Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: Governance of the Worst Kind
In the interest of clearing the air, and providing an opportunity for some mutual progress in settling the issues surrounding the school, I recently wrote to the Chief Executive of Blackpool Council (Steve Weaver) stating my personal views. I had a strong reason for this: there had been some unusual developments instigated by a person or persons supporting Mrs Coupe that had directly involved me. Certain acts had been committed that were not just antagonistic towards me, but potentially criminal. As a result, I had sought the advice of the police, and of a lawyer. In turn, Mr Weaver had also been contacted, and I was keen to establish whether he was taking appropriate action. I sent a two page letter. After two weeks, and only after prompting, I received a two line paragraph reply, thanking me for stating my position. In view of the courtesy I had extended to him, I did not feel Mr Weaver’s response was a fair reflection of the serious state of affairs that now sat (and still sits) in the lap of the Education Authority. It is partly for that reason that I am now setting out some of the details of the incidents that occurred, why they came about, and what is likely to happen as a result.
But first, you should know that the Government (in the form of Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools) has given its “official” response to the complaint that was lodged by the Action Group in December 2005. You may remember that this was a complaint against the behaviour of Mrs Coupe, Mike Turner and David Lund in their respective positions of authority. According to the DFES guidelines, for a complaint to be upheld, it was only necessary to show that their behaviour was “unreasonable”. Well, after over 15 months, the Minister has ducked out of the whole thing by sending a letter through my MP, stating “there are limits to the scope in which the Department can become involved. As I set out in my previous letter there is no scope for direct intervention and it is for that reason that your constituent should pursue any further complaints alongside the issues highlighted in his 2 December 2005 letter through the appropriate local channels.” In other words, “I appreciate that you are complaining about the local channels, but you will have to let them deal with it!” Which, of course, brings me back to Mr Weaver…
So – what happened in January 2007? Well, for one thing, I started to come under attack from Mrs Coupe’s husband, who tried to have me reprimanded at my place of work. It has long been the belief of Mr and Mrs Coupe that I have been personally responsible for setting up this website, and that I was using my place of work to access it during working hours. I have to say this was a false impression, but they weren’t going to back off easily, and I had several discussions with my (supportive) Area Manager about the bullying nature of these approaches.
And then something strange happened: some mysterious packages found their way to my former wife, Jane Veale. This is the confusing bit – the packages were being sent BACK to her because each of the recipients did not feel they could accept what Jane was offering… The recipients included the General Teaching Council, British Sky Broadcasting and the Daily Telegraph. The packages each contained a photocopy of a CONFIDENTIAL FILE relating to allegations made against a former teacher from Marton Primary School.
Now do I have your attention? There’s more – some of the packages still had the original covering letter from Jane, stating “Please do not use my name or address as I do not know if I can get into trouble for sending this to you, also my ex husband has set up the website and the action group against the Headteacher and I do not want him to know I have sent people this file.”
So – having received the packages back, why do you suppose Jane immediately contacted me? Because she was not the person who had sent those files or who had written the letter! The address given for her was fictitious, but by a coincidence, the person who did receive the packages in the post was able to contact the real Jane Veale – and so sealed the fate of one extremely vindictive person…
I have therefore been privy to information I had not known before. I have been able to ask questions, and to receive answers – and I have discussed the situation at length with members of the police and the legal profession. It is for that reason that I can now tell you that an official investigation within the LEA is currently under way, and that union representatives from NASUWT and NAHT are involved. You see, the original file had an extremely limited circulation, and was limited to members of the Governing Body of Marton Primary School. For that reason, it can be concluded that it was a member of the governors who went to a considerable amount of trouble to make several photocopies of a document of well over 100 pages, to fraudulently pass themselves off as my ex wife, and to pay over £4 postage per package in damaging the professional reputations of people who were not in a position to defend themselves.
Just to outline further the seriousness of this incident, I can tell you that the file contains statements that can be considered libellous now that they have been released into the public domain. Also, as one was sent to the General Teaching Council, the potential impact of such an act against a practising teacher is enormous.
This incident is considered to be so serious that the police are holding these packages for forensic investigation, so that the perpetrator can be identified if the investigations currently being undertaken by the LEA do not bear fruit.
Now to return to that letter from Jim Knight MP: I ensured that Mr Knight was also made aware of these packages, and he had this to say: “there is again little scope for Departmental involvement at this time. Clearly it would be inappropriate for a member of the governing body to have acted in the way your constituent describes; however, again it would have to be pursued locally before any remedial action would be considered.” So again, it all falls into Mr Weaver’s lap. The onus is very much on the LEA to sort out their own corner. They are the owner of this document, and they must establish who was to blame, if only to ensure that that person does not take any further action. There is also the legal issue of libel to be settled – and you may expect to hear more of that particular debate in the coming weeks or months.
