“Draconian” code

The recently published prospectus for the Vardy Foundation’s Trinity Academy at Thorne is very revealing.
The disciplinary code is quite draconian compared to that in most LEA comprehensive schools.
While two acts of indiscipline warrant immediate expulsion, another seven acts are listed as resulting in a final warning. A breach of final warning, however, results in immediate expulsion.
Consequently a pupil who is caught smoking twice in uniform will be expelled.
It is not surprising that the reported expulsion rate at the Vardy Foundations Kings Academy in Middlesborough was more than ten times the national average in the first year.
One might have expected the Christian ethos of the Academy to include a lttle compassion and patience for the misguided rather than showing them the door before they realise the error of their ways and can be redeemed.
The imposition of a blazer as part of the compulsory uniform will provide an unnecessary financial burden for many families of pupils joining the Academy when it opens in September 2004.
I know from previous experience as Headteacher of Thorne Grammar School, from 1987-2002, that the governors have always tried to keep the cost of uniform down in the past for this reason.
Interestingly, the Academy will provide a free blazer, badge, tie, trousers or skirt and sports top for all existing pupils who transfer from Thorne Grammar school when it closes.
Who will bear the cost (about £80,000) of this – Doncaster LEA, the DfES or the Vardy Foundation?
Parents will be required to sign an agreement not to take their child on holiday in term time and to make sure they are able to attend the annual parents evening.
Will failure to attend conform result in expulsion of the pupil?
On a more positive note the Academy will allow parents to opt their child out of Religious Education (included in a subject titled Philosophy, Theology, & ethics) and Morning Worship, which includes a bible reading and prayer.
I think that this does not mean that some of the foundations controversial fundamentalist approaches to teaching will not be used in other subjects.

Tony Brookes. Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier. (23 – Sept 04)

School discipline benefits all. (Reply 1)

In reply to Mr Tony Brookes regarding the disciplinary code at the new Trinity Academy (Draconian code, Courier, September 23).
Children need rules and boundaries as they grow up. After leaving primary school, life in a big comprehensive can be a big shook.
It was much better when there were middle schools as they gave a more gradual transition but as it is children have to move up at 11.
They know right from wrong and will push the boundaries. If we are prepared to accept rudeness and bad behaviour then that’s what we get.
Some children don’t get any discipline in the home and structure and rules will be difficult to get used to. Consistency and high expectations over time will work and the children and young adults will benefit.
I believe that the children from Thorne and Moorends, given the chance, will rise to the challenge and with dedicated staff that set a good example, and earn the children’s respect, will go forward and make the most of the increased opportunities on offer.
Maybe if higher standards had been expected a long time ago then Thorne Grammar School would not have experienced some of the problems that it did. And if the threat of expulsion makes some parents more responsible and interested in their children’s education and well being then that can only be a good thing.

V Taylor. Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier. (7 Oct 04)

Response Disappointed. (Reply two)

I’m very disappointed at the response of Dr Tony Brookes, former head-master at Thorne Grammar School, to the prospectus for the Vardy Foundations Trinity Academy at Thorne. Goole Courier, September 23).
To start with the Christian ethos – some pupils won’t even have heard of religion and it’s meaning, so that is a good start.
It is time some rule was brought in regarding uniform. This is the start of discipline. Some pupils look like drop outs from the third world with skirts from thigh to ankle length and money will be well spent helping parents with these items.
Perhaps the school’s results will benefit from the holiday in holiday time and not disrupt lessons.
This softly-softly approach has been too long in progress and it is about time children were taught authority and respect.
Perhaps then there will not be all this dreadful vandalism and litter in the town centre at lunchtime.
I’m 100 per cent behind this project.

Mary Munden. Address supplied.
Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier. (7 Oct 04)

Discipline to strict. (My reply to critics of Toney Brookes)

I wish to respond to the recent letters criticising the former head of Thorne Grammar School, Tony Brookes.

Everyone recognises that discipline & its enforcement in schools is important. Tony’s point was that discipline in the new school appeared excessive & children could be expelled for relatively minor offences such as being caught smoking twice.

I do not think his critics would consider this such a good idea if it were their child who was expelled & then forced to travel 10 miles to Goole or Doncaster each day to get to school, rather than just walking down the road.

