Gower school islington

[BeenieBaby]

Anyone have any experience of this school? We're keen on a Montessori education, but this school seems to have a bad rep, we weren't sure why... Anyone know firsthand what it's like?

louderthanalion

I was, in a previous incarnation toldbyanIdiot.
I owned up to this in my first post as letslipthedogsofWAR.
I didn't want to be accused of writing under several aliases (aliases sounds cunning and I am not at all cunning)
I would prefer the to use the terminology "nom de plume" - much more civilised.

that's a joke...

thank you for you fair and balanced post; also, some lightness in your writing. Nice.

What do I want by writing here?

Firstly, my posts were a response to some souls who'd experienced horrible things at TGS; I wanted to let them know I supported them, that they were not alone and that we had also been through our own bit of horror. I wanted to respond to the initial question too - a debate arrived thereafter. Our experience was very traumatic and I became involved.

I also felt a real need to share our experience.
This need comes from a place of selflessness and an urge to seek redress and comfort; I do not want any other family to undergo what we suffered. Or any more teachers to be disrespected and hurt. Or any more children to lament the loss of their well-established and loved friends or suffer in any way. I would like people to be informed about all aspects of the school. I feel strongly that many people are not at all aware of many of the happenings that occur within the walls of TGS. People - teachers, children, parents - do vanish from the school and their experiences are not heard. I felt very strongly that my voice and our grave experience, needed to be heard. That the principle/owner needs to realise that she cannot silence and vanish all those who leave or get away with unacceptable behaviour towards people; nor are all people frightened to speak out and that here on this thread, we have been able to share our journeys through TGS and beyond and help those who may have stayed silent, to speak out.

This is important. Vital in my eyes.

I'm sure if you knew what I know, you would agree.

I hope so.

Because of talk guidelines I am alas limited in what I can say or tell. I can assure you, with my hand on my heart that our tale is shocking, saddening, bewildering, cruel - we suffered loss, grief, anxiety, rage and isolation - as did our child. Thankfully our child had very good friends at the school and so did we. In my earlier posts, I speak positively about the school and the teachers, there are as you say many good things about the school; since we have left we have experienced more and learned more (yes!); alas none of which I can share here with you. But it kept me sporadically posting.

The ISI arrived - this is great.

The Manifesto for you louderthanalion: (!)

I would like to see a thorough re-haul of the way the school operates from the top down; all parents, children and staff to be treated equally and fairly too.

complete transparency in the runnings of the school, staff changes, profit, lunches for children (ie what they are eating and where it coms from) etc

a free shuttle service between the nursery and the big school and a school bus -

A Board of Governors - independent and impartial.

A PTA - so all you parents have a voice - open communication can finally exist.

Teachers to be rewarded with decent pay. And respect afforded to them for their efforts.

A bigger school and an outdoor space.

boisterous boys to be loved; new ways of teaching to evolve in order to help our active and fidgety children.

O to be clear whether the school is Montessori or not.

how does that sound?

idealistic - I know.

should all or even a few of the above happen, TGS could be the school it has the potential to be.

Everyone sounds optimistic about the changes that can be made, but the question still remains the same, will EG change. Concerns about no PTA were raised 10 months ago, there is still no PTA?
I've seen nothing change in 5 years. This thread is not the first time EG has been questioned, but it is the first time it's been so public.
If EG refuses, I suggest setting up a private PTA and then one parent could address their points to EG, seeing as she doesn't like to meet with large groups.
Louderthanalion, you say people should focus more on the school rather than EG. The problem, which many seem to disregard is that EG is TGS, and TGS is EG.
I personally think EG needs to address her problems before the school can improve.
I genuinely hope the school can improve, for staff and parents. Unfortunately EG doesn't seem to be making any attempts to improve.
Mercymee and louderthanalion, your efforts and optimism are great, and you seem to have a lot of motivation to improve the school, why are we not seeing this from EG?

Louderthanalion: thanks for accepting my apologies.

mercymeee: thanks for your very thoughtful post.

LetSlipTheDogsOfWAR: I endorse your manifesto 100%. Great one!

Daisycake85: I do believe that together we can change the world. :) A bit lame but I do really think so.

Now it should be time for Ms Gowers to let us know what she thinks...

Thanks for the most recent posts above. Although I love a good scrap, now I feel strongly is not the time or the place.

I agree with most of the points in LetSlip's very helpful 'manifesto' and the others - which might have significant financial implications - could be looked at by an appropriately constituted Governing Body. Over to the School - i.e. the Head - for any response. I just hope that I am not left as the last one turning out the lights!

Sounds like a very productive way forward.

