It has been brought to my attention via an angry Year 11 of my sons acquaintance that at the Parkview site, she refuses to call it South site, it's work, work, work all the way to the bitter end of term.
When it used to be Parkview for real the last day was always non-uniform day, it was always a shortened school day and the kids spent the day relaxing and watching DVD's etc. My sons confirm this to be the case, at least in their time at the school.
Well none of these things will take place on the Parkview site this year. There is to be no non-uniform day, the normal school hours will apply and there will be no watching DVD's.
If anyone else would like to confirm or deny this then please use the comments.
But what really riles this young lady is that despite every effort to re-brand the school in purple, they even have purple and silver decorations on the Christmas tree in reception!
Despite the re-branding the schools and the removal of everything Parkview the school website has now got an article hijacking the great artwork produced by PARKVIEW pupils.
So I looked and its true.
During the last academic year, a group of Year 10 Art students were given an extraordinary opportunity to work with an internationally acclaimed Japanese printmaker Katsunori Hamanishi.
Working with an interpreter he demonstrated his art and enabled the students to produce twelve prints during a workshop held at south site.
These prints are now on display in the exhibition area at Forum 28 until the end of January, after which they will transfer to Furness General Hospital to be displayed in the reception area.
If you are in town pop in and have a look. The prints are excellent.
So it appears the only news MC2 Limited can put up on the site dedicated to the Academy company applauds the skills of the pupils of the Academy's predecessor, Parkview.
Which brings me back to the same old question WHY isn't there any really good news about how things are so much better under the auspices of the Academy Company than they were under the Parkview/Governors/Local authority regime?
Well none of these things will take place on the Parkview site this year. There is to be no non-uniform day, the normal school hours will apply and there will be no watching DVD's.
If anyone else would like to confirm or deny this then please use the comments.
But what really riles this young lady is that despite every effort to re-brand the school in purple, they even have purple and silver decorations on the Christmas tree in reception!
Despite the re-branding the schools and the removal of everything Parkview the school website has now got an article hijacking the great artwork produced by PARKVIEW pupils.
So I looked and its true.
During the last academic year, a group of Year 10 Art students were given an extraordinary opportunity to work with an internationally acclaimed Japanese printmaker Katsunori Hamanishi.
Working with an interpreter he demonstrated his art and enabled the students to produce twelve prints during a workshop held at south site.
These prints are now on display in the exhibition area at Forum 28 until the end of January, after which they will transfer to Furness General Hospital to be displayed in the reception area.
If you are in town pop in and have a look. The prints are excellent.
So it appears the only news MC2 Limited can put up on the site dedicated to the Academy company applauds the skills of the pupils of the Academy's predecessor, Parkview.
Which brings me back to the same old question WHY isn't there any really good news about how things are so much better under the auspices of the Academy Company than they were under the Parkview/Governors/Local authority regime?
Have not heard anything but I am not particularly bothered if they don't waste the day/week, cannot see the point turning up to school if they watch DVD's all day and get home early. They have lost enough time already this year, we cannot have it both ways.
Bah humbug.
Lots of stories beginning to emerge. Very disaffected staff. Zero tolerance beginning to wane as too many studenta have already been excluded. Lots of fights at the North site. Anybody know better?
I agree they have lost enough time this year we can't have it both ways. So what if they don't get to watch a DVD on the last day it's hardly worth dying in a ditch over - and a merry christmas to all our readers!
It's really not that big of an issue. When I was at Parkview, only the last lesson of each subject was the Christmas lesson, but this had died out mostly by year 9/10, and there certainly wasn't any pre-Christmas break in year 11 -it makes no sense to be wasting time in the period directly before the mock examinations, and even less so to be wasting it before the final GCSE examinations, which are not far away at all. You go to school to learn. Playtime and worktime are two very separate things.
What an opportunity missed.
After the last few months of turmoil, this is was an opportunity to cut the kids a little bit of slack from the harsh Academy regime.
The man management skills of this establishment at all levels is appalling, and unless something is done urgently to bring about a little bit of the friendship, commoradrie and respect that existed between between staff and pupils at Parkview the future is indeed bleak.
Continued use of the boot in pursuance of zero tolerance is not the answer.
Why should the kids lose a relaxing last day of term just because the rulers of the school decide to take so many days out of the school year to hold coffee and biscuit strategy meetings?
Have heard of one fight at North site, after school hours....That is it. It is not the wild west according to the children I have contact with and you know how kids love to dramatise if they can.
There may be disaffected staff, I don't know, but they are doing a damn good job of keeping most of it away from the kids.
Thank you, to all the staff and I hope you have a very happy Christmas.
My wish to Santa is that you all stay.
Regardless of the reasons, why do the kids need more time off when some "enjoyed" 2 weeks off earlier this year.
I agree the kids do not need more time off because of the time already wasted at the beginning of term,however it's a pity MR Blackledge wasn't as bothered about getting the term started promptly in September.My child told me today that they are finishing at 1.30 on Friday and not having a dinner break - they are to have lunch at home.Don't know whether this is fact or rumour as I haven't seen anything in writing from the Academy.Incidentally my friends daughter who attends Dowdales is having a Christmas disco at school.I now feel a bit of a "Grinch" and on reflection I say let them watch a DVD and nibble a mince pie - tis the season to be jolly afterall Ho HO HO !
Yes they are getting home early on friday.
I know Dowdales pupils etc were greener than a Grinch in a green shed on a green field, at the 2 weeks holiday the FA kids got.
Merry Christmas everyone ho ho ho humbug.
Yes, it's certainly bah humbug at Furness Academy this christmas.
Pupils told, no non uniform to keep up standards in the community, teachers were told that in every lesson until they broke up was to work, work, work, (Scrooge and Bob Cratchet scenario springs to mind), no christmas show from the teachers this year (which students in the past have thoroughly enjoyed), teachers were not allowed to give out chocolates to the students this year and the only christmas activites allowed was from the curriculum.
I believe in rules and education but what on earth is Furness Academy trying to instil in it's students? Answers on the back of a second class postage stamp please.
The dickensian rule book brought in by the equally dickensian blackledge must be adhered to, even if it results in the exclusion of five hundred. How else can the beadle maintain order when he is in so infrequently.
Just how many kids are playing the system though? Spotted at 9 15 am on thursday last week were two rather smart boys in FA uniforms, until you looked at the white trainers on their feet(and the fag hanging out of the mouth-we used to hide at least.) They are playing them for fools, or is there method behind Dougies madness?
Wherever you look you will always see kids playing the system and it doesn't matter which school they attend. I see St Bernard's kids doing exactly the same thing. I agree in rules to keep peace and order and to instill good values into our children but come on this is the year 2009 and the academy is not doing the kids any favours. It's absolutely barmy.