School needs troubleshooters (From Daily Echo)

Oasis Academy Mayfield needs experts says John Denham

10:58am Wednesday 22nd October 2008 in News Photograph of the Author By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

Oasis Academy: Mayfield

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.

Comments(68)

owen_thesaints says...
11:19am Wed 22 Oct 08

If you read the comments on this site then "Angry pupils were demonstrating against the unwanted merger of their former secondary schools" is not the main cause of unrest.

Something neeeds to be done urgently to protect the grades that some of these pupils are working towards!

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davesbabe says...
11:36am Wed 22 Oct 08

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!!!

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baz1 says...
11:40am Wed 22 Oct 08

Johnson's laughing-£100,000+ salary which is the going rate these days.Like most Heads(most of them are useless) she will do a few years(or months in her case)and then probably take early or "ill-health"retireme
nt and get a fat pay off and pension linked to final salary.
As regards the kids.The usual ploy with "Academies"(posh name for failing or failed schools)is to change the name, pump money into them e.g. free uniforms,flash buildings.expensive equipment etc..expel the awkward ones and fool the parents that they have become good schools overnight.Then Mr Balls can say how much this wonderful Govt has improved educationl standards-when the opposite is the actuality.
I speak from experience!!

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localangrymum says...
11:41am Wed 22 Oct 08

The whole point of the protest was about the school being a shambles and not the joining of the two former schools. When is the Daily Echo going to report the true every day failings of Oasis. I hope that all Colleges and Employees of our kids future are reading all that has been written on here and take onboard this when these kids finally leave this shambolic place and try to lead a life after Oasis.

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Nod says...
11:42am Wed 22 Oct 08

Come on Echo... Read the comments on the other threads and get the facts straight.

People are complaining because the schools are being run badly, not because of the merger.

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localangrymum says...
11:46am Wed 22 Oct 08

should have written Employers not Employees - before any saddo starts correcting - guess they don't have kids at this school if all they can do is pick fault!!!!!!

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shelley-1965 says...
11:51am Wed 22 Oct 08

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.

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. shelley-1965

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Tevez888 says...
11:54am Wed 22 Oct 08

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!

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Rob444 says...
11:57am Wed 22 Oct 08

Southampton council needs to come clean and admit that they made a grave error by handing the school over to the inexperienced (and, apparently, incompetent) Oasis Trust. The latter should stick to running their community churches and not even consider muscling in on childrens' education. No doubt a chunk of the money they receive (paid by the taxpayers) will end up financing Rev. Steve Chalk's devisive church activities.

COME ON COUNCIL, ADMIT THAT AN ERRONEOUS DECISION WAS MADE AND KICK THIS OASIS CROWD OUT.

Give the kids a fresh and positive new start.

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Vicky Fuller says...
12:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08

What people fail to understand is that pupils did not protest against the merge, as we get along fine. Its the was Oasis has been handled so far this academic year!

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Vicky Fuller says...
12:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08

way*

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Lib Lob says...
12:21pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Oasis Trust - I can't believe these guys are still going. I was indoctrinated by this group as a child, out on the street preaching fairy stories and door to door talking to strangers. Now in my 30s, after 20 years of mental health issues related to the brainwashing of such groups, it angers me that this group has been trusted with children's education.

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rich the stitch says...
12:22pm Wed 22 Oct 08

I like Oasis, they rocked at Bournemouth. My fav songs are Rock and Roll star and Slide Away. Are there any other Oasis fans out there, everyone here seems to be putting them down.

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shelley-1965 says...
12:23pm Wed 22 Oct 08

oasis lordshill have no problem because they have a good principal oasis mayfield has Ruth Johnson who we need to get out of oasis.as she is hopeless.if you have a good principal you have a good school. if you have a bad one you will have a bad school.it is how a school is run, not the children's fault

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so19 says...
12:23pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Tevez888 wrote:
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!

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.

