Academy Watch: August 2009 Archives

T Minus 7

By Derek on August 31, 2009 11:50 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

And there is nothing at all new on the Furness Academy Limited web site. It is mind boggling to see that there is no information about the curriculum, no information about Academy policies which has been promised on the site since it's inception back in spring 2009 in fact there has been nothing at all new since 26th August 2009.

Continue reading T Minus 7.

Academy Spending To Fall From 2010 Onwards.

By Derek on August 30, 2009 5:24 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

Sadly too late for Barrow but it looks like Labour is having to trim it's Academy ambitions which will not go down well with the construction companies and their shareholders. However market forces and Gordon's multiple 'bail outs' of banks and other industries has left Britain almost bankrupt. This should of course be enough to rid our country of this mad government not that I have much faith in it's likely successor but at least a new broom will sweep clean for a year or two and some different thinking is long overdue.

Continue reading Academy Spending To Fall From 2010 Onwards..

Anne Attwood Is Superwoman

By Derek on August 29, 2009 10:58 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Mrs Attwood as principal of Furness College and sponsor/governor of Furness Academy Limited has been given huge sums of taxpayers money to live her dreams.

Furness Academy Limited has been given £45,000,000
Furness College has been given £40,000,000

Continue reading Anne Attwood Is Superwoman.

Furness Primary Academy North & South Slated For 2012-2015

By Derek on August 28, 2009 10:39 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

This co-location buzz is an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance the primary provision and offer to a large majority of Barrovian children. This fantastic programme will allow Cumbria to tap into the multi billion government initiative to raise standards and aspirations of every primary age child in Barrow by co-locating them in large bright, airy, designed for purpose new builds that allow an easy transition across campus to Furness Academy Limited in Year 7.

Continue reading Furness Primary Academy North & South Slated For 2012-2015.

Radio GaGa?

By Derek on August 27, 2009 5:28 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Dougie Blackledge spoke on Radio Cumbria's Mike Parr Breakfast Show. He spoke in two sections of the programme separated by other stories so I've cut the show down to Dougie's speaking parts for your aural pleasure.

Continue reading Radio GaGa?.

Mrs Anne Attwood. College Principal, Academy Sponsor, Academy Governor.

By Derek on August 27, 2009 3:58 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

She has used the Evening Mail's learning supplement to put forwards her point of view about what the new company which she helped bring into existence will do for 40% of Barrows secondary children over the coming months and years.

Continue reading Mrs Anne Attwood. College Principal, Academy Sponsor, Academy Governor..

Names To Postions. T Minus 12 Days

By Derek on August 26, 2009 4:49 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks

Some more new information on the FA Limited web site.
This time it's the management structure with names and titles. They call it staffing structure but the reality is that all of these people are managing in some form or another so it's correct title is management structure which is appropriate for a company.

Continue reading Names To Postions. T Minus 12 Days.

Co-Location

By Derek on August 25, 2009 1:48 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

It has been obvious for a long time that Moira and her clan are missionaries with vision as are the current incarnation of the DCSF.

As part of this vision the DCSF intends to close and merge all 'under performing' primary schools.

Continue reading Co-Location.

Here's The Entire Contents Of the Info Pack

By Derek on August 22, 2009 6:53 PM | 34 Comments | No TrackBacks

Everything that arrived on my doormat this morning.

Continue reading Here's The Entire Contents Of the Info Pack.

At Last Some Information From Furness Academy Limited

By Derek on August 22, 2009 5:32 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

It's been a long time coming and apparently according to Mr Gill in the Evening Mail it's perfectly normal and everything has been sorted.

Having never attended a brand new school myself nor had any of my offspring attend one I couldn't possibly argue with his assessment. However if it is true that things are always left this late in the day it goes a long way to understanding why education in the UK fails thousands of people who commit fifteen years of more or their young lives to it.

Continue reading At Last Some Information From Furness Academy Limited.

Hmm...

By Derek on August 21, 2009 9:32 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

What are we to make of this?

Continue reading Hmm....

Yet More Furness Academy Limited News.

By Derek on August 17, 2009 7:08 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks

Apparently there are 19 students whose parents have yet to collect their uniform bits from Identity Limited.

So if you are one of these parents get on down to Identity Limited and collect it pretty damn quick.

