Ofsted inspectors called into city academy (From Daily Echo)
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Ofsted inspectors called into Oasis Academy Mayfield
12:20pm Friday 24th October 2008 in Oasis Academy Mayfield
Ruth Johnson and pupils at Oasis Academy
A PROBE is underway at a Southampton school where dozens of students went on the rampage.
Government inspectors are investigating the Oasis Academy Mayfield after a number of concerns were raised.
Ofsted, the body that inspects and regulates schools, last night confirmed it was looking into complaints that had been made about the troubled school.
A spokesman said: “Ofsted has been made aware of the concerns about the academy. They are following them up. They are aware of it and looking into it to see what course of action is needed, if any.”
The spokesman declined to give further details.
Video interview with Ruth Johnson - part one
Ofsted normally make monitoring inspections to academies within two years of them opening.
Parents have voiced concerns about the timetabling and organisation of the new academy, which was formed from the merger of Grove Park and Woolston secondary schools.
Woolston ward councillors yesterday complained they had not been able to give parents any reassurances because of a “wall of silence” from school staff.
And they said they were unhappy after they were advised that the academy, as an independent state-funded school, was outside of the city council’s remit.
In a joint statement Labour councillors Warwick Payne, Carol Cunio and Richard Williams said: “We feel that more direct action by the local education authority is required as there is clearly a very significant problem between senior teachers and pupils.
Video interview - part two
“We feel that Ofsted should be brought in to see what sort of ‘failings’ are evident at this educational establishment.
“They may not be educational, but they are certainly in need of a serious external investigation.”
The councillors also called for a meeting with the school.
As reported in the Daily Echo, principal Ruth Johnson insisted she was listening to pupils and parents and wanted them to join her in making the new school a success. She promised to resolve the timetabling problems that have prompted unions to threaten industrial action.
She also said reports of rampaging students were exaggerated adding that no more than 40 were involved and that only one window and door were damaged.
She said the protest was about impossible demands concerning the changes brought in, particularly the academy’s firm rules.
A spokesman for Mrs Johnson said she did not wish to make a comment on the Ofsted investigation or councillor comments.
Video interview with Ruth Johnson - part three
- For more on this story, see our Oasis Academy - In depth section.
Comments(101)
pinkie55
says...
10:56am Fri 24 Oct 08
Its a nice, safe, secure medical room....locks on the door...safe as houses she was!!
cherrypi
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10:57am Fri 24 Oct 08
cherrypi
says...
10:57am Fri 24 Oct 08
cherrypi
says...
10:57am Fri 24 Oct 08
Woolstonian
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11:11am Fri 24 Oct 08
All 5 of her year heads are female.
In her interview she stresses that no Girls were involved, even though witnesses saw them and Girls have even admitted being involved.
All 5 of the pupils suspended are Boys (all over 6ft tall.)
Sugar and spice and all things nice, slugs snails and puppy dogs tails?
Or the rather more serious matter of SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION?
cgt
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11:18am Fri 24 Oct 08
ADMIN
says...
11:20am Fri 24 Oct 08
Woolstonian wrote:Isn't Cantell a mixed school? Although I do not disagree with any of your other statements.
Ruth Johnson has only every worked in Girl's schools. All 5 of her year heads are female. In her interview she stresses that no Girls were involved, even though witnesses saw them and Girls have even admitted being involved. All 5 of the pupils suspended are Boys (all over 6ft tall.) Sugar and spice and all things nice, slugs snails and puppy dogs tails? Or the rather more serious matter of SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION?
Woolstonian
says...
11:37am Fri 24 Oct 08
cgt wrote:Apologies.
Woolstonian, Cantell, where Ruth Johnson was previously head, is a mixed school.
I looked at her career history on the Mayfield Oasis web-site and did not spot the Cantell bit.
I wonder how she treated the boys there?
It seems the major problem of settling into the new academy is the lack of communication between pupils and staff. The pupils and the majority of staff accept there are problems and hope against hope they can be rectified, and soon.
Mrs Johnson cannot see there are any problems and blames a minority of trouble-makers, who she is proud to have singled out and suspended.
Is this the correct attitude of a Head of School.
Perhaps there is a far easier way of removing a single trouble-maker so the Academy can move on and flourish.
Mr Chips
says...
11:37am Fri 24 Oct 08
At what stage do you think you ought to apologise to the children whose education you have blighted and to the staff who are desperately trying to find employment in other schools?
