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Original poster

Q for private school parents: Do you expect to be consulted about big changes to the school?

35 replies

Pebbles574 · 01/07/2015 12:24

I'm an old regular, but have NC for this, as a lot of friends and teachers at my DCs school would probably recognise me on here.

I'm just interested to know whether how I feel is normal, or if I just have unrealistic expectations?

Here's the context:
We had a new Head a couple of years back. He's meant to be one of the countries 'Education leaders' - well connected to Dept of Education, Exam boards yada yada yada etc
Anyway, in a short space of time he has come in and changed a number of things, many of which are quite controversial, so e.g.

  • has put in a 3 year GCSE course (so options are made at the end of Year 8)
  • has made Triple Science as good as compulsory
  • has changed holiday times, so that summer holiday is longer/ starts sooner.
  • has moved internal exams until the 3rd week after May half term, so there is only about 2-3 weeks post exams before the end of term.

These changes have all had a HUGE impact on some aspects of the school, notably all the Drama, Music, Art and extra-curricular activities which used to happen in the second half of the summer term.

There has been NO consultation with parents as far as I can see (I certainly wasn't consulted) and it all just seems to have been steam-rollered in. I know that many of the staff (especially arts/music/drama) are deeply unhappy about the changes, but don't feel it is in their power to do anything.

I am so unbelievably angry Angryabout it all, bit I daren't do anything until i calm down! We chose the school on the basis of its strength in the arts, and now it all seems to be being undermined.

Shouldn't parents be consulted first about such changes? Shouldn't there be some discussion?
The Head is very unapproachable and seems to have an 'answer' for everything.
His background prior to this was comprehensive/ state grammar, so I wonder if he doesn't understand the slightly different nature of the relationship with parents in an independent school?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pebbles574 · 01/07/2015 15:38

MillyMM - that is the bit that I find galling - 'it fundamentally changed the product'. I can't imagine anywhere else in life where you would happily fork our £30k+ a year (2 kids in independent day school) and have so little 'choice' and influence over what you have purchased.
In theory you can always leave, but of course in practice once your children are settled at a school you're reluctant to move them.

I guess I come from a business background where feedback is regarded as a gift and an opportunity to further improve your offering, rather than some unwanted interference.

I can't decide whether to just write a letter requesting that they reconsider the timing of the exams and outlining all the impacts I have seeen resulting from the later dates. And then I think, 'why bother, what's the point?' my kids will probably just get penalised in future if I do Sad.

I don't think the Governors have much of a handle on what's going on - I was talking to one at a social event last weekend and he didn't seem to know that the exam dates had changed.

OP posts:
Millymollymama · 01/07/2015 14:30

Intereting Bonsoir - but what is in the contrsct that can be challenged legally? I would anticipate that 2 or 3 year GCSEs, exam dates and compulsory triple science are not part of a contract with parents. These are decisions that can legally be made by the Head.

We actually had weekend provision taken away at our school and you cannot do anything - except leave. Some parents were happy to pay the same fees for 5 days a week. Leave on a Friday and get back on a Monday morning. Although, it is interesting to note that they probably lobbied for that and it reduced the staffing costs at the school, so the school was happy. It fundamentally changed the "product" we had purchased though.

Bonsoir · 01/07/2015 14:20

Very interesting topic. Here in France I have noticed that Parents' Associations are beginning to get their act together and challenge both schools and government bodies on changes that are implemented without proper consultation. Lawyers are getting in on the act too, providing advice about "reminding" schools etc about their contractual obligations.

Millymollymama · 01/07/2015 14:06

Our new Head sat in her office for a year and rarely went near a boarding house, let alone any parents! No-one knew who she was! Group parents action??? I bet it won't happen. People huff and puff. Some people might remove their children. A Head admit they are wrong? No - never! Staff will leave if they are not happy.

The dates of the exams were changed in our schoo; to before half term. They were previously after half term which meant the holiday was spent revising. I am with you on that one.