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Steve123 says...
12:26pm Wed 22 Oct 08

We have taken our son out of Mayfield and he has had no schooling for a week while we are waiting for him to start a new school. He has special needs and has had nobody to go to this year and no help in his classes by an l.s.a. He was constantly bullied and after numerous visits it still continued. Classes were waiting for teachers and always messing around some of his books have one page of work done since september.He had work put in front of him with no help to read it and was told to get on with it. We were told by his year head that they could'nt guarantee his safety and our decision to move him to another school was the best thing we could do as the school is a shambles. After numerous visits we could never get to see Ruth Johnson and still havent so come on Ruth pull your finger out,come out of your office and sort this school out!!!!!!!

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NICK PAYNTER says...
12:38pm Wed 22 Oct 08

WHY IS IT THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS STARTED?
ITS NOT THE MERGER OF THE TWO SCHOOLS, ITS BECAUSE PUPILS WHO HAVE CHOSEN SUBJECTS SUCH AS PE AND TECHNOLOGY (RESISTANT MATERIALS) WERE STOPPED FROM GOING TO THE OLD GROVE SCHOOL FROM THE WOOLSTON SITE, HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GET THEIR GRADES IF THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THE LESSONS THEY HAVE CHOSEN?
ALL MY SONS COURSE WORK IS AT THE OLD GROVE PARK SITE.

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Bright Spark says...
12:43pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Apparently this discontent wouldn't have happened if the two schools hadn't merged.

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Rob444 says...
12:53pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Sorry, but his is not at all apparent.

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concernedmum says...
1:12pm Wed 22 Oct 08

My son is now concerned that even if he manages to get his GCSE's the fact he attended OASIS will go against him when applying for college. Talking of which there has been nothing given to our year 11's about the open days of colleges. He also has had lost work, lack of facilities in lessons vital to his options. He is seeing his teachers leave and being treated badly by the management staff and feels with the loss of the teachers he really doesn't stand any chance of obtaining his GCSE's. The echo and the school need to urgently address these issues, Oasis management may be on their 100,000+ salaries but our children are more important. Bring back Mr Freeman and the excellent staff they had at Grove. I changed my son from St George to Grove in his Year 7 and had nothing but the greatest support given to my son. If it wasn't for the fact he is in the last year of school I would move him away like a shot. My suggestion to anyone who is having doubts is move your child if you can.
This whole merger issue was about money the council let Woolston/Grove children and teachers down by handing over power to OASIS. PLEASE help our children no matter who they are. I agree that the schools should have been left as they were. You will never find a school that doesn't have issues but it is the way it is handled. People seem to be happy to blame parents for everything but we all have free will and although the damage caused is out of order protesting peacfully is not.
So I understand it one boy was expelled because although he wasn't directly involved with the protest because he had been sent home for having brown stitching on his shoes he had used up his second chance - is it a prison? How do these people sleep at night knowing they are ruining the lives of these Year 11 children. PLEASE OASIS AND THE ECHO (who seem to think they are the Sun) stick to the facts and do something.) I didn't realise there were 140 kids at the school as most had been sent home for not wearing black shoes or socks.

My son is now concerned that even if he manages to get his GCSE's the fact he attended OASIS will go against him when applying for college. Talking of which there has been nothing given to our year 11's about the open days of colleges. He also has had lost work, lack of facilities in lessons vital to his options. He is seeing his teachers leave and being treated badly by the management staff and feels with the loss of the teachers he really doesn't stand any chance of obtaining his GCSE's. The echo and the school need to urgently address these issues, Oasis management may be on their 100,000+ salaries but our children are more important. Bring back Mr Freeman and the excellent staff they had at Grove. I changed my son from St George to Grove in his Year 7 and had nothing but the greatest support given to my son. If it wasn't for the fact he is in the last year of school I would move him away like a shot. My suggestion to anyone who is having doubts is move your child if you can. This whole merger issue was about money the council let Woolston/Grove children and teachers down by handing over power to OASIS. PLEASE help our children no matter who they are. I agree that the schools should have been left as they were. You will never find a school that doesn't have issues but it is the way it is handled. People seem to be happy to blame parents for everything but we all have free will and although the damage caused is out of order protesting peacfully is not. So I understand it one boy was expelled because although he wasn't directly involved with the protest because he had been sent home for having brown stitching on his shoes he had used up his second chance - is it a prison? How do these people sleep at night knowing they are ruining the lives of these Year 11 children. PLEASE OASIS AND THE ECHO (who seem to think they are the Sun) stick to the facts and do something.) I didn't realise there were 140 kids at the school as most had been sent home for not wearing black shoes or socks. concernedmum

