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Original poster

This Stoke school's teacher training in Marbella...

37 replies

WendyWeber · 02/10/2008 15:07

...it does actually sound like v good value for money, if you happen to agree that it's really important for them to go overnight for bonding purposes - for 80 of them it's only £56 per night each & I can imagine a British hotel would cost a lot more than that even without flights.

However why couldn't they just have done it on-site? (Which they are doing now anyway, but the school will probably lose the £18 grand as well!!!. Mad.)

Why didn't they do it at the end of the school holidays instead of shutting the school for 2 days in term time? Will the head be disciplined? I am fascinated

OP posts:
mazzystar · 02/10/2008 15:11

head should have stuck to his guns if believed it was the right thing
now just looks like they wanted a jolly

chopchopbusybusy · 02/10/2008 15:17

Is it not quite normal for schools to close for staff training days in term time? Both my DDs schools close in term time as well as adding on days to the start or finish of holidays.

Personally, I no longer enjoy the enforced jolliness of work trips and I am sure many teachers are the same, so for me, I would prefer to just attend during the day as normal. I do feel a bit sorry for employees of the public sector though, because no one would bat an eyelid at a private company doing this. And before someone comes along and says "but we as taxpayers are paying for it". We all pay indirectly for private companies training etc too.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 02/10/2008 15:21

Well yes, chopchop, they do have inset days normally, but usually one at a time, & tagged on to the end of the school hols - this was a Thursday & a Friday mid-term (hence cheapness I spose) & I get the impression the parents didn't get a lot of notice & were a bit peeved at suddenly having to make alternative arrangements for the kids for 2 days.

mazzy, exactly!

OP posts:
unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:20

I work in the Public Sector, and wouldn't mind having to attend a conference in Marbella.

I have no problem with two training days together, don't even have a problem with it being so close to the beginning of term (although I'm sure he could have got it even cheaper in November ).

I don't, however, understand why they need to go off-site for the event, whether in the UK or abroad. The pupils are off-site - use the blardy school-hall. Or at least use local facilities - the venue may cost more but they wouldn't have had to pay out for flights/overnight accommodation.

The education provision in this city is not brilliant. The school itself is in a deprived area. It really isn't a good message to be sending out to the children/parents/local residents.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:22

According to readers' comments in the local press (so not necessarily accurate) this isn't the first trip abroad of this kind.

islandofsodor · 02/10/2008 18:23

I think my father in law is writing a poem abouit this as we speak and emailing the Sentinel.

To be honest that is really really cheap for conference facilities but in this city, in this climate (and Longton is huge BNP area) it was a bit misguided.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:32

Longton isn't a huge BNP area, although it does have some BNP support.

It may be cheap for conference facilities - but it aint as cheap as using say the Britannia or the Moathouse and going home each night!

Very misguided.

hana · 02/10/2008 18:32

of course you can have occasional days mid term - doens't always have to be at the end of a term

my school has staff training tomorrow and an occasional day on Monday. School decide where in the school year to put these dates themselves.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:34

Try this one out, whilst you're waiting for FIL's, (from the sentinel website).

Edensor are going on a training holiday
no more teaching for a day or two
fun and laughter on their training holiday
no more worries for me and you
for a day or two

They're going where the sun shines brightly
they're going where the sea is blue
we've all seen it on the movies
now let's see if it's true

Everybody has a training holiday
Doing things they always wanted to
so they're going on a training holiday
to make their dreams come true
for me and you
for me and you

islandofsodor · 02/10/2008 18:40

When I said huge BNP area I suppose I meant that they seem to have quite a bit of support there in compatison to other places and there has just been all the hoo har over that killing. They seem to be stirring up a lot of trouble in the area which is very sad.

I didn;t mean that neck enders all support the BNP, apologies if it came out that way.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:47

There is a groundswell of support following the recent case, and I did have the unfortunate task of walking past a group of them prior to their recent rally, but thankfully all six local councillors are still labour (well, when I say thankfully....)

There is a fair size muslim population within Longton too, so there will be the alternate BNP fans, but even so, I still think the actual support is quite small - just very blardy vociferous.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 18:54

The other thing about this, is that they were going to discuss/debate the new academy that the school will become in the near future.