Lone Ranger
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11:42am Fri 24 Oct 08
Woolstonian wrote:She said that there were 3 girls involved. You have got what you wanted " an Enquiry ". It will be interesting to see what that comes up with. In the meantime everyones continual, and at times pathetic, character assassination is not helping to resolve issues. Start aproaching it like adults ( thats if you are ) instead of this name calling farce
Ruth Johnson has only every worked in Girl's schools. All 5 of her year heads are female. In her interview she stresses that no Girls were involved, even though witnesses saw them and Girls have even admitted being involved. All 5 of the pupils suspended are Boys (all over 6ft tall.) Sugar and spice and all things nice, slugs snails and puppy dogs tails? Or the rather more serious matter of SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION?
Kiwi
says...
11:42am Fri 24 Oct 08
First question is:- Why shut a school down just to reopen it under another name.
Second:_ Why should a State School need a Founder?
Third :- Is this a new format for Privatisation
Kiwi
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11:48am Fri 24 Oct 08
kitty38
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12:02pm Fri 24 Oct 08
keiran33
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12:13pm Fri 24 Oct 08
kitty38
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12:20pm Fri 24 Oct 08
elly2
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12:34pm Fri 24 Oct 08
The main concern here is the students, several times I have read that the former schools were 'thriving and excellent' and 'improving year on year' but I have to ask, was it not the students that contributed to that? Instead of resorting to sniping, backbiting and causing more negativity should people not be working together to make the academy work so that the 'thriving, excellent, valuable' students can continue to do well, and turn Oasis Academy Mayfield into a 'thriving, excellent' academy that improves 'year on year'. Both former schools in the past had bad reputations, but they were 'improving', so why could that not be the case here?
It appears that there has been so much negativity and distrust in the new academy from the very beginning, it seems that some people were waiting for the day something went wrong to make their point, which is a shame, because this negativity will only serve to make things worse.
From reading and having friends and family at the academy in this situation it does seem that it wouldn't have mattered who was in charge, it does seem that whoever it was, Ruth or someone else, many people would still have found fault and had cause to complain. I think complaining is one thing, but resorting to character assassination is inexcusable, if the students are reading what people are writing on here surely it will only add to the disrespect that has already been displayed.
Maybe people need to accept that pulling together to make this work for every single student who is willing to work and learn, who is willing to accept that boundaries have to be in place, to ensure education is not disrupted is actually the way forward?
What has happened in the past as to the decisions that were made is in the past, that can now not be changed, this is the now, the present. It seems that so many of the staff and management are willing to try and work to move things forward, and that they are willing to work for the students, it just seems a shame that many do not feel this is possible.
AndyAndrews
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12:45pm Fri 24 Oct 08
noel999
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1:03pm Fri 24 Oct 08
i will probly get kicked out for saying that
sjf6
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1:09pm Fri 24 Oct 08
She has brushed the incident under the carpet and from what i gather has only responded via the echo and not spoken to the students or parents to try and sort anything out.
My son is in yr 10 and was previously at woolston school, he is by no means an angel but back then his bad behaviour was few and far between. Since this school opened however this has changed dramatically. I get several calls a week from teachers and sometimes for the silliest things such as he came to the lesson with no pen !!
The one thing they never picked up though was the fact that several of the students have found that if they skip classes it's not picked up on (my son included).
I found out a few weeks ago that my son took it upon himself to attend a class he shouldnt have been in at a different site to where he should have been. He was 'missing' for 3 hours and nobody picked up on it. The teacher thought he'd been put there so didn't query it. When i phoned to complain i was told the 'system' had let me down as they dont take registers there and it's up to the individual teacher to sign in the students to his/her lesson which they sometimes forget to do!
Several times my son has done this and each time I have been the one to find out and telephone them. When i ask what punishment they are going to give my son i get told they DONT do reports as it doesn't benefit the child and detentions are hard to organise as the teachers are all over the place! I had to practically beg to get my son a detention.
I discipline my son at home but what use is it if i have no support from the school! I dont blame the staff as they are all lovely and just as dissolusioned as i am but the whole system needs looking at before one of the kids goes walkabout and ends up in an accident as WHO WILL KNOW.
I've been told the registration system will be running properly after half term, hmmm we shall see.
furtive_vole
says...
1:14pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Merging schools is probably always an unpopular measure as well, whatever the reasons.
While I've no personal contact with either Oasis Academy in Southampton, my guess is that much of the problem was that the logistic, political and other issues (and contingency plans) were not fully recognised, thought through and communicated upfront in the rush for Oasis to gets its mitts on the new establishment.