Continue reading Yet More Furness Academy Limited News..

Furness Academy Limited Prospectus

By Derek on August 17, 2009 6:41 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

My eldest found this, also posted on the Furness Academy Limited web site on the 13th August without fanfare.
It's a sample prospectus.

As with so much surrounding this Academy the real thing won't be ready until 18th September at the earliest.

Continue reading Furness Academy Limited Prospectus.

Oh Dear. DCSF Failing AGAIN!

By Derek on August 17, 2009 9:28 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Jolly old Ofsted has investigated the brand new diplomas being peddled by HM Government and our two local colleges, specifically the quality of the teaching and guess what..

Continue reading Oh Dear. DCSF Failing AGAIN!.

It's Here. Well No It Isn't Really!!

By Derek on August 15, 2009 9:31 AM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

The Furness Academy Limited has updated it's web site.
They have put the two North & South curriculum's up for all to see it's just that they haven't told anyone yet!

UPDATE
It's only a one page 'model' with no detail at all other than where the year groups will be during the school day I think!

Continue reading It's Here. Well No It Isn't Really!!.

The Government 'Engaging' With The Public!

By Derek on August 15, 2009 8:52 AM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

Well that is the purpose of the online petitions to Number 10. They are supposed to give the people a direct line to whoever is Prime Minister. At present it's Gordon of course but next year it will likely be someone else.

As the reply shows... well draw your own conclusions as to what the reply shows. Suffice to say I have had my beliefs about HM Government proven!

Continue reading The Government 'Engaging' With The Public!.

24 Days Out From Furness Academy Limited Opening

By Derek on August 13, 2009 8:22 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

And still there is NOTHING NEW on the Furness Academy Limited web site. How long this state of affairs will continue is anyone's guess.

I cannot help compare this year with last year when my son moved from his primary school to Parkview. That move went very smoothly and was very well organised.
This year's '6 to 7 movers' parents must be tearing their hair out at the stony silence surrounding this new Academy.

Continue reading 24 Days Out From Furness Academy Limited Opening.

One Reason Why State Schools Suffer

By Derek on August 13, 2009 7:27 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

It seems that the current government is obsessed with 'guidance' and rules.

Heads were swamped with nearly 1.3million words of Government guidance last year - one and a half times as many as in the Bible.They were sent more than 250 documents including a 'simplification plan' detailing how officials had reduced bureaucracy. It ran to 90 pages!

It's a wonder any teacher has time for teaching and even worse it's now so bad that this government ensuring that each school has a manager to handle it all!

What a way to run education. You generate a problem through incompetence and misguided belief that the government has to pander to every whim or lobby group or risk alienating voters or even worse risk not being seen as 'tolerant'.

Then you set about releasing the curse of 'management' to 'fix' it. It's the NHS all over again.

Continue reading One Reason Why State Schools Suffer.

25 Days Out From Furness Academy Limited Opening

By Derek on August 12, 2009 4:58 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

And all anyone has are bland assurances from all concerned that 'everything is ready' and there has been lots of work done behind the scenes.

Continue reading 25 Days Out From Furness Academy Limited Opening.

Why My Country Is Screwed!

By Derek on August 10, 2009 4:53 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks

Having been a member of the human race for nigh on 49 years and a British citizen for the same length of time I am staggered beyond belief to 'discover' that Saint Tony of Blair has introduced 'Citizenship' into the state curriculum.

Continue reading Why My Country Is Screwed! .

An Unannouced Change By Furness Academy Limited

By Derek on August 10, 2009 1:52 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

Yes they have changed the copy of this page with no fuss and no fanfare.It's not new of course it's just a rehash of the Academy All set For September article.

Continue reading An Unannouced Change By Furness Academy Limited.

Another Thing Unique To The Cumbrian Academies Programme

By Derek on August 10, 2009 12:04 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

It has become very clear that the Cumbrian Academies Programme led by Moira Swann, the DCSF and Kier Construction plc really is quite unique.
Not only is each and every Cumbrian Academy fast tracked 'normal' Academy creation procedures are totally bypassed or ignored completely.
Barrow's is on the fastest track of all and the reasons why this should be the case are not in the public domain, why?

Continue reading Another Thing Unique To The Cumbrian Academies Programme.

