REACH pupil referral unit opened by Peter Coates

“i'm a pupil there at the moment and I joined just before Ethan. Yes I was a terror at Edensor (we both got excluded from the same place) but reach flipped it round, I'm rewarded for what they see at reach, not punished for the me a year ago.
Admittedly I do joke around but that's half the spirit of it!

At Edensor I would have achieved nothing as the teachers definately held grudges against a chosen few because they weren't good enough to teach us.
The Place was awfull really, I was demonized by them for standing up for myself when a large group of asians bullied me, the school (term used graciously) did nothing to the group that on numerous occasions attacked me, one headbutt from a white kid and i'm branded a racist.

Reach are superior in every respect, whether it's statistics your after or the fact that we pupils genuinely want to turn up to school.
Like the sign says: "Tranforming lives, through education."”

“I`m also inteersted why my name and icon have been changed!!!!”

“Do I have a vested interest?... hmm HELL yYs!!!! without question!!! its why I became a governor...I I as should you have a vested intrest in EVERY child because Every Child Matters.. On the point about Reach however, if other schools took a leaf out of Reach`s book perhaps the rest of the schools in the city wouldnt be failing in my honest opinion!

The standards that the head teacher sets, the care and nuture, the education that is recieved, surely is the standard ALL schools should be hoping for instead of satisfactory! Outstanding.. is where the mark lays !!!a sweeping statement perhaps but a true one!!!

After attending so many meetings, with teachers, heads, chairs and governors the actuality of the statement I made which i stand by, is based on solid fact!.. How ever, attend a few meetings, join your local schools gvoerning body, I dare you.. see what the reality of the schooling is like!! instead of the rose tinted history fo education! and then maybe, we could all benefit from your armchair advice?..maybe.”

“It's about time REACH got a building that matches their results and their potential. I am fortunate enough to have known the REACH team since it began 6 years ago and what a team they are. They do the most incredible job and work with some of the most vulnerable young people in the city many of whom have been faced challenges beyond school, have been failed by the education system and 'judged' by their community. REACH invest time and support in building the confidence and self image of the young people to help them believe in their potential to make something of themselves. REACH do this through support, challenge, care and respect for every student. The staff invest hours beyond the school day to work with families, support children in their homes and communities and generally 'look out for them'! Their work isn't done at 3.30pm they go on caring and supporting at the end of the school day and when children leave, they maintain contact and support. I have also been fortunate enough to know many of the young people, past and present. Since REACH opened 100% of young people either go to employment or training at 16 and some of them volunteer their time to mentor students in their position in between their jobs and studies.

REACH I applaud the magic you work everyday in supporting young people to transform their lives. Ofsted judged you to be outstanding and you most certainly are. An oustanding secondary education provider in Stoke- shouldn't we all be celebrating????????”

“@ StokeGovernor...Thats a pretty sweeping statement isn't it ? " Who would think in smokey Stoke where teachers WANT to come to work"...so thats the only school teachers want to teach in ? You obviously have a vested interest in the place ! Sure teachers in other schools where they are overstretched will love to read this !”

“In my day and i'm in my 40's,if you misbehaved in school you got the cane or in our case,a ruler across the hand,you can bet that we didn't do it again.My parents were tough on us and we all managed to grow up without relying on benefits or turning to crime.The problem lies with all these do gooders in society that let children "call the shots"..
I still maintain that "bad children" get treated a whole lot better than those that just get on with it quietly.
I also very much believe that any youngster not in work or education should have a taste of military life........”

“Its not just the badly behaved!... Not all square pegs will fit in round holes and EVERY child matters.. This building is just bricks and morter the true strength here lies squarely with the leadership and staff of Reach!, The standards of the build will be spread accross the city to All schools in the system they say, bu tthe reason that PRU exists is to give that every child matters, a chance a second chance in some cases yes but a chance .. some of the pupils that attended the opening day where amazing in their outlook, but just as importantly the teaching staff, i had the chance to speak to where just as enthusiastic!. who would have think in smokey stoke a school where teachers WANT to come to work? to enjoy their work teaching?... Well done Reach and all the PRU / PRS staff for a wonderfull opening day and a hope of many years to come...”

“Motherhens right.
Rewards for bad behaviour only breed more bad behaviour.
It wont change until all the liberal dogooders are chucked out of influential positions.
Bring back national service and corporal punishment.
Some chance of that happening.”

“MotherHen2010, I initially thought the same as you. But, what's the alternative - let them disrupt normal classes then watch them turn to benefits or crime?
This is a great second chance and any pupil wasting such an opportunity should then be sent to the salt mines, or worse.
BTW, I do hope this isn't a PFI building that my grandkids will still be paying for.”

“How nice.behave badly -get taught in lovely new surroundings in small groups.Behave well - get taught in cramped classrooms in groups of 25 to 30 !!!!!!!!”