Barrowford Primary School....

[Burnleyareback2]

We recently looked round the school for our son and it was the head that showed us around. As others have said, very alternative views - no punishment, no rewards, all the classrooms had plain white walls so as not to over-stimulate them.

She does come across as a bit bonkers initially, but had decent arguments to backup her reasoning, it just wasn’t for us.

I had a general reply to this thread with some context but perhaps better to comment on yours.

We were fortunate to have a choice of the 2 schools in Barrowford and Blacko - we picked this one for my daughter.

I guess it depends on individual experience, I’ve seen the noisy few making comments on social media. For my daughter; the head teacher and the whole school were fantastic.
My daughter left 4 years ago, whenever I go to her high school award nights the majority of high achievers are from Barrowford School.

As I said we visited all 3 schools- I couldn’t be happier with the choice we made.

[Burnleyareback2]

Not sure you read it, you cannot take meat products in your school lunch box.

Must of missed it- apologies LBC, will read it again. Probably been misled by all the nonsense stirred up by parents of other local schools!

[pushpinpussy]

Barrowford in general has now turned into place full of smug pretentious idiots who try to impress other people by telling them they go to Bistro 7 and WIlls at the weekend. Full of coke heads as well. These people are the real threat to society not this head teacher.

[Woodleyclaret]

I just finished a contract in a school where we offered a vegetarian option with all meals even breakfast .This totally banning meat is a pointless idea. Worse still is the idea fresh from Plant Woke, is that there are no naughty children and we don't need rules to punish them.
That's the fastest way to ruin a good school and put it into special measures when inspected.

[AlargeClaret]

Why on earth not just have a veggie option and a regular option? The "regular" option naturally won't always contain meat,eg pasta,pizza perhaps. It's woke gone mad and incredibly unnecessary,to force her own views on young kids. You wonder how she'd manage at a sink estate school or say an inner city hellhole in Salford or Moston. It's not like she's a shining example to health and fitness, I bet she doesn't ban mars bars and crisps,she'd likely starve to death.

[HollandsPies]

Headteacher is answerable to the Governors. Take the issue up with them.
I think i am right in saying all meat in schools is Halal.
(but not pork based products)

[Lancasterclaret]

Feel free to google my meds, sounds like you don’t believe me,

FF149EA7-7B3D-41A9-9A69-3C3E71382C9A.png

3E53A79D-F5F7-4A43-A2A2-B25C1FC6D3CE.png

Er, why wouldn't I believe you?

You've told me you are allergic to some types of vegetarian food, so of course you shouldn't eat it, which is what I said

I mean, its all written down in my posts mate, with all the respect in the world

[Lancasterclaret]

I just finished a contract in a school where we offered a vegetarian option with all meals even breakfast .This totally banning meat is a pointless idea. Worse still is the idea fresh from Plant Woke, is that there are no naughty children and we don't need rules to punish them.
That's the fastest way to ruin a good school and put it into special measures when inspected.

JFW

[Lancasterclaret]

Why on earth not just have a veggie option and a regular option? The "regular" option naturally won't always contain meat,eg pasta,pizza perhaps. It's woke gone mad and incredibly unnecessary,to force her own views on young kids. You wonder how she'd manage at a sink estate school or say an inner city hellhole in Salford or Moston. It's not like she's a shining example to health and fitness, I bet she doesn't ban mars bars and crisps,she'd likely starve to death.

JFW

[fatboy47]

What I keep in my lunchbox is my affair.

[Bosscat]

Linford Christie has meat in his lunchbox and he won Olympic Gold

[RingoMcCartney]

Spot on, both my Daughters are veggie, and have been for over 30 years, they are healthy human beings and they chose this, me and MrsP supported them in this choice following discussions about nutrition. My Granddaughter who is coming up to 12 has now been veggie for about 3 years, however her twin Brother eats meat, and strangely loves Sushi, which was a shock to us!!

It's about choice, both parental and the children.