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TheTruthIknow says...
1:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08

shelley-1965 wrote:
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.

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.

[quote][p][bold]shelley-1965[/bold] wrote: 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.[/p][/quote]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. TheTruthIknow

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wilko says...
1:32pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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.

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Adrian Smith says...
1:45pm Wed 22 Oct 08

wilko wrote:
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.

Matt Smith might even be able to progress to the Nationals if he got his finger out and did a proper story.

What has gone wrong here has lessons for all sorts of people and organisations. Shame the Echo can't pick up the ball here - I bet Newsnight will have grabbed the story by Thursday night.

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sick to death says...
1:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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.

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Another Mum50 says...
1:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08

My daughter started at the Grove site (year 7) last month and is experiencing similar issues.

See comes home most days commenting how board she is – I don’t think making paper aeroplanes or cheer leading for a whole afternoon is very educational.

Or she comments how the teachers rush at the end of lessons as they need to catch the bus to the other site.

Why are year 7's only taught English, maths science and PE?

Why is most of their week filled with a lesson called competencies?

What happened to lessons such as French, DT, ICT, Music geography and history?

If our children are not allowed to start these lessons until year 8 they will be even further behind compared to children in other schools!!!

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concerned24 says...
2:05pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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.

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Mr E says...
2:10pm Wed 22 Oct 08

The School, The Council, The Echo and The Right Honerable J Denham MP all seem to think one thing.

Shame its so detached from Realy seems to be going on.

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concernedmum says...
2:15pm Wed 22 Oct 08

I totally agree with concerned24. I think as far as some people are concerned all the children at the school are no hopers and chavs not worth the worry and we should all be locked up as we are all bad parents. This is not the case. As parents of children not involved in the "RAMPAGE OF THE 150" it is very obvious the school needs help now. May I also suggest to the parent of the year 7 child - get them moved out if you can as I really can't see it getting any better. Once this incident has died down it will remain the same bad management and lack of decent schooling.
To those people commenting on spelling errors - have you nothing better to do? even if some parents are not as clever as others does it matter? the fact remains that we are concerned for our children but I suppose coming from Woolston we are all chav scum anyway! I can't believe that people can be so narrow minded and petty when there are real issues to deal with here.

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year11parent says...
2:21pm Wed 22 Oct 08

my son is also in year 11 has never caused us concerns before, but now he is worried he is trying to do his best within a situation that is failing him and all the other students. one term is half over of their final year - Please give our kids a chance to do their best in their final stages of education. Come on oasis sort it asap. If you can't move on and let someone else.
My son is not a mutant!! and i am off of my backside thankyou!!

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Tevez888 says...
2:32pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Kids today do not want education.
Thats what im saying.....

BRING BACK THE CANE!

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concernedmum says...
2:48pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Tevez888 you are talking out of your bum - what do you know about our children? my son has very clear aims and ambitions for his life - college, university etc. You obviously need to try and get a job as Ruth's number 2 with that sort of attitude - in fact why am I wasting time typing up a reply to your stupid, narrow minded babble!! If you find the cane and manage to bring it back stick it where the sun doesn't shine mate!

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Bright Spark says...
2:58pm Wed 22 Oct 08

This is what happens when two rival schools merge.

