HUDDERSFIELD’S MP has demanded an urgent inquiry into allegations that an official report was tampered with following the Baby P case.
A whistleblower has told Barry Sheerman that Ofsted secretly downgraded Haringey Council’s children services from good to inadequate.
He alleges this was done to protect the inspectorate from public anger after the Baby P case.
Mr Sheerman told the Examiner on Saturday: “This is a very serious allegation.
“The whistleblower believes that Ofsted is there to protect children – not its own brand.”
Peter Connelly – better known as Baby P – died in August 2007 aged 17 months. He had more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back.
His mother, her boyfriend and his brother were convicted on November 11, 2008, bringing a media spotlight on to Haringey Council.
The whistleblower alleges that Ofsted’s 2008 inspection of Haringey’s children services gave it three stars out of four.
He claims this was downgraded to one star after the Baby P trial to protect Ofsted from public criticism.
Mr Sheerman, who chairs the House of Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families, has demanded an explanation.
He said: “I’ve written to Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert and asked her to come to a special committee hearing on this as soon as possible. I hope to get a meeting within the next few days.”
Ofsted denied any wrongdoing. “Ofsted refutes the allegation that it manipulated results. No pressure was put on inspectors to downgrade the rating,” said a spokesman.