What choice do parents who want their children to have enjoy meat while at school? None, other than the choice to remove them from a school whose head is forcing her views upon the pupils.

[RingoMcCartney]

Well, nothing wrong with a healthy, hot school meal that is vegetarian

But I guess it should really depend on parental choice, though I do applaud the reasoning behind it (and this is from a meat eater)

As above....

[RingoMcCartney]

No more Pepperami’s then ? What a joke it’s a free world you can eat what you want.

She’s always on Radio Lancashire and in news articles the headteacher Rachel Tomlinson. Wants it all about her by the sounds of things.

Why does it not surprise me that the BBC give her air time!

Radio Lancashire a place where Alan Partridge would feel right at home!

[beddie]

She (Head Teacher) wouldn’t be able to ban it from a lunch box.

[Lancasterclaret]

She (Head Teacher) wouldn’t be able to ban it from a lunch box.

Be interesting to see how many pupils actually have the school meals now you mention it

Most kids tend to bring in their own food anyway

[RingoMcCartney]

She (Head Teacher) wouldn’t be able to ban it from a lunch box.

She's attempting to do just that...




Barrowford Primary School ask parents to stop bringing meat in lunches | UK | News | Express.co.uk


https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/15658 ... Lancashire


"A PRIMARY SCHOOL has been branded "a joke" after banning meat from the menu and asking parents to refrain from putting meat in packed lunches."

[Dark Cloud]

I'm 63 and I've been largely vegan for well over 2 years now. Sometimes I slip into the "vegetarian" category as I do like a bit of real milk chocolate, enjoy a bit of cheese and of course most real ale isn't vegan and unfortunately contains fish finings. I haven't had any meat or actual fish in all that time and feel my body and the planet generally benefit greatly. However, I would never push my choices onto anyone else as it's up to them. The rest of my family for example have continued eating as they always have. Education about changing our eating habits is important and ideas about what's healthy and what isn't are slowly altering, but forcing people is another thing altogether.

[AlargeClaret]

JFW

Lancaster , aren’t you a bit old for awkward teen type replies ?

[Lancasterclaret]

Lancaster , aren’t you a bit old for awkward teen type replies ?

Not at all, just saves time in typing when "old man shouts at clouds" posts appear

[AlargeClaret]

Not at all, just saves time in typing when "old man shouts at clouds" posts appear

You didn’t agree with my post suggesting a balanced menu and choice to bring meat or veg , whichever they prefer ? Siding with the clinically obese teacher? forcing her political agenda on young kids is of course your choice . Perhaps you could have offered a reasonable argument in her favour ?

[expoultryboy]

On talk radio now

[Lancasterclaret]

You didn’t agree with my post suggesting a balanced menu and choice to bring meat or veg , whichever they prefer ? Siding with the clinically obese teacher? forcing her political agenda on young kids is of course your choice . Perhaps you could have offered a reasonable argument in her favour ?

I had to double check your post

I think its safe to say that if you'd put "Why can't they just have a balanced menu?" then no one would have had an issue

But thats not what you put is it!

I'm continually amazed by the small amount of posters who get all upset when they are pulled up on the posts they actually write!

Full marks for getting "woke" in there btw

[Rowls]

The meat thing is a distraction. The Ofsted report is damning.

What an awful way to run a school

Hopefully the residents of Barrowford are able to find alternative schooling for their children but I suspect this will be out of the financial reach of all but the very wealthy.

[Lancasterclaret]

You got a more up to date one than 2016 Rowls btw?

Thats the only one I can find!

[RingoMcCartney]

On talk radio now

May I say , you clearly have a fine and discerning taste when it comes to your choice of radio station sir !
Fastest growing talk based radio station in the world
apparently. Its on my radio almost constantly, apart from a bit of Johnny Vaughan (radio x) from 4, and talk sport if we're playing that evening. A great listen.

[Rowls]

You got a more up to date one than 2016 Rowls btw?

Thats the only one I can find!

Hadn't spotted the date - my error there.

