Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject: More teachers Leaving
I've just heard that Mr Farley is leaving Marton. This is YET ANOTHER sad loss. He's got a wealth of experience, particularly in IT. In fact, he ran rings round the IT consultant at the school. Mr Farley was teaching in Year 6 for 2 years. He taught my God Daughter and she came on in leaps and bounds. She had stuggled with Maths for a couple of years, but he turned things around and she did really well. He did a fantastic job in Year 6 and this is where he wanted to stay, but he was moved to teach Year 3. Great idea Mrs Coupe!! Congratulations to Layton Primary for gaining an excellent teacher who will be teaching in YEAR 6!!! But then again the Head at Layton knows how to run a school and get the best out of the staff.
Oh and I've also heard that Mrs Bastow is leaving. She has been at the school for years and runs the nursery. Maybe she's leaving because the nursery has so few numbers they don't need her for much longer. Maybe it will have to close. It can't be good for the school finances to run a nursery with such low numbers of children.
I've also heard that a NQT (newly qualified teacher) is leaving or has already left after lasting less than a term at the school. Can't say I blame them. Can someone confirm/deny please.
Can someone confirm who else is leaving please, and confirm when the ones that are leaving are going.
Forgot to say - allegedly Mrs Coupe told all the staff that they weren't allowed to say anything to anybody about the recent resignations. More secrets and cover ups? Can anyone confirm/deny? What happened to the honest, open and caring ethos that used to positively drip from the Marton School we all knew and loved? But then again it was very rare for staff to leave. Why would they want to leave such a great school?
2 staff have already left this term so that makes 5 altogether.As you say Savemarton if Marton is still such a marvellous successful school why are so many leaving?It reminds me of rats deserting a sinking ship.Do they know something the rest of us don't know yet?After all there seem to be an awful lot of secrets still in the school.I wonder when all these secrets will come out into the open?Marton was NEVER like this under Mrs Lancaster! _________________ TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:48 pm Post subject: Confirmation of the big mess
I can confirm what you have said Save Marton. I believe like you, that Mrs Bastow, who has been at Marton for more than 10 years, eventually realised that her well paid job of Nursery Manager could not be sustained for much longer when she was only responsible for 6 children in the mornings, and still less than 10 in the afternoons, and had obviously realised that even fewer children were going to be in the Nursery next year, if it remained open.
Mr Farley, will be a sad loss – an excellent teacher whose talents were never even realised by Mrs Coupe, let alone utilised for the good of the school.
A brave NQT, placed in beleaguered Y6, where there has never been stability since Mrs Coupe’s fateful decision to unfairly suspend the most experienced teacher she had, has spoken about the lack of support she has received from school management, and how unhappy she has been at Marton where so much is obviously wrong. She too has been fortunate to secure another post. I know for a fact that many other of my colleagues, both teaching and non - teaching are desperate to leave.
Before this situation of staff leaving arose, the school was at crisis point, being unable to retain staff when there were so few children left, and children continuing to leave regularly. A Y6 child has just gone. However, the re – deployment notices for teachers, which were seen floating around school, have been hastily hidden away again – no need for this now that there is a staff exodus. Remember also that as well as 3 teachers, 2 nursery nurses have left this term – Miss Lace and Miss Miller, a total of 5 staff since September. Add to this Mrs Anderton’s forthcoming maternity leave, and I am left wondering how a school already on the verge of collapse, can possibly continue to function.
This news comes just a couple of weeks after our School Adviser’s sudden and shock departure, through a seemingly unplanned early retirement. Interviews for his permanent replacement have been held recently [at a time when the CSA has been losing staff too, due to overspend, and mismanagement of funds]. A brave person it will need to be to inherit the shambles that is now Marton.
I have reliable information from Progress House that Mr Lund continues to be involved in helping Mrs Coupe to try to manage the school on a regular basis. This is so unusual for somebody who is supposedly a strategic Director!
I can confirm that all that has been said is true. In fact I can't mention names but I know of at least 3 teachers who are actively looking for other jobs, and 4 support staff too. Who knows which others are looking too, but keeping things quiet. It is laughable. The new staff arrive and they leave as fast as they came. This is a school in trouble. They should have listened to the parents. _________________ Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
One day someone,somewhere will realise what a total mess they have made of Marton,its easy to point the finger at David Lund,though in my opinion he has to shoulder a great deal of responsibility as to the current state of the school,Mike Turner,the Chairman of the Governors also needs to look in the mirror and ask himself just how the school has progressed under his chairmanship ?Last but not least the Headmistress,her direction for the school supported by the two names above has ended upa mass exodus of children and Teachers from our once proud school.
