martonschool.myfreeforum.org

JACKIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 26

I haven’t been quiet lately because life at Marton began to improve – far from it. Marton Primary School continues to be a place of misery and despair. Pupil behaviour is appalling, Unions continue to support very disgruntled members, unhappy at their treatment from Mrs Coupe, and staff continue to try to leave in droves. In fact, one long serving teacher left after a stand up row with Mrs Coupe, and like others before her, left with no new job secured – so desperate was she to get away.

The school has never even started to recover from the damage caused by Ruth Coupe, and many staff are now regretting not listening to those who recognised and stood up to a bully in the earliest days; their fate is remaining stuck there with limited opportunities to leave, as Marton’s poor reputation sticks.

However, Mrs Brookes is at last being given her opportunity, by securing a Headship interview in Fleetwood – under Lancashire, rather than Blackpool LEA. I’m sure that all the staff she turned a “blind eye” to when they asked for support against a bully, wish her well. She now has all the qualities that seem to be valued in new heads – especially in Blackpool – and she has learned from a real master in Mrs Coupe! Everyone can guess what sort of Head she would be.

And now it seems, Blackpool have appointed a second Headteacher who seems to be causing great upset amongst the staff. Layton Primary, a happy and successful school for many years, seems to be suffering a similar fate to Marton with the arrival of a new Head in September. Many of us at Marton have good friends at Layton, and can only sympathise with our friends and colleagues at Layton who are feeling what we felt only months after a new Head arrived.

When are Blackpool LEA going to take action against the bullying culture which is ruining some of its best schools, and getting the authority a terrible reputation? It can only change when Mr Lund stops forcing his own staff to cover up and sweep this bullying behaviour under the carpet. It’s all too public now, and the more it happens, the more attention it will bring to those in charge of an Authority which keeps allowing this to happen.

Tracey · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

i wish i could say that the continued spiral down of staff moral was a surprise to me. it does however sadden me that it still continues. the more time goes by the harder it will get for those remaining. my main problem has and always will be how the children are affected. i sincerely do hope that things get better, but this will not be possible without the support of the lea, governors, etc being put in the right place- the school. those that have blindly supported the head teacher have not helped the school. more people are aware of what has occurred and are also feeling the effects within the school now, and it really should not of been allowed to continue this length of time. fortunately there are an ever increasing number of people who continue to raise public awareness and not be taken in by false promises.