Hope there have been a lot of fundamental changes at that school and a change of leadership though.

[RingoMcCartney]

Tomlinson banned all punishments for misbehaving students, saying, apparently , there's no such thing as naughty children and raising your voice to children wasn't permitted for staff.

Presumably then , if a child brings in a ham and cheese sandwich in their lunch box that's not naughty and they won't be told off? Surely !? No!?

[Lancasterclaret]

Hadn't spotted the date - my error there.

Hope there have been a lot of fundamental changes at that school and a change of leadership though.

Be interesting to see what a current report would look like I think its fair to say

I know its anecdotal, but one post is from someone who sent his kids there, and he's full of praise for it

I do think there is a lot of scope for a more modern? (maybe not the right word) approach to teaching primary school kids, and it can be difficult for some members of the older generations to accept (for reference, my kids are Y10 and Y8 and a lot of what they are taught is things we never were, but are essential to dealing with the difficulties and opportunities of modern life)

[duncandisorderly]

If animals didn't want to be eaten then why are they made out of food?

[fatboy47]

I smell clickbait, and suspect a more realistic picture may be something on the lines of

"" Headteacher develops culture awareness and broadens the minds of staff and pupils by promoting healthy eating alternatives for a short period. ""

There's a world of difference between banning meat and asking families to participate in the programme.
Apologies for disturbing the feeding frenzy (sic).. As you were...

[claretonthecoast1882]

Can you still get wafer thin ham

[duncandisorderly]

No, but Mr Creosote has a supply of waffer thin mints.

[Billy Balfour]

If animals didn't want to be eaten then why are they made out of food?

I bet this is what lions and crocodiles say to each other about humans.

[RingoMcCartney]

Who ate all the vegan pies ?

Screenshot_20220216-120423_Chrome.jpg (540.48 KiB) Viewed 1809 times

[LS7]

ha the outraged parents looking to move their kids to different schools. Yeah course you are. Bye bye, good luck then.

[Rowls]

Be interesting to see what a current report would look like I think its fair to say

I know its anecdotal, but one post is from someone who sent his kids there, and he's full of praise for it

I do think there is a lot of scope for a more modern? (maybe not the right word) approach to teaching primary school kids, and it can be difficult for some members of the older generations to accept (for reference, my kids are Y10 and Y8 and a lot of what they are taught is things we never were, but are essential to dealing with the difficulties and opportunities of modern life)

More modern does not equal better.

In fact, for generations now we've know that what are considered traditional teaching method are significantly superior to newer ideas like "child-centred learning".

This is borne out by test after test and result after result and yet many of these inferior teaching methods persist. Why? is the big question.

Traditional teaching methods work because the teacher has the knowledge and it is they who should instruct the children to impart this knowledge. Take something fairly easy for us to understand: Pythagorus' theorum. A child of 12 should be able to grasp the concept. Yet mankind was on the planet for hundreds of thousands of years before anybody formulated this theory. What chance would a 12 year old child have of working out the theory for themselves in a "discovery based learning environment"? Zero is the correct answer to this question. But if the teacher teaches the children the theorum they will all know it.

When we had lots of state grammar schools educating their pupils with these traditional methods the proportion and total of working class children attending good universities soared.

When we had comprehensive schools teaching with ideas based around wrong-headed modern ideas like "child-centred learning" the number of working class children attending good universities fell dramatically, as a proportion and as a total.

Many new Free Schools have reverted to teaching by proven, traditional methods (they are open to new ideas but use techniques that are proven in schools, not pure "theory") and guess what? They have started sending working class children from the poorest areas to the best universities once again.

I strongly recommend this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Teachers ... 191290621X

Here's a Guardian article on the school in question:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... of%2022%25.

The article refers to the school as "controversial". I think the adjective they were looking for is 'exceptional': (from the article) "Compared with other non-selective state schools, Michaela’s results rank among the best in the country. More than half (54%) of all grades were level 7 or above (equivalent to the old-style A and A*), which was more than twice the national average of 22%. Nearly one in five (18%) of all grades were 9s, compared with 4.5% nationally, and in maths, one in four results were level 9."

