JRM1
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Harvest Fiasco.I was a parent who believed that Mrs Coupe deserved a chance when she first came to Marton but after finding the website via a leaflet, I read the facts and realised that there is some truth. After watching a Harvest Festival the like of which I never experienced in Mrs Lancaster’s days, I have changed my mind about Mrs Coupe. Her lack of care for the parents and children was more than obvious on Harvest Day.
The service was to be at the church, but this was changed at the last minute. There was a note pinned to the door of the church to tell us this. It is a fair walk to Marton, and so I had to drag my toddler at quite a pace to have a chance of getting to school in time to get a seat. I need not have worried. When I arrived at school, hoping there may be some refreshment for harassed parents like me, I was shocked to see an entrance hall full of Harvest gifts in carrier bags everywhere. There was no lovely display of all we had donated as Mrs Lancaster used to do. The hall was not ready for Harvest – in fact the Deputy was in there doing a PE lesson. No one was around. The Harvest was suddenly scrambled together with a hasty end to PE, a few chairs and the children arriving. It looked unplanned and with very little thought.
When my older children went to Marton, parents used to arrive at events like this up to an hour in advance, just to get a seat. Mrs Coupe has put paid to this. There is no welcome, no friendly atmosphere, and certainly very few parents who support such events now. Is this because so many of the worried parents removed their children? I am definitely going to look for a new school too.
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Tracey
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I remember looking forward to all the events that were held at Marton. The planning and care that were put in to make them enjoyable, warm, friendly and a tribute to the school, staff and above all its pupils has been sadly lacking. I know i am not the only one who finds it saddening that it all seems to be so last minute now. This must frustrate those staff who have enjoyed organising these events previously. Preparing the pupils for their moments of pride as they stood up in front of a hall FULL of smiling faces. Now they have to rush to put things together because they aren't given enough notice. Senior management have little excuse as the main events are held yearly which gives them plenty of notice, you would think so! The majority of staff have had experience in helping organise these events previously, so utilise them and ask for their advice. That is what any manager would do, should do. The majority of those staff that have left over the last couple of years(willingly or not) were a big part of the school and what made it special. Events were prepared with laughter by both staff and pupils, I know i have seen Marton and enjoyed its family atmosphere virtually since the bricks went up. The staff team were what helped make Marton special, right from the beginning. They helped each other, supported each other, laughed and cried together. It was a joy to walk through those gates, for everyone.
The current senior management have done it their own way, putting their own mark on the school. What a mark they have made, sadly one that will not wash out easily. Those in the LEA who have aided/covered up and allowed this to happen are as much to blame.
It makes me weep thinking how the school was and how it now is. Divisions in all levels, people who once had the time of day for each other now avoiding each other. But mainly that children aren't going to experience the wonderful, happy Marton of old. And that does fill me with utter sadness not only for those attending now but those in the future.
Marton will never be the same, not until changes are made and someone finally intervenes and puts an end to this sorry state of affairs.
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Tracey
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I remember looking forward to all the events that were held at Marton. The planning and care that were put in to make them enjoyable, warm, friendly and a tribute to the school, staff and above all its pupils has been sadly lacking. I know i am not the only one who finds it saddening that it all seems to be so last minute now. This must frustrate those staff who have enjoyed organising these events previously. Preparing the pupils for their moments of pride as they stood up in front of a hall FULL of smiling faces. Now they have to rush to put things together because they aren't given enough notice. Senior management have little excuse as the main events are held yearly which gives them plenty of notice, you would think so! The majority of staff have had experience in helping organise these events previously, so utilise them and ask for their advice. That is what any manager would do, should do. The majority of those staff that have left over the last couple of years(willingly or not) were a big part of the school and what made it special. Events were prepared with laughter by both staff and pupils, I know i have seen Marton and enjoyed its family atmosphere virtually since the bricks went up. The staff team were what helped make Marton special, right from the beginning. They helped each other, supported each other, laughed and cried together. It was a joy to walk through those gates, for everyone.
The current senior management have done it their own way, putting their own mark on the school. What a mark they have made, sadly one that will not wash out easily. Those in the LEA who have aided/covered up and allowed this to happen are as much to blame.
It makes me weep thinking how the school was and how it now is. Divisions in all levels, people who once had the time of day for each other now avoiding each other. But mainly that children aren't going to experience the wonderful, happy Marton of old. And that does fill me with utter sadness not only for those attending now but those in the future.
Marton will never be the same, not until changes are made and someone finally intervenes and puts an end to this sorry state of affairs.
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Tracey
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I remember looking forward to all the events that were held at Marton. The planning and care that were put in to make them enjoyable, warm, friendly and a tribute to the school, staff and above all its pupils has been sadly lacking. I know i am not the only one who finds it saddening that it all seems to be so last minute now. This must frustrate those staff who have enjoyed organising these events previously. Preparing the pupils for their moments of pride as they stood up in front of a hall FULL of smiling faces. Now they have to rush to put things together because they aren't given enough notice. Senior management have little excuse as the main events are held yearly which gives them plenty of notice, you would think so! The majority of staff have had experience in helping organise these events previously, so utilise them and ask for their advice. That is what any manager would do, should do. The majority of those staff that have left over the last couple of years(willingly or not) were a big part of the school and what made it special. Events were prepared with laughter by both staff and pupils, I know i have seen Marton and enjoyed its family atmosphere virtually since the bricks went up. The staff team were what helped make Marton special, right from the beginning. They helped each other, supported each other, laughed and cried together. It was a joy to walk through those gates, for everyone.
The current senior management have done it their own way, putting their own mark on the school. What a mark they have made, sadly one that will not wash out easily. Those in the LEA who have aided/covered up and allowed this to happen are as much to blame.
It makes me weep thinking how the school was and how it now is. Divisions in all levels, people who once had the time of day for each other now avoiding each other. But mainly that children aren't going to experience the wonderful, happy Marton of old. And that does fill me with utter sadness not only for those attending now but those in the future.
Marton will never be the same, not until changes are made and someone finally intervenes and puts an end to this sorry state of affairs.
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Alan Veale
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Whose fault?I agree with Tracey on the sadness of that message about the harvest. All that has been said in these two (?) posts about the “Lancaster days” will be familiar to many parents. It is precisely this sharp contrast in how the school is now, and how it used to be, that has prompted many of us to voice our concerns to the authorities. Sadly, we have constantly been condemned for voicing our complaints and criticisms in public. But as nothing appears to have been done to stem the school’s now obvious deterioration, I wonder whether anything better would have been achieved if we had simply kept quiet about it?
Yes, there are divisions within the staff where there didn’t use to be – but those staff who remain loyal to Coupe and Co must surely realise by now that even they are on a journey to nowhere? There are no exits left for anyone now – unless David Lund says so. So what choice have they got? Mrs Alderson and others spoke up for what they believed in, and at least they are now able to move on with a clear conscience.
We are watching the death throes of a school that has been brought to its knees through a combination of selfish greed, malign incompetence, and sheer *****-mindedness. How did it happen? Quite simply, because it was totally beyond the capabilities of a few to realise just how much damage they could do in such a short time, to so many.
Q.E.D.
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