School keeps pupils on the straight and narrow
A NEW day at Harrop Fold School brought a new set of challenges on last night’s episode of Educating Greater Manchester.
The latest instalment of the hit Channel 4 documentary honed in on some of the kids struggling to stay on their best behaviour.
And as usual, head of behaviour Mr Chambers was tasked with keeping them in line.
Year nine student Vincent admitted he has ‘a short attention span like a frog’ and has trouble concentrating in class.
Just as staff were getting to the end of their tether, a chance to prove himself came along in the form of the school council.
Headteacher Mr Povey encouraged Vincent to seize the opportunity and turn his fortunes around.
Meanwhile, a strong smell of cannabis in the corridor prompted Mr Chambers to sniff out the culprits.
One of the suspects was year eight Kayden, who in his own words finds it ‘hard not to mess about’.
Kayden’s mum was called in to discuss his bad behaviour with Mr Chambers, who refused to give up on the youngster.
The behaviour team came up with an action plan to get him back on track.
Another pupil struggling was Kimberley, whose older brother was facing jail for a drugs-related offence.
The pupil support team and Kimberley’s mum and dad tried to keep her focussed on her studies.
There’s never a dull moment at Harrop Fold in Little Hulton.
In 2004, Ofsted inspectors described students as ‘intimidating, rowdy, and unruly’.
By 2010 it was rated ‘good’, but inspectors were concerned about some pupils’ ‘unruly’ behaviour. In 2013’s inspection, it was rated ‘good’ in all areas.
Mr Povey, who joined as assistant head in 2005 and has been head since 2010, says he is proud of the progress the school has made.
Educating Greater Manchester is on at 9pm on Thursday nights on Channel 4.