So – just when the Council have established that the school “continues to make good progress”, we have to balance that with the knowledge that at least one member of the Governing Body has overstepped their professional duties, and tarnished the efforts of all those who have genuinely worked hard to restore the school’s image.
We have to ask ourselves – “Who has a strong enough motive to do that?”
In my opinion the mangement team at Marton really are the lowest of the low and they also only seem to be able to manage to be second rate criminals. They can't even get that right! Somebody has really made a bad mistake here. I would recommend that if anyone knows who actually did this they go and tell the police what they know pretty quickly. And if you had a part of it but now regret what you did please do similar. Because believe me someone is going to be in big trouble for this. _________________ Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject: Accusations
There are some serious accusations in Mr Veale's post so I hope he knows what he's doing this time. Why hasn't he waited for an official investigation ? Why is he trying to stir up trouble on this site before anything is known properly ? Did he report this to the inspectors, because I didn't see it mentioned in the report ? Surely they would have asked questions if they thought there was anything in it ? If not why not ?
How does he know it was a governor - that's just guessing, it could be anyone in the school who can use a photocopier. How does he know only governors got the document in the first place ? The secretary probably has the most time. Or what about someone at the offices in Blackpool.
Now here's the funny thing. Isn't it just a bit of a coincidence that these papers ended up with Mr Veale ? Why would anyone risk that knowing what he do do with them? Anyway if the teacher has left how important can these papers be ?
No, there's something not quite right here.
Pat, you are right, there are some serious allegations in Mr Veale's post. Perhaps now people will realise just how serious some of the things are that have gone on (and continue to go on) at Marton School.
I can only conclude, Pat, that you know very little about the school if you are maintaining that "The secretary probably has the most time." I'm sure none of the school clerks would thank you for that statement, knowing how hard they all work, and how little time they have to fit everything in. It seems you are also unaware that there are circumstances where documents are only issued to governors (and, sometimes, limited to a small number of governors who form a committee) for reasons of confidentiality.
You say you think it's a coincidence that those documents ended up with Mr Veale. If you read again, carefully, what he has written you will see that the person who sent the documents to the media obviously did not expect them to be "returned to sender". That person expected them to be used by the media in a malicious and vindictive manner against the former teacher.
So, yes, it is a coincidence that they ended up with Mr Veale. A lucky coincidence for Mr Veale and his wife, who otherwise would not have known that their names were being used in this way. But a very unlucky coincidence for the vindictive sender of the letter and documents, who should now be extremely worried that his/her actions are about to be uncovered.
What a disgrace that will be.
You also say, "if the teacher has left how important can these papers be?" Unfortunately, this displays an astonishing degree of ignorance or naivety. If there was a confidential document about you, that contained damaging allegations, would you be happy to have them sent to the national media, and possibly broadcast nationwide, regardless of whether you had moved on from your place of work? Of course not!
Personally, I find it quite strange that this is your first posting, that this revelation from Mr Veale has suddenly prompted you to express an opinion, when the forum has been going for so long.
Perhaps you know something that the rest of us don't?
Finally, I have to agree with your final sentence, "No, there's something not quite right here."
Tha's what some of us have been saying for the past two and a half years. _________________ EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH WILL OUT, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
Thanks for your prompt reply Mary.
Yes it is my first post - there has to be a first post for everyone - and of course by now we know that anyone who questions what is put on this site doesn't post for long.
But there comes a time when things get a bit too serious. Do you honestly expect us to believe that anyone would be so stupid as to send confidential papers anywhere with the name Veale as the person to send them back to? That there is someone who is out to 'get' a teacher who has left ?
And, from what Mr Veale said it could be anyone who sent those papers - surely the headteacher must have seen them if they were about a teacher in her school. Why couldn't she have sent them for that matter ? But of course he daren't go so far as to say that.
As for busy secretaries, even I know that a stack of papers can be put on a modern photocopier and as many copies can be made, sorted and even stapled without going near it again.
Come on Mary, open YOUR eyes to what Mr Veale is trying to do here, and leave it to the education department to sort out - where it should have been left in the first place.
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject: Who did it ?
Not mentioning any names Pat, but I can certainly think of 2 governors who could have been stupid enough to try something without thinking things through properly.
Last edited by R. Thornton on Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Who did it ?