And for families with children already at either school, realistically there was no choice about having the schools taken over by a remote organisation, presumably with its own long-term 'Christian' agenda.
baz1
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1:36pm Fri 24 Oct 08
goard
says...
1:58pm Fri 24 Oct 08
goard
SUPERTOAD
says...
2:02pm Fri 24 Oct 08
I am an Engineer and a Problem solver by nature for which I have a track record second to none. I am now a cripple, (Thanks to the lack of Education in the NHS.) I most definitely have an, “Axe to grind!”
I therefore decided to obtain evidence concerning this matter which I have no doubt Ofstead is doing as well.
There is a lot of anger and emotion about this particular thread and as the old saying goes, “No smoke without fire”
It has been mentioned on this site that Ruth Johnston was at “Cantell School” which is where my son, (Now a Bsc, and Msc, he declined his Phd) was educated and I heard nothing but praise about him from all of his Teachers.
I can literally throw a stone into it from where I live. I have successfully trained a number of senior pupils from that school (and others) very successfully. I have heard praise about it indirectly from my neighbour who is a very good Technical College Lecturer and appears to have the same jaded view as my own on teachers.
I have therefore taken the step of contacting them through a pupil I have conducted some training with, (very successfully I might add) to do a “Straw poll” of Senior Boys opinions on Ruth Johnston, as I have found already that she was and is as popular as, “A rattlesnake in a lucky dip” I will report my findings on this site as soon as I have them. So far I have only expressed my opinion. Hopefully that will change. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” However she had better keep looking over her, (ample) shoulders!
Ruth Jonston appears to have lost any respect from the pupils which therefore makes her position untenable, she also apears to have none for others. Without respect which can only be earned not demanded. Education cannot take place meaning that her obscene salary is a waste of Taxpayer’s money.
Here is a bit of education for all, Salaries have to be earned honestly, we have already witnessed the result if they are not!
AngrySotonResident
says...
3:05pm Fri 24 Oct 08
She will ask the teacher for the work and then make her way to the isolation room.
Why should she have to do this. To me this just promotes bad behaviour in the class and detaches the children that want to learn away from the teacher leaving the bad student to continue with their disruptive ways.
How is this disipline? How can the head allow this to continue?
If this is how the school works then it's no wonder there is disruption.
angrymum
says...
3:26pm Fri 24 Oct 08
AngrySotonResident
says...
3:32pm Fri 24 Oct 08
SUPERTOAD
says...
3:51pm Fri 24 Oct 08
“Can you tell me anything about Ruth Johnston at Cantell School?”
“Oh our Headmistress who went to Oasis?”
“Yes”
“Well nobody liked her, even the staff were glad to see the back of her!”
“Would you say that she had it in for boys in particular?”
“Oh no she was like it with everyone”
“Oh, in what way”
“She was ‘orrible, she was a strict disciplinarian which I thought was a good thing but she was ‘orrible to everyone. Even the teachers, they would not disagree with her because they knew she’d go off on one, even the Deputy Head had no say in anything!”
“ Bit of a control freak then?”
“Oh yeah”
“Would you, yourself describe her as a pre-menstrual ****?”
“Oh yeah, definitely”
Now, the person I spoke to is as honest as the day is long, his Father is a lifelong friend who never stops singing his praises and is not what I would honestly describe as an articulate person but is “As sound as a pound”
The conclusion that I have come to is not the fact that she appears to have bitten off more than she can chew which is natural Human behaviour, it is the fault of the person who appointed her. Being good at dragging schools up which was also expressed to me, but definitely the WRONG person to join two schools?
Someone suggested that she is some kind of overpaid political appointment which rings very well with me. There have been many, many examples of Nu Labour just giving out ill though through orders which they expect to happen by Magic!
Combining, requires some sympathy and understanding as well as discipline, changes must be implemented slowly even with adults let alone children!
Methinks this new broom has swept a little too thoroughly and a little lesson or rather a big one in humility is needed. An old saying I often use is, “No one is bigger than the gig!” Or this school will simply fail which would be disaster but a complete and utter failure for the children involved. The children appear to have been given a shock that they cannot deal with.
Which I have heard is happening, not enough teachers, travelling when they should be teaching, lack of furniture, (After combining two schools? Where’s it gone then?) No time to organise classrooms, Children left to hang around in corridors locked out of classrooms? Sounds like the perfect recipe for disaster to me. Tearing down children’s work from the walls? Replaced by posters declaring how good the school is? Do the children feel part of it? I suspect not. After all it appears to be for the glory of a Headmistress who shouldn’t be there in the first place! Let alone being paid an obscene amount of money that she’ll never be worth as long as she’s got a hole in her arse!
