Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: A Personal Statement
As Marton Primary School opens its doors once again to a new (smaller) intake for the third year running, and we find ourselves wondering just what can be done to restore our faith in the education system in Blackpool, I have decided to share much of my own personal knowledge of the situation with the visitors to this Forum.
To date, with respect to many people who have endured such personal heartache over their connections to the school, and paying due regard to the need to allow the local authority time to resolve issues in their own court, I have held back from “telling what I know”. Until now.
This Forum contains a wealth of detail, opinion, news and reflections from many personal viewpoints. I have probably been one of the principal contributors over the last two years, and I have personally spoken or communicated with each of the following in my efforts to see the school return to the standard it held prior to September 2004: Ruth Coupe, Mike Turner, David Lund, Gordon Marsden MP, Michael Jack MP, (former) Councillor Jon Bamborough, Councillor Lily Henderson, (former) Councillor Steven Bate, Councillor Simon Blackburn, Steve Weaver (Chief Executive of Blackpool Council), HMI Inspectorate, DFES Investigating Officer, Lynn Lancaster, Beverley Alderson, Jill Reidy, Janet Connor and several other serving staff members at the school, among others. I have held meetings both public and private, and I have spoken to the police, to legal advisers, and to education specialists. I have also spoken to members of the media. Some of the above have given me their opinions and information without hesitation, while others have preferred not to make any comment (yet). In two years, my personal experience of the problems affecting the school has broadened enormously. I once was a governor there, but I fancy I know a lot more about education now than I ever did at that time!
It would take many hours for anyone to read ALL the posts on this Forum, and there is so much that has never been aired in public. So if you want to know exactly why I believe that the school is still in a dire state, and why I think it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, then you now have the opportunity to read “My Story” on a separate “Blog” (follow the link below). This will be added to over a period of time, until the details reach present day.
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:30 am Post subject: Chapter One
The story continues…
Since my last posting, I have added a chapter to my personal slant on the Marton School affair. Should you wish to read it, please follow the link in either the previous post, or at the foot of this one.
Readers will find a much more detailed account of some reactions from staff during Mrs Coupe’s first year, and some examples of Mrs Coupe’s leadership when faced with two problems that were brought to her attention. This kind of detail is not appropriate to posting on a discussion forum, but it is still information that I feel should now be made available for public consumption.
To respect those members of staff who are still at the school, I have edited the statements that include reference to them (with the exception of Mrs Coupe). Other names are included in full, because they are no longer employed at the school. Should any individual feel uncomfortable about being named in this context, they are welcome to contact me by the Private Message facility (see the PM button at the bottom of this post) – and I shall be happy to make further amendments to the text.
It is my intention to continue to add to this “story” in a largely chronological fashion, and this will be done roughly on a weekly basis. The next instalment will be dealing with the 2005 OfSTED inspection, and the departures of certain personnel.
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject: Moving swiftly on...
A second chapter has now been added to the serialisation of “My Story”.
For those who wonder why I am doing it, I would say this: When parents first became aware of the problems besetting the school in the summer of 2005, we raised many questions, but got no answers. Mrs Coupe refused to respond, and the LEA were hiding behind the camouflage of “internal procedures to be followed”. Over the last two years, I have discovered the answers to many of those questions, but continued to keep them confidential out of respect for the parties involved.
But time has moved on, the authorities are desperate to brush the mess under the carpet and convince the general public that it was all a fuss over nothing, and I see no reason why they should be allowed to do so. As others have said, there IS clear evidence of deep corruption within Blackpool Council, and this is my way of ensuring that the general public know why I (and a good many others) feel that way. By making these details open to view, I feel that the public can make up their own minds whether the school and the local authority have acted correctly, or with a contemptuous disregard for the people (and children) for which they hold responsibility.
This instalment deals with the OfSTED inspection of 2005, and the departure of Jill Reidy and Janet Connor.
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:07 am Post subject: Answers at last...
Two years ago (July 2005), there was a great deal of concern among parents of children at Marton Primary School over the news that Beverley Alderson had been suspended from duty shortly before the end of the Summer Term. The story was heavily featured in the local press, and came close on the heels of an “Under-achieving” OfSTED result and the resignation of the Chairman of Governors, Dave Taylor. What on earth was happening?
Strangely, the people who were in a position to answer that question were not in any way reassuring. Mrs Coupe refused to say anything at all, there was no Chair of Governors to make any statement, and David Lund told the local press: “A number of issues have arisen at Marton Primary School and I can confirm a suspension has been effected. A process is in place to address them. The process requires that no detailed information is made public at this stage, so as not to jeopardise the interests of all concerned.”
In fact “no detailed information” was EVER made public – until now.
To continue with a quote from the Gazette of 28 July 2005: One parent wrote “I am incensed at the latest situation in Marton School. Parents have been given various excuses for this teacher’s absence. Children, too, have been asking questions and given a variety of answers. This is a school in a total mess, with careers on the line – all since last September.” In the same story, Mr Lund was also quoted as saying “I’m confident the school will overcome any temporary obstacles and continue to make good progress in its post-OfSTED action plan.”