Here's a video from their Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmlUc4zTKyg

I truly believe all (state) schools in the country should be run along the same principles and with the same methods. If I ever make millions of pounds I will build and fund a state school in Burnley that looks to replicate everything this school is achieving for working class, inner-city kids in London.

[Swizzlestick]

Even the parents of children who actually go to the school and have been highly academically successful isn't enough for the hand-wringing, Talk Radio listeners and their railing against the increasingly nonsense concept of 'woke'. "Yeah, your child may have received a fantastic education but what about this ofsted report from six years ago!?". Hey and if that doesn't work and our argument has been proven to be bunk, let's post a picture of them and personally insult them instead? It just sounds like an exhausting existence.

[Rowls]

Last full Ofsted inspection was 2016 so over due for another.

They've hovered between "satisfactory", "inadequate" and "good" though the scale has changed. It's never been rated "very good".

Very possible the lockdown restrictions are the reason it hasn't had a full Ofsted inspection for 6 years.

https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/119166

[Lancasterclaret]

You got any kids Rowls?

[Rowls]

Last full Ofsted inspection was 2016 so over due for another.

They've hovered between "satisfactory", "inadequate" and "good" though the scale has changed. It's never been rated "very good".

Very possible the lockdown restrictions are the reason it hasn't had a full Ofsted inspection for 6 years.

https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/119166

"very good" should read "outstanding".

[Rowls]

You got any kids Rowls?

No.

Are they a pre-requisite for having an opinion here? I don't believe they are.

If I ever have kids I will shift Heaven and Earth to send them to a school that follows a teaching programme like the Michaela school.

I advise parents to do the same and to never ever settle for a poor school.

[RingoMcCartney]

More modern does not equal better.

In fact, for generations now we've know that what are considered traditional teaching method are significantly superior to newer ideas like "child-centred learning".

This is borne out by test after test and result after result and yet many of these inferior teaching methods persist. Why? is the big question.

Traditional teaching methods work because the teacher has the knowledge and it is they who should instruct the children to impart this knowledge. Take something fairly easy for us to understand: Pythagorus' theorum. A child of 12 should be able to grasp the concept. Yet mankind was on the planet for hundreds of thousands of years before anybody formulated this theory. What chance would a 12 year old child have of working out the theory for themselves in a "discovery based learning environment"? Zero is the correct answer to this question. But if the teacher teaches the children the theorum they will all know it.

When we had lots of state grammar schools educating their pupils with these traditional methods the proportion and total of working class children attending good universities soared.

When we had comprehensive schools teaching with ideas based around wrong-headed modern ideas like "child-centred learning" the number of working class children attending good universities fell dramatically, as a proportion and as a total.

Many new Free Schools have reverted to teaching by proven, traditional methods (they are open to new ideas but use techniques that are proven in schools, not pure "theory") and guess what? They have started sending working class children from the poorest areas to the best universities once again.

I strongly recommend this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Teachers ... 191290621X

Here's a Guardian article on the school in question:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... of%2022%25.

The article refers to the school as "controversial". I think the adjective they were looking for is 'exceptional': (from the article) "Compared with other non-selective state schools, Michaela’s results rank among the best in the country. More than half (54%) of all grades were level 7 or above (equivalent to the old-style A and A*), which was more than twice the national average of 22%. Nearly one in five (18%) of all grades were 9s, compared with 4.5% nationally, and in maths, one in four results were level 9."

Here's a video from their Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmlUc4zTKyg

I truly believe all (state) schools in the country should be run along the same principles and with the same methods. If I ever make millions of pounds I will build and fund a state school in Burnley that looks to replicate everything this school is achieving for working class, inner-city kids in London.

Your millions wouldn't be needed if , for decades, the amount of per pupil funding had been the same for kids in Burnley as it was for those in overindulgened London.

