martonschool.myfreeforum.org

WAYNE HEYS

Alan, After consideriing your post I do not believe that to disband the MSAG is the proper course of action to take ,after recently speaking to about dozen people ,all who have some sort of connection with Marton,the overwhelming feedback is that people need a voice to express their concerns.
The MSAG is a thorn in the side of Mrs Coupe/Mr Turner and Mr Lund,not because we point the finger at every opportunity,but because our group have tried to make them accountable for their actions.
It is clear that without a recognised point of contact events could unfold where the parents would have little knowledge of just what is going on in school,just think how much information has been passed to us because people out their simply did not/do not trust the avenues which are already in place for them to persue a complaint.
Whilst the MSAG are alive and kicking the heirachy at Marton know that every step they make is been monitored.
Mr Lund will be on a good salary,then why let him off the hook,he has not forfilled his promise to work with the MSAG, to resolve some of our issues which he said last October were vallied. If Mr Turner wants to remain as Chairman of the Governors then he has to also be accountable to the parents of the children of Marton,not to send out totally one sided messages which corrupt the minds of anyone who is not aware of the issues this school has had over the past 12 -18 months.
I have been openly critical of some of the staff at Marton for not standing up and being counted when Mrs Alderson may have needed some support( though I do understand why,and we all have our bils to pay) but by disbanding the MSAG is to do just what those same members of staff did at school,remaining silent plays into the hands of the authorities.
I would be interested to hear what users of this forum think,finally I would ask you to reconsider why we set this group up in the first instance,have we acheived our goals,I say,NO we have not yet acheived everything we set out to do last year, and the MSAG will give the parents of Marton the confidence to know that there is someone prepared to listen and wherever possible seek answers.
Remember we all want the school to return to the position it was in during Mrs Lancaster headship,and that is simply THE BEST JUNIOR SCHOOL IN BLACKPOOL

Tracey · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

wayne, i totally agree with your comments. to me personally this site is an invaluable method of receiving information regarding events occuring and also gives people the option of posting replies. Whilst not everyone shares the same opinion on countless different topics, atleast this site allows everyone to 'voice' their own opinion. This forum allows everyone to remain civilised by putting thought into how they word their comments(although it must be said there have been occasions where it has been apparent that no thought was involved at all).
If this site allows us a voice we should use it. Everybody is entitled to an opinion and if you care about an issue you should use your voice, many are not confident enough to speak alone-this forum allows many to speak in unison. We have got louder, much to the annoyance of lund/turner/coupe. I still have my voice and i have every intention of using it. This forum is my sound system!!!!!!!!!!

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

Tracey,
I completely agree - but not just for the people posting and wanting to be heard.
It is just ONE week since I started this thread - posting that strange letter by a group of Marton staff, but it has been viewed 445 times as I write this!
I find this absolutely amazing. Who are all these people and where are they ? If, as the authorities try to make out, only a small number complain then there is certainly a massive number taking an interest/showing concern in what is happening.

frustemp · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject:

Mr Lund came to Marton last Tuesday to talk to the staff.
He didn't want anything else leaking out from the school. He said that the Gazette, Radio wave Councilors etc. do not want to hear anymore about Marton.
He gave no assurances about the future and did not confirm or deny that the Head had done anything wrong.
The staff are not as divided as they were. It could be said that there is now even less confidence in management.
Frustrated.
_________________
The tide is turning

E. Maltby · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Posts: 17

What a coincidence - the Director of Education visiting Marton again, perhaps because of the invite by a small group of staff BUT just a couple of days after the SATs results were placed on this site. We know Mrs Coupe did not wish the results to be made public - at least just yet - despite the fact that it is a statutory requirement at the end of the key stage for ALL schools. Yes they must have been very angry that the poor results were 'leaked'. The visit also followed shortly after Mrs Coupe told staff to stay in the staffroom when two teachers visited to collect their belongings. They had every right to do so, they had made a prior appointment and they could actually have been refused the right to enter at the door. Yes, they must have been very angry that this story got out. What an embarrassment for the public to hear about a primary headteacher behaving in such a way.

Mr Lund doesn't want the Gazette, Radio wave, Councillors etc to hear any more about Marton. It might surprise him to know that we don't either - in fact we never wanted to them to hear anything about Marton - except the good things which used to be reported. BUT he has the power, surely, to stop it all himself. He has sat by, or been culpable, in many of the things which have gone wrong. He will need to explain to councillors why Mrs Coupe's actions have cost the authority - avoidably - over a quarter of a million pounds at least. He will have to explain to the Gazette why his department misled them after the hearing.

Well I am sorry Mr Lund, but there are still some teachers who wish to stand up for what they believe in. I believe the letter to Mr Lund was signed by only a third of the staff - and less than a quarter of the teachers. I think that speaks volumes. We will carry on supporting them by posting and publicising EVERYTHING which we feel is wrong. We keep hoping that nothing else will happen to be publicised but are regularly disappointed by the headteacher, the governors and your department - as this last attempt to hide SATs results shows.