You say that posters do not last long but that's usually because they just run out of sensible things to say, this forum has always welcomed posts from anyone if they have something valuable to say and help a discussion. You are welcome to express your opinions but at least make sure that you know what you are talking about first. How can you tell us to leave it with the authority?? As Mary said you are either very ignorant or naive saying this. So much has been left with the authority over the last 2 years and where has it got anyone? No doubt they'll try to cover this up like everything else.
(apologies for the mix up in these posts !! Shouldn't get so angry )
I'm sure all innocent governors would bemore than glad to help the police with any enquiries they have. _________________ Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
I must thank Pat for his/her scepticsm. That is a healthy attitude to have – especially on matters related to Marton Primary School. Before I first entered the debate in September 2005, I was sceptical of the stories I heard, until I checked them out first hand with at least two reliable sources. I have always supported healthy debate on this forum, with the cautionary note that anyone who posts should be careful that they deal with facts, and avoid conjecture.
There were many other details I missed out from my post this morning, purely for the sake of keeping what was already a lengthy post to a minimum. However, as certain questions have been asked, I shall attempt to answer them here.
You ask about the “coincidence” of someone using the name “Veale”. I agree – I was personally amazed how stupid the sender was to have not realised the risk of the files finding their way back to one of us. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened, and I will be happy for anyone to verify my statements to that effect that I made to both the police and to my solicitor.
Why did I not report the incident to the Ofsted Inspectors? Simply because I never considered it should be of any interest to them (professionally). It is my understanding that the inspection was intended to focus on the performance of the school, and to examine the effectiveness of its teachers and senior management. To my mind, the priority here was to ensure that the necessary authorities and affected parties were alerted to the situation.
I should add that all this happened three months ago. The packages were all despatched on or about 19 January, and started to be returned the following week. The address given on the letter from “Jane” was real enough (apart from the postcode), but the lady who lived there became curious as more and more packages arrived at her house addressed to someone she’d never heard of! Thankfully, she was curious enough to open them, realise the connection with the school, and so she phoned the school secretary, who was able to put her in direct touch with the real Jane Veale.
As for not waiting for the result of an official investigation, well… “How long is a piece of string?” Investigations of this kind could drag on for months (it took over 15 months for the DFES to finally tell us what they could have said in a week). In the meantime, we still see the standard official line of “the school is making satisfactory progress” being trotted out – while parents are still removing their children from school because they see things differently. I believe there is some urgency to try and bring this affair to a close – especially when there is an indication that someone close to the Headteacher (if not the Head herself), has acted with such malicious vindictiveness.
I wrote to Mr Weaver on 28 March, knowing that he was fully aware by then of the existence of the packages returned to Mrs Veale, and said “This is a very serious issue, of course, and one that demands a thorough investigation to establish who was behind it. I trust that you are taking whatever measures necessary to further that investigation, but I would appreciate your written assurance.” I received none. Having done what I felt was the right thing, reporting the circumstances to the appropriate authorities, I feel I should have been given some respect for that. Others in my position might have gone straight to the press!
Finally, as for the speculation that the culprit is a member of the Governing Body, this is not just my view. In my last discussion with the police, they confirmed that David Lund had told them that the file had been circulated to the names and addresses on a list within the document itself. That is a list of 13 people – all governors at the school, including the Headteacher. As a previous parent governor myself, I know the serious nature of being issued with such confidential documents. They are your responsibility to keep confidential – so even if it wasn’t actually a governor who pressed the button on the copier, it was certainly his or her responsibility to ensure that such an incident could not happen. Please don’t suggest to me that an entirely unconnected person to that governor was able to help themselves to the document, take it away to a heavy duty copier (over a thousand copies), and return it to its owner without their knowledge or complicity!
I hope that clarifies matters. I await the outcome of the official investigation with keen interest – but forgive me if my experience of the way in which Blackpool Council behaves has prompted me to pre-empt the outcome. There have been too many occasions in the past where “official” administrative activities have been deliberately clandestine.
"Do you honestly expect us to believe that anyone would be so stupid as to send confidential papers anywhere with the name Veale as the person to send them back to?"
Pat, read again what Mr Veale has said (and what I tried to explain to you):
"the packages were being sent BACK to her because each of the recipients did not feel they could accept what Jane was offering…"
The person who sent the packages did not expect them to be sent back. In fact that person went so far as to say, "Please do not use my name or address as I do not know if I can get into trouble for sending this to you, also my ex husband has set up the website and the action group against the Headteacher and I do not want him to know I have sent people this file.” In other words, the sender was doing everything in his/her power to prevent the packages being returned. That person's aim was to light the blue touch paper and step back (and disappear into anonymity, waiting for the so called story to hit the press).