From what I have heard it sounds like utter greed to me at the children’s expense!
What do you get out of Chaos, CHAOS!
Caused by some **** that places her own comforts before those of children. I’m very glad that this Victorian Cow is not my mum.
Q.E.D.
Condor Man
says...
4:03pm Fri 24 Oct 08
angrymum wrote:so called naughty children? heaven forbid. Surely in the contract you sign with the school you have to send your child on the understanding that they will behave.
as a parent of 2 children who attend the lordshill oasis academy i feel there is just as much a problem at this academy as there are at mayfield. the rules that have been put into place are not working these include putting children on reports and inclusion on the other school site where they are kept in a room with a group of other so called naughty children. sometimes i never know what site my chlidren are on until they get home. the head teacher mr golding is never available when problems do arise with children..if other parents are experiencing problems then let it be known
As a pupil 20 years ago at Bitterne Park I don't remember pupils being excluded- In 4 years there were no expulsions , only a few suspensions and the occasional detention. What the hell has happened in 20 years? INCLUSION.
back in the 80's unruly kids would never have been accepted into mainstream schools, having to go to 'special' schools instead. This meant that the well behaved had a chance to be taught. It's a pity Mr Blair decided to restrict the opportunities of the masses by introducing a policy that has destroyed the chances of a lot of kids in Southampton- willing accepted by then city education boss Cllr Bridle
Steve123
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4:11pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Doomed school
says...
4:11pm Fri 24 Oct 08
the school is a sham and getting worse everyday, There are so many children messing about in every class, most of mine people throw items around the classroom, chairs, boxes, books, paper balls and pens...Very little teaching is being done, The staff just cant control them,
something needs to be done!
sharpe
says...
4:23pm Fri 24 Oct 08
So, I am pleased that OFSTED is going in. I just hope they are thorough and ask the parents and pupils about their experience of Oasis and take their opinions seriously. They would also do well to refer to ‘Supertoad’s’ straw poll when it comes out!
Sly Stallone
says...
4:24pm Fri 24 Oct 08
10 Minute Man
says...
4:51pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Naturally, my off spring are perfect and all they want to do is learn, but are being put off/led astray by the naughty ones.
Let me finish by going off on a rambling story which does really go any where, but then our lizardy overlords at the IMF are really in control of this and if we only took to the streets in protest, they'd have to listen, wouldn't they?
I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
nicola h
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4:52pm Fri 24 Oct 08
elly2
says...
5:05pm Fri 24 Oct 08
madworld
says...
5:22pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Jimbo123
says...
5:23pm Fri 24 Oct 08
For 100's of years children have always moaned about their teachers and head teachers- it seems that this lot now see this new academy as a reason to substantiate in their eyes these age old moans
To say that Ruth does not listen does seem outrageous if you know the facts- why do the people who say that she is not talking or listening not mention the parents evening on Wednesday that was a success- or why is no one talking about the number of applications being double the number of spaces available for 2009 intake
Yes so Ruth may not have the best personal skills and may seem aloof, but she is a Head teacher and not a PR person- there are 8 deputy/ assistant principles at the school, one with a role to promote student voice- these people may not be doing their job properly either.
It is time to leave this be, it has happened, all of the facts have been laid out by Ruth (has no one ever heard of the boy who cried wolf or seen a teenager exaggerate- this does happen!!!)
By keeping this arguement on an on, this is what is disrupting school business.
Ex teachers with an axe to bear as they did not get a promotion- move on, let this team do the job.
revelator
says...
5:35pm Fri 24 Oct 08
revelator
says...
5:38pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Perhaps the most telling comment is the one that Oasis gave to the local councillors who asked about what was happening. They were told “that academy, as an independent state-funded school, was outside the city council’s remit”. In other words, there is no local accountability whatsoever. Perhaps you could complain via your MPs, but given that the academies were enthusiastically promoted by Blair, and backed by the Tories complaints are likely to be ignored. This is precisely why many members of the local community were so against the setting up of an academy in the first place. The sense of frustration is now apparent from the comments on the message board from parents/students who simply want a decent local school. We used to have two of them here – now we have one that is a complete mess, and will be until Oasis gets out and the school goes back to local control.
Max Holz
says...
6:10pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Nod
says...
6:28pm Fri 24 Oct 08
ironic...?
the Times Educational Supplement have a nice unbiased article up if anyone wants to read it's at:-
http://www.tes.co.uk
/article.aspx?storyc
ode=6004180&navcode=
94
keith007
says...