Moira's Second Letter

By Derek on August 9, 2009 8:33 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

This is the letter Moira sent to reassure 'us peasants' it's going to be all right because she says it is. I don't believe her but that is just my opinion.

Continue reading Moira's Second Letter.

Numbers Never Lie Reprise

By Derek on August 8, 2009 9:29 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Here's a timely reminder to show what the Thorncliffe team and Doug are up against with their 'carefully' worked out results targeting.

It is well worth bearing in mind that Doug and the sponsors have set out their own targets that they think their team can achieve. This is a pointless exercise as the banking collapse has shown. The banks set their own targets and as a result have taken our country into massive debt.

Targeting like this serves no purpose whatsoever because unlike a sales rep who has their targets set by a superior here we have a nice little club setting their own targets that they think they will be capable of hitting. Whether they do or not the DCSF will not dissolve an Academy company as recent history has proved.

Now it has been removed from public scrutiny by the DCSF Furness Academy Limited can no longer blame the 'vociferous minority' for any failings so they need another scapegoat. No prizes for guessing whose fault it'll be.

One final thing. The number of GCSE's or as will be the case in the Furness Academy Limited world, diplomas, a child does or doesn't get is irrelevant really. To say that without such qualifications kids can only enter the adult world at a 'menial' level so they must gain qualifications is wrong.

Making sure each child leaves school being able to read, write and understand everyday mathematics is much more important but this cannot be accurately measured so it is ignored by government and schools. Thousands of British kids leave secondary school every year in this illiterate state. Sadly 2009 will be no different.

Continue reading Numbers Never Lie Reprise.

Word Up. There's Some New Info On FA Ltd's Site

By Derek on August 7, 2009 8:43 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks

Seriously they have updated their FAQ page earlier today, hurrrrrrrrrrrah!
I've copied it here just in case they change over the weekend or you can click through and read it on their purple site.

Personally I favour the 'normal' and 'easy on the eye' black on white as most book publishers, newspapers, magazines and web sites do but then again I am but one individual not a wealthy and very clever Manchester based PR company so what would I know about readability?

Continue reading Word Up. There's Some New Info On FA Ltd's Site.

Today Nothing New Appeared On The FA Ltd Web Site!

By Derek on August 6, 2009 5:39 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks

Once again another day goes by in the countdown to Furness Academy Limited's grand opening on September 7th 2009 that's just one month away tomorrow.

Their web site is where we have all been directed to get our information from and it hasn't been updated since 3rd August except for the pulling of the blank pages exclusively revealed on this blog.

As you can see perhaps the most vital part of the whole plan, the curriculum is still missing.

Continue reading Today Nothing New Appeared On The FA Ltd Web Site!.

Barrow? Cumbria? Are They Near Birmingham?

By Derek on August 6, 2009 1:23 PM | 11 Comments | No TrackBacks

Seriously if Barrow didn't build the odd submarine or two I doubt anyone south of Birmingham would know it even existed.

This letter was sent to Ed Balls MP Nick Clegg MP and David Cameron MP and NONE of them bothered to reply.
It was also sent to the DCSF and they didn't bother either which is just as well because any reply would be full of vision, unprecedented investment and opportunity. I'm convinced any letter going to the DCSF from Barrow is diverted to Moira Swann's department for reply.

There have been numerous letters showing just what is really wrong with this Academy and every single one is ignored. It's not that the contents are extreme they are in fact very sensible and well argued points.

Which shows up the people behind the scheme because their only counter argument is silence and then they hijack the huge silent majority in Barrow to justify their position. 'If you don't speak out against you must be for it whatever it is' according to Ms Swann.
Hence we see her and her assistant Brenda Wile talking about not letting a vociferous minority derail the views of the silent majority!

Also have you noticed the Academy signing article has vacated the front page of the Mail's web site even faster that the stupid cow story!
Could it be because there really isn't anything sorted so the Mail has been told to get the story out of the public's gaze as quickly as possible?

Who on earth knows?

Continue reading Barrow? Cumbria? Are They Near Birmingham?.

Get Your Diplomas Here!

By Derek on August 6, 2009 10:36 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The only purpose of the Diploma is to say that every child leaves school and college with something. This nanny state in which we all live thinks it's unacceptable to have what they see as uneducated people roaming the streets.

