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10:58am Wednesday 22nd October 2008
THE Christian organisation running a controversial new Southampton school has been told it may need to bring in troubleshooters after up to 150 pupils went on the rampage.
Southampton Itchen MP John Denham wants the charity that runs Oasis Academy Mayfield to consider calling in education experts to help because it is so inexperienced.
He has also called on school bosses to open up and show how they are dealing with the unrest that led to pupils leaving a trail of destruction.
Eyewitnesses said that Year 10 and 11 pupils at the school caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to its Woolston campus, smashing windows and wrecking televisions after a protest about how the school was formed got out of hand.
Angry pupils were demonstrating against the unwanted merger of their former secondary schools across two sites, with Years 7, 8 and 9 now being taught at Grove Park and Years 10 and 11 at the Woolston site.
Mr Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said: “It was always going to be a difficult challenge to bring two schools together that have strong identities.
“There are going to be issues that need to be managed “Clearly the Oasis Trust nationally is a very inexperienced organisation.
“This is only the second year it’s responsible for any schools anywhere in the county. They may need to look at how they can get in some more expertise in to strengthen, not the head teacher, who I know well and was a successful head teacher elsewhere in the city, but the governance of the school.”
He added: “It’s obviously important that the school is prepared to be open with parents and guardians about issues that are there or may be there.”
Ward councillor Warwick Payne said: “As councillor for Woolston, everything I’ve heard about this incident had come from parents and the Echo and nothing from the school.
“Oasis need to take the bull by the horns. These kind of incident are not acceptable and we expect them to act now.”
Head teacher Ruth Johnson has sought to downplay the destruction and insisted no more than 40 pupils were involved. She said disruptive pupils had been punished, with some excluded, however has so has been unavailable to answer questions directly.
Oasis was chosen by the council to open two new academies – independent state funded schools – following a city review of secondary school education.
The other is Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, formed by a merger of Oaklands and Millbrook schools, where no problems have been reported.
Teaching unions representing staff at Oasis Academy Mayfield have threatened to take industrial action if improvements are not made in the next two weeks.
davesbabe, southampton says...
11:36am Wed 22 Oct 08
baz1, southampton says...
11:40am Wed 22 Oct 08
localangrymum, southampton says...
11:41am Wed 22 Oct 08
Nod, Southampton says...
11:42am Wed 22 Oct 08
localangrymum, southampton says...
11:46am Wed 22 Oct 08
shelley-1965, southampton says...
11:51am Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888, Southampton says...
11:54am Wed 22 Oct 08
Rob444, Southampton says...
11:57am Wed 22 Oct 08
Vicky Fuller, Southampton says...
12:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Vicky Fuller, Southampton says...
12:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Lib Lob, says...
12:21pm Wed 22 Oct 08
rich the stitch, says...
12:22pm Wed 22 Oct 08
shelley-1965, southampton says...
12:23pm Wed 22 Oct 08
so19, southampton says...
12:23pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888 wrote:No one can condone actions of these kids but spare a thought for the children that arn't as you put it wannabe heros, do they not deserve a decent education? Having had first hand experience of the staff at the grove site i can see why the pupils are feeling frustrated.
If the merge was to blame then why are Lords Hill and Millbrook not experiancing any problems? Youth today are all about the wannabe heroes!
Steve123, sholing says...
12:26pm Wed 22 Oct 08
NICK PAYNTER, SOUTHAMPTON says...
12:38pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Bright Spark, Stubbington says...
12:43pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Rob444, Southampton says...
12:53pm Wed 22 Oct 08
concernedmum, woolston says...
1:12pm Wed 22 Oct 08
TheTruthIknow, Southampton says...
1:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08
shelley-1965 wrote:shelley-1965 you are correct when you state that there is no S.E.N.C.O within Oasis academy Mayfield. I would like to point out; however, that there are indeed teaching assistants (T.A’s) working very hard within the school. With the lack of an S.E.N register the T.A’s have had to amalgamate the S.E.N registers from the previous two schools to enable them to identify those children who will need the additional support, further to this T.A’s have observed classes and identified further children who may need additional support.. Problems lie with the fact that there are not nearly enough T.A’s to cover the many children who need additional support. T.A’s also find it difficult to support the learning of these children due to the poor behaviour of students. There are no real disciplinary procedures in place, something the children have realised, resulting in a minority of students misbehaving and disrupting entire lessons. The students need a voice, they need to be able to express their concerns and want to see action being taken when classes are disrupted, this is not happening at present. The pupils of the school feel forced into taking action through frustration of not feeling important or cared about.