7:06pm Fri 24 Oct 08
what happens to the pupils. thoses pupils how are very disruptive should be thrown out of the school.
Worried of Woolston
says...
7:27pm Fri 24 Oct 08
just a few last thoughts. . . I'm not sure that poor communication skills necessarily translate into good leadership ability.
i did smile at condor man comment that when my generation taught his things were sooo much better and now his generation is teaching the situation is soo much worse.
wizzle
says...
7:41pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Steve123 wrote:My son was proud of the fact that his father was in one of the photosgraphs on the wall. Its such a crying shame that the school has nothing left to display and be proud of apart from fabricated, pre-printed posters!!!!
Not just their work taken down but also their trophies that the school had won dating back many years!!!!!!!
I will however stand up for the receptionist who i think does a fantastic job and must in most cases get shouted at day in and day out. She was receptionist when the grove was there last year and the poor woman i think is taking on to much and putting up with to much from everyone else. She knows all the boys well from last year and feels so isolated now that they are not allowed in this area of the school....why?....be
cause they spent loads of money on carpet that wasnt necessary, and heaven forbid that it now get dirty.
I have witnessed myself prefects standing like lemons at the entrance of the school, only to open the doors to visitors!!!! surly the visitor can open the door themselves and much rather know that these kids are in class learning rather than standing at a door for an hour a time!!!!!
Go to the forum that has started, and state your problems here, as many people are joing now, and things need to be done. At least if we express ourselves on the forum in a civilised manner, we may have some chance of being listened too.
Just get Ofsted in quickly and hope they can help sort this mess out.
mad mum
says...
8:10pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Sly Stallone wrote:Does 'kick out the dead wood' include excluding boys who have done nothing wrong. And no im not just a mum who thinks her child is perfect. Im a mum who has had teachers and staff(from both sites) contacting me confirming that he wasnt to blame and that Ms Johnson has NO proof!She has neither spoken to my son or to us his parents! So if dead wood is a tall boy who has had his future ruined then yes you have your way!
Apparently this would never have happened if the 2 rival schools had not merged. When push comes to shove that's what it comes down to. Those who wish to live by the sword, should be prepared to die by the sword. Good luck Head Mistress lady discipline is what is required here. Then those that want to knuckle down and learn will be able to. Kick out the dead wood.
Ex woolston student
says...
8:15pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Woolstonian
says...
8:18pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Does anyone else think Ruth Johnson could be Rupert Lowe in drag?
Waynes world lover =]
says...
8:20pm Fri 24 Oct 08
The academy is a mess and seeing as our headteacher does not want to admit it has serious problems then it is obvious that someone else has to get involved! Many students and parents our worried about our gcse's being affected and i have to say i am deeply concered to lets hope ofsted will help us out before we all fail our gcse's and have no worth while future!
deckdog
says...
8:31pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Year10Kid
says...
8:52pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Rob444
says...
9:27pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Max Holz wrote:If enough parents demand a vote of no confidence in the Oasis Trust then something might happen. Just keep up the pressure, don't let it simply die down when Ofsted say everything will be alright.
Revelator, you're spot on. Is it too much to hope that Ofsted intervention can clear out Johnson, Oasis and co.? If not, how can it be achieved?
PEOPLE POWER!
supporter08itchen
says...
9:34pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Below is a phrase that appears on Oasis documentation:
‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’
W.B. Yeats
Speaks volumes....
Rob444
says...
9:44pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Nod wrote:The TES article is worth reading, but you will probably need to remove the spaces in the URL to make the link work.
hmmmm the the security word I have to type "SHOT - HEAD"
ironic...?
the Times Educational Supplement have a nice unbiased article up if anyone wants to read it's at:-
http://www.tes.co.uk
/article.aspx?storyc
ode=6004180&navc
ode=
94
The related articles:
"Sponsor rebuked for pupil riot"
and
"Minister's anger over academies decision"
in the right-hand column of the article are eye-openers too, particularly the second one, which is dated 13 July, 2007.
julie burns
says...
10:03pm Fri 24 Oct 08
kitty38
says...
10:08pm Fri 24 Oct 08
Bitterne Parent
says...
10:56pm Fri 24 Oct 08
In my opinion, right or wrong, Ruth Johnson gives the impression that the pupils are not essential to running a school. Certainly she comes across as someone who is more concerned with her own career than the welfare and education of our sons/daughters.
Oasis have had months to organise the resources and timetable. There can be no excuses for the shambles we are hearing about at the moment. Heads would be rolling already if this was a business.