They don't want everyone to get the best education possible. That would mean there wouldn't be enough workers to do the menial low paid but vital unseen work that holds the UK together. They just want everyone to have a piece of paper proving that they are 'educated'.

Furness Academy/Furness College/Barrow Sixth Form College will be co-running 17 diplomas quite soon so the line betwixt school and college will be deliberately blurred to ensure that the diploma route becomes the 'only' route for the Academy pupils.
Your children will be moving between the three institutions from 14-16 in a constant merry go round. Remember where you read it first

Continue reading Get Your Diplomas Here!.

University Cuts 1 in 11 Jobs!

By Derek on August 6, 2009 9:33 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Wolverhampton University is in debt to the tune of £8,000,000. It is having to cut approximately 1 in 11 jobs to try and deal with the debt..

Cumbria University is in debt to the tune of £8,000,000 as well. Why is this financially mis-managed institution considered a worthy sponsor of Cumbrian Academies?

No doubt another unanswered question as the University and it's Dean are very shy when it comes to public speaking!

Continue reading University Cuts 1 in 11 Jobs!.

For Those That Believe Ed Balls Department Is Competent!

By Derek on August 5, 2009 11:47 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

This makes very sad reading. The numbers of kids leaving primary school not being able to read and write properly is staggering.

This government has it's priorities all wrong. Blowing billions on new school buildings without addressing a very real and growing literacy problem is disgraceful.
This means that one fifth of children moving to secondary school are hamstrung from day one in their new school. 21st Century Britain my a*** this is 19th Century Britain.

The really sad thing is Moira & the DCSF will use this as evidence that they have to do something radical and transformational to improve standards. Watch out Barrow primary heads your schools are about to be amalgamated, merged, rebuilt, co-located, at least they will in the next ten years or so starting next year.

Continue reading For Those That Believe Ed Balls Department Is Competent!.

The Sharp System

By Derek on August 4, 2009 4:02 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

This is a Merseyside Police & Tropica Web Design initiative to help prevent all manner of nefarious goings on in schools. None of the 3 predecessor schools had this initiative in place so why it is deemed necessary for the combined single school?

Continue reading The Sharp System.

Mr Blackledge Say's "We Are Ready!"

By Derek on August 4, 2009 11:38 AM | 6 Comments | No TrackBacks

And we are all directed to the Furness Academy Web Site...

Update 5th August 2009 12 noon
Every single blank page shown below is real. They have all now been removed from the server on which MC2 placed them. They have been sitting there totally blank apart from titles and navigation links since early June 2009.
I have been regularly monitoring them for any evidence that in fact the Academy 'team' is ready. Not a single word or image has ever been placed on these pages. Furness Academy Limited has appointed the 'senior management' team so it knows their names and details but even something as benign as this was never put up on the web and made 'public'.
Why?

This is a question that will likely never be answered because FA Limited are beyond answering to the public. To be honest they were from the minute they created their 'not for profit' limited company which will soon become a charity as all Academies do. Way beyond any sort of public scrutiny.

Continue reading Mr Blackledge Say's "We Are Ready!".

Fantasy Governorship!

By Derek on August 4, 2009 8:01 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I don't like crystal ball gazing as many of you will be well aware but with this one I am on safe ground.
It's bit of fun to see how close FA Limited gets to the prediction.

Continue reading Fantasy Governorship!.

It's Not Cumbria But...

By Derek on August 4, 2009 7:25 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Thanks to jolly old Google I have fund this 8 page booklet put together by a branch of the quango connexions in South Gloucestershire. It is all about the reasons why children should stay in education for as long as possible and sells diplomas to the parents as a way of ensuring their kids get a job in South Gloucestershire.

Continue reading It's Not Cumbria But....

Coming Soon To Barrow Sixth Form College!

By Derek on August 3, 2009 9:35 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

What a shambles education in this country really is.

I couldn't believe this story but no it's perfectly true and Dave Kelly is over the moon that his college is going to be offering these 'qualifications'.

Tick, tock!

Continue reading Coming Soon To Barrow Sixth Form College!.

Democracy Is Dead

By Derek on August 3, 2009 7:42 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

In my town and county and probably my country.

Continue reading Democracy Is Dead.

Here Is Furness Academy Limited's Statement In Full

By Derek on August 3, 2009 5:17 PM | 6 Comments | No TrackBacks

Without any red writing from me!