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ADMIN says...
3:06pm Wed 22 Oct 08

This statement is directed at the ECHO

Before you print anymore information about this "Riot" why not read the posts made by students, parents and teachers on your own site. So far all you have reported is the blame is on the children from the 2 schools fighting each other. This is the information comming from those who really don't want the truth to be known. The posts on your site suggest otherwise. No parent/teacher/pupil from either school wanted the merger. They were told it was required. Why then were Oasis given the schools? As I understand it both Grove Park and Woolston had fully competent staff and management.
FINALLY
If there were not enough children for both schools to run then why is there a need to seperate them to 2 locations now? Someone is feeding us the BS! and you have to wonder which members of the Council are enjoying a more prosperous life?

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Tevez888 says...
3:13pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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!

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concernedmum says...
3:34pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Tevez888, you have not understood a word of what has been posted over the last few days have you? what I earn is of little concern. I have already mentioned that given the option I would move my child, not that I need to explain anything to you as you are an idiot. For what it is worth I earn more than the head at the school so I suppose a am a P(posh)HAV not a CHAV! With attitudes like yours I am suprised you don't have the cane on your back the whole time. You are obviously not interested in the real concerns the parents,teachers and children have so why not spend your time doing something else. Maybe you could start picking on nursery children or complaining about old people. Do you have children at this school? I think not by the attitude so do us all a favour and butt out.

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wizzle says...
3:34pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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.........

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Tevez888 says...
3:50pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Im suprised you earn that much when your typos are so frequent!

what the blooming heck is:

so I suppose a am a
???????????????????

You are probably sitting on the nest that is Tax payers money in reality.

My work is within Education so I suppose my attitude to the Youth today is that of utter disgust at the way Teachers are spoken to nowdays.

Oasis have done nothing but bring education back for these kids and the way you animals behave is beyond me.

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asilryan says...
4:03pm Wed 22 Oct 08

I agree the echo seems to be ignoring the fact that the pupils are not fighting each other, or against the merger. They are standing united in trying to get this shambles noticed. My son has just walked in from school and said he had no teacher for one of his lessons today. No change then. One bonus is that my son is getting some good reading at home. Every night he reads the about the awful mess that Ruth Johnson has made of two great schools.

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mad mum says...
4:07pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Oi, 'sick to death', HOW DARE YOU CALL MY CHILD MUTANT!!.Its people like you (and Mrs Johnson) not listening to these kids who are making them feel worthless.
And realy, name calling, you should be ashamed, i would have thought you believe that belongs in the playground!

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Em_Lou says...
4:18pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Tevez888 wrote:
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!

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?

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asilryan says...
4:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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.

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wizzle says...
4:52pm Wed 22 Oct 08

asilryan wrote:

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.

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!
Work that one out!
And the only ones this is affecting is the kids.....and there future.

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mmmmm says...
5:08pm Wed 22 Oct 08

84% SEN? Where did Shelley get that figure? No way.

I would also like to point out that neither Woolston or Grove Park were failing schools, both achieving comparatively good results in their results in August, Woolston achieving 56% A-Cs and The Grove 40% A-Cs.

There are problems with organisation which the senior team are trying their hardest to put right, but the main problem is the rebellion of students towards change. Accept the changes, doing damage and disrupting learning around the Academy isn't the answer.

The support of parents would be beneficial and the patience of students appreciated.

It has been great to read that most poeple have sympathy with the teaching staff and support staff who are doing their level best in the difficult circumstances they find themselves in at present.

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Random23 says...
5:41pm Wed 22 Oct 08

You can bet the results will not be as good this year. Not because of the ability of the students, but because they arn't being taught half the time!

I urge all year 7 parents, get your child out of there as fast as you can. The situation is not getting any better. Move them to all school where they will get taught and listened to.

To those who say bring back the cane, what difference will that make? The majority of kids I know couldn't care less. If someone hits you, regardless if what with, you hit them back, self defence.

You say the cane has caused you no harm, but it's not the phsical pain I'd be worried about, it's being a grumpy, ignorant old man with nothing better to do than criticise teenagers. You have no idea how bad the situation actually is.

Alex W.

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Zoeeee93 says...
6:56pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Oh my goddd. First the school and headteacher isnt listening to us, now the daily echo aint.
The problem is the school its self, not the merging of the two schools.

