A HEAD teacher who closed his school for one day so staff could fly jet off to Spain for a training course has defended the move.
Twenty-one staff at Whitegate End Primary in Chadderton, Oldham, went on the three-day weekend trip to Barcelona to 'promote creative teaching and cultural awareness' among staff.
But the excursion - which took place on a Friday to Sunday and cost around £5,600 - has drawn fierce criticism, with one grandparent claiming he was 'gobsmacked' at the move' and labelling it 'a disgrace'.
The news comes after national outrage prompted a Staffordshire college's four-day jaunt to the Costa Del Sol to be cancelled. But head at Whitegate, Adrian Guy, said this trip was on a much smaller scale and claimed it would have cost more to have held the training in this country. the UK.
"We looked at hosting the event here, but it was more expensive," he said. "And we're not talking five star. There were three to a room. The school paid for the flights and accommodation and the staff paid for food out of their own pockets."
The trip cost about £271 per person, with most the majority coming from the school's training fund. Mr Guy said most parents were well aware of the trip prior to departure. He sent a newsletter this week informing them that it had taken place.
"It was never a secret," he said. "In fact, we had some parents wishing us well before we left."
He added that the venue was chosen to 'promote creative teaching and cultural awareness among staff' and said it was a 'great success'.
"I take the development of my staff as seriously as that of my pupils," he added.
He also hit back at claims the children had missed a day's schooling and said it would be made up elsewhere.
Some criticism had centred around the timing of the trip - shortly after Oldham council threatened to axe 850 jobs. But Coun Dave Hibbert said the decision had 'nothing to do with the council'.
He added: "It was taken by the governors and that's within their responsibilities."
Coun Hibbert did say he was 'disappointed' with the trip. "I understand that the staff put their hands in their pockets and that mitigates to a certain extent," he added. "But I still don't see why they had to go to Spain. There are three hotels within walking distance of that school and I can't see how it would have been cheaper to hold it there. I can see the benefits of taking staff away from the work environment, but I would rather have seen this money stay in Chadderton."
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Head defends trip to Spain
October 07, 2008
Adrian Guy
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
ebble, manchester (07/10/2008 at 17:27)
this is how I see it (07/10/2008 at 17:47)
Why didn't they all just watch a few episodes of Please Sir and Fawlty Towers?
Mark,Radcliffe. (07/10/2008 at 18:06)
dave pickup (07/10/2008 at 19:07)
Nothing wrong with Barca though as far as culture is concerned but,apart from the fountains,there is little to do but drink at night.They should have better things to do with taxpayers'money like,er,buying books!
Beaufort (07/10/2008 at 19:25)
I was on a course last week in Buckinghamshire and the room alone was £165 per night at a discounted rate and it was shabby, the food no better than that in a cafe and a full English was £18.50 and the whole conference was £20k. This country is a rip off.
A few years back I went on a conference that was held on a Caribbean Cruise - £350 for four nights all in bar the drinks and the plane fare £347. The same four nights in Buckinghamshire with food and conference room rental £1700. Mind you all we got from the office staff when we got back was 'it's alright for you' petty narrow minded nonsense.
As for either being a jolly well no more so than having a fews beers in Buckinghamshire, except less pricey.
Edski Vega, Nottingham (07/10/2008 at 19:31)
Have fun won't you!
Andrew Woods (07/10/2008 at 19:36)
Pippa, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 19:52)
Esso Blue, Oil incorporated, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 20:33)
sallyg, Lancs (07/10/2008 at 21:01)
Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (07/10/2008 at 21:48)
Taxes are paid for a service - not for public sectors to abrogate their responsibilities when it suits them - you don't hear of A and E or the Police closing shop for "staff training"!
In this day and age when schools and Local Education Authorities are FINING parents for failing to ensure they attend school - one has to ask the question,,why aren't "teacher training days" held in the ample school holidays.
Perhaps we should FINE schools for failing to honour their side of the taxpayers bargain and TEACH our children during termtime.
You don't hear about this "teacher training day" nonsense in the private sector. They exist to teach children - not pander to the latest political fad and trendy new idea.
Joanne Johnson (07/10/2008 at 21:57)
bigsutti, chadderton (07/10/2008 at 22:11)
LogicalLion (07/10/2008 at 22:18)
Teachers need ongoing training, wether we like it or not.
I can understand the outrage over 'misuse' of taxpayers money, but this trip did work out cheaper than providing the training in the UK.
Another 'glitch' in the system?
who cares, somewhere interesting (07/10/2008 at 22:35)
Mike, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 23:15)
Mrs Pellow, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 23:18)
bigsutti, chadderton (07/10/2008 at 23:24)
Marc (07/10/2008 at 23:26)
Samantha J, Manchester (07/10/2008 at 23:43)
If you were not aware, the most successful businesses spend and invest heavily in effective staff training and I am glad this school is stepping out and being CREATIVE with its own training budget.
Regarding the cost, if a company could spend only £271 per person on a 3 day residential training or team building course then my training budget would stretch more than 5 times and I would be able to send 5 times more staff!
Perhaps some readers would rather today’s teachers are not given professional career development opportunities such as this which will inspire and influence their teaching and benefit the children.
Also, regarding the training, it was probably a lot more beneficial to 'promote creative teaching and cultural awareness' in Barcelona, a city renowned for its art, culture and education than sat in some stuffy training room. Although, I guess the Philistines among us who think that a Picasso has 5 doors and a steering wheel will certainly always disagree.
If, like any good business training proposal, this training trip was well thought out, planned and the specific business objectives met, I for one would say that my tax payers money was probably very well spent.
Perhaps this Head Teacher and his Governors need to be given more credit than some easily jumped to conclusions and negative remarks are trying to make.
Just a thought, but if any other company managers are reading this then perhaps we should be thinking of sponsoring trips like this in our local or employee’s schools. Let’s face it £6000 would be advertising money well spent. It would not only inspire and develop the teachers but at the same time make the front page of the MEN!
I can think of a few schools right now … including my daughter’s school!
steak, Manchester (08/10/2008 at 00:08)
rlfan, greater manchester (08/10/2008 at 07:04)
Good tool they are teaching my children( yes i do live in oldham & my children goto this school) how to lie just so you can do what you want.
Tezza, Tyldesley (08/10/2008 at 09:04)
This was not a holiday it was training, what do you want them to do train during the holidays? I mean would you go into work during your holidays to train? I think not
Melandra (08/10/2008 at 09:59)
Jomov (08/10/2008 at 10:19)
Some would argue that teachers could spare 3 days out of their holiday entitlement...
Is it fair that parents should use 3 of their own days?