E. Maltby
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Shocking RevelationI think readers of this forum, especially Mr Veale and Mr Thornton, may well be shocked by the letter reproduced below which has recently come into my possession. I became involved after the Ofsted inspection, but it seems concerns were raised long before that and a FULL YEAR before the website and MSAG were formed.
This letter was sent to Mr Lund in 2004 so the problems at Marton were brought to the attention of Mr Lund over 2 years ago as this letter highlights. Mr Lund said he would send his advisers into school to carry out an audit. The audit found the school to be good and did not notice all the under achievment that OFSTED highlighted soon afterwards.
Speaking to one person, Mr Lund said that if parents wanted to complain to MPs and councillors, they would only come to Mr Lund for answers, and he would tell them what he wanted them to hear. Such arrogance has proved very costly.
To: Ceo David Lund
Director of Education and Cultural Services, Blackpool Borough Council,
Progress House,
Clifton Road,
Blackpool FY44US
22nd November 2004
In Confidence
Dear Mr Lund,
We are writing as concerned parents of pupils at Marton Primary School. We have become increasingly concerned at the rapid deterioration in standards at the school. We are now very concerned for the quality of education our children are receiving and the environment in which it is being delivered. Several of this group are involved in assisting the school on a voluntary basis and have first hand experience of the unease that has enveloped the school. So concerned are we, that we have felt the need to join together to form an action committee to raise our concerns. Examples of these concerns are
· Children's education suffering
· Extra Curricular activities have stopped. [In some cases they have yet to start]
· Parents do not feel they can approach staff.
· Parents feel pushed out and their opinions no longer valued.
· Rumours of unhappy staff abound.
· Supply teachers are taking more and more classes.
· Discipline spiralling out of control.
· Lack of confidence in the schools ability to deliver.
A number of parents have become so concerned that they have already approached other schools to enquire about moving their children.
We find this a totally unacceptable position, and insist, that as members of the local community, we have a quality local school, meeting the needs of all concerned.
Informal approaches to the teachers and Head teacher have not alleviated our concerns.
We, as a group of parents demand to see a marked improvement in our children's education.
If improvements are not seen very soon we will escalate our concerns to Gordon Marsden MP, DfES, HMl lnspectorate of Schools, Local Counciilors and Press agencies.
We will not let our children down.
We look forward to receiving your comments on how you intend to address our concerns.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of Marton Parents Group
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Alan Veale
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The Quiet Men of MartonI already have a copy of that letter on my file, E. Maltby – as does the Investigating Officer for the DfES!
However – it’s an interesting point to note how little we hear (in public) from Lund and Turner these days, isn’t it? These two were no doubt hoping that they would be hearing less from angry members of the public by now. Wrong! Until someone in authority actually takes steps to reverse this appalling fall of standards at Marton Primary School, the campaign will continue.
Alan Veale
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