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wizard says...
6:59pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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

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wizzle says...
7:12pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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 take

And do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks

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Mad Max says...
7:25pm Wed 22 Oct 08

wizzle wrote:

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 take
And do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks

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...

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hollywood gal says...
7:28pm Wed 22 Oct 08

I understand that the echo went into Grove site today along with a few other reporters . Mrs Ruth Johnson had a lovely photo shoot done!! My guess would be that they were only allowed to visit the year 7 block. They will never get a true reading of what is happening in the school if they are restricted to this protected learning zone. I am aware that none of the years have there own tutor groups consequently they have no feeling of belonging and no personal one to one contact with a member of staff who is responsible for their well being on a daily basis(no freindly face to greet them in the morning) in a base that they feel is theirs . They do have year heads but how possibly can one year head deal with 250 students and deal with all their worries how ever little or big they are. You need that friendly face in the morning eevn if it is to report that little Jonny is not in school today ! the children are unhappy with the running of the school. teachers are late for lesson or worse of all they dont turn up at all .Children are walking round aimlessly round the building during lessons and I have been told they are also in the woods for most of the school day. This has got to stop Teachers are doing their best, but they do need back up by higher members of staff to help with this situation. Its an accademy that has gone wrong . We need people in this school that can turn it around . Ruth Johnson is not the person ..for that you need someone who will realise what has gone wrong, listen to the pupils teachers and parents and most of all have a kind nature and understanding too work with all of us to get this school working. Get rid of day ten, change the timetable and give the children back their tutors! Both schools ran well before hand, This experiment has truely gone wrong and its our children who will be the ones too suffer to no fault of their own.They are trying to be heard but are not being listened to!Its sad that it took a rampage to get things noticed!!!0.

I understand that the echo went into Grove site today along with a few other reporters . Mrs Ruth Johnson had a lovely photo shoot done!! My guess would be that they were only allowed to visit the year 7 block. They will never get a true reading of what is happening in the school if they are restricted to this protected learning zone. I am aware that none of the years have there own tutor groups consequently they have no feeling of belonging and no personal one to one contact with a member of staff who is responsible for their well being on a daily basis(no freindly face to greet them in the morning) in a base that they feel is theirs . They do have year heads but how possibly can one year head deal with 250 students and deal with all their worries how ever little or big they are. You need that friendly face in the morning eevn if it is to report that little Jonny is not in school today ! the children are unhappy with the running of the school. teachers are late for lesson or worse of all they dont turn up at all .Children are walking round aimlessly round the building during lessons and I have been told they are also in the woods for most of the school day. This has got to stop Teachers are doing their best, but they do need back up by higher members of staff to help with this situation. Its an accademy that has gone wrong . We need people in this school that can turn it around . Ruth Johnson is not the person ..for that you need someone who will realise what has gone wrong, listen to the pupils teachers and parents and most of all have a kind nature and understanding too work with all of us to get this school working. Get rid of day ten, change the timetable and give the children back their tutors! Both schools ran well before hand, This experiment has truely gone wrong and its our children who will be the ones too suffer to no fault of their own.They are trying to be heard but are not being listened to!Its sad that it took a rampage to get things noticed!!!0. hollywood gal

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wizard says...
7:40pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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

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wizzle says...
8:11pm Wed 22 Oct 08

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 take

i have now emailed you. thankyou

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millbrook says...
8:24pm Wed 22 Oct 08

shelley-1965 wrote:
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.

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.

[quote][p][bold]shelley-1965[/bold] wrote: 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.[/p][/quote]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. millbrook

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Worried of Woolston says...
8:31pm Wed 22 Oct 08

i was one of the odd half a million people who e mailed John Denham and asked him to intervene. To me the situation in the world education is simple. Schools which have good Head Teachers are good schools. Schools which have poor Head Teachers are poor schools. This has been my experience over many years. it has nothing to do with corporal punishment, the ninteen fifties, experiences in other schools etc etc.
it is down to the quality of the teaching focused by the head Teacher.
I also think that the parents and grandparents who have been traumatised and the pupils who have been demonised by this educational experience will be looking for revenge in the future. They will want to see highly salaried heads roll.