Perhaps the new school should work a little harder with its more trying pupils, rather than dumping them by the busload on surrounding schools.

This is not the first time the issue of excessive discipline has been raised. On the Northcliffe parents’ website, there is a worrying e-mail from a woman concerning the Kings Academy.

She speaks of indoctrination, brainwashing & the victimisation of a child who refused to accept the literal truth of the Noah’s ark story. She also spoke of the cost of the expensive school uniform, around £200 per child. This is not a one-off cost, but an on-going burden as children outgrow their existing clothes.

It is asserted that some children “won’t even have heard of religion”. This is wrong, as they learn this in RE lessons. However there are many parents who are non-Christians, atheists, agnostics or simply indifferent to religion. In a truly free society, this is their prerogative & they should be free to impart their beliefs or lack of them, to their children, without interference from the state or religious extremists.

The biggest problem is the schools insistence on teaching creationism, which can damage a child’s understanding of scientific subjects. Much of the debate is taking place on the internet, where I would urge concerned parents to look.

Alan Bellis. Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier. (14 Oct 04)

Importance of positive perception. (Tony Brookes responds)

Your correspondent Mary Munden (response disappointed, courier, October 7) complains that Thorne Grammar school pupils look like drop outs and cause litter & vandalism at lunchtime.

A minority probably do but the majority are well dressed and well behaved. This constant knocking of pupils by people like Mary Munden lowers pupils self esteem and makes the school’s job of raising aspirations and achievements even harder.

I don’t remember the softly, softly approach to discipline when I was head of the school (1987-2002)

An LEA inspector complained that I spent too much time on discipline and OFSTED said that I excluded too many pupils.

I do remember being abused frequently (and threatened occasionally) by parents who would not accept the school’s discipline and dress codes.

I had to work within Doncaster LEA’s Social Inclusion Policy. If a pupil was expelled (permanently excluded) the school lost LEA funding (£1500) and was fined another £4500.

Consequently the ultimate sanction was used sparingly. Had I expelled every pupil caught smoking twice (as Trinity Academy plans) I would have had no budget left to pay teachers’ salaries.

Trinity Academy will not work under the same financial penalties and will be able to expel as many pupils as it wishes in the hope that this sets an example to other pupils.

It will be interesting to see if parents become more responsible and interested under the threat of expulsion as your other correspondent V Taylor (school discipline benefits all, Courier, October 7) implies.

If a new LEA school were being opened in Thorne there would be widespread consultation with parents and the community about curriculum, ethos, discipline code and dress.

By providing £2m sponsorship, the Vardy Foundation is able to impose its will, its values and its beliefs on the children of Thorne/Moorends.

This Christian organisation which bases its work on biblical values is, of course funded by a car dealership which is happy to trade on the Sabbath.

It cares so much for the young people that it will not allow their youth club to remain on its spacious site although it will convert some of the old school buildings into flats.

Tony Brookes. Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier (14 Oct 04)

Future of youth club?

What is happening about a replacement for Thorne Youth Club?

This very successful youth club is due to be demolished in summer 2005 as part of the Vardy Foundation’s takeover of the Thorne Grammar School site for it’s Trinity Academy.

When DMBC’s scrutiny panel met in public in December 2003 to review the mayor’s cabinet decision on the academy, firm promises were made on providing a new youth club.

No plans have emerged over the last ten months.

The place for the youth club is on the local secondary school site where members can use the school’s sporting facilities as part of their activities.

Wherever the youth club is resited (if it is replaced) it will lose its links with the secondary school and lose use of its sports facilities.

The youth club’s site is supposedly needed for the Academy’s all weather sport’s pitch.
However the Vardy Foundation claimed this could not be funded within the Academy’s £22m budget.

Funding is being proved for the pitch by turning the 1930’s school building into flats.
This lack of money is surprising as the academy has announced it will provide uniforms for existing Thorne Grammar School pupils at a cost of at least £80,000.
It is not too late to allow the youth club to stay.

The school site is large enough for both the youth club & all weather pitch.
As an alternative, the od school building could be converted into a youth club & offices for use by community groups.

It would be good to see the Vardy Foundation’s Christian ethos including care for young people outside school hours rather than banishing them from its site in the evening and at weekends.

Tony Brookes. Goole – Howden – Thorne Courier (28 Oct 04)