Time for a (virtual) group hug.

It's been real.

I couldn't agree more about all of the hopes that everyone has for TGS. I truly hope for these positive changes.

However, I must say though it isn't just EG who can be venomous, there are at least 2 senior members of staff that I can think of who seem to find pleasure in other peoples downfall. One of them teaches our children on a daily basis!

It seems like this thread has now concluded, but we still don't know if anything is going to change. I think we need some updates from people still at the TGS, when things are or are not changing

The ISI inspection seems to have gone really well so I wouldn't expect many changes...

The ISI may be keeping their cards close to their chests, whatever the word on the street may be.

Even if nothing changes now (or appears not to change) it does not negate the possibility of change in the future.

It does not rule out the possibility of further inspection.

It does not mean TGS is off the hook.

I am an ex-teacher from TGS and after reading all 200+post, majority of it, bad experiences from other staff and parents, I can now let go of all the guilt, humiliation and lack of support I've received from that school. The principal talks extremely negatively about staff members, office staff and parents very openly within the four walls of her office and staff meetings. For some reason, she always felt the need to put others down.. She would often yell at staff or office members for minute things. Being at the Gower School has been one of the worst experiences of my teaching days. I really hope all the teachers working there know how wonderful they are, that they have a voice and have the right to voice their own opinions.

I find the talk about manifestos and conclusions baffling.

The school has not been party to the discussions. They may make the parents feel better, but there are no undertakings at all for the school.

Unless a group of parents presents it to EG and says; "start doing something or we all leave," it's just whistling in the wind.

carlineknappShappey

the manifesto is a fantasy.
It was meant as a light-hearted and idealistic bit of entertainment, really - it's been pretty heavy all in all, reading the concerns raised on this thread.

I completely agree with what you say.

The fact that people can speak openly (-ish) on mumsnet (ecaep150) is very positive for them and must be encouraged; these voices together may make change.

At least I hope it's positive - don't intend to assume!

sorry...

should say "may be positive..."

You are right, and it is a positive thing.

Onwards and upwards!

Although everything ended on a slightly better note. It's coming from the parents and not EG herself. Why did EG write a comment and then disappear with absolutely no reassurances.
The truth is nothing has been solved and the school will continue to behave in the same way.
I have also previously said this thread will not improve the school and everything will be continually covered up. Evidence is clearly shown in the ISI report. After all of the complaints made to them they were still unable to find anything of concern. Mainly due to the fact EG runs a military camp prior to any investigation (which she is always aware of). The fact the school has been reported to so many independent bodies is not a coincidence. I guess her sales pitch worked again.
Speaking as someone who worked there with first hand experience, I can guarantee EG will cover everything up and will tread on anyone to do so. I'd rather my child have no education than be subjected to the politics of TGS.
In any school there will always be a difference of opinion but you will not feel like you're part of a dictatorship.

I have worked in 10+ schools, mainly to gain experience. I have been in my current school for a few years now. I also know a large amount of people who work in schools and never have I seen so many complaints, inspections and high staff turnover rates.
EG you may be able to use your mouth very well but facts and figures don't lie.

I completely agree Daisycake. There are very good cover-up methods in place, even the children noticed it. My DC came home and said to me "Everyone is acting very strangely, why can't we just act like normal?"

It's very worrying. The 7 days TGS had to prepare does not show a true reflection.

.

I've read these comments with a great deal of interest.

In my experience there is a culture of corruption among teachers at some (many) independent schools in London. The management teams in these schools are held to ransom by the teachers, who are without exception sweetness and light to all the parents, and they have people like Emma Gower over a barrel. Teachers in independent schools have the power to bring the whole thing crashing down and they know it and exploit it. They lie to the parents, who are always on their side even though they do not have a clue what goes on.

As I say, the management teams are held to ransom, and for the most part they ignore low level corruption among staff, allowing them free reign to do what they like. It doesn't look good to start sacking people, after all. The parents might talk, decide among themselves (with no real knowledge of what the hell has gone on) that the sacked teachers must be the victims, and start posting uniformed and libelous messages on internet message forums.

But think on this all you concerned parents out there. A school where low level corruption is allowed to go unchecked is a school where no child is truly safe. Because low level corruption can quickly become high level corruption, and that is how schools end up in situations like the one facing the prestigious flagship school for ambitious West London parents, where several staff members (of recent years past) are currently under investigation for child abuse.

And remember, things are not always as they seem.

Really not sure what you're implying here as it relates to this school?

I wonder where you got your experience from cos it certainly wasn't from the Gower school. Doesn't sound like you work in teaching in fact. Would be interesting to know your area of expertise.