A question was asked one of the gentlemen in our meeting about the format of the teacher meetings.
We received an assurance that all teachers would be given the opportunity of speaking with the governors in small groups (like the opportunity afforded to parents).
We were assured that these meetings would ONLY contain GOVERNORS and would NOT include Staff governors or members of the senior leadership team. It was stated that the only exception to this was that Mr D French had been asked to take notes for one of the meetings. There was a clear statement that the meetings would be made as comfortable for the teachers as possible so that they could speak openly and honestly.
I felt significantly better after talking to governors personally, and genuinely listened to. While I have many concerns and worries about the process, questions were answered openly and with a refreshing candour.
I can well understand staff anxiety on this matter but I implore you to make your opinions known and to ask the governing body the questions you want answered.
I told the governors to take with significant weight the opinions of those who actually did the job on a day to day basis - these are the people after all who we entrust the educational outcomes of our children on a day to day basis. I stated the opinion that when it came to educational outcomes the staff should be entrusted above even the consultants as the further you are form the realities of a job the less easy it is to judge.
If it proves that I am wrong or misinformed please let me know and I'll find out why.
Update: The new head Mr Ian Hylan is indeed penciled in against some of the governors meetings so I apologise as I obviously misunderstood. Some staff have communicated to me that they feel uncomfortable with this arrangement and I have received an assurance that any member of staff that would prefer to be in another meeting can be moved. This can be accomplished by contacting Mr D French.
From the governors meeting that I attended which Mr Hylan was good enough to pop into I am aware that Mr Hylan is somewhat disappointed that his attempts to engage are being met with mistrust and cynicism. I am sympathetic to him in the task he faces but it is not one that should surprise him. The confidence in authority generally that is felt by staff and parents is at a rather low ebb, Mr Hylan will have to accept that he has significant work to do to repair the damage that has already been done. It is not really tenable to imagine that 1500-2000 parents and a significant percentage of the staff developed a deep mistrust in "the system" overnight without any provocation. If the merger does not go ahead it will still take some time and skill on his part to repair the damage, if the merger proceeds I fear he will be faced with a task that maybe beyond even his talents.
I will say that My reading of the school site that Mr Hylan is currently Head Master suggests that he has a very inclusive management style and has a thriving PTA.
http://www.coxgreen.com/index.php/governors
(note governors meeting minutes on-line)
http://tna.europarchive.org/20060214062142/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachers/issue35/secondary/features/Makingitwork/
And it took me a lot of effort to dig out this gem on Mr Hylan. If we are going to work this way I look forward to his future stewardship of Tomlinscote as an "unmerged" school.
Update: The new head Mr Ian Hylan is indeed penciled in against some of the governors meetings so I apologise as I obviously misunderstood. Some staff have communicated to me that they feel uncomfortable with this arrangement and I have received an assurance that any member of staff that would prefer to be in another meeting can be moved. This can be accomplished by contacting Mr D French.
From the governors meeting that I attended which Mr Hylan was good enough to pop into I am aware that Mr Hylan is somewhat disappointed that his attempts to engage are being met with mistrust and cynicism. I am sympathetic to him in the task he faces but it is not one that should surprise him. The confidence in authority generally that is felt by staff and parents is at a rather low ebb, Mr Hylan will have to accept that he has significant work to do to repair the damage that has already been done. It is not really tenable to imagine that 1500-2000 parents and a significant percentage of the staff developed a deep mistrust in "the system" overnight without any provocation. If the merger does not go ahead it will still take some time and skill on his part to repair the damage, if the merger proceeds I fear he will be faced with a task that maybe beyond even his talents.
I will say that My reading of the school site that Mr Hylan is currently Head Master suggests that he has a very inclusive management style and has a thriving PTA.
http://www.coxgreen.com/index.php/governors
(note governors meeting minutes on-line)
http://tna.europarchive.org/20060214062142/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachers/issue35/secondary/features/Makingitwork/
And it took me a lot of effort to dig out this gem on Mr Hylan. If we are going to work this way I look forward to his future stewardship of Tomlinscote as an "unmerged" school.
Many staff have signed up for the meetings next week, and if you had been in the SCC (PJ-Wow what a guy!!)meeting with us last Thursday, you will be in no doubt as to our feelings!!We are confident we can say exactly what we want without any comeback..Wish us luck!!
ReplyDeletePJ stated on the walk yesterday that "I have absolutely no doubt that the teachers are not in favour of this merger" it seemed as though the experience was similar to a parental forum where "he had been left in no uncertainty about what the parents felt" its probably similar to what local politicians representing the wishes of the local community have told him also.
ReplyDeleteBut don't hold your breath that HE will listen.
But its not all about PJ - fortunately!
Any teachers who wish to provide me feedback I will be able to make informed blog posts on the subject.
The more I think about governors and their role in the whole process of the decision the more it is unclear. All the time they are asking for more and more our e-mails. What quantity of them they expect? How many of them will be enough for governors to say "No" to merger - 500, 1000, 2000? During our meeting all the time they reassured us that their work is to work on behalf of the best interest of Tomlinscote students. So even if it would be 1 (one) mail suggesting that current good education results and health and safety of our children are in danger that should raise their concern.
ReplyDeleteRe:http://tna.europarchive.org/20060214062142/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachers/issue35/secondary/features/Makingitwork/
ReplyDeleteCox Green LSA,Ms Paintin '"We're a happy school, so I don't feel worried about saying what works and what doesn't work — and if you're part of a team, it's important that you give your opinion."
Take note SCC and Governors..We are(were)a very happy school with great students, parents and staff...If other school staff are listened to-why not us... after 3 hours of all staff giving very fair, well thought out informed reasons for being completely against the proposals, PJ still said he was recommending the closure of Kings...Is he completely barking????????
YES
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't worry that nobody felt PJW was listening. He has an argument based simply on values and numbers and no amount of talking was ever going to influence him. He doesn't do emotive, reasoned arguments and can only be swayed if it can be proved that his numbers are wrong (and very many are); nothing else will influence him.
ReplyDeleteIt is the Governors who will be able to be influenced if it can be demonstrated that the merger would be detrimental to the education of the pupils at Tomlinscote. They might even have to make a decision simply because it benefits the greater number of children - for the greater good. Jeopardising the future education of 1600 pupils may not be a price they can agree to pay to be able to possibly benefit the 575 children at Kings. I want the Kings children to have access to better education, but I genuinely don't believe they will under the current merger proposals. Split site and merging two different school types wont work as everyboy knows two wrongs don't make a right. Many, many at Kings want to remain separate and do not "envy" us as is often thought. They need an alternative to achieve their "better" education opportunities.
In conclusion don't worry about PJW, he counts numbers, the Governors deal with people.
seconded!
ReplyDelete