I think it is disgusting the way oasis is treating its staff and children, parents should know that there is no special educational needs co-ordinator in the school ( S.E.N.C.O.) this is a person that over sees children with special educational needs ( S.E.N) they deal with the S.E.N. registrar all children with a S.E.N should be on this registrar,they also deal with statemented children, outside agencies such as speech therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapy, physiologist, psychiatrist and the welfare of the child.also they deal with individual education plans (I.E.P) every child with a s.e.n. should have one.they also do not have learning support assistants, (L.S.A.s) these are people that help children with a s.e.n. in lessons as well as taken them out of lessons for some one to one help.
Being in a school working as a L.S.A. i know how important this is for them, i also work closely with southampton city council as a parent of a s.e.n. child, I know at present there is no problems with oasis lordshill, just oasis mayfield, speaking to the council i know they do not go much on Ruth Johnson principal and the way she runs the school. she is not interested in children with a s.e.n. being a ex parent of the school i have a letter from the principal saying oasis do not believe in giving children with s.e.n.s l.s.a help. oasis mayfield has 84% s.e.n. children and three statemented children. i have spoken to your reporter Matt smith , he said to me you are right there is no s.e.n.c.o. in the school. i believe all this trouble in oasis last week is because they have no s.en. help and these children are frustrated and stressed and want there old schools because this is where they had help before and they are lashing out.oasis want high standards and if they don,t help s.e.n. children parents will move their children and they will get their high standards.i have taken my son out of oasis and he is being tutored at home. i know of children that are going to school not being able to cope telling the teacher they are going home and the teacher saying go home then which they do. i would also like to point out that Mrs Johnson principal oasis does not know what actually happened on the woolston site as she is based on the grove park site.
wilko, Soton says...
1:32pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Adrian Smith, Planet Earth says...
1:45pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wilko wrote:Matt Smith might even be able to progress to the Nationals if he got his finger out and did a proper story.
THE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS AREN'T PROTESTING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE MERGED!!! When will the echo, elected politicians and management actually listen to what is being said. Ironically, part of what the young people are complaing about is the fact that they are NOT BEING LISTENED TO. This is being proved by the fact that three days on this paper is still missing the point despite many many posts on here from pupils and parents explaining what the issues actually are.
sick to death, says...
1:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08
davesbabe wrote:So you think that this behavior is ok? The blame lays at the feet of the council, the parents and their mutant children. Everyone thinks they can do what they want well it's about time these people are made to pay for the upset they cause. Does anybody not realise that some one could have died or is that what it will take. You lot want to get off your bums and take responsibility for the xxx that is going in on in our estates before you criticise the school. Look into your own back gardens and sort that out first.
it is not the merger they are protesting about, is nobody listening to these kids, parents and teachers?, they are protesting about the fact that nobody listens to them, that their lessons are interrupted and the school is a shambles, and its ruth johnson thats the problem, they need to get rid of her and get someone else in who will do the job that she is failing to do!!! listen to the people for god sake instead of just assuming you know the story john denham, have you been to the school?,spoken to any pupils? spoken to any parents? teachers? if not how do you know what the problem is, ruth isnt going to tell the truth is she cos she might lose her job!! hopefully she will or these poor kids are going to end up with NO gcse's. do something before its too late!!!
Another Mum50, Southampton says...
1:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08
concerned24, southampton says...
2:05pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Mr E, Eastleigh says...
2:10pm Wed 22 Oct 08
concernedmum, woolston says...
2:15pm Wed 22 Oct 08
year11parent, bitterne says...
2:21pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888, Southampton says...
2:32pm Wed 22 Oct 08
concernedmum, woolston says...
2:48pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Bright Spark, Stubbington says...
2:58pm Wed 22 Oct 08
ADMIN, Southampton says...
3:06pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888, Southampton says...
3:13pm Wed 22 Oct 08
concernedmum, woolston says...
3:34pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle, southampton says...
3:34pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888, Southampton says...
3:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08
asilryan, southampton says...
4:03pm Wed 22 Oct 08
mad mum, southampton says...
4:07pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Em_Lou, West End says...
4:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888 wrote:I think you will find it doesnt matter how much 'innate intellegence' a child has, if they are not taught the subject matter, they will most likely not do well in their exams. Its not a case of not being bright, its a case that if your not actually taught the subject, how on earth are you ment to do well in it?
CONCERENEDMUM : With reactions to posts like yours above, it is no wonder there are kids arguing and fighting from rival school's. The Cane worked in my day and never did no harm. Obviously your disgust is down to the lack of use you had of it. At £100k a year for Ruth's job im sure I would get a right hand mans job next to her if im paid that much. What do you earn? If you do not like the Oasis group move on from it. If your worried about your childs education being affected then he/she ccannot be as bright as you make out!
asilryan, southampton says...
4:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle wrote:Oasis told all outside agengies that they were not needed. These are agencies that are respected by all the other schools in the town and work well in partnership with the young persons future and needs in mind. They said they could handle it all themselves. They can't even run a time table or keep brilliant experienced teachers.
Would also like to add that there are no councillers, anger management courses or outside agencies like saucpans coming in. There is no plan to accomadate for these needs either, so the kids that have got problems and had help and support last year, have been dropped like bombs.........
wizzle, southampton says...
4:52pm Wed 22 Oct 08
asilryan wrote:My son was not involved in any of the mentioned, but was receiving help from outside agencies last year. I went to mayfield who assured me that the agencie he was with would be welcome in the school to help. The agency phoned the school to get back in and help the kids and the school, went against what i was told and was told that they are still not welcome!!!! Doh!
wizzle wrote: Would also like to add that there are no councillers, anger management courses or outside agencies like saucpans coming in. There is no plan to accomadate for these needs either, so the kids that have got problems and had help and support last year, have been dropped like bombs.........Oasis told all outside agengies that they were not needed. These are agencies that are respected by all the other schools in the town and work well in partnership with the young persons future and needs in mind. They said they could handle it all themselves. They can't even run a time table or keep brilliant experienced teachers.
mmmmm, Southampton says...
5:08pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Random23, Southampton says...
5:41pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Zoeeee93, Southampton says...
6:56pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizard, soton says...
6:59pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle, southampton says...
7:12pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizard wrote:And do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
if your as worried about your kids future schooling as i am email me at oasisacademyparents@ gmail.com we can then organise all these views and decide what action to take
Mad Max, The Prairies says...
7:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle wrote:At least this parent is trying to do something.... organise a meeting etc... so like many other parents, Wizzle will sit on their arses and watch their kids education got to rats....
wizard wrote: if your as worried about your kids future schooling as i am email me at oasisacademyparents@ gmail.com we can then organise all these views and decide what action to takeAnd do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
hollywood gal, southampton says...
7:28pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizard, soton says...
7:40pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle, southampton says...
8:11pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizard wrote:i have now emailed you. thankyou
if your as worried about your kids future schooling as i am email me at oasisacademyparents@ gmail.com we can then organise all these views and decide what action to take
millbrook, southampton says...
8:24pm Wed 22 Oct 08
shelley-1965 wrote:just like to say oasis academy lordshill lower school and upper school are having problems not as bad as other side.but far from perfect.many of us parents have got concerns ie.when you ring school to speak to ian golding so called principal.never avaliable.the way children behave,as there no disipline and no shouting at children.the language and attitudes of children and mine since take over.they seem to rule the school.using mobile phones to phone parents walking out of school.never had so many phone calls of my children since oasis took over.AND I WILL SAY NEVER LET MY CHILDREN TAKE THERE PHONE TO SCHOOL UNTIL OASIS TOOK OVER IT IS 4 THERE PROTECTION TO GET HOLD OFF ME THERE MUM.my children are telling me they are upset seeing there teachers so unhappy and looking stressed.all because they got to follow oasis weird and (must state not working policy)not down to teachers as they only got childrens interest at heart.it about time oasis starting listening and responding.and my children coming hom telling me that teachers travelling from site to site dont even get lunch break which i find that so shocking.think this is so out of control it as got to get sorted a.s.a.p.oasis listen to us parents and the children.and 1 last thing who is responsible for the children walking from oasis lordshill upper school to lordshill lower school in school time if something happens to my child or someones elses child who is responsible.mr golding can you answer that 1.OH SORRY U CARNT CAUSE YOU NEVER AVALIABLE TO SPEAK TO US PARENTS OR YOUR PUPILS.WELL CAN OASIS ANSWER THIS.
