Children to share in sports windfall
WHAT a good sport!
Fun and games will be the order of the day after Marton Primary School was awarded a Lottery grant this week.
Schoolchildren and the community will benefit from the £73,000 which will be used to build a state-of-the-art games area plus sports equipment.
The Whernside primary is one of 19 in Blackpool which submitted an application for funding to the New Opportunities Fund for cash for the project.
In total 23 schools in the resort put forward for the cash with many receiving funding for various projects and six still awaiting a decision.
Other schools which have received funding from the Lottery branch include Highfurlong Special School which was awarded more than £61,000, Mereside Primary which received more than £102,000, Claremont which secured nearly £129,000 and Bispham Endowed got more than £111,000. St John's Primary picked up £3,400 and Roseacre Primary scooped nearly £50,000.
The cash for Marton Primary will be used to develop a multi-use games area plus a number of sports pitches which can be used within the school and hired out to outside sports projects.
Work on the scheme is due to start next term and it is hoped the areas will be open for playtime next September.
Education bosses now hope the new facilities will benefit youngsters to improve their physical education and promote sport throughout the community.
Lynn Lancaster, headteacher at Marton Primary, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive this money – both for the children and for the community.
"Having 500 children using one space to exercise was a bit of a squeeze so to have extra space is a real bonus. It's about getting children more involved in sport that is important and this grant gives us that chance."
The new pitches will also be floodlit and can be used in all types of weather allowing local teams to practice on them.
John Blackledge, leisure services manager at Blackpool Council, said: "The funding will help not only promote the school but benefit the wider community in helping to promote sport.
"Marton is just one school which have benefited from the New Opportunities Fund and we hope many more will use the cash to enhance physical education in youngsters."
Lisa
Another Victory for the MSAG
I have heard on the grapevine that the MUGA is at long last going to be built. This sounds like an excellent victory for the Marton School Action Group. Well done Alan Veale! Does anyone know the exact details?
However, the most important victory to date is undeniably the matter of finally getting the IT/website situation sorted out at school. Although this is taking longer to sort out than is necessary, it's another matter that is only being resolved because of the dedication and passion of the parents of Marton school children. Make no mistake these matters would not have been resolved without a lot of hard work from these caring people.
MartinRogers
I think you may find your celebration of this somewhat superfluous. The fact is the MUGA was scheduled to start at this time (long before the Action Group was formed), and has nothing to do with the ‘Marton Action Group.’
- Martin R
(a true supporter of the school & children)
mary
That's strange, Martin R. If you look above you will see that Chris has quoted directly from the Blackpool Gazette 2003.
From Blackpool Gazette 17 December 2003:
Work on the scheme is due to start next term and it is hoped the areas will be open for playtime next September.
Doesn't make sense, does it?
Like a lot of things now happening at Marton.
WAYNE HEYS
MUGA
MARTIN, IF THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE POSTED ON HERE IS CORRECT, THEN i AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED THE MR TURNER DIDN'T TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM ALL THE PARENT'S OF THE PROPOSED BUILD,THEN AGAIN HE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN,IN FACT IT SEEMS NOT MANY PEOPLE WHERE AWARE OF THE M.U.G.A. BEING BUILT AT THIS TIME,APART FROM THE PRIVELEDGED FEW !!!!!!!!!
Agree or not this facility has finally got under way as a direct involvment from the MUGA.
"hELEN" posted on this board on October 27th regarding the MUGA,if this information was to hand,then why was it not past on to the parents's of the children of Marton ?
Alan Veale
Spring Update
Now that we have reached the end of another school term, you may be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed at Marton Primary School. Mrs Coupe is still Head Teacher. Mike Turner is still Chair of Governors. Beverley Alderson is still suspended. And Year 6 children are still struggling to reach satisfactory standards in Numeracy and Literacy!
Ah, but at least we now have a start on the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)! Personally, I do not feel it is worth making any kind of fuss over who takes the credit for work commencing this Easter. Let us simply welcome the fact of its arrival – or, at least, the builders! In a few years time, we will have forgotten the circumstances surrounding its delayed construction, and just enjoying the facility. Instead, I feel it is worth giving the following update – and my apologies for its length:
At the end of the previous (Autumn) term, the Action Group had lodged an official complaint with the Government over the administration at the school. This was an extremely thorough (and lengthy) document, assembled to include evidence of maladministration accrued since September 2004 by parents, and both teaching and non-teaching staff. We had tried to discuss our grievances and concerns, both individually and collectively, with the Head Teacher, with the Chair of Governors, and with the LEA. In their turn, the Head Teacher passed the buck to the Chair of Governors and the LEA, the Chair of Governors at first denied seeing any complaints and then denied any responsibility in dealing with them, and the Director of Children’s Services at the LEA flitted from verbal abuse of the complaining parents, to agreement for consultation, then to cutting off all communication! When we were finally being faced with threats of legal action, we had no further recourse but to take our case to the DFES.