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max24 says...
8:36pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Hi I am a very concerned mum of two children at oasis mayfield they are in years 10 and 11.Both my children are well behaved and had been doing well at woolston school. My son and daughter have both made new friends from the grove and seem to mix well and they both assure me this is not where the problems lie. They feel that thier years have been separeted from the rest of the of the school just to finish their time there they feel they are not listened too, have taechers turning up late if at all and have several days with only supply teachers if any at all. I can understand why they feel they are not being listened to, I personally have contacted the school, the first time via telephone and had no response, the secound time via e-mail with reguard a problem with my daughter and had no response, the third time I typed a letter and personally delivered it to the office and saw it go into the internal mail bag this was a problem with my son still no response. I feel frustated at getting no response so fully understand how the children must feel. What do you have to do to get a response perhaps take a leaf out of the childrens book and protest but lets face we have already done that and nobody listened.( we tried to fight this merger,but accepted it was ineviatable, then letting oasis get their hands on our schools )

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Mad Max says...
8:38pm Wed 22 Oct 08

wizzle wrote:

Mad Max wrote:
wizzle wrote:
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 take
And do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
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...
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.......

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....

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wizzle says...
8:54pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Mad Max wrote:

wizzle wrote:
Mad Max wrote:
wizzle wrote:
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 take
And do you think this will help? Have you emailed yourself and had any response or luck? Please let us know. many thanks
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...
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.......
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....

An our maybe, but at least i am one that is trying!!!!!!!

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Rob444 says...
9:01pm Wed 22 Oct 08

If any parents wish to take this matter further, the address to write to is:

Ofsted
Freshford House
Redcliffe Way
Bristol
BS1 6NL

This is the regional office of Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) which covers the Southampton area.

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cross of woolston says...
11:03pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Nobody is listening to the kids....they are frustrated with both sites. The teachers are late for lessons and leave early to transfer between sites on the school bus and if they don't turn up then the kids are left outside the classroom unsupervised for the whole lesson with no replacement teacher to at least supervise. This is no way to run a school and it should have been left as it was until the new building was completed. The kids were not against a merger just the way it has been managed and conducted. There is nothing wrong with the teachers, just the structure is wrong. There are so many problems and nothing is being done. Many of the teachers are so disheartened with the situation they are leaving at Christmas so who is going to want to work at such a school? No teacher of any quality that is for sure. Things are going to be dire when the kids return in January. These kids want to learn and do well HELP THEM!!!!!

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Vicky Fuller says...
11:26pm Wed 22 Oct 08

Tevez888 wrote:
Kids today do not want education. Thats what im saying..... BRING BACK THE CANE!

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!

Year 11 Student Oasis Mayfield.

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AngrySotonResident says...
7:46am Thu 23 Oct 08

I have considered taking my daughter out of Oasis but unfortunatly all the other local schools are full. Even more so over the past few weeks as parents are removing their children from the acadamy.

I had bad feelings about this change when we visited the Grove site in September and the whole experiance was a shambles, there was no structure to the visit nore was there much in the way of a sales pitch. Appalling really

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davesbabe says...
2:25pm Thu 23 Oct 08

Tevez888 wrote:
Kids today do not want education. Thats what im saying..... BRING BACK THE CANE!

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.

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grumblemum says...
5:23pm Thu 23 Oct 08

I have 2 high achieving boys at the Porchester Road site, I have also been a Governor at one of the feeder schools, I know children, parents and teachers within this area. At no point does Ms Johnson acknowledge the wonderful young people that she has the privilege to lead. At no point does the defensive Ms Johnson appear in any way as inspirational or as someone to be admired by her pupils.

I have just read in the Echo a transcript of Ms Johnson's interview and also heard it word for word on this site.

This new HT is so negative and hostile regarding this community. There is no mention that the previous schools were producing young people with very good results.