This trip was booked 12 months ago apparently, but the decisions that were made about the re-organisations of the local secondary provision weren't - allegedly - made until January this year...

Upwind · 02/10/2008 19:00

I imagine having the training in the school hall would have been the best value for taxpayers' money

in industry you don't have jolly's abroad without good reason

Upwind · 02/10/2008 19:01

jollies?

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 02/10/2008 20:07

I thought that too ureb. Very suspicious.

I just don't get why they need 'conference facilites'. They have a hall, presumably interactive whiteboards etc (they're a Technology College after all) And even if they wanted to provide lunch they could have had City Catering's £5 a head buffet.

I can't fathom which bit of the budget they would be spending.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 20:16

Beats me, Saggars. (and irritates tbh, for various reasons, but budgets are being cut all over the place and then you see something like this...).

Doesn't sound like it's the first time though.

A friend works there, may have to get the goss .

Original poster
WendyWeber · 02/10/2008 20:28

self-hijack - Saggars, how did your DS get on at V btw? Never saw you to speak to after it

OP posts:
MetalMummy · 02/10/2008 20:44

BerryHill is supposed to be closed in 2012 which will be my DDs first year at High School. That is also the year that St Peters will move from Penkhull to Fenton so we have been told (by serco ) that we will have a choice between St Peters and the new Academy, guess where my DD won't be going.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 21:07

Be interesting to see if the changes are in place by 2012.

What are your thoughts on St Peter's?

MetalMummy · 02/10/2008 21:20

It's an established school with a good reputation and the facilities are outstanding compared to most other schools in the area, it's also one of the few schools which doesn't have falling pupil numbers. If Berryhill wasn't closing I wouldn't have considered St Peters to be an option, we are C of E but we don't go to church, and Berryhill is only 5 mins away from our house.
Berryhill is closing though and if my kids have to travel further to school I want it to be to the best available to them. I will be honest and say that I don't know much about Edensor but I have heard bad things about the head teacher and I don't think he should automatically get the job at the Academy I think it should be open to other candidates. I also think the site for the new Academy is ridiculous, Dividy Road and Anchor Road are already a nightmare in the morning and now they want to put a school with 1200 pupils where those two roads meet, it will be total gridlock and unsafe for the kids.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 02/10/2008 21:47

Wendy - he had a fab time. Came back very dirty and muddy though. decided that he had too much food (my fault) and not enough clothers (his fault) He bought wellies whilst he was there in the end and the tent, which he did bring back, bless him, took me a week to clean and repair. Did your lot have a good time?

I went to Berryhill - it was many, many moons ago when it had a good reputation.

I agree with all you've said about the new Academy MM. St Peters is almost impossible to get into though if you don't have support from your local church. I know of several children turned down this year who have involvement with church but don't worship regularly.

jetgirl · 02/10/2008 21:54

Our school did something similar 2 years ago - we had 4 days in France - two week days and 2 weekend days. We went in November so it was freezing. We were villified in the local press, and even made the Daily Mail - oh the shame! It probably was cheaper than each of us being sent on separate inset days which can cost £250 before you even cost in supply staff, but that didn't make it any easier for taxpayers (including teachers) to swallow. No more residentials now though.

MetalMummy · 02/10/2008 21:56

I went to Berryhill too, it had a good reputation then but everything went down hill when Mr Bradbury left

The council have told ST Peters that they have to increase pupil numbers to 1200 (currently about 850) and ofer the extra places to non churchgoers. I figure I've got 3 years before we have to apply for high schools so in the next year we may become regular churchgoers

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 02/10/2008 21:59

Sounds like a plan MM. I left before Mr Bradbury became head. I am very old -he was there, not head but still very scary. Twas Mr Powell in my time.

unknownrebelbang · 02/10/2008 22:04

I agree about the position of the proposed new school. Ridiculous place to site it.

This year St Peter's received 400+ applications for 160 places. 46 appeals, 6 upheld, but they will be increasing the numbers if/when it moves, and I understand that the majority of the extra places will be community places.