February 07
WAR DECLARED
Well only in respect to smartening up Harlowfields, getting a new
efficient, competent Head, and getting GENUINE PARENTAL PARTICIPATION,
so that the parents are welcomed into the school, get to socialise with
each other and the school staff.
We know it is going to be difficult because the reason we are getting
nowhere so far is because
- the LEA doesn't want the parents to get together because they
don't want us to help each other with Statements because their main
pre-occupation is to cut the money spent on Statements and soon
get rid of them altogether. This is a power struggle between LEA and
Parents.
- There is something big happening at Harlowfields to which the
Parents are not yet privy (will they ever be?) which is why parents are
being locked out, so we don't see anything. But we have our spies in
the most surprising places. Shall we call them "La Resistance".
GETTING IN and
GETTING OUT
A number of parents have brought this issue to my attention, and it all
fits neatly with what is going on above.
- Parents have been seen trying to get into the school and have
been refused entry. This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. One wanted to
complain, another had an issue with school dinners and the office staff
refused to let them in! Eventually they relented. It's like getting to
see the Doctor! I don't mean that one but there is a nasty smell of her
around this school again. Getting in we can understand why security is
needed in view of recent U.K. history but....
- Getting out is a farce, or more it may well be illegal. Again we
would be the first to acknowledge that the staff need to keep the
pupils safely in the building, but the current system of number pad
which only a few staff know the number to, which is changed ever few
weeks , now there's paranoia for you, doesn't work, and we know that
even the staff are deeply unhappy with it, because sometimes even they
can't get out.
- Even Dr. Ali , the consultant has been unable to get out of the
school for several minutes, tough if he got called to an emergency!
- The fire exits have keys high up to allow people to get out in an
emergency, so if that was the preferred system for the main doors for
several years and that has been changed, why do keys at the fire exits
work? One can only speculate that because no one is allowed in the
school THE KEYS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE IN THE FIRE DOORS, now that is
illegal, and horrifying. A survey of other Essex Schools revealed only
one other school with a system anywhere near this -guess where,
Jo Hodges school in Clacton. Other schools were friendly and willing to
divulge their security, and several remarked that Harlowfields sounded
suspicious, and one even said like a prison!
SO WHAT DO WE
SUGGEST (which
means they won't do it)
- It is imperative that there is ALWAYS a member of staff, office
or otherwise, in the office at all times, to LET PEOPLE IN,
and TO ANSWER
THE PHONE. There is no compromise on this. Parents should ALWAYS
have access to the school and their children in person or by phone. We
will continue fighting for this
- The keys should always remain by the fire exits, but in addition
plastic clips should be tied to the doors, like in supermarkets, and if
they remain unbroken then nobody's "escaped"
- The current plans for partitioning the entrance from the rest of
the school is yet another example of paronoia which is unacceptable and
should be scrapped, because it is more of the same.
This school is run like a prison, and it's public perception and public
relations skills are nonexistant,. While we agree the school should be
safe for pupils, other schools do not find these draconian
measures necessary. Shame on you, VERY REY SURTEES. No Head, No welcome
for Parents and a LOCK DOWN SITUATION of dubious legality. Why don't
crawl back into your hole. What does God think of you!!! God
wants a happy, welcoming, co-operative school. Are you sure you're not
hiding Barbara Thomas there?
SO CALLED
SCHOOL NURSE
Would you like to be a sort of school nurse? Salary £19,000 -
£31,000
13 - 18 hours per week yes that means you only have to be at the
school 2hrs 36 mins a day
So parents we have confirmation that for 3hrs 24 mins a day there is no
nurse at the school. She's NOT there more than she is there!!
Unfortunately there are likely to be no applicants as you need to have
min 2yrs experience as a special needs school nurse. So I suspect the
school will soon have nobody and the PCT will claim nobody applied.
Wicked isn't it!
SO THE POST OF
DEPUTY HEAD IS REVIVED
Catherine Jarvis has been elevated to the post of Deputy Head,
presumably so they can say she has been a Deputy before they officially
announce that she is the new Head! Also when no interim Heads are on
site everyone knows who's in charge (and where the buck stops)
Well there is plenty more to discuss. Keep sending your info in. I
believe we are making progress.