Her tone in all the communications which have come home has been condescending and dictatorial. The interview illustrates that my feelings are justified.

She tries to minimise the strength of feeling within this community as 'finding change difficult' and that our young people are 'encouraged' or 'incited' and that its simply a case of 'wanting the old schools back'. No, it goes way beyond this. As a community, we did not want Oasis and its closet Christianity. We have religious schools in this area, I for one wanted my children to have a secular education. We did not want an academy advertising for 'an instrument of God' and we did not want the Government to impose this Academy that is out of local control. To make matters worse, we did not want the newly elected Tory council appointing Oasis rather than the local consortium who at least had a good knowledge of the area.

I think the local authority and Government should sort out this sorry mess and not sacrifice our children's futures on the altar of 'change' that is Oasis.

(Also what a misnomer - Oasis- hardly an Oasis of calm.

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SFC4EVA says...
5:33pm Thu 23 Oct 08

Maybe the kis should just knuckled down, work hard and behave at school.
I didn't like school everyday and was bored quite a lot but got on with it and am now in a well paid job!

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davesbabe says...
11:27pm Thu 23 Oct 08

sick to death wrote:

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.

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!!

[quote][p][bold]sick to death[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]davesbabe[/bold] 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!!![/p][/quote]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.[/p][/quote]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

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davesbabe says...
11:30pm Thu 23 Oct 08

concerned24 wrote:
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.

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

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Ex woolston student says...
8:14pm Fri 24 Oct 08

This is an outrage i know many students attending the porchester road site that were formally attending grove and woolston school. From talking to the students i dont feel as though they are trying to get their old schools back the students and parents understand that is not possible, but when the children wake up not wanting to attend school because they have to wait around for a teacher and are told endless promises that are broken (such as trips, physical activities,prefect opportunities, computer facilities and a minority of situations that are not dealt with effectively)you can understand that 100 odd students feel they need 2 express their selves because they care!. I know students that went for the position of head girl for the new school but now they say they "i dont want to be assosiated with such a sham!!!" the students education has been severly effected and the students futures are not looking bright, but if the staff members at the school are more use than the head teacher what do you expect! not only does this head teacher insult her students by call them liers, she has no intent to listen, understand, compermise and work alongside the young adults.No one has expected this change to be easy but the things that should be provided for any school are not at the correct standad for their life changing GCSE exams coming up. parents and student have not expected so much disorginisation!!! i will be contacting the echo with photographic evadence of the "40" students making a stand so that everyone can see the true number of students striking for what they believe in!!!!!!!!!!!

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mmmmm says...
9:09am Sat 25 Oct 08

It's not Ruth Johnson's fault that she has been handed a school on a split site that decision was handed to her by the DFES, despite her pleas for portacabins on the GP site. Obviously the points raised in the last few days will reiterate her calls for alternative arrangements.

I was there last Thursday. The Echo has exaggerated the story in real tabloid style, something it has been criticised for quite heavily on these boards recently. There were no weapons, chunks of wood; I saw wires pulled from a plasma screen TV and two fire door hinges pulled down. Some paper was pulled down from display boards, but this has been going on for weeks by some individuals determined to cause unrest. What was inexcusable was a group of kids charging through a science prep room, surely they realise there are dangerous chemicals and glass in that area? There were about 40 kids involved, I saw 3 girls, the rest were boys. Not knowing names of some individuals as they are new to me, I cannot comment on whether or not the right kids have paid the price, ie been excluded.

There is absolutely no way Ruth Johnson was and I quote “Locked in the medical room” while it happened.

Yes, there are some teething problems, but the kids who want to be treated like adults could behave like adults and wait in an orderly fashion for their teachers to arrive, respect the environment and realise that we aren’t going to go back to the way it was, think ahead, and be positiv

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cross of woolston says...
10:46pm Sun 26 Oct 08

someone out there is trying to coordinate - join this site and let's try to do something in a sensible, articulate manner!!!!
http://oasisacademyp
arents.info/index.ph
p

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