Bexhill High school parents refused open meeting

Mum Philipa Coughlan asked for a chance for parents to discuss their reaction to the recent Ofsted monitoring report which demanded better progress should be made in time for the opening of the new 37 million premises in Gunters Lane.

The governors are instead gathering tomorrow for a conference to consider the issues raised by Ofsted and say they will make themselves available to parents on an individual basis.

Mrs Coughlan felt the immediate response to the mini-Ofsted by chief executive Mike Conn in a letter to parents was "not the necessary action required" and she wanted open debate.

She commented: "This issue of problems with adequate staffing '“ particularly in the core subjects of Maths and English is one that he as Principal has never addressed. I have had past experience with my eldest son when as a student in GCSE Maths his predicted grades plummeted because of bad Maths teaching, due to teachers leaving in droves, and was only rescued by the return of a marvellous retired Maths teacher to see the group through at the end."

She said Mr Conn had "not just taken his eye off the ball but left the whole place floundering" and also questioned his attitude towards discipline, with the school being a place where "time and time again bad behaviour is rewarded and good behaviour and steady conscientious studying ignored."

She told the Observer this week that she was "very disappointed" that Mr Kentfield had turned down her request for open debate and added: "They won't be faced with a roomful of parents who need to have their say.

"People are very angry.

"I think they should be questioned more thoroughly '“ why didn't the governors do anything about this over the years?"

Chairman Brian Kentfield responded by saying: "We value the views of our parents at all times and the governing body is keen to listen to them. A perfect example of this was over half-term when the head Mike Conn met twelve parents.

"The governing body is meeting tomorrow (Saturday) to discuss the best way forward for parents' consultation.

"What I am proposing is governors' surgeries, where parents can come and talk to governors and express their views.

"Management and governors at Bexhill High School have a genuine desire to engage with our parents in a positive manner. But I do not genuinely believe that a public meeting is the best way to do that.

"Mrs Coughlan is more than welcome to come into the school and talk to myself and Mike Conn, as indeed is any parent. We can be no more open and transparent than that.

"From my experience of public meetings, they risk being taken over by a minority of people and can become counter-productive."