WAYNE HEYS · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

Mr Lund says that Radio Wave do not want to hear anymore about Marton,well well,THATS NOT WHAT THIS E-MAIL SAYS THAT i HAVE FROM THE SAME RADIO WAVE,you cannot pull the wool over everybodies eyes Mr Lund,and I am keeping the e-mail also.

MrPostman · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject: questions

i hope you dont stop this forum. theres a lot of us reading it and its well good. some serious stuff.
looks like this lund guy is a bit worrid.
that wos sum letter by the staff to him. where i work if we had done that to a boss our cards would of been well marked.

JACKIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 26

During the last week of term I really had my eyes opened. Firstly with some of the shocking comments made during the meeting with Mr Lund and then realising on the day before the end of term that Lisa Thorne, who has been at Marton for 12 years, was leaving the next day, and that I, and many staff didn’t know. Nor was it stated on Mr Turner’s letter to parents that another long serving member of staff was leaving the school.
Lisa Thorne made it clear that she supported Bev Alderson and Jill Reidy, and loads of staff barely spoke to Lisa this school year. Realising she was being quietly pushed out made these staff wake up. I am ashamed at the dealings that are going on at Marton. I now think Marton can’t recover from all this until there is new management.

EX STAFF SINCE 2004

Mr Cooper 10 years at Marton
Mr Richardson 7 years at Marton
Mrs Connor 2 years at Marton
Mrs Alderson 14 years at Marton
Mrs Reidy 13 years at Marton
Mrs Thorne 12 years at Marton
Mrs Taylor 8 years at Marton
Mrs Lace 14 years at Marton
Mr Lomax [Governor] 14 years at Marton
Mr Taylor [Governor] 12 years at Marton
Mr Curtis [Governor] didn’t even make a year

Over a Century of service between them.

The staff below have applied for jobs outside Marton this year, two of whom have been there for over 10 years.

Mrs Bastow
Mrs Halliwell
Mrs Mcgill
Mr Farley
Mrs Walton

Mr Lund confirmed that all staff would struggle to leave now.

WAYNE HEYS · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject:

Yes Jackie,as you say it is a great shame that Miss Thorne has left Marton, she has been yet another loyal servant who for whatever reason has chosen to sever ties with the school.
You say that she openly supported Mrs Alderson and Mrs Reidy,maybe this is the reason she has gone, if it is then who can blame her,like the staff who have been told that they may struggle to get a job outside Marton, what a fine mess Mr Lund and Mrs Coupe and of course good old Mr TURNER made of running the school.
When I look at the list you have posted of the staff leavers, one thing strikes home, ALL THESE PEOPLE WOULD STAND UP AND BE COUNTED and I will put Mr Farley in that bracket also , for the rest of the staff well what a future,if you want a move you cant have one and so carry the can for someone else's mess,now where have I heard that before ?
For all the staff who have openly supported Mrs Coupe,then you reep what you sow,and again as Jackie says, it will be a very long time under this administration that the school comes even close to the Lynn Lancaster years !!!!!!!!
Good luck Mrs Thorne but then again you might be one of the lucky ones ?

Tracey · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

what a terrible situation this school is continuing to be in, well lets be honest it isn't the school at all. It's those in charge and how they have dealt with the numerous situations that they have created.
I'm sorry if i seem a bit dim, but did Miss Thorne want to leave? or was she moved because of the current situation?

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

It is quite obvious why Lisa Thorne is having to leave Marton. She has questioned the management of the school so low and behold 'another one bites the dust'. This is more sad news for Marton. Miss Thorne was a really good member of staff and was great with the kids. She has also worked in the After School Group and the Holiday Club for years. Once again the children are going to suffer by losing dedicated, caring staff, and having to get to know new ones.

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

Tracey,
I can confirm that Miss Thorne did not want to leave Marton Sad

Although I must admit in my opinion she is best away from there anyway Laughing

I'm just grateful that none of my children attend Marton. Miss Thorne - I wish you all the best in your new position Very Happy

_________________
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein

Tracey · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

how very sad that things like this can still happen. In any society people are entitled to different opinions, this is how society evolves. A work environment is also a society as there are different people doing different levels of work. We live in a democratic society where people with different opinions work and live alongside each other. The majority respect and welcome these differences. What a sad state of affairs that apparently at Marton School any difference of opinion can not be discussed for fear of retribution. Are we to presume that in a couple of years only staff who agree with the management or are too afraid to speak up will be the only type allowed to be employed there? What a field day psychologists would have writing a thesis on this type of dictatorship, sorry management!

Tracey · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 69

how very sad that things like this can still happen. In any society people are entitled to different opinions, this is how society evolves. A work environment is also a society as there are different people doing different levels of work. We live in a democratic society where people with different opinions work and live alongside each other. The majority respect and welcome these differences. What a sad state of affairs that apparently at Marton School any difference of opinion can not be discussed for fear of retribution. Are we to presume that in a couple of years only staff who agree with the management or are too afraid to speak up will be the only type allowed to be employed there? What a field day psychologists would have writing a thesis on this type of dictatorship, sorry management!

HM · Something to Say Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 48

That is certainly what the future could hold Tracey. Just look at what has happened to the governing body. They ask no questions and have challenged nothing. A terrible indictment of our education system !