Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject: Message for Mr Bradley
This is a message for Mr Bradley as I know that you are reading this site.
As you can see, every so often there are supporters of Mrs Coupe who post on this website. IKT (who I believe is closely involved with Marton) tells us that we are 'sad losers'. This has been the attitude of Mrs Coupe, the governors and the LEA all along. My complaints were ignored by the school and the governors. And still things continued despite the Action Group disclosing children viewing pornography, health and safety issues, Data Protection breaches and numerous other matters that the school was involved in.
I am an ex-parent of children at Marton. My remaining 'primary age' child now attends a different primary school as I cannot trust 'Marton' to not only educate my child sufficiently, but more importatnly to take care of their health, safety and well being.
I would love to be able move my gifted and talented child to Marton. It is my dream that I will do this. Mr Bradley - please help me and many other parents like me to allow this to happen. _________________ Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject: planning lessons during Ofsted
We don't know the results of the Ofsted inspection yet, but I sincerely hope Literacy has come out well this time, after all the extra work put in by the School Literacy Advisor. Planning literacy lessons for all year groups must take up an awful lot of time.
Naively, I was under the impression that schools should operate as normal during Ofsted. Evidently not when the so-called "normal" is so obviously abnormal. Luckily for Marton, Blackpool CSA is only a phone call away. Help is always at hand.
On the subject of Ofsted, I think the present state of Marton School could be summed up in one spectacular image that has imprinted itself on my brain this week - that of a governor removing, washing and replacing the stones from an ornamental fountain in the entrance - obviously a high priority task, vital for a good Ofsted report.
Somebody needs to tell the person who requested this action, that a fountain, however clean and dazzling, is never going to provide a smoke screen, and is certainly no substitute for effective leadership and a successful school.
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:47 am Post subject: Ofsted Inspection
I had a brief meeting with Mr Bradley,the lead inspector yesterday as I wanted to personally hand to him the Questionairre regarding the running of the school (thanks to Giselle for informing me of this questionairre as
"surprisingly" the 'leader' of Marton had failed to).I also expresed my concerns regarding the incompetent manner in which the school has been run for the past two+ years, he seemed genuinely surprised to hear there are currently 69 places available at Marton, hopefully Mr Bradley will have gathered enough evidence during his two day visit to finally ensure the removal of the person responsible for the sorry state Marton school is now in.
Hello Guest,
Sometimes I realey hate being right, I think also people think shoot the messenger but it is no easy choice to be that messenger. Once I know about a thing I have to follow it through......anyway Mrs Coupe is obliged to keep you as parents involved ,even though your son is excluded at present. He is still on role at Marton. For someone as ordered as she is I can only think that these little mistakes are intentional.
Does anyone know if there was a public meeting with OFSTED or was it a closed shop again. What beggers belief for me is the down right abuse of power and knowlede of the education system ,by Mrs Coupe and her staff . She couldnt carry it out without some support.
I have never met a more hard faced bunch in my life and believe me I have met some colourful characters in my time! Unlike Mr Veale I am not graced with so much patients.
Have we parted company with IKT? Giselle _________________ What cannot speak..... cannot lie!
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: Ofsted
I am sorry that you have come to the same conclusion that we have reached over the past two years, Giselle. I think of all that has happened what we have found out about the education system and the lack of any real parental rights has come as a shock to us all. The government's only solution seems to be - if you don't like it, move schools. But the way Blackpool officials and the headteacher cynically manipulate everything has been saddening.
Ofsted don't need to have public meetings any more - that was another change brought about probably because there were so many complaints about the Ofsted system nationally. They only need to look at feedback forms now - which as you know can easily be manipulated to show anything.
What I do know is that Marton should NEVER have been given so much warning about a forthcoming inspection. Any school, anywhere in the country, given that amount of warning and the amount of adviser support provided by the authority must succeed when lessons are only being observed for one and a half days. Ofsted are not required to look at any wider picture. So I'm afraid yes, in that sense it is a 'closed shop'. People 'in the know' will realise that this report will not paint a true picture of what is happening. For that a team should have gone in with the school receiving only the two days warning that other schools get. And it should have been long before this.
This must have made other headteachers in Blackpool so angry because it is so unfair.
As for IKT, over the past 2 years, the same pattern has been followed. Opponents to the forum post, sometimes using abusive language, merely to attack the forum or the MSAG, but have NEVER engaged in meaningful dialogue, answered questions, or provided any evidence to substantiate their posts.