I think it is disgusting the way oasis is treating its staff and children, parents should know that there is no special educational needs co-ordinator in the school ( S.E.N.C.O.) this is a person that over sees children with special educational needs ( S.E.N) they deal with the S.E.N. registar all children with a S.E.N should be on this registar,they also deal with statemented children, outside agenicies such as speach therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapy, physiologist, psychiatrist and the welfare of the child.also they deal with individual education plans (I.E.P) every child with a s.e.n. should have one.they also do not have learning support assistants, (L.S.A.s) these are people that help children with a s.e.n. in lessons as well as taken them out of lessons for some one to one help. Being in a school working as a L.S.A. i know how important this is for them, i also work closely with southampton city council as a parent of a s.e.n. child, I know at present there is no problems with oasis lordshill, just oasis mayfield, speaking to the council i know they do not go much on ruth Johnson principal and the way she runs the school. she is not intrested in children with a s.e.n. being a exparent of the school i have a letter from the principal saying oasis do not believe in giving children with s.e.n.s l.s.a help. oasis mayfield has 84% s.e.n. children and three statemented children. i have spoken to your reporter matt smith , he said to me you are right there is no s.e.n.c.o. in the school. i believe all this trouble in oasis last week is because they have no s.en. help and these children are frustrated and stressed and want there old schools because this is where they had help before and they are lashing out.oasis want high standards and if they don,t help s.e.n. children parents will move their children and they will get their high standards.i have taken my son out of oasis and he is being tutored at home. i know of children that are going to school not being able to cope telling the teacher they are going home and the teacher saying go home then which they do. i would also like to point out that mrs johnson principal oasis does not know what actually happened on the woolston site as she is based on the grovepark site.
Worried of Woolston, southampton says...
8:31pm Wed 22 Oct 08
max24, woolston says...
8:36pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Mad Max, The Prairies says...
8:38pm Wed 22 Oct 08
wizzle wrote:I dare... Idiot, been called worse.... the parents have a better chance being listened to on mass rather than the odd parent going into the school, Oasis can easily shrug off an individual, where as 1000 angry, upset parents doesn't look that good in the national press...
Mad Max wrote:How dare you, you complete idiot. I was in the school for over an hour today trying to get answers for problems myself, so dont you dare sit on your stool and judge people that you dont know.......wizzle wrote:At least this parent is trying to do something.... organise a meeting etc... so like many other parents, Wizzle will sit on their arses and watch their kids education got to rats.... Another one of the "I'm going to sit here and complain" brigade... Good luck Wizard...wizard wrote: if your as worried about your kids future schooling as i am email me at oasisacademyparents@ gmail.com we can then organise all these views and decide what action to takeAnd do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
wizzle, southampton says...
8:54pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Mad Max wrote:An our maybe, but at least i am one that is trying!!!!!!!
wizzle wrote:I dare... Idiot, been called worse.... the parents have a better chance being listened to on mass rather than the odd parent going into the school, Oasis can easily shrug off an individual, where as 1000 angry, upset parents doesn't look that good in the national press... as you say, you have been at the school today, only an hour... but I can bet that the majority of parents who are moaning on this site do nothing....Mad Max wrote:How dare you, you complete idiot. I was in the school for over an hour today trying to get answers for problems myself, so dont you dare sit on your stool and judge people that you dont know.......wizzle wrote:At least this parent is trying to do something.... organise a meeting etc... so like many other parents, Wizzle will sit on their arses and watch their kids education got to rats.... Another one of the "I'm going to sit here and complain" brigade... Good luck Wizard...wizard wrote: if your as worried about your kids future schooling as i am email me at oasisacademyparents@ gmail.com we can then organise all these views and decide what action to takeAnd do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
Rob444, Southampton says...
9:01pm Wed 22 Oct 08
cross of woolston, southampton says...
11:03pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Vicky Fuller, Southampton says...