There can be no quick fix. Why, oh why, were Oasis given the responsibility for the education of our children?
By the way I have been told between 100 and 150 pupils were involved in the disturbance during last week (By my own sons who witnessed the events). It was not 40, as Mrs Johnson stated, yet another example of Mrs Johnsons refusal to accept reality.
unfortunately Mrs Johnson will never gain the respect of the pupils or parents because she does not respect her fellow teachers, pupils, or parents.
'Every Child Matters' except at Oasis Academy Mayfield!
mums
says...
12:08am Sat 25 Oct 08
julie burns
says...
1:25am Sat 25 Oct 08
Sly Stallone
says...
1:51am Sat 25 Oct 08
julie burns
says...
2:00am Sat 25 Oct 08
Bright Spark
says...
2:17am Sat 25 Oct 08
julie burns
says...
2:42am Sat 25 Oct 08
amie
says...
7:04am Sat 25 Oct 08
she was a good teacher/head at regents park!
mad mum
says...
8:26am Sat 25 Oct 08
amie wrote:Maybe you had teachers for every lesson at your school, maybe you didnt have to waste learning time going from one site to another, maybe you didnt have to wait 6 weeks to be allowed to do GCSE PE because 'there hadnt been time to get the authorisation letters out to parents'. To which i say good for you, you were obviously a lot luckier than the children at oasis mayfield!
Mrs johnson was at regents park girls school when i was pupil there and left to go to another school whilst i was in yr 10. Maybe the pupils would learn more if the pupils at mayfield school actually wanted to learn instead of wanting to mess around running through the corridors like a 2 year old! she was a good teacher/head at regents park!
mmmmm
says...
9:05am Sat 25 Oct 08
amie wrote:What a sensible post!
Mrs johnson was at regents park girls school when i was pupil there and left to go to another school whilst i was in yr 10. Maybe the pupils would learn more if the pupils at mayfield school actually wanted to learn instead of wanting to mess around running through the corridors like a 2 year old! she was a good teacher/head at regents park!
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 positive!
amie
says...
9:13am Sat 25 Oct 08
I never had a teacher for a certain subject in the last year of my school (in an exam in which i passed gcse b level ) - due to the teacher being extremely ill, but my class didnt play truent and run round regents park, they learnt with what was provided!
SUPERTOAD
says...
12:13pm Sat 25 Oct 08
I can only compare this policy as being akin to being up to one’s goolies in freezing cold water and alligators trying to defuse a bomb which could vaporize one at any second. Normal people would say, “Impossible” only a fool and an eternal optimist would even attempt it! Certainly not as a solo effort which leaves one trying to find two like minded fools!
When I was at school the best teachers by far were those that had had previous industrial experience so that they could relate dry, dusty uninspiring apparently useless theory to the real world. Seeing a practical application made those being taught positively enthusiastic. When I left school, half the people around me wanted to go to Teacher Training College because and I quote, “It’s a cushy well paid job with a lot of Holidays!
Also when I was a child, the Newspapers of the day were full of Headlines about, “The Brain Drain” Anyone hear about it now?
The incredible lowering of standards actually makes my son see red! One of the things I used to say to him was incredibly simple as he was a worrier about Exams which I never was, in fact I paid lip service to revision, you either remembered something or you didn’t I used to say to him, “That you will find that when you go out into the real world, you will find that every day of your life is an examination!” It used to make him furious, however it is true whether you like it or not. Basing results on course work is only a measure of short term retentively but no measure of long term retentively.
The sudden apparent increase in the success of Exam results can be put down to one of only two things, a sudden and unexplained leap in Evolution or a gross lowering of standards. Evolution has never made a sudden leap forward in evolutionary terms however if you believe in black art, black magic, things that go bump in the night conspiracy theory’s and any Mumbo jumbo you can dream up when you’re **** go ahead, it’s a free country.
It can be summed up very neatly by a famous speech that the great Disraeli made to the House of Commons one day, it started with the words, “Gentlemen there are 3 kinds of lie, lies, dammed lies and STATISTICS!
Statistics are useful mostly in scientific work to provide clues or identify trends to the TRAINED EYE! This immediately rules out Politicians and their well paid sidekicks!
Good Teaching is insufficient unless they can make the subject interesting to the pupil, children have proven time after time for ever and a day that if they find something interesting they will learn and learn well without any help from a Teacher at all! However it is necessary to inspire some discipline and guidance for best results. From someone who knows what they are doing, that’s why Apprentice schemes were so successful! Jesus it aint Rocket Science! (This works on the simplest law of the Universe!)
