Tudor Hall, banbury

Agree with @JollyHolly246 - The leadership at TH is toxic (lots of complaints of staff bullying) and financially incompetent. The roll of students has fallen dramatically since the new headmistress took over. The girls are lovely, but the arrogance of the leadership is gob smacking. I was told "oh it's a great school, the girls even mix with boys from ETON and some ROYALS went here..." (Spoiler - I was more keen on the education aspect, which wasn't deemed as important...)

You'll have seen TH commenting further up this thread. That's because they employ a PR agency to rebut the negative comments about them. It says something that they need to have this measure in place...

TH has lost the magic it once had and I'd be surprised if it was still around in 5 years time.

As a Tudor parent, I’m really pleased with our choice, although I am concerned about the fees, especially since VAT’s been added. My knowledge regarding Carrdus/prep situation is limited, however I think Tudor made the right, and probably, only choice. It seems to me that Carrdus has been heavily subsidised for years by Tudor parents. Personally, I wouldn’t be happy for that to continue whilst I have to struggle to send my own daughter there.

I am really hoping that their costs can be brought down somewhat so we can continue to send our daughter there.

I wouldn’t touch Tudor hall if I were looking. It has just ruined a prep school that it owns. The way they act is appalling!

@Muchtoomuchtodo , sorry I saw you are already there.

@Muchtoomuchtodo , check out @Oxfordshiremother 's thread in the Boarding school section of MN, it's quite near the top of the posts.

Wow! I had no idea that private schools monitor threads on Mumsnet and reply directly! Seems quite odd to me.

The post by @Toobusytocare is also concerning, perhaps another member of staff, but then with a user name like that I would steer clear!!

All very interesting as we start to consider options for our dc going forwards.

@Oxfordshiremother We were very sorry to read that you are concerned with the staffing in our boarding houses at Tudor Hall. We would really welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you directly and so please do get in touch via [email protected]

The governor in question has behaved unprofessionally and I hope the Chair pulls them into line. Governors should not be engaging in tittle tattle like that.

Ok, slightly less shocking if it’s not all teaching/boarding staff but still a lot.

I hear whispers that the new head is not overly popular but it’s very hard to tell. Wendy was always going to be impossible to follow.

@AppleKatie agree it does seem high. I didn’t think it was as many as 30 but I won’t argue if it came from a governor. But I do know that some of those changes are admin and support side etc it’s not all teaching staff.

I know Tudor of old and I’ve always loved the school.

I didn’t know there were 30 new staff for September- if that’s true that’s a shockingly high number in a school the size of Tudor. I’m a bit aghast at that to be honest.

@Oxfordshiremother the username boogliewpogpiepiggywiththeoink isn’t very Tudor 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Oxfordshiremother no 🤣 just a happy parent. 😁

@Oxfordshiremother that was part of a newsletter to current parents. There are indeed quite a few staff changes for this September - but all good. Sad to see some of them go but the good ones are leaving for personal and/or logistical reasons. Great idea to try and make contact with the new HM.

@bonjovifan35 sorry to hear that! XXX

@Oxfordshiremother don’t panic! This is an excerpt from the summer update from the Head:

“Ceri Angell will be leaving the School at the end of August. I would like to thank her for her contribution to Tudor during her time with us and wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

We are very pleased to have appointed Mrs Grainne Dennison to lead the IIIs from September. Mrs Dennison brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of girls’ boarding. After teaching Law at university, she began teaching at an all-girls boarding school and over the last twelve years has taught History and English and run a boarding house. She will be supported by her husband, Mr Matthew Dennison, our new Head of History and Politics. They are excited to be joining the Tudor community and are looking forward to meeting the girls on their return in September.”

I know it must feel unsettling but honestly the staff are great and I’m confident that this new head of IIIs will be a fab addition. Julie Lodrick (the Head) only started in January 2022 - and there are always staff changes for a couple of years or so after a new head takes over from a long-standing one (and Wendy Griffiths had been in situ nearly 20 years) - it’s like an educational cabinet reshuffle 🤣.

If I can help / answer any qus do PM me.

It’s a lovely school and you’ve made a great choice.