"We inspect schools, including those for service children overseas, at least once every three years, usually giving about two days' notice. However, if Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) is concerned about the safety or well-being of pupils in a school, HMCI will exercise the right to inspect a school without notice." _________________ EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH WILL OUT, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: Notice
It has been common knowledge at the school, in the authority and to the posters on this forum that an inspection would take place before May becasue of a 'leak' from somwhere. Other schools do not get this privilege - only that they will be inspected soemtime within a 3 year period. On this basis the heads couldn't ask for the advisers' time like Marton have done.
I agree with Mary, IKT, if you don't understand what is happening and can't be bothered to find out, you just make yourself look stupid.
I'm probably going to be accused of being lacking in intelligence for this but Jackie told the Forum last Friday that the inspectors were going to visit the school on Weds/Thurs of this week! That gave Mon/Tues for preparation - 2 working days! How is that more than the usual warning? I would have thought that if a school was in such a dire state, 2 days, 2 weeks, or even 2 months would not be enough time to sort things out in order to put on 'a show' for OFSTED.
All schools have a pretty good idea of when an inspection will take place due to the timescales involved and obviously this can be almost narrowed down to the week it's going to happen as it gets closer to the deadline.
As for the comment made about people like me not backing anything up with evidence - I'm merely expressing an opinion - I can quote from posts to illustrate why I've drawn a particular conclusion but to be honest I can't be bothered . Neither am I going to invent evidence to back up my views, when I've not been privy to particular conversations/events that have happened in school or in the CSA! A lot of the posts I've read on here appear to be extremely speculative to say the least!
For those who have commented that I have close links with Marton - you are wrong, although that may change in the future. I'm a prospective parent, living in the area, who has friends and relatives with children attending the school. Some have experienced the school under both leaders. I've heard many positive things about the school since Mrs Coupe was appointed and the children I know are extremely happy. In time, I will make my decision based on the evidence as I see it but in the meantime I will continue to read this forum with interest!
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Ofsted
Thanks for that IKT - but you should be bothered - if you are going to make sensible arguments. I am sure that if you make adult points such as this one we will all welcome the debate. Your use of profanities in another post let you down and I thank you again for editing that post.
The point people have been trying to make is that the school and staff have known that an inspection would take place during March or April. No this is not the norm for other schools - inspections are organised such that schools are unable to 'narrow down to the week' as you say. My own sister in law's school had an inspection which was good - it was then followed up only 2 years later - again being good. Ofsted vary the length of time between inspections - until recent years that has been up 5 years. Otherwise, as you say, they would be pretty pointless. In the original system 10 years ago schools could get a term's notice. This was changed because of the preparation which went on by many schools such as that recently by Marton.
The point I made earlier was that a true inspection should have been made without the two months notice which the school received. I do not know where this notice came from - only that the school and authority knew. My friends who were Ofsted inspectors did not believe it at the time and had not come across a case where so much time had been given to a school. The only scenario they could envisage where this might happen would be if the authority requested the inspection. I do not know the facts - only that notice was given.
Yes the school has been in a dire state - but it is not merely down to the results. I'm afraid that perhaps I am old fashioned, but I don't think anyone can judge a school merely on results - although that, as you say, is only my opinion and I have criticised Marton's results in the past. Ofsted's inspection is very narrow - e.g. how have particular areas of learning moved on since the last visit - this is fact not my opinion. In this case the school should have improved because any school can prepare and practice lessons over a two month period especially with help from advisers. A school should be able to make progress. This has happened in other parts of the country - if you look at Oftsed's list of underachieving schools a determined effort has been made to raise them from that, so that by the time the new system is finally in place there won't be any in that category in the UK. It has been policy also to close failing schools and reopen them under new management so that category too will alter. These have been political decisions at a national level.
I still believe that this is unfair on all those other schools who do not have access to the support and funding which has gone into Marton to shore it up. It was not 'putting on a show' but showing the inspectors that they were making moves to improve. This must have been done because advisers were put in to make sure that this happened and I have no doubt that the report will show this to have happened - because their remit is so narrow. Fair enough so far. We all want Marton to improve.
However, the 'dire state' we have been bringing to light for nearly two years has not been solely based on this underachieving. We have criticised it because we KNOW that the extra budget incurred by events at Marton has mounted up to hundreds of thousands. We KNOW that children have had 8 - 9 hours intensive single subject training at the expense of the wider curriculum. We KNOW that there has been a massive turnover in staff. We KNOW taht families are still regularly moving their children out of Marton and for the first time numbers of children are less than 400. We KNOW that some teachers' careers have moved backwards. We KNOW that children have had access to hardcore pornography at school. We KNOW much much more, all of which has been documented and is still being examined by higher authorities.
