Pupils back head over ‘exam wall’ (From The Oxford Times)

"Mr Harris said: "To see students bouncing back and demonstrating what they are proud of in the school is really positive""

Just looking at previous postings from XxXTayTayXxX stating "The whole idea wasn’t Mr Harris and it wasn’t done the way he thought it should have been, also his son is in my year so he has a large understand of the sisuation (sic)"

A demonstration takes place with a nice banner and Oxford Mail tipped off because no one surely knows where Larkmead actually is situated- let's take a stab at this: Mr Harris embarressed by the coverage that seems to be worldwide (it's here in Ireland -- ) under pressure from Governors and Authorities tries to spin this out through his son's network? Looks a bit staged? Top marks for the idea though it'll probably work and you've had your picture in the press rather than on a wall - named and shamed round the world.

This damned idea was put at my secondary school here in the early 00s. It was laughed at.

Well, would you believe it? Someone at Larkmead clearly has contacts at the OM. This is a biased article with only one aim; to show support for this Muppet. There was just ONE pupil who wrote in support on the previous article against 25 readers who did not.

I find this kind of sycophantic journalism nauseating.I hope to see an equal number of positive stories in this newspaper about all three Abingdon state secondary schools in the future if the OM is to prove it isn't playing favourites.

If Harris had any dignity he would have allowed this story to quietly die down instead of going running to the press with his sob-story.

Feelingsmatter wrote:
Well, would you believe it? Someone at Larkmead clearly has contacts at the OM. This is a biased article with only one aim; to show support for this Muppet. There was just ONE pupil who wrote in support on the previous article against 25 readers who did not.

I find this kind of sycophantic journalism nauseating.I hope to see an equal number of positive stories in this newspaper about all three Abingdon state secondary schools in the future if the OM is to prove it isn't playing favourites.

If Harris had any dignity he would have allowed this story to quietly die down instead of going running to the press with his sob-story.

This was the students' idea. The four students mentioned in the article and myself set this all up by ourselves with no help of the teachers, to show our support to the head like it says in the headline.

Also I assume that if the other state schools did something good, then they would be in the OM. So it's not the OM's fault that there may be more positive stories about one of the schools.

Jason, other schools DO have many good things happening to them, they just don't get it in the papers!! How did THIS story get in the papers? Why did the OM publish it? Why weren't other people asked what they thought? It's all in one direction, and knowing some of your fellow pupils personally I am very confident that there are parents and pupils who do not agree with you. They should have had the right to reply, as Mr. Harris' supporters did in the original story.

Freedom of the press is a vital part of our society but it doesn't work if bias is shown. I am still horrified that any teacher could think that a rogues gallery would "motivate" students, and if it had happened to me I would have been mortified. Mr. Harris is the leader of your teachers and therefore sets the tone and must accept responsibility. The fact that you don't wish to have the good name of your school dragged through the mud is entirely understandable, but I really think this story should have been left as it was; balanced and fair.

**baitin** wrote:
"Mr Harris said: "To see students bouncing back and demonstrating what they are proud of in the school is really positive""

Just looking at previous postings from XxXTayTayXxX stating "The whole idea wasn’t Mr Harris and it wasn’t done the way he thought it should have been, also his son is in my year so he has a large understand of the sisuation (sic)"

A demonstration takes place with a nice banner and Oxford Mail tipped off because no one surely knows where Larkmead actually is situated- let's take a stab at this: Mr Harris embarressed by the coverage that seems to be worldwide (it's here in Ireland -- ) under pressure from Governors and Authorities tries to spin this out through his son's network? Looks a bit staged? Top marks for the idea though it'll probably work and you've had your picture in the press rather than on a wall - named and shamed round the world.

This damned idea was put at my secondary school here in the early 00s. It was laughed at.

Actually it was planned, prepared and carried out by 5 year 11 students alone. I know this because I AM one of the yr. 11 students that planed it. We had very little help from any of the staff at our school apart from one member of staff which helped to contact the press while we were in our lessons, she told them what WE as the students planning this told her to tell them also she told them to all call back as well to speak to us. Apart from this, it was all OUR work. We spent our whole weekend planning this and most of both break and lunch speaking to press.

Of course Mr H was embarrassed by this, he was getting death threats from some people, but he also had full support from our school governors. Also his son had nothing to do with the protest. It was not staged; it was to get our schools reputation back to how it should be.

Feelingsmatter wrote:
Well, would you believe it? Someone at Larkmead clearly has contacts at the OM. This is a biased article with only one aim; to show support for this Muppet. There was just ONE pupil who wrote in support on the previous article against 25 readers who did not.

I find this kind of sycophantic journalism nauseating.I hope to see an equal number of positive stories in this newspaper about all three Abingdon state secondary schools in the future if the OM is to prove it isn't playing favourites.