Both Mr Farley and Mrs Bastow taught my children whilst they attended Marton, they both contributed greatly towards the education of my kids and I would like to thank them and wish them well for the future.Mr Farley in particular,I got to know well through our involvement in coaching the football teams at Marton,he is an excellent teacher and built up an excellent understanding with my son whilst he was his class teacher as has been said previously will be a great attribute at Layton School.
Until the authorities and councillors have the bottle to take this school by the scruff of the neck,bite the bullet and replace managers of the school with new blood,then I fail to see how Marton will come out of this fiasco with any credit,and I cannot see that the children of the school will get the education that they deserve.
For me,certain individuals have killed the whole ethos of the school yet seem to be jumping from one crisis to another,lets hope the DFeS can see through everything that has gone on over the past 18 months or so and can put people in positions who can REALLY make a difference.
i just don't know what more evidence is needed for those who have continued faith in the current leadership of the school, trust me i use the word leadership very lightly.
Those who believe in conspiracy theories must be rubbing there hands together at the moment. Lets face it what a fantastic way to close a school down in record time, it wouldn't of been possible a couple of years ago there would of been uproar. But put in a new head, remove most of the current staff(by whatever means), alienate remaining staff, throw money at it left right and centre by diverting funds from other schools.
I don't need to carry on, lets hope the education authority finally pull their heads out of the sand(?) and step in to save this once fantastic community school. When it somes down to it Marton was a very sought after school to work and send your children to, it really is a crime the damage that has been done.
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: Quality of teaching
Just as a reminder of where all our concerns began - the Ofsted report of 2005 and the 'vision for the school' held by Mrs Coupe.
Below I have selected the statements made about the quality if teaching in the various year groups and referenced them to the posts on this thread about teachers leaving.
Nursery YR The quality of education is good in the Foundation Stage.Considering children’s well below average skills on entry to the Foundation Stage they achieve well. Provision is good and children achieve well during their time in the Foundation Stage. Children achieve well because the teaching is consistently good and the curriculum is effectively planned to meet all the children's needs.
Mrs Bastow leaving to a temporary job at Christmas
Y 1- 2 In Year 2 in 2004, results were well below the national average in reading and writing and below the national average in mathematics. Results were lower than in previous years and represented unsatisfactory achievement against pupils’ attainment on entry to the school. In teachers’ assessments in science results were broadly average. These results did not match inspection judgements on the attainment of these pupils because teachers’ assessments were too generous. In English, teaching is unsatisfactory in Years 1 and 2, because of a lack of pace and challenge, particularly for higher attaining pupils. There is insufficient focus on teaching the processes of reading and writing.
None of the staff in Years 1 & 2 at the time of inspection have left.
Y3-4 In a minority of lessons in Years 3 and 4 higher attaining pupils are insufficiently challenged and underachieve. Higher attaining pupils are not specifically identified in planning throughout the school. In some lessons, most noticeably but not exclusively in Years 1 and 2 and Years 3 and 4 Mr Richardson left to a temporary job in 2005 the others remain
Y5-6 Achievement is satisfactory in English and mathematics overall and good in Year 6 where work is generally challenging and pupils of all capabilities perform well. In the best lessons, such as a Year 6 lesson on how words and expressions have changed over time, the work is challenging and pupils produce good quality responses.A good range of interesting teaching methods is used, such as drama, exposition and critical review and the pace of work is fast. Pupils perform confidently, and criticize constructively. There are examples of very good marking of extended writing in English in Years 5 and 6, but this is not consistent across the school.English - Teaching is good overall in Years 5 and 6 and pupils achieve well.Progress is more rapid in Years 5 and 6 than elsewhere in school. Teaching and learning are unsatisfactory overall but are satisfactory in Years 5 and 6.There is some good teaching in Years 5 and 6 Mrs Alderson suspended – left Marton in the summer of 2006
Mr Farley due to leave at Christmas.
Mr Rowland left Year 5 in the summer of 2005
The NQT who replaced Mrs Alderson is leaving at Christmas due to lack of support.