11:26pm Wed 22 Oct 08
Tevez888 wrote:Some of us at Oasis do want to learn.. but how can we learn with the other children distracting us and ruining what good points Mayfield actually has. All I have heard since the opening of Oasis is how 'rubbish' it is. But for gods sake there are good points! Look on the brighter side. Nothings going to change so just get on with it!
Kids today do not want education. Thats what im saying..... BRING BACK THE CANE!
AngrySotonResident, says...
7:46am Thu 23 Oct 08
davesbabe, southampton says...
2:25pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Tevez888 wrote:my children are well behaved, have never been in any trouble at all, i ALWAYS get praise for them from the school, if someone even thought about even smacking my children i would kill them, i do not smack my children so why should anyone else have the right, you are ignorant and know nothing of the situation at the school, although i dont condone what these kids did at least they got the problem in the open and maybe now something will be done, my children love school and love to learn they are above average, i just hope this continues once they go to this school as the choice for another school has been taken away by the government, good luck to all involved, i will support any action you take wizard and will be involved.
Kids today do not want education. Thats what im saying..... BRING BACK THE CANE!
grumblemum, Sholing says...
5:23pm Thu 23 Oct 08
SFC4EVA, Southampton says...
5:33pm Thu 23 Oct 08
davesbabe, southampton says...
11:27pm Thu 23 Oct 08
sick to death wrote:you obviously havent read the posts have you smarty pants, i said the way the kids went about it was wrong, i said i didnt condone it can you not read moron????, my children dont go there yet and my children are well behaved, polite, disciplined,loved and listened to, i know where my children are at all times can you say the same? have you even got any children??, the issue is totally lost on you isnt it? go and bury yourself back under a rock, just because children are a little unruly should we give up on them?? all kids would be murderous monsters with you in charge, all kids deserve an education and these kids arent getting one!!! get your facts right whoever you are dont judge unless you know what youre talking about!!
davesbabe wrote: it is not the merger they are protesting about, is nobody listening to these kids, parents and teachers?, they are protesting about the fact that nobody listens to them, that their lessons are interrupted and the school is a shambles, and its ruth johnson thats the problem, they need to get rid of her and get someone else in who will do the job that she is failing to do!!! listen to the people for god sake instead of just assuming you know the story john denham, have you been to the school?,spoken to any pupils? spoken to any parents? teachers? if not how do you know what the problem is, ruth isnt going to tell the truth is she cos she might lose her job!! hopefully she will or these poor kids are going to end up with NO gcse's. do something before its too late!!!So you think that this behavior is ok? The blame lays at the feet of the council, the parents and their mutant children. Everyone thinks they can do what they want well it's about time these people are made to pay for the upset they cause. Does anybody not realise that some one could have died or is that what it will take. You lot want to get off your bums and take responsibility for the xxx that is going in on in our estates before you criticise the school. Look into your own back gardens and sort that out first.
davesbabe, southampton says...
11:30pm Thu 23 Oct 08
concerned24 wrote:i dont agree with you i have every right to comment, my daughter is starting here next year and im trying to help the kids already there as well as my own i am entitled to help, its in my best interests too
There have been a lot of valid and a lot of invalid points made regarding this story. People without children at the school really have no right to comment. I have no idea what Ruth Johnson is like as I have never met her, but I know that I am unhappy with the way that my Year 11 sons education is being handled. My son is has always done reasonably well at school and I have never had cause for concern about his behaviour in school or his work. Until now. Since moving onto the Woolston site he comes home with all sorts of stories about being in class with no teacher for half the lesson because the teacher missed the bus, or they are short staffed; being given a detention for something he didn't know about and when he turns up no-one knows anything about it. This school needs help NOW; I don't care where from so long as my son and the other kidsget the education they deserve, have a right to and were promised. My son is working towards his GCSE's and I don't think he will have a hope in hell in the current environment.
Ex woolston student, southampton says...
8:14pm Fri 24 Oct 08
mmmmm, Southampton says...
9:09am Sat 25 Oct 08
cross of woolston, southampton says...
10:46pm Sun 26 Oct 08
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owen_thesaints, The forgotten side of the City says...
11:19am Wed 22 Oct 08
Something neeeds to be done urgently to protect the grades that some of these pupils are working towards!