For those parents who would finally like to know the answers to their questions, please follow the link below:
Alan,
I am really disapointed at what I have read. I knew from my own experience that the Head was not to be trusted, but I am truly shocked just how disgraceful the Council have behaved in this.
I was so disgusted by the way my local councillor reacted to the problems at Marton that I voted for the Tories at the last local elections. Cllr Blackburn was absolutely useless. If only we could vote David Lund and the Head out. He has treated concerned parents with contempt. God help children in Blackpool schools because I don't think David Lund knows how to.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:51 am Post subject: Whose future is it, anyway?
“Disappointed”, Katie? I sincerely hope that many more parents who get to hear the full story will express more than “disappointment”. These are our children’s futures that Lund & Co are playing with, and the lives and incomes of so many others. Personally, I am totally disgusted that Blackpool Council appear to place so much trust in these individuals. There is a massive weight of evidence to show that the situation at Marton Primary School has worsened as a direct result of the Council’s actions, or its inability to act.
Sadly, while neither the local authority nor the Government are prepared to take responsibility, it is inevitable that education standards will decline. I firmly believe that if parents are simply prepared to accept the status quo, and to say nothing, then they will only have themselves to blame. As for the teaching staff, who can blame them if they seek better posts outside the borough, as Beverley Alderson has now done.
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: The Blog Continues...
It is now over two years since parents held a meeting at Marton Methodist Church Hall to discuss the problems being encountered at the school. We presented a list of known facts that we had discovered up to that time so that all interested parties could read for themselves what the authorities were trying to keep quiet. Shortly afterwards, we issued a press release to publicise our concerns, and David Lund’s immediate reaction was to threaten parents with legal action.
We have shared a great deal more of those facts through this forum, and through other means, since that time. No legal action has ever been taken against us, and nor can it. So long as what we share with others is factually correct, and not libellous, there is nothing that David Lund can do. Over the last few weeks I have been providing a more in depth view (from my own position) of the appalling way in which the local authority have handled the declining situation at Marton Primary School. This “serialisation” will soon be drawn to a close, but the completed document will then be published in “hard copy”, and made available on a much wider scale.
The present instalment is not so much from MY personal viewpoint, however. It is finally time for Lynn Lancaster, the former head teacher at the school, to reveal her own point of view. Please follow the link below:
P.S. For those of you who wish to access “The Blog” without having to go through the Discussion Forum, simply save the page to your “Favourites” once you access it.
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject: Mystery?
Would the anonymous person who delivered a certain package through my door recently please get back to me to confirm what your intentions are? Am I to presume that this is information you wish me to share with others (possibly through the blog)?
You are welcome to use the same way to contact me again, or perhaps use the Private Message facility on this forum by clicking on the “PM” button below. Either way, I will respect your anonymity.
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject: Nemesis
If anyone reading this has strong feelings about both the situation at Marton Primary School and the national system of education as a whole, then you may find it worthwhile to use the link below, and sign a petition to the Prime Minister.
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: Intimidation and Cover-Up
The penultimate chapter of “The Blog” is now available to view. This one looks specifically at the role of Blackpool Borough Council, and I have therefore invited former Councillor Jon Bamborough to contribute.
I am sure any serving officers or elected representatives will be most interested in what he has to say…
The final instalment will be released in a week’s time, when I expect to make an important announcement regarding the details recorded in my “personal reflection”.
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: End of Term
Since the beginning of term I have been serialising my personal view on the story of Marton Primary School’s decline over the last three years. The final instalment was added today, with the conclusion that, while the official line is that the school is now recovering from its troubles, in truth there has been virtually no improvement at all.
There are children from the school who have now moved on, either to high school, or to a different primary school, and left those problems behind them. There are adults who have served on the school staff who have also moved on, started new careers perhaps – but not necessarily in education. Anyone who has spent any time at Marton Primary School since September 2004 will have a story to tell, may already have told it (through the posts on this Forum), or may yet have something to contribute. I have now told mine.
But while my own story has reached its end, spare a thought for those children and staff members who still have to walk through those doors every morning. Things have NOT improved – nor will they, while Ruth Coupe remains in her post.
Let us just be grateful that Coupe, Lund and Turner were not allowed to pursue their chosen paths without resistance, and instead have suffered much public humiliation, and well-deserved criticism for allowing this once proud school to reach its present state. This Un-holy Trinity have touched too many people’s lives with their arrogant disregard for others needs, expectations, and basic human rights. I spoke up as a parent, and as a previous governor, but now I stand as a spectator, witnessing the incompetent bungling of so-called figures of authority who take no responsibility for the mess they have created. Blackpool Borough Council is yet another local authority to be added to the list of “ostriches” who choose to bury their heads in the sand when faced with a problem that is just too uncomfortable for them to resolve. Deny it. Blame somebody else. Anybody – especially the parents for complaining in the first place.