Yes Marton will have improved in particular areas, as defined by Ofsted, but I ask myself at what expense to children ,to teachers, to other schools in Blackpool who are just as needy and to those who lost jobs in the authority's recent cutbacks.
IN MY OPINION the end has not justified the means. And we are still nowhere near the end as you will soon see.
By all means express your opinions, that is why this forum has kept on going so strongly. But if you do make statements about occurrences at Marton then it is only fair you provide evidence - even if to show us that our opinions might be wrong. I always attempt to check my facts first, through people I know in the community, through DfES and Ofsted websites, through letters to the above agencies and through personal contacts who still work within the education system.
I wish you luck in choosing a school for your children. Hopefully, as you say, Marton will return to being a school where you can be confident of sending them. Yes many children at Marton will have been happy - there have been dedicated teachers who have remained there who will ensure that has happened. Children should be happy at school because it is the most important time of their lives. But can you put yourself in the place of the children who had 7 different teachers in Y6 last year in only one term. Of the children who's teacher 'disappeared' one week before they left Marton ?
But please choose with your eyes open and collect as much information as you can.
IKT - I would think very very hard before you send your child/ren to Marton. I would most definitely NOT trust the school to educate my children, even if the next school was an hours drive away. I'm sure you are right that there are children who are happy there and who are doing well. But I would not take the risk that my child might be one of them. I would choose a school that has had as few problems as possible, who you could go to and express your opinion, disagree with things and know you would not be persecuted for it, trust that you would be given true facts. There is never smoke without fire. So even if you feel that things are exagerrated...
We are not talking about choosing a company to buy your TV from based on their Customer Service's reputation. You might take a risk with this and buy your TV from the cheapest place, or the nearest shop etc. We are talking about children's lives. Age 4 is a very vulnerable age, And to spend 7 years, from age 4 to age 11, at a school that wasn't up to scratch is an immense amount of time to make an impression on a child's life.
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:43 pm Post subject: Ofsted limitations
Well, like Giselle, I hold my hands up to the fact that I cannot always be right. Even I did not realise whilst writing my last post quite the seriousness of the current responses around the country to the Ofsted system, and the questions being raised about it . Far more than I raised.
I hope that some readers of this forum have read today's Guardian and it's current analysis. If not visit http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2043088,00.html
to find out more.
We all look forward to the spin Mr Turner and his governor minions will put on Marton's latest efforts and I had wondered about sending them copies of today's article. Sadly, from past experience I expect it would be lost on them.
Mr Thornton,
You wrote of spin......well todays news letter is just that.
"I am delighted to inform you that our recent inspection went very well and that the category of underachievement has been lifted by OFSTED.Although I am not able to give any further details until the report is officially published by OFSTED after the Easter holidays, the staff,Govenors and local Authority are very pleased with the findings
I would like to take this opportunity to 'Thankyou' all for your continued positive support for our school.It is very much appreciated. We look forward to working in partnership with you over the next term to further build on the successes recognised in the inspection."
I have already left a message withMr Bradley, lets hope hereads this post!
I would love to hear feedback on this SSSSSPPPPPPIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!
Giselle _________________ What cannot speak..... cannot lie!
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject: Report
I am pleased that has happened. We have all been shocked over the past 3 years at the downward spiral of the school, and hope that the recent input by the authority in terms of staffing, money and time to achieve this, as Mr Turner says, can bring further improvement. I also hope that the authority is now putting education infront of the casino on its agenda and other schools will get the same level of support.
However, I can't help feeling saddened by all that has been done (as I said in my earlier posts) to try to turn the school around at the expense of so many innocent parties, and the underhand way in which school, governors and the authority have dealt with so many issues.
I am not surprised the staff, governors and authority are very pleased. They were on a hiding to nothing.
Finally I do feel very cynical about the whole inspection issue - especially after reading yesterday's full page coverage in the Guardian newspaper. I am not saying that Marton didn't deserve to be lifted - I am no longer privy to what goes on in there, but the bottom line is - what really is the value of any Ofsted report at this current time ? But that won't bother Turner, and of course the parents won't get that side of the story unless they are Guardian readers, or readers of this forum.
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: Last to know?
I too was shocked at this letter. Not so much about the moving out of Unsatisfactory because if it had remained in that category then the school would have had to close, but because the School have pre-empted the OFSTED findings. I would have expected OFSTED to provide a full report to the School and then the school would inform parents.
I am very shocked that the "Staff, Governors and Councillors" have already been told what the findings are, and as usual, the parents are last to know. Why have OFSTED told Councillors and Governors and staff, but not parents?????????
The true OFSTED report will tell us all the details, not just what the Head wants us to hear. After all the issues we have been complaining about are still there after 2 years.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