It sounds a pretty cowardly thing to do. If that person truly believed in what he was doing then why didn't he sign his own name to it?
"surely the headteacher must have seen them if they were about a teacher in her school." Yes, I would think so.
"Why couldn't she have sent them for that matter ?" No reason why not.
"But of course he daren't go so far as to say that. " Perhaps MR Veale takes the same view as me, and would be extremely surprised if any Headteacher really wanted to risk his/her career and livelihood, in such a foolhardy manner.
"As for busy secretaries, even I know that a stack of papers can be put on a modern photocopier and as many copies can be made, sorted and even stapled without going near it again." You seem to be contradicting yourself here, Pat. Your first post stated that secretaries had the most time to do these things, now you are saying they are busy and don't need to spend time at the photocopier. Make your mind up!
As R Thornton has said, this forum is open to everybody with a valid point of view. The only people who have disappeared from it have been those who have run out of logical arguments and resorted to insults - then stopped posting; and the staff of Marton School who were banned from posting by Mrs Coupe.
I, for one, am certainly up for a decent discussion - so long as people get their facts right.
I can assure you, Pat, my eyes are, and have always been, wide open. At the risk of repeating myself (and you) that's how I know that "something's not quite right here." _________________ EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH WILL OUT, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
Pat, I have personally spoken to the Leader of Blackpool Council regarding these documents being sent to the media. By all means contact him, its easy enough to do !! The trouble is no one wants to talk about Marton, no one wants to give direct answers to direct question's.
I only hope we find out who infact has sent this information to the media as this will demonstrate just how desperate certain people are to silence the parents and ex parents who have vallied complaints regarding the senior mangament team at Marton.
Who would have thought Mr Coupe would have taken the time to complain to Alan's employer, Who would have thought certain people would try and scupper the parents meeting in 2005, who would of thought that this message board would have been the taget of the local authority with a view to having it shut down, its hard to take in is it not, very soon now the tuth will come out, and we will all see the situation in a tottally diferent light !!!!!!!!!
as everyone has stated, it is shocking(though not surprising) that yet again such tactics are being used. Pat, you question various aspects of alans post, yet you make no mention of your opinions if what is stated is true.
Unless directly involved we only have what is posted to form opinions and gain information. You seem extremely confident that Alans account does not ring true, what extra information do you apparently have that will help us to come to the same conclusions!
This is what this site is for so please utilise it as such.
Pat
I am afraid what Alan has reported is true. It is really quite shocking, but no less than what I know these people are capable of. However, I did think they had a little bit more intelligence than to leave themselves wide open to a criminal investigation.
I am glad that Alan had been open about what has happened. The parents and friends of Marton need to know what happens to people who question what the Head, Governors and the LEA do.
The persecution that Alan Veale has received is unforgiveable. He has been reported to the Police and complaints have been sent to his employer. Some people will stop at nothing. But just maybe this time they've gone too far.
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 11:28 am Post subject: Gullibility
As usual on this forum anyone who asks questions about the posts is immediately insulted and expected to believe what anyone on here says is true. Mary, I am neither ignorant or naive BUT neither am I gullible.
Tracey, what you say is exactly right - unless actually involved we cannot exactly know the true facts, and you say we have only the posts to know what is true. So are you directly involved ? Do you notice how Bill and Benn state that Mr Veale's report is true - what evidence have they given for their statement ? None! This is their opinion - are you going to call them stupid because they do not back up their statement. Of course not, because it agrees with yours.
I can think of many reasons why I should not believe Mr Veale's post - or any others on here.
1. Mr Veale himself in his statement has said that Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, did not take any action over the complaint. He obviously didn't believe what you sent him
2. Parents are happy to leave their children at Marton - read the Ofsted report and see what the inspectors said about the feedback by parents.
3. The education office have been helping school - I have read that on here, so they obviously don't believe everything you write.
4. Thankfully the Gazette doesn't write about Marton much nowadays - they also have obviously stopped believing everything Mr Veale said.
No, Mary and Tracey, I am not gullible. I have read claims of other far fetched so-called 'scandals' on this site. Nothing came of them. Why should this be any different.
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: Believe it Or Not?
Okay Pat - if you really don't believe what I have stated in my post, why not check for yourself?
The phone number for Steve Weaver, Chief Executive, is 01253 477001. David Lund is on 01253 477477. Please post the results of your enquiries when you have done so, and lets all calm down...
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