Okay – so who needs education anyway? If you are reading this and still feeling that the problem is NOT resolved, then I shall give you a suggestion in a moment as to what you CAN do. On the other hand, if you believe the likes of Coupe, Lund and Turner, and are happy to accept the state of education that is now on offer, then please just walk away and forget everything you have seen here, or anywhere else on this Forum. Be content with your lot, and (whatever you do) don’t try to complain when you see more yobs on the street, more bus shelters vandalised, more queues for the dole… You have a voice. If you don’t choose to use it, then that is up to you.
But for those who decide that they DO want things to be better in Blackpool, I am afraid you WILL have to speak up! If you are in general agreement over the principles of what I have been saying, and others on this Forum, then please help to publicise the story on the blog below:
This account is now concluded, but there is also an alternative version available for you to download as a PDF file to your own computer. You can do this in two ways – by following the link below:
or by entering the blog (see previous link), going to the link at the top right hand corner (“download the blog”), and opening in a new window. Once opened, the entire blog (now entitled “School Retort”) can be saved to your PC. If you wish to print a copy, this will normally take up 60 pages of single-sided A4 paper, so I recommend that you save a copy to read on-screen. (You will need Acrobat Reader installed.)
And if you wish to help promote the message it contains? Then please send a copy to anyone you think should read it. It’s as simple as that. The more people that know about what has really gone on at the school, the more difficult it will be for the Council to remain in denial.
This forum has gone very quiet over the last few months, which is a shame, but not particularly unpredictable. After all, the shock value of happenings over the last few years inevitably wears off, and people become blasé about the whole situation. It begins to seem as if everything has been said, and there is nothing to be added. The Marton School Action Group did everything they could to get things put right. For three years now, concerned parents, grandparents, staff and local residents have been trying to get to the bottom of this huge mess. Everything they did, despite malicious rumours to the contrary, was above board: they wrote letters to all the right people; they waited patiently for replies; they contacted parents, Local Authority staff in high places, school governors, councillors, MPs. They reported the facts, and waited for justice to be done.
Sadly, justice never has been done. On the contrary, there have been lies, threats, cover-ups and corruption on a scale unheard of to a law abiding citizen. Many people would have thrown in the towel by now, and admitted defeat, but one person has held the whole thing together, and continued, relentlessly, to try to secure justice.
Alan Veale’s blog, which has been serialised through these pages, makes fascinating – and horrifying reading. How anybody could read this account and simply shrug his shoulders and walk away, is beyond me. This is a modern day horror tale – one which should sound loud warning bells in any right minded person’s ears: it is relevant, not just to those connected to Marton Primary School, past or present (or potentially, future), but to anybody who cares about right and wrong, justice and injustice, and is concerned at the abuse of power. Those people who have fallen by the wayside could be any one of us: bullied out of our right to speak up, intimidated by threats, careers and reputations ruined. I know there were people who kept their heads down, pretended it wasn’t happening. I also know there are people who wish now they had spoken up for what they knew was right. Because those are the people who now face a very similar situation. The problems were never resolved: they are still there.
Just recently, an article in a national newspaper caught my eye. I found myself nodding as I read it. I think it goes some way in explaining why this forum has gone quiet, and I make no apologies for reproducing the relevant passages, below:
In 1965, the American psychologist Martin Seligman stumbled across a phenomenon that would have a far-reaching impact not only on our understanding of human behaviour, but also on how authority can control individuals.
While repeating an established experiment that involved giving dogs electric shocks, he noticed something strange. The basis of the experiment was that when a dog that had previously learnt to associate the sound of a bell with an electric shock heard a bell ring again, it would jump in anticipation of another shock.
Seligman observed that after conducting this test a number of times, the dogs stopped jumping. Instead, they simply lay down and waited for the shock - even if a route of escape was provided. They had given up hope. The psychologist realised that when a creature believes it has no control over its situation and that whatever it does is futile, it begins to believe it is helpless and stops trying to fight or escape. He termed this condition "learned helplessness".
It became a well-established principle and……it is argued that this is a mechanism at play…….in people's responses to traumatic events that are outside their control……..
Interestingly, it has also been suggested that this is a subtle tool employed by governments. They say they are listening to us, but do nothing to change a situation, so we eventually give up, accepting there is nothing we can do to alter it. We become helpless. Once this has taken place, it becomes even easier for a government to pursue its own agenda.
………..But, of course, this isn't the whole story. Seligman also observed, to his surprise, that not all of the dogs gave up. In fact, about a third continued to resist the electric shocks. This is reflected in the course of human history, which is littered with examples of individuals who have resisted; those who have stood up against what is wrong - and won.
If you haven’t yet read the blog, please read it. Then read it again, and take in the details. Don’t dismiss it as a work of fiction. It is the culmination of months and months of careful research, and is fact.
If you feel strongly about what you read then please don’t be a victim of “learned helplessness”. Instead, become “one of those who stood up against what is wrong – and won.”
_________________ EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH WILL OUT, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
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