"CLIMATE OF FEAR" HEAD FACES PRISON!!! That's a headline in the Times Ed Supp Oct 19th and doesn't refer to HF. However, we must say we've been SHOCKED and DISGUSTED with various 'incidents' we have heard of concerning Ms Sue Davies. It didn't take long for her to stamp her authority on things!. So parents be warned if you have any dealings. This is deeply disappointing. We will give more info about the above, later, so watch this space.

A DOCUMENT has just plopped into our laps which says
"The school" (HF)" is on the the LA's Register of Schools Causing Concern"!!!
This obviously causes a lot of concern to us parents, particularly after all those superduper Interim Heads were brought in to sort it all out. We don't believe that Tim Miller can have caused that much damage in such a short space of time.

MORE INFO FROM DOCUMENTS Summer 07 no. and % of pupils in 3 categories. Primary  18 56% SLD  9 28% PMLD  5 16% MLD  Total;32 Secondary 24 43% SLD 8 13% PMLD 25 44%!!! MLD  Total 57 Post 16  20 Total  . School total 109  Later fell to 106

Considering the long standing policy of INCLUSION it is surprising and some what disturbing that near half secondary pupils are MLD. What does this say about inclusion policy? We were wrong? We don't care? Most are EBDs?....Let us know!
In a way we're pleased because inclusion or not should be an individual thing not a blanket policy.

"The school has very extensive premises"
Yes and it is meant to take 140 pupils not reduce the intake in order to accommodate The Primary Care Trust etc.
This school can never achieve its full potential unless it is full or nearly full

The remaining small swimming pool has been "poorly maintained" and the filtration unit was not working.
We hope this has been rectified.
The closed swimming pool is a "potential hazard". It is of concern to us parents as it has been like this presumably for several years since it was first closed. Surely a headteacher/school manager or 6 should have flagged this up.
The pool and shower block need to be isolated because the recent Health and Safety inspection said so.

The multi-gym is closed because the staff are not sufficiently trained (were they before?) and some of the equipment needs replacing (because it is dangerous/unsafe?)( and it is used as a storeroom like lots of other rooms, so the PCT can take over some classroom?) Please let us know!  " There is a HUGE problem with the storage of equipment"  Why?

Behaviour Policy is complete  (June25 07) and the new Incident forms are in place and being used.

INTERACTION WITH PARENTS!!!!
The document talks about the Open Forum, calling it worthwhile -for the school, (but not the parents.)

SCHOOL WEBSITE John Moppett, the school IT man found the old website out of date and wordy (like this one?) (and it cost £300 and was as dead as a dodo from its first day and it would have been free if someone have used the Essex school website.) He looked at other school websites , like we advised the school on this website some time ago. He wants to keep the text to a minimum ( the school wouldn't like us parents to get info, like this document, would they?)

SCHOOL CREDIT - There is £100,000 left in this years budget. I suppose that's better than BT's £200,000.

It was suggested that the school's IT consultant be paid £35 an HOUR. So we'll all be applying for that.

The pointing is about to start (it says here) ( we've been doing that for some time)

FIRE PRACTICE Concern that half the school did not hear the alarm during a recent fire practice!!!. Mr Baker recommended an £800 upgrade. The very Rev Surtees complete missed the significance of the above point and said the Fire Brigade were happy with the existing system. Others agreed so it was left for Sue Davies in Sept. To ignore the fact that half the pupils did not hear the fire alarm sounds negligent to us.

STRESS RELATED STAFF
Three members of staff have stress related conditions, and the staff will be stress analysed. We acknowledge that this can be a very stressful job and this website is only critical of poor management and anyone being unprofessional. Most teachers are genuinely caring of the pupils, so are most LSA's and we support them.

A SECONDARY TEACHER WITH AUTISTIC EXPERIENCE
Advertised and interviews planned. Are there many of the creatures available? Why does HF suddenly need one?

HEAD TEACHER APPOINTMENT
2 excellent candidates have been interviewed.This is dated May 15th. Didn't the school imply that they couldn't get anyone so they had to head-hunt Ms Davies?  

NEWSLETTER 5
Isn't it strange that it contains no info about the school? Never mind, you can get it all here.   

Well thank you for all that. Can we have more?

NEW BOOK about our experiences at HF is underway. Publisher secured and great title. Order list open on e-mail!
See you in November