martonschool.myfreeforum.org

R. Thornton · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 99

The Marton school management, Chair of Governors and the Director of Children's Services have repeatedly relied on the apathy of parents when either refusing to answer questions or producing letters full of half truths or uninformed statements. This forum too contains many statements and differing opinions.

I am in the process of creating a website which aims to provide links to other sites where parents and other interested readers can further their understanding of the educational issues involved and so become more able to make up their own minds about the quality of education which is being provided by Marton School and the way it has been run in recent years.

Please visit the site at

http://members.lycos.co.uk/martonprimaryschool

to follow some of the links.

(I apologise for the annoying adverts but I am on a tight budget)

KATIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

The link is very good. There is a lot of information to help parents. I think it would be good to do another round of leaflets, but I would like to suggest a slight change. Why can't the leaflets be delivered to a wider audience? I know lots of parents who are unhappy with other schools in Blackpool, not just Marton. Maybe the Council will sit up and listen to parents instead of hiding their heads in the sand.
The more parents actually know the better.
What do others think?

R. Thornton · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 99

I totally agree Katie.

I have already posted on the Governing Body strand following the letter Mr Lund sent out to parents, about the smokescreen he, and the council have set up over Blackpool's education system. It is very sad that these people hold the future of Blackpool's young people in their hands - that his low expectations and standards will clearly have a knock on effect which he does not seem to accept.

My reasons for the link site were in the hope that some people might learn a bit more background to the issues involved - they need not believe what is written on this forum or what Lund, Turner and co say. I hope that at least a few people will find out more for themselves and begin to ask more questions.

R. Thornton · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 99

Many times over the last three years Mr Lund, Mr Turner and others who argued against the forum have used as a reason for not facing up to issues or refusal to answer questions, the theory that those asking the questions or raising the issues have had 'no direct connection' with Marton School.

Judge for yourself how this fits with the Philosophy of Extended schools being at the heart of the local community as reinforced by the education secretary at Labour's party conference. Visit

http://members.lycos.co.uk/martonprimaryschool/news.htm

to read relevant sections from the Guardian's report and to follow links to other sites about Extended Schools.

KATIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

This is a very good website, but it is hard to find. Could Admin put the link up somewhere else on the board? It would make it much easier for more people to access. This will then allow more people to read what has happened at Marton and in Blackpool LEA. Hopefully then parents can read the facts for themselves and not the usual rubbish David Lund puts out in a panic.

R. Thornton · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 99

Don't worry Katie, these are very early days for the site. I intend there to be a much wider audience for the site than the forum.

No doubt everyone has read about the Cambridge University report about the stress felt by 7-11 year olds last week. I wonder what they would have made of the 9 hours of Maths and the 7 hours of English at Marton.

For details of the report with comments visit

http://members.lycos.co.uk/martonprimaryschool/news.htm