Continue reading Here Is Furness Academy Limited's Statement In Full.

Evening Mail 'Revealed' Indeed. Most of Barrow Knew Last Friday...

By Derek on August 3, 2009 4:48 PM

What was going to happen today!

With Balls signing off today shows the utter contempt this government has for respecting injunctions. The last shred of respect for UK democracy vanished today when this Labour minister ignored an injunction and gave Furness Academy Limited immunity from public scrutiny.

I suppose it's a matter of getting it going as soon as because the schedule is 'tight'.

Naturally the delay is the fault of people like me according to Dougie Blackledge. Link

"We feel that there has been unnecessary uncertainty surrounding the Funding Agreement caused by the actions taken by a small minority of people opposed to the Academy. If this had not occurred, the Funding Agreement would have been approved much earlier and parents, students and staff would not have had to go through this period of worry."

There is now no point in further exposing the madness and lies behind this plan as no matter how bad it gets, as at Richard Rose, Furness Academy Limited is now totally beyond public scrutiny. There is more than enough evidence on here that shows it will struggle to succeed.
Hells teeth the Furness Academy Limited web site contained a huge typo so it doesn't bode well for a 21st century world class learning facility to deliver when people behind it cannot spell 'updates' correctly!

Link

Distribution Network

If anyone would like to receive direct updates from Furness Academy via email, please send an email marked UPDTATES to info@furnessacademy.co.uk

UPDATE 10-00PM 3rd August 2009
They must have read this post as they have now corrected it!

It is up to individual parents to now decide what is best for their children. The Academy is NOT the only option on the table unless you are a compliant member of the silent majority.
This site will stay active for the foreseeable future to provide a record of what the people behind the Furness Academy Limited plan said and did over the past couple of years and recent months.

Once we decide what is best for our son I will document it on this site to show that the dumbed down Furness Academy production line is not the only option on the table and your children can leave it any time. Just because it seems like the only option at the moment eventually people will realise that there are many others all of which are likely to be better.

Whatever YOU decide best of luck.

Aprils Council Meeting

By Derek on August 2, 2009 5:57 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

Where just FIVE Labour Councillors passed the 'death sentence' on three perfectly good schools two of which are improving.

Continue reading Aprils Council Meeting.

March This Year And It's Deprived West Cumbria's Turn!

By Derek on August 2, 2009 5:20 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

How lucky this county is to have the County Council we do. I have no idea where we would be without them. They are the 'white knights' running from town to town spreading good cheer and benevolence and oh how the peasantry need them.
They are so knowledgeable and so competent at what they do. It's a wonder they aren't off running the country!

Continue reading March This Year And It's Deprived West Cumbria's Turn!.

Why Alfred Barrow Was Put To Rest

By Derek on August 2, 2009 5:00 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Way back in 2004 even before Moira Swann graced our county the good burghers of Cumbria were meddling with Barrovian education.

Continue reading Why Alfred Barrow Was Put To Rest.

Here's A Timely Reminder For...

By Derek on August 2, 2009 12:28 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Those Parents Who Believe in 'Going Forwards' No Matter That 'Forwards' Leads To The Abyss!

Continue reading Here's A Timely Reminder For....

The Faces

By Derek on August 1, 2009 6:40 PM | 7 Comments | No TrackBacks

Here are pictures of some of the people involved in producing the most stressful summer I and many other people in Barrow have ever experienced and totally failing over 1800 of Barrows young people, students, pupils, kids... children.

These people are all adults. All of these people see themselves as 'professionals' I see them as failing my son very badly as they pursue all manner of different agendas none of which are to his benefit except that I now realise that state schooling or private schooling, which is what Furness Academy Limited will be serving up are not the only options for educating my son.

Continue reading The Faces .

Those Who Must Be Obeyed!

By Derek on August 1, 2009 7:18 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I have managed to piece together a lot of a certain persons career to date. She has been in her post almost exactly 4 years and in that time she has been very active in removing choice, chances, options from the parents and children of Cumbria using her merger and closure 'method' whilst totally ignoring everyone who doesn't agree with her.

Her immediate supervisor comes from the same social worker background and has been in Cumbria almost exactly the same amount of time.

Continue reading Those Who Must Be Obeyed!.

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