martonschool.myfreeforum.org

Alan Veale · Master of Posters Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 118

I reproduce the following letter for your information:

Dear Mr Veale

Many thanks for your email and attachments of 17 May and your earlier email of 2 May. We did contact the school to ensure that the requirements of the formal "derecognition letter" which had been sent in November 2005 have now been complied with.

We believe that the school's stationery and any printed publicity material now no longer carries the "Investor in People" registered trade mark logo: this was the main focus of the requirements of the "derecognition letter". The "Investor in People" stickers in the school office/reception areas you reported last week have now been removed, and we accept this may have been an oversight on the school's part. We also gather that the school's website has been temporarily taken down so that the "Investor in People" logo can be removed.

We hope that this now sees an end to the matter, although we'd prefer that the school - having once achieved our Standard -would feel inclined to work towards achieving its revised version which came into effect at the beginning of this year.

Thank you very much again for your concern and vigilance in this matter.

Yours sincerely

Mike Peart

Investors in People UK Compliance Unit
41 Vernon Road
Sheffield S17 3QE

Now – some people may accuse me of having nothing better to do with my time than to “shop” the hard-working school administration for their stupidity in ignoring important letters. Some might say that this is not “concern and vigilance”, but the actions of “a vindictive minority”… So I am using this opportunity to remind anyone with a genuine interest in seeing Marton Primary School become a thriving and effective portal of education of an opportunity that has been lost.

Mrs Coupe has made much of the so-called “problems” she is supposed to have inherited on her appointment. The OfSTED report highlighted areas of under-achievement which were a reflection of the impact of the new administration (not the previous one). BUT – if Mrs Coupe had genuinely wanted to lift the school’s standards, then she would have had the perfect opportunity to take the IIP assessment on board – and to use that highly commended tool to formulate a framework for success. Instead, she persistently ignored every letter sent from IIP, preferring to be seen as the LEA-sent guide-to-all-things-good-in-education.

Don’t be fooled! This lady doesn’t Invest in People – she prefers to control, subjugate and discipline her people. It is up to you to decide if that is acceptable.

Alan Veale

Lisa · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

It is clear that there are only 2 reasons why IIP status was not renewed:
1) They couldn't be bothered. Too much trouble for them to invest time and effort in the staff of Marton School. They don't care about the staff.
2) They knew there was no way they would be able to keep the Nationally recognised award. IIP would have interviewed a range of staff at the school as part of their procedures. They would soon have realised how little is being invested in the staff.

However, it is quite extraordinary how Mrs Coupe ignored the letters from IIP and continued to use their logo. I believe the school were sent at least 2 letters regarding this.
_________________
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein

AR · Something to Say Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 31

After reading these posts I wondered if it was only Mrs Coupe who was so dismissive of the IIP award so I looked up a few of Blackpool Primary School websites. What comes across 100% is how proud the schools are to have achieved it and those who are working towards it the children are genuinely involved in helping their teachers. They are WHOLE SCHOOL efforts. How sad then that this has been thrown away in such a short time.

So I looked at some of the IIP information to see why this may have happened and an explanation is obvious. Below are just a few statements I have picked from the documentation. Anyone reading this forum and who knows the school now will see how at odds Mrs Coupe's philosphy is with that of the IIP organisation. It is no wonder she has scrapped it.

What is IIP ?

In Education:-

providing high quality evidence of self-evaluation which is externally assessed

It is a tool to help schools develop effective management strategies

helps to raise the achievement of pupils by promoting and developing the skills of all staff

promotes the involvement of everyone resulting in greater teamwork

encourages staff to recognise the contribution they are making to the success of the school and the responsibilities they have for meeting its targets;

can improve communications, increase motivation and strengthen team working.

It looks beyond the classroom to take account of all the ‘people factors’ which contribute to the life of the institution.

Reduces waste. The more skilled and focused people are the more they will be able to avoid wasting resources –whether that be in time, staffing or equipment

Indicates whether organisations are encouraging their people to have a greater role in the decision making process and in turn take more responsibility for
decisions that affect the whole school or college.

Headteachers, will be asked to explain how all staff are involved as well as describing an environment of empowerment and ownership.

Generally

Is an improvement tool designed to advance an organisation’s performance through its people

Top managers can describe strategies they have in place to create an environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas to improve their own and other people’s performance.
Top managers recognise the different needs of people and can describe strategies they have in place to make sure everyone has appropriate and fair access to the support they need and there is equality of opportunity for people to learn and develop

Does anyone think that Mrs Coupe could ever hope to achieve the highlighted aims and objectives ?

So no, Alan, I do not think you are acting vindictively. IIP provides a people centred standard we would all love to see back at Marton.

R. Thornton · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 99

Follow this link then view the foot of the page. Is the IIP organisation correct ?

http://www.marton.blackpool.sch.uk/

helen · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Sounds to me like the IIP organisation have been "misled" by the school. Why is the IIP logo still displayed on the website if the school is no longer part of IIP?

I can also see why Marton couldn't possibly be considered for IIP status, having read the information on this thread about what it involves.

What a joke!
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TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The_Truth · Getting Started Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 11

Mr Turner and Mrs Coupe please get your act together.

You have turned the school in to a complete joke.....

helen · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

The_Truth, Mrs Coupe and Mr Turner obviously HAVE got their act together: therein lies the problem......
_________________
TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Lisa · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

Amazing! It doesn't surprise me in the least though. The way that school is run is a joke. They really believe they can tell lies and get away with it. Funny how it always seems to involve the internet too.
_________________
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein

Lisa · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

Alan,

I suggest that you contact Mr Peart at IIP and explain to him that he has been misled by Marton Primary School. You could tell him that his name has been added to a long list of others who have also been misled over the last 20 months.
_________________
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein

S. Hall · Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: Leadership

I'm new to this forum but it seems to me that there are a lot of people posting just to whinge and moan.
Get real !
I have looked through quite a few of the threads and it is easy to see a different view of things.

