Minerva Education group or other Private Equity funded schools

[aliperi]

Hello,

Can I ask if any of you have children that attend one of the schools recently purchased by Minerva Education UK or any other private equity backed group? If so, what is your experience how much did it change the way the school was run? Did the fees go up? Did the ethos changed?
My DD school has just been bought by Minerva education and it is worrying, as it was non-profit making before. Many thanks!

[MmeMorrible]

My DCs prep was purchased by the Cognita group about 3 years ago. Initially, the change was not that noticeable but over time it is becoming more obvious that the school is now part of a larger group. Before the sale, school was owned by the Head and had a real family feel to it. The head retired a year after the sale and the school is a lot more 'corporate' now.

On the positive side, there has been a good level of capital investment in the school - new classrooms, new flooring for the hall, better car parking and lighting, new kitchen equipment etc.

[springalong]

Hi, just in a similar position. The owner of Minerva has set up other education consortia, one of which has just bought a school that my DS may attend. So I would be interested to hear how you feel 6 months on. I have had feedback that the capital investment might be good (in some of the other schools owned) but that the leadership and teaching has deteriorated which is not good.