It is also far more successful and rewarding if those being taught, or entertained feel part of it! Simple but an Axiom.
Being “Taught” by boring uninteresting people, even in the subject being taught by someone who is incapable of bringing order to a sleeping baby is quite simply an impossibility and an accident waiting to happen. I hear that yesterday rioting children smashed up the Canteen. It appears to be getting more serious by the minute.
Ruth Johnston may not be totally to blame however, this is happening on, “Her watch” the only course of action an honourable person can make in these circumstances is to RESIGN!
amie
says...
1:40pm Sat 25 Oct 08
people just want sum1 to blame, and pass the buck to.... how easy!
elly2
says...
1:58pm Sat 25 Oct 08
As for the split site argument, i do think it has been acknowledged that it isn't ideal, and as previously mentioned I believe Ruth herself has acknowledged this, but until the new site is ready, this is how it is, and maybe people need to get used to it, look forward and work together to get the school going and try and repair some of the damage caused.
mad mum
says...
3:56pm Sat 25 Oct 08
Yes i agree with both of you, but Amie, you are obviously as clever as you are lucky!
You missed my point, they didnt waste time looking for evidence, and they didnt waste time calling me in, i got a phone call, im still waiting to speak to the decision maker!
Happy?
mums
says...
3:57pm Sat 25 Oct 08
mmmmm
says...
4:45pm Sat 25 Oct 08
mums
says...
4:47pm Sat 25 Oct 08
mmmmm
says...
5:05pm Sat 25 Oct 08
mums
says...
5:34pm Sat 25 Oct 08
amie
says...
5:35pm Sat 25 Oct 08
mmmmm
says...
5:50pm Sat 25 Oct 08
chrissysmurf
says...
7:52pm Sat 25 Oct 08
what if someone has accident, or is killed outside the school, then will they sort it out.
Year10Kid
says...
9:33pm Sat 25 Oct 08
amie
says...
6:27am Sun 26 Oct 08
playing truent?
and as for the YEAR 10 KID- ur post was going ok until the end.
sholing mum
says...
10:36am Sun 26 Oct 08
chrissysmurf
says...
4:31pm Sun 26 Oct 08
cross of woolston
says...
10:42pm Sun 26 Oct 08
http://oasisacademyp
arents.info/index.ph
p
allotment lover
says...
9:23am Mon 27 Oct 08
allotment lover
says...
9:27am Mon 27 Oct 08
Priscilla02
says...
10:49am Mon 27 Oct 08
As for those who are calling for greater Local Authority control, be careful what you wish for: in my subject area we largely ignore highly paid LEA 'Advisers' who would seem to have been mediocre teachers themselves.
Worried of Woolston
says...
4:04pm Mon 27 Oct 08
davesbabe
says...
10:02am Tue 28 Oct 08
allotment lover wrote:yes but i cant drive so didnt have a choice! shes too young to walk so far its a 45 min walk for her from where we live so she has to go to oasis, cos the government stopped the busses to make sure all kids in the catchment went to this school.
I had to pick my son senior school for 2009 this month,this school is in my catchment.I was dead against the two school's mixing,i knew it would casue problems,also i was pleased with the way it was going to be run etc,for my own beliefs.You have to pick three schools on the forms and this school was my last choice,even though its my catchment school.I dont know many parents that have picked this as their 1st choice,I picked an out of catchment school as my 2nd choice,I would rather drive my child to school out of my area then take them to this school.any one else feel the same????
allotment lover
says...
5:10pm Tue 28 Oct 08
3 Amigos
says...
7:30pm Tue 28 Oct 08
Amigo 2:
I would like to firstly correct miss johnson in her first video above when she describes the protest/riot that took place at Oasis Academy Mayfield, Miss johnson clearly states that there was about 40 pupils that took part in this strike , however, I was in my lesson but could see the whole thing of which approximatly 150 pupils took part.In doing so the protest took about 50 minutes for teachers to gain control and in the following 50 minutes a riot took place.During this riot,18 windows were smashed and most display boards were ripped down (There is photo evidence of this ).I would also like to say how it was the majority of boys yet there were at least 40 girls that were involved!Also I think that the staff at the oasis need to realise that this protest did not happen because the stsudents do not like change and merge but because they think there education is being ruined due to poor organisation of the school.I agree that the protest should not of happened but i do think that miss johnson should have admitted to what has happened and said how she was going to improve the school so this does not happen again.