Mrs Coupe came to Marton from a small school - it was a career move, A bigger school so a bigger salary.
She is target driven - the Government sets SATs targets for authorities who pass them on to schools. Achieving these will be her only objective to moving on up the career ladder. She has no connection with Blackpool or Marton so why should she worry about the local community and parents.
So what if a few teachers' careers are finished along the way? So what if the school's old ethos and philosophy are lost. Those are obstacles to be removed - irrelevancies in the bigger scheme of things.
All successful managers need to be ruthless to get to where they want to be. You should admire her for that.

Admittedly we don't often see it in Primary schools but she is one of the new breed of head teacher created by the current government. You need to realise the changes taking place in education, not live in the past.

So what if a quarter of a million pounds has been lost to the school and authority as Mr Thornton points out in his usually deluded fashion? Take a look at the health service, privatised rail companies, energy companies - they lose millions through decisions by managing directors on a regular basis. But if the LEA and Mr Lund want to go on pouring funds into the black hole of Marton why should Mrs Coupe change her actions ? That's not her responsibility. Her responsibility is to ensure that she receives her due pay rise each year which she has successfully done.
Anyway the MSAG is partly to blame for not recouping that money. If the MUGA had been left alone as Mrs Coupe and the authority were obviously doing, much of the playing field could have been sold off for housing or an industrial unit. Parents should take care of exercise for their children after school and weekends - there will be less time in school for it anyway, with the increase in literacy and numeracy lessons. Thousands of schools have sold off playing fields - why do Marton pupils need all that space ?
The money raised could have been used to recoup the £250 000 and much more.

She has also manoeuvred a wonderful set of managers around her. Most governing bodies advise the head teacher when there are problems, and help to guide the school. But you must admit that she has done a wonderful job in manipulating her own group around her. They will never question what she is doing - even if they understand any of it, and judging by the calibre of some of them, they won't.
As for the Chair of Governors. Here she has had some luck - he is the perfect foil for her. Anything goes wrong, any whiff of scandal and he shoots his mouth off without knowing anything about what he is saying. So he gets all the bad press and criticism - totally deflecting it from Mrs Coupe. Brilliant.

So lets stop the criticism, whining and moaning. Recognise Mrs Coupe for what she is.

billandben · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 29

I notice that you're a teacher S Hall. Shocked

I respect your opinion, but I certainly hope you don't teach at a school where my children go to.
You've summed up what is happening very well. And if we were talking about a private business I would agree that it is only to be expected (although it's argueable as to whether it's right Confused

). But for this to go on in a school..........do you really think it is right? Would you be happy for your children to attend a school where people matter so little? Mad

S. Hall · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject: Facts of Life

Just pointing out the facts of life !

The Labour party has made it clear that parents have the right to choose their children's school.
If you or anyone doesn't like the new status quo - move your children. It's as simple as that.

Staff too are free to apply for other jobs at any time. Mrs Alderson and any others could have moved schools had they so wished. I'm sure Mrs Coupe wouldn't have prevented that.

billandben · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 29

You can be assured that my children are not attending Marton anymore Very Happy

And actually I believe it was made difficult for some parents to move their children away. I cannot speak for myself, but maybe somebody else has more information about this.
It wouldn't do a school any good to have a significant amount of children moved away. This affects all sorts of things, particularly the money that the school receives from the Government.

Lisa · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

S Hall
Believe me we all recognise what is going on and who people are! I can tell you haven't got children. If you had I don't believe you would be making these comments. This Forum is about the terrible things that are happening at a primary/nursery school. What goes on affects the lives of children aged from just 36 months to 11 years. What we see and learn at school affects us greatly for the rest of our lives. I remember my school years with happiness and I want the same opportunity for all children.
Quite honestly I am surprised you feel that it is OK to write what you did. But I suppose it does highlight what has happened from another angle. This only makes me more determined to ensure that things return to normal as soon as possible. S Hall, maybe you think that what is going on is OK. Well be prepared to eat your words because things cannot go on like they are doing for much longer.
Do you honestly believe what is going on is right, or are you just complacent about it and feel it's OK to sit back and not question anything? If your manager told you that the World was flat, would you accept it without question? And if a colleague did question it and repurcussions followed, would you think they were a trouble maker?
_________________
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein

S. Hall · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:27 pm Post subject: Divide and Rule

Ah - now you've hit another nail on the head Lisa. In schools where I have worked, staff haven't just sat back and been complacent - at one time staff stuck together as a group. Management were management.

This is where I once again have admiration for Mrs Coupe - early on she divided the staff, and some teachers were gullible enough, to, as you say 'believe the manager without question'.
Better still she allowed the differences to gradually grow and used the Ofsted team to bring them into the open. In education we are aware that Ofsted teams can be used by authorities and schools to achieve their own ends - as a modern manager Mrs Coupe was adept at doing this. Do you think teachers would approach an Ofsted team alone to complain about bullying - especially as it had happened two terms before ?

So differences were made public without any finger of blame being pointed at the head - and from this staff went off sick and another suspended. Again, a brilliant piece of manoevering.

Some staff must have supported Mrs Alderson for her hearing - but it is clear the staff as a whole did not support her as a colleague - otherwise there would have been no case to bring. Instead they stabbed her in the back and will have to live with this knowledge in future years, that they have probably contributed to a ruined career. The blame does not lie wholly with Mrs Coupe but with these members of Marton staff. She may have deliberatley used them but they were stupid enough to fall for it.

I'm not sure I will be eating my words, though. Experience shows that the Mrs Coupes of this world move on up quickly.