Prompted by the comment “My Children’s School” from the previous blog entry, we found the school by Googling “This is an outstanding school. Everything about it keeps getting better and better.” The report originates from Prince Rock Primary School in Plymouth who received a truly outstanding conclusion by Ofsted in March 2010. (Maybe Duke Street should consider making its New Years’ resolution to be to try to aspire to their standards ?)
The Google search result produced a link to a very good school performance site called Schooloscope. This site has many useful and interesting features. For example, with Duke Street selected, clicking on every other school in Chorley shows that children are happier elsewhere.
Comparing Prince Rock and Duke Street provides a revealing and stunning contrast in school performance.
Schooloscope makes the clear and well illustrated point that Duke Street performance is not what one would expect from such a well provisioned school. Parents and governors must ask questions, especially with regard to the leadership of the school. Unlike Prince Rock, Duke Street does not enjoy an atmosphere of happy and contented people; staff and pupils - why ?
Obfuscating and concealing facts are not the way ahead ! The school did have rats in the kitchens in 2008 and it did receive a deserved poor Ofsted report in March 2010 - the rationale and motivation of a head teacher who attempts to suppress and deny such facts are extremely worrying !
An earlier comment from 2008 does not explain nor excuse the behavioural patterns exhibited by the head teacher but it shows that they originate from his childhood and by his own admission on Friends Reunited – even more worrying that anyone would wish to brag openly about such tricks and deceit; worse a person in authority, a head teacher !
So come on parents - this is your school, your children’s school - as a taxpayer, you deserve better - as a parent, you deserve better and your children certainly deserve better !
4 comments:
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
Sadly Mr. Kidd's philosophy is one of blame, he often blames parents, teachers and our children for failures. He got rid of a lot of good teachers who maybe had the courage to steer a better course for the school which is why the school got a better report in 2007.
it's not just the teachers who leave. there are a lot less children going to Duke Street than there were before he came!
i continue to be offended by the actions of mr. kidd. the latest newsletter from his desk publicly announces several deaths including the most tragic case of an ex-pupil. this item is straddled by a happy new year message and a discourse on bingo and hotpot suppers. family suffering and misery should be treated with the utmost consideration, sensitivity, compassion and privacy and not in the way that he has done.
the manner in which mr. kidd has made this announcement and the use of the school newsletter is wholly inappropriate and i question his motives. it smacks of motorway rubbernecking by those who wish to experience the misery, pain and sadness of others.
i have scanned all previous newsletters and nowhere else is there an obituary column – more surprisingly, there are no birth announcements which are such happy occasions that everyone likes to share and that could engender a stronger bond between parents and school.
in the future i suggest that he should write to parents and teachers privately to express his sympathies on behalf of the school.
i apologise for having to submit this comment which is not in context with the discussion. i also apologise to those who have experienced such sad losses.
I wholeheartedly agree with Jean’s comment. His sentiment should not have been conveyed in such a way.
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