If Harris had any dignity he would have allowed this story to quietly die down instead of going running to the press with his sob-story.

I am one of the the students that planned this and if this is biased so was the other artical because if you look on all the other version of the first artical you would see alot more students complained then you may think. Neither artical is completely baised there just from two different view points, this is from the majority of students which had me nd 4 friends willing to stand up for what we believe in.

Feelingsmatter wrote:
Jason, other schools DO have many good things happening to them, they just don't get it in the papers!! How did THIS story get in the papers? Why did the OM publish it? Why weren't other people asked what they thought? It's all in one direction, and knowing some of your fellow pupils personally I am very confident that there are parents and pupils who do not agree with you. They should have had the right to reply, as Mr. Harris' supporters did in the original story.

Freedom of the press is a vital part of our society but it doesn't work if bias is shown. I am still horrified that any teacher could think that a rogues gallery would "motivate" students, and if it had happened to me I would have been mortified. Mr. Harris is the leader of your teachers and therefore sets the tone and must accept responsibility. The fact that you don't wish to have the good name of your school dragged through the mud is entirely understandable, but I really think this story should have been left as it was; balanced and fair.

Mr H's supporters did not have a chance to reply in the origanal artical and it WASN'T balanced and fair! We got it into the papers this time because we worked hard for what we believe in.If we had a chance to say what we wanted in the origanal acrital this wouldnt have happened.

umm id just like to point out my name was spelt wrong, its Leanne Revell not Rebell thought I do prefer Rebell xx

Actually! I am the student who organised this protest! Mr harris HAD NOTHING to do with it! It wasnt to show support for the board! It was to show support for the school!! We believe we go to a good school, and a minor little incident doesnt mean that we should have our name dragged through the dirt!!

Feelingsmatter wrote:
Jason, other schools DO have many good things happening to them, they just don't get it in the papers!! How did THIS story get in the papers? Why did the OM publish it? Why weren't other people asked what they thought? It's all in one direction, and knowing some of your fellow pupils personally I am very confident that there are parents and pupils who do not agree with you. They should have had the right to reply, as Mr. Harris' supporters did in the original story.

Freedom of the press is a vital part of our society but it doesn't work if bias is shown. I am still horrified that any teacher could think that a rogues gallery would "motivate" students, and if it had happened to me I would have been mortified. Mr. Harris is the leader of your teachers and therefore sets the tone and must accept responsibility. The fact that you don't wish to have the good name of your school dragged through the mud is entirely understandable, but I really think this story should have been left as it was; balanced and fair.

Well, maybe its in the press because we contacted them, and they thought it was a good story?

Nobody is saying that Mr. Harris organised the protest, so please read my comment again, but what I AM saying is that this is NOT a balanced article. Support is not universal for Mr. Harris, and those who disagree with you should have been allowed their chance to speak.

Bella, you are quite rightly proud of your school, but any dragging through the dirt has been exacerbated by this article as nobody appreciates such bias, apart from those who support Mr. Harris.

It's just a shame that your teachers thought it was a good idea to put photographs of pupils up and humiliate them in the first place as if this upsets just one person then it is one too many. It is an indefensible action and one which quite rightly got your school negative attention. I do wonder whether you would have organised such a show of support if your face had been plastered on the canteen wall.

XxX, you made me laugh! I agree; Rebell sounds much more appropriate! Good luck with your exams all of you, and I hope this hasn't been too much of a distraction.

That's my point, Bella. No one who opposed your view had the chance to contribute.

Anyhow, Mr. Harris should be very grateful and proud of his pupils.

Baitin - where are you hearing that Mr Harris is coming under pressure from the governors?

I am a governor of LMS and have heard no such misgivings. My view is that Chris Harris is an excellent Head who has really turned around the performance of Larkmead school over the last 7 years.

I hope he will continue to try new ideas to motivate and encourage our students to achieve tge best results they can both for themselves and the school. If you try new things occassionally they wont work as they are intended but Chris has quickly identified this and rectified the situation.

I sincerely hope he and his team will continue to introduce new ideas and lead lms and it's students to greater success. He certainly has my support and I'm sure that of the governing body as a whole in continuing this journey.

Can I say how proud I was to read (and hear from my daughter) of the support that Mr Harris has received from the students - I think this speaks volumes for them as individuals and the spirit of the school as a whole.


Can I also say

Thankyou! :) x

I think it's fantastic that the pupils have come out in support of Mr Harris. He was my english teacher some 20 years ago at Larkmead and was exemplary in his enthusiasm, fairness and well to be honest every other attribute that relates to his profession. This is a man who changed from a much more lucrative profession to teaching because he wanted to make a difference and I and am sure many others found him inspiring.