Curiously, since that time, Mr Turner has plaintively asked why we did not think to invite himself and the rest of the governing body to look at the DFES complaint together before submitting it!
(A little like asking a rape victim to sit down with the rapist for a chat before going to the police…)
While the Spring Term got under way, the DFES have confirmed to me that they view the allegations very seriously indeed, and that it will take some time for the case to be viewed in depth. We cannot expect an early result from that quarter. However, out of all the Blackpool Councillors who could have taken an interest in the events at Marton, it has taken one from Anchorsholme Ward to realise that there are indeed questions deserving of answers. Jon Bamborough has done his best to encourage the LEA to open up, and to answer questions about the number of children removed from the school since September 2004, and the reasons why. And after further intervention from Mr Bamborough and the Action Group, the LEA have finally admitted that Internet Security at the school was NOT at the level it should be to protect our children from accessing pornography on a school PC. For our sins, both Mr Bamborough and the Action Group have been targeted for public abuse by Mr Turner, who now stands to be subject to legal action himself.
And what of the Unions? The NASUWT finally met with the LEA-appointed panel in February for a hearing to decide on the grievance lodged by Mrs Alderson just before she was suspended. This was abandoned before it could even start due to the intransigence of the LEA panel Chairman. The LEA have desperately tried to avoid this hearing taking place, which is why it has taken so long to reach this stage. Now they wish to ignore the grievance, and pursue their own case for disciplinary action against the suspended teacher. That will not happen. I can reveal from a Union source that there are now FOUR grievance cases being lodged against Mrs Coupe!
You will also be aware of the “booster” classes for numeracy and literacy currently being held in holiday time for Year 6. This, together with lessons in History and Geography being dropped from the curriculum, is the clearest indication yet that Mrs Coupe has failed in her duties to provide a balanced curriculum for Year 6 children. This is the inevitable legacy of a woman who has displayed an appalling level of incompetence for the position she holds. The Action Group have called for her resignation, but even if she were to submit this, it is now too late for the current Year 6 children to escape from the pressures they now have to bear, without even the distraction of a field trip to help release some tension.
Please be aware that this issue is now being brought to the attention of a wider audience. It is regrettable that almost all Blackpool Councillors have decided to ignore what is happening in their own backyard. It is sad that even Gordon Marsden, MP has shown little interest since last November. It is a shame that the wheels of authority within the DFES cannot turn a little faster. It is criminal that the real victims in all of this are the children. It is therefore inevitable that this story is now being brought to the attention of national media.
Perhaps by being viewed in the public glare of an entire nation, those major players in this whole sorry saga can now be judged on their actions, and accept the consequences.
Alan Veale.
AR
know the facts
I too must question Mr Rogers' Statement.
1. Is this the same Martin R who did not bother to check his facts in the thread concerning the legal requirements of the postmaster ? The same Martin R who named Mr Veale as postmaster when he had in fact misread the web address. Martin R's record of grasping the true facts does not bear close scrutiny on this forum.
2. The Muga was due to be built to coincide with the adventure playground so that children who wished to play football had somewhere to play.
AR
know the facts (cont)
3. The other projects announced in the same batch of grants were completed and in use within 12 months. This has already been posted on this forum with names of schools.
4. There are projects in Blackpool which were announced after Marton's which have been completed.
5. Mr Turner wrote only last month to parents to say that there was a hold up with funding "through no fault of the school or the authority". Why would a chair of governors write this if Mr. Rogers' Statement were true ?
AR
know the facts (cont)
No doubt there will never be an explanation for the long delay from. School, Governors or the authority but it has been a problem from the start of the MSAG that 'True supporters of the school and children' such as Martin R and Mr Turner do not seem able to research their facts properly, yet continue to make public statements.
Yes we should be pleased that the Muga is finally to be built. But Martin R's post serves as a reminder that there are those still willing to distort the truth and even hide it.
AR
know the facts (cont)
No doubt there will never be an explanation for the long delay from. School, Governors or the authority but it has been a problem from the start of the MSAG that 'True supporters of the school and children' such as Martin R and Mr Turner do not seem able to research their facts properly, yet continue to make public statements.
Yes we should be pleased that the Muga is finally to be built. But Martin R's post serves as a reminder that there are those still willing to distort the truth and even hide it.
AR
know the facts (cont)
As Mr Veale has just written there is a lot happening and some more serious matters still to be sorted.
More sobering still is that these same people, so liberal with the truth, so keen to close this forum and prevent questions about their actions have now brought the police into the equation.