Original poster
Pebbles574 · 01/07/2015 13:41

Thanks - some helpful MN responses as usual Smile

Perhaps 'consulted' isn't really to be expected, but I certainly would have appreciated a better briefing and discussion before such changes were rolled in. I think the thing is that I do not trust this head - he is all smoke and mirrors and seems to shy away from discussions with parents.

My DCs aren't really at an age when I could, or should, easily move them, and I suspect they probably aren't as bothered by the changes as I am!
My biggest fear is that some of the key Arts staff will probably leave, and then our reason for choosing the school will have gone!

Does anyone have any experience of group parent action forcing Heads to back down over things (like the dates of exams, for example)?
How do you go about it?

OP posts:
iseenodust · 01/07/2015 13:21

As a parent I would not expect to be consulted on most of those issues. I would expect a letter outlining the rationale behind key changes & the perceived benefits listed. He will have consulted with the governing body and hopefully the staff.

If there really does turn out to be a huge ongoing impact on drama, music etc then it would be reasonable to say 'we have noticed a fall in the quality & quantity, what plans have you in place to bring it back up to St Exemplary School's traditional standard?'

Millymollymama · 01/07/2015 13:19

To answer your point, Pebbles, about consultation - I was never consulted about anything like this. Independent schools think they know best. I am amazed they are going for 3 year GCSE's. They must be worried about results. Do they have enough of the brightest children who definitely benefit from doing GCSEs in 2 years? They are also abandoning the normal independent school mantra of the well rounded child because so many subjects will be dropped early. This is not the sign of well educated child but it is the sign of a result driven school. Triple science is ridiculous for all too. However, with three years to do it, I guess they expect good results. I agree it does not suit more arts based students though.

All new Heads change schools. The rhetoric is one thing, the reality is something else when they get there. They do tend to tell you what is best for you, because they are the experts, and you have to suck it up. They usually take a year or so to weigh it all up and then go for the changes. They will see it as what they are paid to do and I bet the Governors have set the head performance targets -hence the changes.

We had changes to boarding at weekends - weekly boarding from full boarding (no reduction in fees - no consultation!), removal of Sunday Chapel which meant the choirs never sang on a regular basis, removal of lots of school trips (except sports ones), establishment of a Foundation Office that ran fund raising events, thereby killing the Friends Association which existed for the same reason. Did I get consultation on any of this - no - not a word until it comes out as a decision in a letter. People complain, but no-one wants to move their child when they are settled and doing well academically. The character of a school never stays still though, especially when a new head arrives. Various other characteristics of the school were changed too, but I won't list them here. It ends up being a real disappointment.

ElephantsChild · 01/07/2015 13:09

We had a big change in that the owner of the school applied for planning permission to change the building into something other than a school! We only found out by the usual planning notices and there was no 'consultation'.
At the PTA meeting we tried to offer our help and support to the headteacher. Instead of thanking us he went red-in-the-face angry and told us to back off as he didn't need us to fight his battles for him.

So don't expect to be consulted and don't expect the headteacher to be delighted at 'meddling' in his management.

Private school parents have very little power apart from to vote with their feet. It was one of the reasons why we swapped back to State as you have all sorts of statutory rights there.

balletgirlmum · 01/07/2015 12:42

Some of those changes are reasons why I opted for private education in the first place so I really wouldn't be happy if I were you.

Ladymuck · 01/07/2015 12:36

To be honest I wouldn't see any of those as necessarily "huge" changes, though I appreciate that the cumulative effect may feel that way. In fact I wouldn't expect to be "consulted" about any specific one of those items. I expect the school leadership to be able to make strategic decisions and implement them well.

Presumably it isn't actually the specific changes, but again the overall effect it is having on arts, which is an area you are particularly interested in? Some of the schools who opt for 3 year GCSE do so because it allows more time for pupils to have non-exam arts and creative lessons. I wonder whether this year the music and drama departments haven't managed to plan their year sufficiently to take account of the changes when considering when to put on shows, concerts etc. Because you can still fit everything in - it just may need to be phased slightly differently.

Certainly I would read the changes as signs that the school is trying to focus more on academics, which may not suit everyone, but wouldn't be a surprising move for a new head.