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Regrets, I have a few...
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| John Nash |
FOR three days last month, Poole's John Nash became a household name.
The face of the director of children's services at the Borough of Poole was beamed into millions of homes on TV news, his words heard on national radio and read in daily newspapers.
He was at the centre of a media storm after the Daily Echo revealed the council was using laws aimed at fighting terrorism to snoop on families suspected of abusing school places.
Jenny Paton, partner Tim Joyce and their three children were put under surveillance for almost three weeks to check if they lived in the catchment area of Lilliput First School, where they had applied for a place for their three-year-old.
Now the squall has passed and the media circus moved on, there is time to reflect for the man who in August will leave the borough after five years to become director of children's services at Dorset County Council.
"I regret the fuss around the whole business of the use of the RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act)," he said.
"I really regret the media interest in it and that we found ourselves in the eye of the storm and the impact that probably had on the reputation of the council. It's a good council," he said.
"I regret the school found themselves in the eye of the spotlight, I regret the parents found themselves in that spotlight," he said. "Having said that, I did my best to represent our side of the story."
That involved endless rounds of TV, radio and newspaper interviews. "It was a scary experience. It flowed. It went. And by Saturday lunchtime it had gone. It took three days out of my working life which I am still trying to get back."
He added: "Waking up to Frederick Forsyth on Saturday morning taking the mick on the Today programme, was not the best way to wake up."
The whole policy of using the RIPA in such a way is due to be scrutinised by councillors in June - and the furore came after he had applied for his new job.
"My leaving has nothing to do with that at all. It is a new opportunity to lead a bigger service," said the 57-year-old grandfather.
He has enjoyed his time at Poole and the former history teacher, deputy head, school inspector, chief adviser and director of education has chalked up a number of successes.
Schools for the Future is a massive undertaking to regularise the age of transfer, which will not be complete until 2013, Ofsted's joint area revue of children's services gave a "good" rating and Poole is the only local authority in the south west with no schools with a budget deficit.
Mr Nash arrived in Poole in 2003 as director of education and in 2005 became director of children's services, which he says is potentially the most important and valuable change in his 35-year career.
"The idea that you get all the agencies working together to support children who have difficulties and focusing on the child together, should enable us to raise standards in schools.
"The thing about schools is that's most people's main shot at a decent standard of living, and a fulfilling life comes through this thing called school.
"If it doesn't work it's hard to make up the lost ground," said Mr Nash, who is committed to ensuring that it does work.
7:00pm Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Benjamin, Hamworthy on 7:13am Sat 10 May 08
We regret the use of such methods by you and the Council.
We regret the use of such methods by you and the Council.
Posted by: Horse with no Name, Dorset on 9:18am Sat 10 May 08
Good Luck Mr Nash.
Good points were a start to move to a single age of transfer to secondary.
An intelligent education based leadership.
Bad points trying to inflict change through the back door.
Using the RIPA Laws was really an abuse of powers meant for more serious issues and now disrespected when used for real dangers.
Combination of several infant and middle schools also resulted in worse outcomes in every case “Canford Heath be warned”. Good idea but badly implemented by an underpowered authority.
The loss of management within the combined schools not compensated for by better use of resources.
You could have laid out the case for a fairer system we think you believe in ,Our councillors would obstruct it but your leadership would have been an example.
Poole would now benefit by following you and combining with Dorset.
The smallness of the Poole authority could be an advantage but in truth small vested interests will always prevent the required changes.
A combination with Dorset would return us to our historic educational base and reduce the power of our local despots.
Keep up the good work and don't let the weak suffer to achieve the higher goal.
Good Luck Mr Nash.
Good points were a start to move to a single age of transfer to secondary.
An intelligent education based leadership.
Bad points trying to inflict change through the back door.
Using the RIPA Laws was really an abuse of powers meant for more serious issues and now disrespected when used for real dangers.
Combination of several infant and middle schools also resulted in worse outcomes in every case “Canford Heath be warned”. Good idea but badly implemented by an underpowered authority.
The loss of management within the combined schools not compensated for by better use of resources.
You could have laid out the case for a fairer system we think you believe in ,Our councillors would obstruct it but your leadership would have been an example.
Poole would now benefit by following you and combining with Dorset.
The smallness of the Poole authority could be an advantage but in truth small vested interests will always prevent the required changes.
A combination with Dorset would return us to our historic educational base and reduce the power of our local despots.
Keep up the good work and don't let the weak suffer to achieve the higher goal.
Posted by: laurie marsh, australia on 9:37am Sat 10 May 08
MR. NASH "REGRETS".
IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY THING HE REGRETS IS BEING SHOWN UP TO BE THE WANNA BE BIG BROTHER THAT HE IS!
THIS THING CALLED SCHOOL IS ABOUT LEARNING, NOT ABOUT BEING THE PERSON SPYING ON CHILDREN!
IT IS A PITY THAT HE DID NOT LEARN THAT WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL!
I BET THE CLASS "SNITCHES" DID WELL WHEN HE RAN A CLASS!
MR. NASH "REGRETS".
IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY THING HE REGRETS IS BEING SHOWN UP TO BE THE WANNA BE BIG BROTHER THAT HE IS!
THIS THING CALLED SCHOOL IS ABOUT LEARNING, NOT ABOUT BEING THE PERSON SPYING ON CHILDREN!
IT IS A PITY THAT HE DID NOT LEARN THAT WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL!
I BET THE CLASS "SNITCHES" DID WELL WHEN HE RAN A CLASS!
Posted by: mcl, Bournemouth on 9:51pm Sat 10 May 08
go for it Mr Nash, improve schools, and then who cares what Frederick Forsyth of all people says. Actions speak louder...
go for it Mr Nash, improve schools, and then who cares what Frederick Forsyth of all people says. Actions speak louder...
Posted by: RM, Poole, Dorset on 10:47am Sun 11 May 08
It does, unfortunately, read as though Mr Nash's regrets are at being found out for misuse of power rather than for misusing that power. What has the official Council report on it been? Anybody know? Ironic too that after being involved in something like this scandal, he's now moving on to bigger & better things. An example of the Peter Principle?
It does, unfortunately, read as though Mr Nash's regrets are at being found out for misuse of power rather than for misusing that power. What has the official Council report on it been? Anybody know? Ironic too that after being involved in something like this scandal, he's now moving on to bigger & better things. An example of the Peter Principle?
Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 6:01pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]laurie marsh[/bold] wrote:
MR. NASH "REGRETS".
IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY THING HE REGRETS IS BEING SHOWN UP TO BE THE WANNA BE BIG BROTHER THAT HE IS!
THIS THING CALLED SCHOOL IS ABOUT LEARNING, NOT ABOUT BEING THE PERSON SPYING ON CHILDREN!
IT IS A PITY THAT HE DID NOT LEARN THAT WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL!
I BET THE CLASS "SNITCHES" DID WELL WHEN HE RAN A CLASS![/quote] Why always "shouting".You do like to be the big man ?Stay over there,we have enough loudmouths here already.
laurie marsh wrote:
MR. NASH "REGRETS".
IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY THING HE REGRETS IS BEING SHOWN UP TO BE THE WANNA BE BIG BROTHER THAT HE IS!
THIS THING CALLED SCHOOL IS ABOUT LEARNING, NOT ABOUT BEING THE PERSON SPYING ON CHILDREN!
IT IS A PITY THAT HE DID NOT LEARN THAT WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL!
I BET THE CLASS "SNITCHES" DID WELL WHEN HE RAN A CLASS!
Why always "shouting".You do like to be the big man ?Stay over there,we have enough loudmouths here already.
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