martonschool.myfreeforum.org

KATIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

The League table results for Marton have gone down once again under the present Headteacher. It seems that the Head told many of us that she had been brought in to improve the school. It is now clear that the results have gone down each year since she has been in charge.
2004 The year Mrs Lancaster retired – 244 points
2005 Mrs Coupes first year in charge – 232 points
2006 Mrs Coupes second year in charge 222 points

Now if that doesn’t show everyone that the school has been in decline for the last 2 years, I don’t know what will.
Does this now make it clear why SATs results were not sent to parents as per legal requirements?

I am sure Mr Turner or Mr Lund will deny that there is a problem. Iceberg, what iceberg?

mary · Reaching Full Speed Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 81

No doubt the blame for the drop in standards will be laid at the door of the MSAG.

After all, as we keep being told, this group is responsible for everything that's gone wrong at Marton School since Mrs Coupe arrived.
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EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH WILL OUT, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.

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

Well the full League Tables Magazine dropped through my letterbox today with the Guardian. Well done, Katie for pointing out the fall in attainment. They do not look good as you have presented them, but I visited the DfES website to look at your figures in more detail and viewing them in a wider context does not make pretty reading.

These figures are based on the government's target for children reachjing Level4+ at KS 2 and are the % for each subject totalled. All taken from the DfES website.

2004 - Mrs Lancaster's final year
Marton 244 LEA 231 National 237
So higher than both LEA and National average

2005 - the end of Mrs Coupe's first year
Marton 232 LEA 233 National 240
Now slightly below the LEA but falling dramatically below the national average

2006 - Mrs Coupe in office for 2 years
Marton 222 LEA 236 National 242
Now dramatically lower than the LEA average and an embarrassingly 20 points below the National average for pupils of the same age

Notice too how the rest of the country and Blackpool LEA are making steady progress to the targets set by the government whilst Marton falls further and further behind.

These are facts. Does this progress in the children's attainment levels merit the ruined careers, the disappearance of experienced staff, the thousands and thousands of pounds of tax payers' money spent on the school ?

I am looking forward to the 'spin' put on these results by Mr Turner, Mr Lund and Blackpool councillors

Michael Shore · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 15

It was in David Lund's letter to parents on 3rd October 2005, where he admitted that the school was underachieving. This was the official finding of the OFSTED report.
He went on to say that the Headteacher and staff had an agenda for change. How disappointed he must now feel that, indeed, there has been change. Changes that clearly show that the school continues to nose dive in the league tables.
It is clear vindication for all concerned parents and teachers who have previously been criticised by Dave Lund and Mr Turner, in their many rantings.
Will Dave Lund now be a true leader, accept the findings in the National league tables and take direct action to address the problems he has so long denied?

KATIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

I am friendly with a Governor who has given me a lot of details of the meetings and I would like to quote from Mr Turners Governors minutes dated 27th June 2005.

"It was stated that although not all Governors present had been able to take part in the appointment of the present Headteacher she had been brought in to improve the school, her plans had been approved by OFSTED, this meeting was providing Governor input and support to the Action Plan, and it was time for individual members of the SMT to get wholeheartedly behind it or resign."

Well we can see from the recent results that the school was in a far better position when Mrs Lancaster was in charge. We can see that the results have consistently dropped each year Mrs Coupe has been in charge. Mr Turners threat to staff has resulted in them not getting wholeheartedly behind the Head, instead they have wholeheartedly left the school in their droves.
Quite simply she has not improved the school, she has managed to drop it even lower down the league tables.
This is an ADMISSION of failure on behalf of the schools management.
WHEN will somebody take action?

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

Katie, could I ask you to clarify that date in relation to Mr Turner? The statement certainly sounds like it could be attributable to his style of leadership - but Mike Turner was not appointed as Chairman of Governors until September 2005.

Thanks - Alan Veale.

KATIE · Mildly Opinionated Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

Mr Taylor the previous Chair of Governors resigned in disgust at the way the Governing body and the school were being run. Mr Turner was writing the minutes in June, but he did not become chair of Governors until September. I did not say that he was chair of Governors in my post, though I can see that it might cause confusion. So it is correct that Mr Turner wrote the minutes, and probably put his own spin on what was said. If you would like to see a copy, you can request them under freedom of information, or I could send you a hard copy if you give me your address via the pm.
Hope that clears things up for you.

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

I can confirm that this was said to the governors. Either back the Head or resign! Good democracy isn't it? Especially when the Head is supposed to be working for the governors. Evil or Very Mad

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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Albert Einstein