHS trust, will – as public bodies – have their legal costs paid out of the public purse, the headteacher’s family say they have had to resort to crowdfunding to pay their legal costs.

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