Forum Topic

Re Barbara

Hi Tamara,Barbara is very highly respected and been operating for many years, it would be in your own interest to respect her decision or you are digging a hole for yourself, not meaning to be nasty in any way as you are obviously very upset just please take time to think about what you are saying on here as it appears inappropriate.Kind Regards.

Janice Evans ● 2908d28 Comments

I will do and thank u x

Tamara Armitage ● 2905d

Good luck, let us know how you get on with this.

Janice Evans ● 2905d

I am my social worker is amazing i just dont want the kids or parents to go through this its so unfair life and school is hard enough ans this is just pure evil and she gloats in it

Tamara Armitage ● 2905d

Think Tania is right there should be procedures to follow, look into it.

Janice Evans ● 2905d

But there is. See the link I posted above.Nobody is above the law - she cannot just get rid of kids without following procedure. But, if nobody is going to challenge her she will get away with it. Tamara, I think you should challenge it. Ask her for the processes to be adhered to and if she does adhere to them, go to the Department of Education. Just because she's been there for donkey's years and is the famous Barbara Speake, doesn't mean she doesn't have to play by the rules.

Tania Bapuji ● 2905d

There isnt at the moment and she knows that its so frustrating henc why we need to get laws changed. I agree expulsion should be a last resort but not for miss speake

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

I'm sure even independent schools have to follow correct procedures regarding excluding a child. There are various steps that are taken. Expulsion is an absolute last resort. It doesn't look good on the schools record either if children are expelled. I'm sure there is also a procedure for parents who are unhappy.

Apple Leiper ● 2906d

Seriously there was nothing friday morning dropped my daughter of friday afternoon she is expelled and not allowed on school propety its so wrong how can she be allowed to run a school when she can do this to kids (there are other things but im not talking about that)

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

Most places give written warnings if not happy about something before they expel the person, yours is the first case I've heard about dealt with in this way.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

The sad thing is she has done it for years and  she has got away with it because of her reputation. We need to protect our kids and how can we do that when people of power can get away with doing what they want. Its such an amazing school and needs to be a school not someone's pram to throw toys out of if she isnt happy

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

Have you tried Stagecoach they teach young children, if they are not connected to Barbara in any way that is.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

I was interested in your post because although not knowing Barbara personally never got the impression she was a nasty or vindictive person and thought she would have had good reason for her decision, you say things were o.k. For 20 years so something went wrong.  Was just trying to get to the facts and hope you can move on from this now it often helps to discuss things and if gossips were involved it's a shame she never spoke to you about it personally.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

Thank you look im not wanting an argument the fact is by her own policy she didnt even follow and when confronted she said she can do this friday morning everything was fine friday afternoon my 6 year old was expelled miss speake listened to gossip instead of even talking to me. How is this fair for kids???

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

There are rules that independent schools need to follow and if this school isn't following the rules then they should be held to account. Useful information here: https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/complaints-to-independent-schools/

Tania Bapuji ● 2906d

Janice yes she said it was for slander but she never spoke to me she supposedly had people come to her over a period of time and talk about me but not once did she ask me not once did she talk to me, and when i wanted to talk she ignored me, so she expelled my daughter on hearsay which means she can do it to anyone how is this decent?

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

I just read your last posting which explains it was for slander.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

Well I do feel very sorry for your daughter, the school is a great opportunity for children and she is now losing out.  Was no reason given at the time to explain Barbara's decision to expel her.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

I dont think it was my fault i didn't do anything wrong i loved the school, i really dont understand what happened, that being said its happend and im over it. What im not over is the fact that independent school can just get rid of kids for no reason and no discussion. We need to protect children and laws need to be changed so outside independent bodies can get involved when such extreme and unjust measures happen.

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

Miss Speake wouldn't talk to me or answer my e mails, she only responded when my social worker got involved. I dont want my daughter to go back but i also dont want other people to go through this. She didnt have the decency to talk to me at all she supposedly listened to rumers how can you run a school and treat kids like this

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

Tamara, have you tried sending a written apology if you think it was entirely your fault.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

Hi Tamara,It's a very sad situation for your daughter and think you should be talking to Barbara to at least try to get her back there, if things are said which are detrimental to her business she can do this, children are expelled from schools all the time and if as you think it was your fault try to put things right for your daughters sake she must be very upset.

Janice Evans ● 2906d

Protecting her own intrest how is expelling an innocent 6 year old in her own intrest? Miss Speake says it was because of me but at no point did she talk to me,what right does she have to play with kids lives like this? She is very 2 faced and the kids are the ones  who suffer

Tamara Armitage ● 2906d

Hi Bob, very true but I think she is just protecting her own interests which she is fully entitled to do, as for Jimmy Saville didn't everyone think he was odd, I know I did and some film directors will take advantage if they can which will still go on I think as these girls/women are so eager to be 'famous' they put themselves in vulnerable situations.

Janice Evans ● 2907d

Whilst it may be true that Ms Speake is highly respected and her name has been in good standing for many years [I'll take your word for it] the same could have been said of Jimmy Saville and Harvey Weinstein. Being in a position of authority is no proof of virtue.

Bob Little ● 2907d

It must be in the rules when anyone joins so they should be aware.

Janice Evans ● 2907d

I am pleased for your sister and in miss speake defence i loved my time there hence sending my daughter however that dosnt give her the right to do what she does and use the fact she is an independent school to expel kids on hearsay or because she dosnt like them. How is that fair on kids knowing that they can be expelled just like that

Tamara Armitage ● 2907d

Actually my Sister attended her school many years ago and she was kind and helpful, we never heard a bad word about her and if you wanted her to reinstate your daughter this won't help the situation.  It must be very distressing for your daughter.

Janice Evans ● 2907d

thank you for your response and i don't think you are being nasty you are right she is a highly respected and has been operating for many years, i don't dispute that one bit however Do you know her personally or professionally? Have you attended her school? have you worked with her? I have.You already highlighted at the beginning Barbara is very highly respected and been operating for many years and this is my point she gets away with everything because this is how she is known to the outside world, and it is so frustrating because there have been issues with Miss Speake spanning over 30 years and the done thing has been oh well your child is out of there miss speake can legally do this so lets forget about it move on with our lives and let her keep laughing and getting away with it (which she did in front of me).Miss speake is the only stage school to take children from the age of 4, she is also independent so anything she says goes. however that does not give her the right to treat kids and parents the way she does and since she expelled my daughter and another 12 year old on the same day everyone is scared they could be next. school shouldn't be this hard and miss speake shouldn't be behaving like this.

Tamara Armitage ● 2907d