Primary school head teacher suffers heart attack during Ofsted inspection as stunned pupils see her taken away in an ambulance
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By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
The headteacher of a primary school suffered a suspected heart attack during an Ofsted inspection, as young students watched her being rushed to hospital.
Chapelhill Primary School in Wirral was on its second morning of an Ofsted inspection when headteacher Sarah McFarlane fell ill.
Stunned pupils watched on as Ms McFarlane was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance, where she is being treated for a suspected heart attack.
The education watchdog has since confirmed that the inspection was 'immediately paused'.
The school, which is part of the Leading Learners Trust, issued a statement to parents and pupils following the incident, which took place on Wednesday morning.
The notice, seen by the Liverpool Echo, reads: 'We just wanted to write to you all to update you on our brilliant headteacher, Mrs McFarlane, and the Ofsted inspection.
'As many of you have already heard, Mrs McFarlane was taken ill at the start of the second morning of the inspection. She left the school in an ambulance, and is now being treated in a local hospital for a suspected heart attack.
'We have passed on the significant number of good wishes we have received for Mrs McFarlane. She is receiving lots of care and, from our early understanding, things are looking positive.'
Chapelhill Primary School in Wirral (pictured) was on its second morning of an Ofsted inspection when headteacher Sarah McFarlane suffered a suspected heart
Trust bosses Yvonne Brown and Sam Quigley also acknowledged that a number of pupils saw Ms McFarlane leave in an ambulance and said they have been doing 'all they can to reassure them throughout the day.'
The statement added: 'A number of children saw Mrs McFarlane leave, and we have been doing all that we can to reassure them throughout the day.
'However, we are conscious that there might be questions at home tonight – which is why we wanted to let you as much as we are able at this stage.
'The Ofsted inspection has also been paused. Whilst it was understandably challenging, the comments from parents and the children were both uplifting and heartening.'
The primary school was formerly known as Sandbrook Primary before closing in 2023. It later reopened as Chapelhill Primary, as an academy school.
A spokesperson for Ofsted said: 'Our thoughts are with Mrs McFarlane and the school community. We wish Mrs McFarlane a speedy recovery
'We began an inspection of Chapelhill primary school yesterday. Upon hearing the news this morning, we immediately paused the inspection.'
In January 2023, Ruth Perry, 53, took her own life after Caversham Primary School in Reading was downgraded to the watchdog's lowest rating over safeguarding concerns.
Ruth Perry, 53, (pictured) took her own life in January this year after Caversham Primary School in Reading was downgraded to the watchdog's lowest rating over safeguarding concerns
Following an inquest into her death, Ms Perry's family warned lessons 'must be learnt' after it was ruled she took her own life following a 'callous and inhumane' Ofsted inspection.
The Ofsted inspection downgraded her primary school from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'.
Ms Perry was left 'absolutely panic stricken' in the weeks following the 'intimidating' inspection into the school and revealed in a series of notes that the word inadequate was repeatedly 'flashing behind my eyes'.
As a result of Ms Perry's death, Ofsted scrapped its one-word ratings for schools.
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