Amigo 3 : I would just like to correct Mrs Johnson on everything she say in her videos.As someone who was actually there and not someone that chose to turn up halfway through the protest, look at the students and disapear to leave the other staff to sort out the protest.It was actually around 150 students that took part this "riot" not including the other students that were out of lessons watching the protest or standing in the corridors talking.It was also around 18 windows that got broken aswell as a few display boards that suprisingly got fix before the next day as about three or for of these windows had previsly been broken and taken up to a week to actually be sorted out( i believe this was because Steve Chalke him self was goin to be called in to "talk" to us students).I would also like to point out that everytime Mrs Johnson "indulges" us with her presents that it is only to talk to us about something bad and not comming in to our assemblys to talk to us about something good we have achieved as she is to busy caring about the other school as it is the "main" site and the is less hastle to sort out down there.I believe the protest was nessesary as the school is so unorganised that something need to be done!
truthfinder
says...
7:35pm Tue 28 Oct 08
truthfinder
says...
8:07pm Tue 28 Oct 08
mad mum wrote:can anyone from the science class in yr 10 tell me what reaaly happend about the "apparant knife threat" im his mum and i want to get an appology from thatlying teacher.
Sly Stallone wrote: Apparently this would never have happened if the 2 rival schools had not merged. When push comes to shove that's what it comes down to. Those who wish to live by the sword, should be prepared to die by the sword. Good luck Head Mistress lady discipline is what is required here. Then those that want to knuckle down and learn will be able to. Kick out the dead wood.Does 'kick out the dead wood' include excluding boys who have done nothing wrong. And no im not just a mum who thinks her child is perfect. Im a mum who has had teachers and staff(from both sites) contacting me confirming that he wasnt to blame and that Ms Johnson has NO proof!She has neither spoken to my son or to us his parents! So if dead wood is a tall boy who has had his future ruined then yes you have your way!
julie burns
says...
8:53pm Tue 28 Oct 08
I'm not sure what will happen to Jordan but I will be at the meeting in support for all the other students and parents..........
hello.com
says...
10:43am Thu 30 Oct 08
1. Oasis need everyones support in order for the school to work. We must all help them, for our kids sake.
2. Oasis should listen to the pupils more. Give them chances to speak etc
3. Puils shouldask for their voice to be heard and not trash the schools.
Grove Park and Woolston have now GONE. We must get over it and face the truth. Lets turn this academy around. Now, before it gets much worse.
julie burns
says...
3:36pm Thu 30 Oct 08
Julie Burns just wanting to let you know i received a letter today from the Academy I quote " please ensure your son/daughter is aware of his new timetable and brings this copy with them on 3rd November"
It is dated 7 days after his permanent exclusion ---- very confused ????????????????????
I am awaiting for a response from the Academy Council..
sotongirlie
says...
8:13am Fri 31 Oct 08
julie burns wrote:Has your interview been in the Echo yet Julie?
Hi Julie Burns just wanting to let you know i received a letter today from the Academy I quote " please ensure your son/daughter is aware of his new timetable and brings this copy with them on 3rd November" It is dated 7 days after his permanent exclusion ---- very confused ???????????????????? I am awaiting for a response from the Academy Council..
noel999
says...
12:38pm Wed 5 Nov 08
shelley-1965
says...
4:42pm Wed 5 Nov 08
Heartbroken
says...
2:31pm Fri 7 Nov 08
Idris Dragon
says...
8:33pm Tue 11 Nov 08
Cantell was not in that much of a mess, the incident rate increased when a new sheriff was in town, as the more unruly decided to take advantage. She chopped and changed policies throughout her time at Cantell, driving out many staff. From 2002 to the end of 2007, most of the staff had moved on.
Communication was poor to say the least, and patronising in all honesty. Not only that, it came riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, despite the fact that Johnson 'personally proof read all correspondance'.
I managed to leave Cantell with 11 A's & A* GCSE's, but believe me, absolutely none of that was down to Johnson. All plans and strategies were aimed to get people over the C/D grade boundary, which of course, affect the league tables and form the 'vital' 5A*-C percentage that is ever so important...
I can tell you from experience that she does not like to be questioned, criticised and will attempt to jump through hoops for inspectors. She attempted to block my attempts to complete a mathematics A level during my final year at school, meaning that I completed it after school in my own time, with the kind help of the maths teachers.
That, and I warn anyone else in her educational establishment, along with the fact that she has her favourite pupils and will not listen to the input of her deputies. It is somewhat unsurprising that she is currently at a christian-run academy, her personal beliefs never came into her work ;)
JulieBobs
says...
8:02pm Mon 17 Nov 08
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