Time to celebrate? I don't think so.

mary · Time to celebrate? I don't think so.

Last week my grandchild came home from school with the Marton weekly newsletter. I had to read it twice, I was so shocked at parts of the content, and feel I have to comment on it.

•“Mrs Rimmer…..will take over from Mrs Norbury as from January, and stay with 6A until the end of the academic year.”

6A is the class of Mrs Alderson, the suspended teacher. Less than two weeks ago we were being told (by a spokeswoman for Blackpool Council) that they were “striving to resolve this issue and hope this would happen in the next four to six weeks.” If this is the case why is a new teacher being put in Mrs Alderson’s class after Christmas? Surely this implies that Mrs Alderson will not be returning? If this is the implication then it seems to me that Mrs Coupe has obviously prejudged Mrs Alderson, and, moreover, pre-empted the outcome of any enquiry. The implication is that Mrs Alderson is guilty. As Mrs Alderson’s union representative confirmed for me, she is STILL waiting to be charged with something (after sixteen weeks’ suspension) I hardly think it fair for her now to be told she has lost her class for the rest of the academic year. After all, as we keep being reminded, suspension is a neutral act, and NOT an indication of guilt. Mrs Alderson could well be back in school before Christmas, if what we have been told by Blackpool Council is correct. How she must be feeling now, we can only guess. I know she has friends and colleagues still in school, who must also be shocked by this news. Have any of them queried this action, or is it yet another thing that nobody dares mention?

•“We look forward to welcoming the Mayor and Mayoress to our school on Friday 11th November”
•“The children will be taking part in a Marton Celebration Day on 14th November."

This really is a PR exercise that beggars belief. It would be funny if it were not so tragic. What exactly has Mrs Coupe got to celebrate about Marton School at the moment?

The fact that a senior, experienced, popular and well-respected teacher has been suspended for sixteen weeks without being charged?

The fact that staff sickness levels have hit an all-time high over the last year, and two members of staff are still off with stress?

The fact that an experienced senior teacher left last year, with no job to go to?

The fact that the chairman of governors resigned last year, due to the current regime?

The fact that parents have been misinformed and misled?

The fact that more children have been removed in the last twelve months than in the last twelve years?

The fact that a governor was recently removed from office without correct procedure being followed?

The fact that a member of support staff was removed from school without notice because she dared to disagree with Mrs Coupe?

The fact that there are staff at the school now who are too frightened to speak up, for fear of repercussions?

The fact that there are parents (as I heard only yesterday) who are supportive of the Marton School Action Group, but are too scared to get involved because they work for Blackpool Council?

The fact that somebody representing Marton School has twice tried to sabotage the website set up as a forum for parents and staff?

The fact that Mrs Coupe and the LEA are continuing to ignore questions and complaints from parents, despite repeated requests for responses?

No, I really don’t think there is a lot to celebrate. In fact, I see this whole exercise as an insult to parents who have been waiting for answers. It says to me that we are not worth bothering with. And for the LEA to be condoning and supporting these celebrations simply adds insult to injury! Somebody said to me the other day that it reminded her of the situation in Nazi Germany, when the orchestra played as the Jews were sent into the gas chambers. I’m sorry if anybody finds this offensive, but, as an analogy, I thought it was very apt. Here we have a school, in the depths of trouble, with lots of unanswered questions, and what does the Headteacher do, presumably with the LEA's approval? She smiles sweetly, and welcomes dignitaries to look around her wonderful establishment.

If the Mayor and Mayoress honour this visit then they also appear to be condoning a situation which is less than healthy. I hope they will reconsider, and postpone their visit until these problems have been investigated and resolved. Then there will be something to celebrate.

I have just read that tomorrow is Ban Bullying at Work Day. I wonder if everybody knows that?