Spec Educational Needs Support assistants make a valuable contribution to pupils’ progress. They work closely alongside class teachers and are greatly valued for their expertise. Mrs Connor moved to another school by LEA following a disagreement with Mrs Coupe
General Comments There is a substantial proportion of good teaching, but there is very little which is very good, and no excellent teaching.The quality of teaching is worse than at the time of the previous inspection, when itwas good overall and the proportion of good and better teaching was much higher.
As Wayne and Tracey have asked can't anyone else see the pattern that has formed since Mrs Coupe's arrival ?
I wonder how the quality of teaching across the school can improve when it is the quality teachers, who were praised by Ofsted, who have left or are about to leave.
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject: Staff leaving
This is an exact quotation form Mr Turner's end of year letter to parents last term
"The governors consider it healthy for staff to seek to improve their careers by applying for posts in other schools. This allows for some new external ideas to flow into Marton from other places and we have had no difficulty in attracting, outstanding and experienced teachers to become part of the team. Their positive input is already becoming visible not only in the academic results but also in the support that they can give younger staff. The general policy is to 'stretch' staff so that they can improve their performance and qualifications and to support them throughout this process"
Would Mr Turner like to explain why it is only the quality teachers who seek to improve their careers ? Why aren't the teachers criticised by Ofsted being 'stretched' and 'improved' so that they too can move on ?
If he has had no difficulty in attracting quality teachers to Marton why is it so difficult to keep them ? - a teacher who started in September is leaving after only one term.
Admit it Mr Turner - there is no policy for staff development other than Mrs Coupe developing a school where all staff are her 'yes men' - regardless of quality. She is doing her best, supported by Mr Turner, to rid the school of anyone opposed to this.
What a waste of resources/time has been put into denying any problems have existed at the school, instead of supporting the staff. I hadn't realised how literally Mr. Turner took his words, 'stretching' staff, surely it is the disregard for how and if staff are to fill some many different roles that has caused such an exodus from Marton. Helping out on occassion is one thing, but being expected to just get on with little support or guidance for an unspecified amount of time is not good work ethics. As a direct result of this the childrens education will and does suffer.
The fact that Marton Primary failed to renew their Investors in People recognition says it all. In my opinion the Head has no interest whatsoever in looking after the interests of the staff, never mind developing them.
Having just viewed the Blackpool Council Website, I was interested to note that three out of the six current vacancies available exist at Marton Primary. As earlier posters have stated, this strikes as a school having serious problems. Following the thread, however, there is no mention of the vacancy in Y1. Is this yet another teacher who has taken desperate measures to escape the misery at Marton by leaving to have a baby?
Two teachers are already planning to go on maternity leave at Christmas. Does this not add up to 3 advertised jobs, 3 maternity leaves, 2 nursery nurses already gone, and a year 6 job which does not seem to have been advertised. Is this the new role for that most expensive of supply teachers – Deputy Mrs Brookes?
It is well documented on this site how Mrs Brookes has virtually been demoted to a permanent supply teacher. Maybe this is how a Headteacher who does not believe in her Deputy’s feigned support, exacts her revenge. After all, another futile suspension would not be the best solution. I can confirm that Mrs Brookes is definitely trying to leave the almost sunken ship, and has a plan to do so.
One amusing aspect of this sad situation, where the children will suffer if there are no teachers to teach, is the quote in the advert,
“The Governors wish to appoint a….teacher, committed to children’s learning and to raising standards of achievement”.
Have the Governors still not realised that it would help if the Headteacher was also “committed” to these same principles. The evidence speaks for itself.
Disillusionedteacher, the governors are puppets. They are not going to "realise" anything. It's not their job to think. It's their job to do as they are told. The governors who did have minds of their own and voiced their own opinions were got rid of, remember? _________________ Listen to the facts and decide for yourself
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:24 am Post subject: Another teacher leaving ?
I have a teacher friend who told me last week that someone from Marton came to look round her school. Someone who hasn't been at Marton for long !! So it's someone who this head teacher appointed not one of the old staff from before.
I wonder how much more of this constant change the school can sustain. After all one of the head's excuses to Ofsted was that there had been a lot of staff changes before she came. Ofsted fell for it !! If it was the case wouldn't you have thought that the head would try to get some sort of stability - but no it's just the opposite.
I wonder what she would say to Ofsted now ? I doubt whether there could be another Ofsted team as gullible as the last one.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
