Mrs TP Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Does anyone know why the head is leaving? This came as a bit of a bolt out of the blue and in her letter to parents she refers to 'stepping aside for a younger person', which seems such an odd thing to say especially as she is 10+ yrs off retirement. No mention of a better offer or lifestyle change, which leads me to wonder has she been pushed? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzisoo Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Do you mean Sydenham girls or Sydenham high? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825161 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs TP Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 Sydenham School the state girls' school, poss previously called Syd Girls. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825165 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhamnousia Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 God Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825787 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Rhamnousia Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> During her relatively short tenure at Sydenham,> staff morale plummeted, many experienced and> valued staff left and results consequently> declined. I interpret her imminent departure as> 'jumping before being pushed'. How do you know all this?> Hopefully the> Governors will recognise their folly in having> appointed her and recruit a better quality> replacement.Why was it "folly" to recruit her? I assume there is a recruitment process and she came out on top. You can't always tell how a person is going to get on in real life, her CV may look great. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825865 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs TP Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Oh dear I was certainly not aware of staff morale plummeting. In any walk of life a new person at the top inevitably leads to movement below - you see it anyway and everywhere for a whole variety of reasons. Frequent movement is also a feature of city secondary schools. But at Sydenham there has also been a hugely stable teaching element.I just find it hard to believe she is not staying to see the works finished or to see at least her first intake cohort through their GCSEs. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825963 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhamnousia Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 How I know 'it' is not really relevant. What is more important is I do know it. Folly can always be recognised in retrospect and it would be reassuring for Governors to recognise this and ensure the recruitment process is more rigorous and effective this time around. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-825983 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisa May Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 It is relevant how you know 'it'. You've published a statement that is damaging to someone's reputation, which, if false, is libel. So your evidence is key. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826297 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 ofsted said Leadership was 'outstanding' in 2013 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826366 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Quite right Louisa May.And "Hopefully the Governors will recognise their folly in having appointed her and recruit a better quality replacement." Suggests that the actual act of recruiting her was folly, like they went "wehey, lets appoint this really bad person for a laugh", which I very much doubt.Basically Rhamnousia you come across as someone with an axe to grind and a personal agenda. You won't explain yourself, so I think we should all take your posts on this with a pinch of salt. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826368 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetducks Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I have two daughters at Sydenham and all of our dealings with the Head have been excellent. It's a real loss to the school that she's going. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826376 Share on other sites More sharing options...
confusedbyitall Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I also have a daughter at Sydenham and thought Ms Unsted an excellent leader and a pleasure to deal with. I spoke with her tonight (parents evening) and asked her whether she was "pushed" or retiring as she stated....she told me definitely not pushed and that her very elderly mother and a school {with an 8 form intake each year} was just too much for her to deal with - at her age - her words not mine! (by the way she looks amazing)Many secondary schools have a high turnover of teachers, Harris, Kingsdale etc. sometimes having someone new in is time to get rid of the cruisers...She will be missed and her replacement has a lot to live up to.Edited to add that results have been going up!!! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhamnousia Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Really Otta, libel? Not even close! And confusedbyitall - you really are confused. In 2014, The benchmark 5 GCSE including English and Maths results were down 11% on 2013 results. It is a real stretch of the imagination to believe that a headteacher who presides over this decline in results has done an effective job.But hey, confusedbyital as long as she looks good, that's the main thing! http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=100741 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826545 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveR Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 "Really Otta, libel? Not even close"Are you familiar with the concept of innuendo meaning? What do you think the average reader would understand you to be saying about the competence and/or character of the head in your first post? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826568 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 For the record I didn't say anything about libel, that was another poster.I said"Basically Rhamnousia you come across as someone with an axe to grind and a personal agenda. You won't explain yourself, so I think we should all take your posts on this with a pinch of salt."And I'll stick with that.Not like a single other person has agreed with you. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826625 Share on other sites More sharing options...
intexasatthe moment Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The thread's first post asked if anyone knew why the head was leaving and speculated that she may have been pushed It seems a bit contrary to jump so hard on the person responding to those questions . Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826628 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I didn't immediately jump on them, I asked nicely how s/he knew these things that they were saying. They then said it didn't matter how they knew, they just knew. Which in my opinion is not worthy of being taken seriously. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826634 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curmudgeon Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I was extremely attracted to Sydenham school in part due to the head who I was immensely impressed with. As a secondary data manager I saw nothing in the DFE reports over the last few years to cause any alarms to ring. I wish her well and hope the replacement headteacher continues to make Sydenham School a success. I am extremely hopeful that on Monday I will discover that my daughter will be in their next year 7 cohort. Excellent school, excellent facilities, lovely students. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826654 Share on other sites More sharing options...
confusedbyitall Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Well said Curmudgeon! Rhamnousia - you come across has someone with a massive chip on your shoulder. If you look at the data you posted across both the LA and all England results dropped between 13 and 14. Sydenham is well above average, with the intake it has its inspirational. The teachers, kids are all amazing, perhaps your an ex pupil who feels hard done by....your arguments are not worth much to me or the other thousands of kids , parents and teachers that will miss Ms Unsted. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
newboots Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rhamnousia was obviously unaware of the shakeup in GCSE results across the country in 2014 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/gcse-results-2014-inquiry-as-teachers-express-shock-at-variations-in-grades-9684456.html Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826940 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhamnousia Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Dear Ms Unsted fans,I am so happy that you see her leadership as a success! I am particularly happy because you can only be ecstatic about the performance of her successor - who can only be better. They may not have such a handy line in small talk, always have their hair perfectly tinted or be so consummately made up. However, they may possibly be able to achieve the same standards as other local schools such as Bonus Pastor, up 3% to 67% or prendergast Hilly Fields, up 3% to 77% (despite the changes to GCSE's. Also I am hoping the new Head won't send out any appalling ageist messages about 'making way for a younger person', when her pupils are likely to have to work until 70. Good luck to you all, teachers, parents and especially students. I am off to hone my axe and to see if I can get that cip surgically removed. xx Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826957 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rhamnousia definitely not coming across like a petulant (wo)man-child with massive chip on shoulder - and that is even if we allow for the fact that everything (s)he says MIGHT be factually correct. (S)he still sounds like an immature individual Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-826964 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curmudgeon Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Troll account set up just for this thread Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-827059 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bawdy-nan Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 One of the things I found extremely impressive about the head when I visited the school was that she was the only school leader who talked about actively encouraging ALL students to stay on for sixth form. Her attitude to the idea of education was inspiring. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-827066 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdaDoom Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I'm wondering if anyone knows any more about this now? Just found out our daughter will be going in Septwmber and we're all delighted so hope this isn't something less than positive to be concerned about. Has a replacement been appointed? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/54686-head-leaving-sydenham-school/#findComment-827866 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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