Not absolutely certain if this is true, perhaps someone can confirm or deny...
Mr Coupe (police officer. husband of Mrs Coupe) was at tonight's meeting with a clipboard - taking notes!
How on earth was this allowed? The meeting was supposed to be strictly for parents of children at marton only. No one else, other than governors, was allowed. What is it to do with him?
Any watchers of this website please note that the Open Meeting on Thursday (8pm at Marton Methodist church hall) kindly arrange by the ACtion Group can be attended by anyone who has an interest in the school.
Also someone said at the meeting they had posted 3 things in favour of Mrs Coupe on the website, but they were not put on. That cannot be true. You do not have to e-mail your posts. Just sign up and post away. You don't need to disclose your real name if you don't want to. We are promised that posts will only be removed if they are offensive.
Tracey
I attended one of todays meetings to address the post ofsted action plan.On getting to school i was met by two community support officers,one man in a jacket marked security and one of the governors. To say i found this slightly over the top and possibly intimidating to some is by no means an exaggeration. Regardless of the articles printed in the Gazette and aired on Radio Wave, it was made clear that there was to be no discussion on any of these matters. So why it was felt neccessary to have what can only be described as bouncers at the school is any bodies guess. The meeting started with great promise, discussing the action plan, etc. However it soon became apparent that for some of the staff and governors at the meeting it was the opportunity to discuss nothing more than press reports and what was occuring in and out of school, predominantly the web site for parents with concerns. Any parent who has shown concern via the website or letters or even discussing with other parents, were described as not only stupid but didn't know what they were talking about. I was so disgusted, these parents who are concerned only want facts yet because our opinion differs from theirs we are 'stupid'. As this came from the table chairing the meeting i felt even more dissappointed. Unfortunately the last half of the meeting was predominantly about what we as parents were unable to ask questions about or discuss. I had to ask the chair if in fact the ofsted action plan meeting was over as that was why i had attended the meeting, not to listen to character assassinations of those parents/staff who feel questions need to be answered. I came away confident in the ofsted action plan, but very negative regarding any impartiality parents would receive in airing their concerns.
R. Thornton
I have just read new posts and once again find another shocking episode in this whole sorry Marton saga and am saddened, angered and deeply offended. Security and her own husband possibly on site for a parents’ meeting. She clearly judges others by her own actions – threats and intimidation – but there has never been anything other than sincere questions on the websites. She either does not read the posts or chooses to ignore them.
As for being stupid and not knowing what people are talking about then here perhaps is the first threat. If Mrs Coupe, her staff or governors say anything in public which is defamatory or libellous then the legal system will have to become involved. Perhaps Mrs Coupe will understand that type of ‘threat.’
SO even though this was an action plan meeting about Ofsted the website and other criticisms were raised. Once again in an environment where Mrs Coupe had total control. She has set this pattern right from the start. As for the use of the word ‘stupid’ in the meeting, if she was aware of the website she and her staff would know that there has been extensive research carried out using the Ofsted site, Governornet and other sources available and posts only express facts. It is these facts which Mrs Coupe, Mr Lund and some of her staff have chosen to ignore BUT they will not disappear. The posts are far from 'stupid'
It has been the intelligent few, as always, who ask the questions. Were the staff who spoke at the meeting by any chance any of the key stage 1 staff who Ofsted wrote about:-
“Achievement in literacy in Years 1 and 2 and by many higher attainers in subjects throughout the school is unsatisfactory.
In the end of Year 2 national tests in 2004, results were well below the national average and taking into account the below average attainment on entry to Year 1, pupils’ achievement was unsatisfactory. Standards seen in Year 2 are well below average in English and below average in mathematics and science.
Teaching and learning in the core subjects of English and ICT are unsatisfactory overall. In English, teaching is unsatisfactory in Years 1 and 2, because of a lack of pace and challenge,”
Are the followers of Mrs Coupe who blindly follow like sheep proud of that summary by Ofsted ?
Strange then that one statement stood out from the report:-
In the best lessons, such as a Year 6 lesson on how words and expressions have changed over time, the work is challenging and pupils produce good quality responses.
A good range of interesting teaching methods is used, such as drama, exposition and critical review and the pace of work is fast. Pupils perform confidently, and criticise constructively.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it a Y6 teacher who is suspended and a Y5 teacher at the top end of the school who left after only one year ? I wonder whether pupils are still encouraged to criticise constructively – that’s certainly not a philosophy evident in Mrs Coupe’s ‘vision’ because no-one else is allowed to without being labelled a troublemaker or stupid or even threatened with the police !!!
savemarton
It is indeed correct that the statement regarding the excellent lesson was conducted by Mrs Alderson. Our EXCELLENT teacher has been suspended.
Incidentally the lessons that were categorised as unsatisfactory were fundamentally flawed. For example one lesson was conducted by a Supply Teacher. Why would you allow a lesson to be inspected by OFSTED when a Supply Teacher was taking it.
There are many other examples.
Michael Shore
If anyone in Blackpool needed affirmation that Marton School is in chaos and crisis, surely the fact that a parents meeting at 4:30pm attended by 7 people was managed by 3 security guards says it all. Parents coming to collect their children from After School Group were concerned and frightened to see security guards at their school.
What has happened to the once caring community school?
It now resembles a school from the Bronx. I hope Blackpool council are proud to have started this trend.
Would any awkward questions from parents have been treated the same way that Mr Wolfgang was ejected from the Labour conference only a few weeks ago?
The LEA are making mistake after mistake. David Lund insults parents by saying they are vindictive, then he offers a private meeting behind closed doors. He says he will not speak through the media but then goes on Radio Wave. He contradicts himself all the time.
There is total confusion between the LEA. On one hand David Lund says that both inspections have the same findings and that he was not surprised by Ofsted. However, his deputy at the parents meeting tells us he is very surprised that Marton got the Ofsted it did. Do they speak to each other? They should really try to at least get their stories sounding the same.
I hope Gordon Marsden gets this whole situation fully investigated.
Maybe then we can get back to having a school that is not run like a borstal with Police, Security guards and people who are in constant fear.