WAYNE HEYS
Well as the MUGA gets under way,I thought of the following,Roseacre school was awarded £50,000 at the same time as Marton was allocated their cash windfall,Roseacres MUGA has been up for quite some time and their children have had much benefit from it. How have they got their hands on their money? If money in Blackpool was being held up from outside sources as Mr Turner claims in one of his letters to the parents,he stated that ALL projects had been delayed,I would not of thought that a school like Roseacre would have the funds in place to pay for their excellent facility from school funds that are held in house !!
Interestingly,none of Mr Turners letters have mentioned when the work on the MUGA would actually start,surely he was aware of a start date,yet as has happened in the past,he thought it not neccessary to write a letter home to the parents advising them of extra caution whilst entering the school due to the ongoing building work.Mrs Lancaster /Mrs Hurst would indeed make parents aware of safety issues and ask for more vigilance whilst contractors were on site !!!!
Finally, in the same letter,Mr Turner criticises the MSAG for their concerns over internet security,as these concerns have now been seen to have a little substance surely then its only right that Mr Turner is the one who makes the apology to the MSAG, and all the parents of Marton for making a statement which may not be as accurate as he would have liked !!!!!!
R. Thornton
Misleading MUGA info
We know now that work has finally begun on the MUGA thanks to the persistence of the MSAG
Some disturbing statements from those in authority have emerged during the saga of the past year when parents were attempting to find out what had happened.
Mr Turner made a statement that funds had been frozen through no fault of the school or the CEA.
We also now know that Mrs Coupe stated at a governors’ meeting (Health and Safety Committee) on 22nd November 2005, that Marton had not received the Lottery Funding Grant to complete the project.
If we look closely at the Big Lottery Fund’s website at the announcement dates for the various projects, and look at examples of projects which have been completed, then the above statements are very difficult to understand. The site publishes the successful bids in batches according to dates when successful bids were announced. I have taken the following information for bids successful under New Opportunities for PE and Sport
1. The BLF announced successful bids for 6 Blackpool schools in September and October 2003.
2. Marton’s successful bid was announced in December 2003 the only one in Blackpool but alongside 5 others in other authorities in the North West
3. 7 other successful bids were announced in the Summer term of 2004 – in May and July
4. Beacon Hill High school had their successful bid announced in the next school year – September 2004
In every one of these batches projects have been completed. For example Bispham Endowed have had their work completed following their bid in batch 1. From Marton’s batch, take a look at Alder Grange’s website which proudly displays photographs of its new sports hall.
Similarly from the batch following Marton’s, St Kentigern’s and Park Special school’s sites announce the completion of their projects.
Finally Beacon Hill High School, whose successful bid was announced a full 9 months after Marton’s, had the new MUGA handed over to the school on 3rd February 2006.
Yes we are pleased that the MUGA is at last being built but the MSAG have been fully justified in asking questions. Where did Mr Turner and Mrs Coupe obtain their information to make those two statements ?
Alan Veale
Lund's empty threat
You should all be aware that the Action Group have taken legal advice following the continuing attacks and abusive comments from Mike Turner and David Lund. The most recent of these came from Mr Lund, who has threatened parents with police investigation on the grounds of “harassment”. This news has reached us through Mrs Lancaster herself – who was approached by a parent to check that the original application for the MUGA had been properly submitted. It was her own enquiry with the Lottery Fund about this issue that prompted Mr Lund’s latest outburst, believing that the enquiry had been made by a parent!
Now, this is not the first time we have been threatened by Mr Lund. This is the gentleman who described us as “a vindictive minority” on the local radio last October, and when we complained to the press ourselves about the authority’s attempts to stop our rights to freedom of speech – he claimed some of the comments we had made were “defamatory”.
We are aware of the processes of the legal system, and that both Mrs Coupe and Mr Lund have sought legal advice to try and silence our voice. As there has never been any evidence of litigation, we must assume that the advice given to the above was “You haven’t got a case”. Basically, that is what our own legal advisers have confirmed to us. The Head, the Governors and the LEA all have responsibilities to both children and parents. That is what they are paid to do, or what they have been elected to do. Parents are entitled to question and to complain – they have no such responsibilities, other than to respect the laws of slander and libel, amongst others.
The Action Group have no responsibility for the individual postings on this web forum. Each individual who makes a posting has to abide by the rules clearly set out by the administrator – and the contributors to this site have included supporters of Mrs Coupe, to whom those same rules apply. There is no evidence of “harassment” by parents – merely a healthy challenge against the methods used by those people in authority who are responsible for the education of our children. We are reliably informed that the police can not and would not investigate parents on the grounds of “harassment”. This would therefore appear to be yet another example of Mr Lund’s intimidatory tactics, brought about because of the weakening of his own position.
Please also see our posting about “The Facts” under the School category.
