Tag: disability

The child had been through a tough few years and would have benefited massively from Wessex Youth Orchestra membership, but was refused

(Post made at 1602 GMT on 16 Mar 2019 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This child was older than his/her peers in Wessex Middle Strings due to having had to take significant time off from school for medical reasons, but was a loyal, enthusiastic and regular attendee … Continue reading The child had been through a tough few years and would have benefited massively from Wessex Youth Orchestra membership, but was refused →

When I wrote this article last year, I had Bournemouth and Poole College’s poor treatment of this child in mind

(Post made at 0231 GMT on 29 Dec 2018 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). When I wrote last year about a young deaf violinist but didn't feel able to recommend the Wessex Youth Orchestra or Centre for Wessex Young Musicians, I had this case (and one more) in … Continue reading When I wrote this article last year, I had Bournemouth and Poole College’s poor treatment of this child in mind →

The parents did everything possible – but the Wessex Youth Orchestra and Bournemouth and Poole College let their child down badly

(Post made at 1234 GMT on 10 Nov 2018 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This is a follow up to this post. I cried when I read the email turning down the child's application to join the WYO Shortly after finding out that the family were leaving the … Continue reading The parents did everything possible – but the Wessex Youth Orchestra and Bournemouth and Poole College let their child down badly →

Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (2: very insensitive treatment of disabled pupil & family)

(Post made at 1150 GMT on 10 Nov 2018 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This is a follow up to this post. This is just part of the evidence that I presented to the College and the “Independent Investigator” during my formal complaint of May 2017.  Evidence which … Continue reading Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (2: very insensitive treatment of disabled pupil & family) →

Bournemouth and Poole deserves a College (that shares its name) with far better management and accountability

(Post made at 1620 UK BST time on 6 Oct 2018 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This site now has a proper domain: https://improvebpcollege.com. I'm proud of Bournemouth and have loved living here for just over 20 years now. It is a matter of great concern and shame … Continue reading Bournemouth and Poole deserves a College (that shares its name) with far better management and accountability →

In my opinion View HR Ltd helped Bournemouth and Poole College (and CWYM) cover up extremely poor behaviour

(Post made at 1145 UK BST time on 30 Sep 2018 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This shows a sequence of Tweets addressed openly to View HR Ltd (the company which conducted the "independent investigation" into my formal complaint - and that of my wife - to … Continue reading In my opinion View HR Ltd helped Bournemouth and Poole College (and CWYM) cover up extremely poor behaviour →

"Even though I’m deaf, it does not mean I can’t play the violin!": a touching, but also troubling story

(Post made at 2110 on 24 Dec 2017 in a personal capacity.  Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). I must confess to ignorance here: I knew about virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, but before reading a recent article in the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) magazine, I did not know that deaf people could … Continue reading "Even though I’m deaf, it does not mean I can’t play the violin!": a touching, but also troubling story →