[Rowls]

Your millions wouldn't be needed if , for decades, the amount of per pupil funding had been the same for kids in Burnley as it was for those in overindulgened London.

No but I'd spend it all the same. I'd make sure it had a building as impressive as Eton and facilities to match.

I'd offer grants for umarried parents to get married, I'd offer bursaries and scholarships and run parent-education programmes alongside including cookery classes. I'd fund school trips to the Alps and beyond and instigate exchange programmes with schools in Europe and maybe even further afar. I'd ship in au pairs and run an affilliated free nursery that taught the toddlers French and German before they even started school

Of course, it's all a fantasy. I often don't even pay my rent on time. But if I ever DO become a multi-millionaire I'll happily be held to my word.

[RingoMcCartney]

Even the parents of children who actually go to the school and have been highly academically successful isn't enough for the hand-wringing, Talk Radio listeners and their railing against the increasingly nonsense concept of 'woke'. "Yeah, your child may have received a fantastic education but what about this ofsted report from six years ago!?". Hey and if that doesn't work and our argument has been proven to be bunk, let's post a picture of them and personally insult them instead? It just sounds like an exhausting existence.

I wouldn't know, but it can't possibly be as exhausting defending a headmistress who has forced her own personal world view onto her pupils and simultaneously denied parenteral and pupil choice with regards to what they're allowed to eat while on school premises.

Combine that with having undergone a senseofhumourectomy, that must be really knackering.

[Lancasterclaret]

No.

Are they a pre-requisite for having an opinion here? I don't believe they are.

If I ever have kids I will shift Heaven and Earth to send them to a school that follows a teaching programme like the Michaela school.

I advise parents to do the same and to never ever settle for a poor school.

Just checking

I'm not a fan of people who don't have kids or had kids a long time ago telling parents what is best for their kids, which is why I was surprised that the school hadn't checked first with the parents

[Lancasterclaret]

No but I'd spend it all the same. I'd make sure it had a building as impressive as Eton and facilities to match.

I'd offer grants for umarried parents to get married, I'd offer bursaries and scholarships and run parent-education programmes alongside including cookery classes. I'd fund school trips to the Alps and beyond and instigate exchange programmes with schools in Europe and maybe even further afar. I'd ship in au pairs and run an affilliated free nursery that taught the toddlers French and German before they even started school

Of course, it's all a fantasy. I often don't even pay my rent on time. But if I ever DO become a multi-millionaire I'll happily be held to my word.

Thing is Rowls, that is the job of a well funded government with a vision for how to bring up kids correctly. That is a superb vision, but it should be the same for ALL kids, not just the lucky few.

Maybe we should just agree that it should be the aim of governments to run such a system, not individual benefactors who invariably end up benefit a minority rather than the majority?

[Rowls]

Just checking

I'm not a fan of people who don't have kids or had kids a long time ago telling parents what is best for their kids, which is why I was surprised that the school hadn't checked first with the parents

I misunderstood your question - I don't have schoolage children. Margaret, Airey and Norman have all successfully fled the nest and only get small stipends these days.

[yTib]

i briefly had school dinners when at brunshaw primary.

they served up these horrible tinned burgers that were enough to turn anyone vegetarian.

needless to say i swiftly went back to packed lunches with my a-team lunchbox.

[Rowls]

Thing is Rowls, that is the job of a well funded government with a vision for how to bring up kids correctly. That is a superb vision, but it should be the same for ALL kids, not just the lucky few.

Maybe we should just agree that it should be the aim of governments to run such a system, not individual benefactors who invariably end up benefit a minority rather than the majority?

I quite agree with the first half of what you say in that governments should offer better education but all schools are never going to be equally as good or as bad as each other. There will always be better or worse schools out there.

No government should be able to stop me from spending my (fictional) money the way I want. If a millionaire wants to set up a *better* school (and it adheres to requirements like the National Curriculum) then they should be able to spend that money and open that school. After all, it will only survive if parents want to send their children to it.