Dorset college and George Heriots Edinburgh

mani83 · 2015-01-19T19:21:57+00:00

Does anyone have an idea of why Gareth Doodes left George Heriots in Edinburgh? Seemed such a swift exit. He literally resigned and left on the same day, 2 days before GH open day. Anyone know why? He now has a new job at Dorset college apparently but a lot are curious as to why he left so suddenly.

collarsandcuff · 29/08/2024 13:09

ages old thread! But he has just left his most recent school in similar circumstances, very quickly, a week before term starts and apparently is going off to do professional development and consultancy. Lots and lots of whispers. Wife has a position working in the school too and apparently she has resigned.. and they have packed up and left.
clearly been ‘let go’ but making out he chose to go. Bit like when they expel students from the school

Emmanuelll · 30/08/2024 11:32

As a parent, I thought he came across charming and friendly and also kind actually.

I feel sorry for his two children who were both at the school - imagine how unsettling it must be for them to suddenly move? I'm assuming the governors weren't happy with him. But very odd for him to be going a few days before the new term...

collarsandcuff · 30/08/2024 14:22

i hear the children are staying.. not sure how that will work I mean I can’t imagine him wanting to do drop off and pick up!
I also thought he seemed a good head and the changes he brought to the school were for the good. However I suppose no one knows what people are like behind closed doors.

it will all come out in the end, and also a certain prep school will be happy he has gone as they hated him for getting rid of their head and employing a friend of his!

the whispers and rumours going on at the moment are all along the same vein but with some differences. The local newspaper has been busy comments from their article

Emmanuelll · 30/08/2024 14:49

collarsandcuff · 30/08/2024 14:22

i hear the children are staying.. not sure how that will work I mean I can’t imagine him wanting to do drop off and pick up!
I also thought he seemed a good head and the changes he brought to the school were for the good. However I suppose no one knows what people are like behind closed doors.

it will all come out in the end, and also a certain prep school will be happy he has gone as they hated him for getting rid of their head and employing a friend of his!

the whispers and rumours going on at the moment are all along the same vein but with some differences. The local newspaper has been busy comments from their article

How was he able to have the power to just get rid of a head though? Was this SA or H?

collarsandcuff · 30/08/2024 17:17

I am sure it was all done properly as you can’t just sack someone. However I think the prep school mums were convinced he wanted to get his mate in. So a lot didn’t like him from the start. Mine are older so wouldn’t affect them. Also it was HA

Emmanuelll · 30/08/2024 17:21

We had a really horrible experience with the new head at Hawford. Our child ended up staying at KSA.

Genevieva · 30/08/2024 17:30

collarsandcuff · 29/08/2024 13:09

ages old thread! But he has just left his most recent school in similar circumstances, very quickly, a week before term starts and apparently is going off to do professional development and consultancy. Lots and lots of whispers. Wife has a position working in the school too and apparently she has resigned.. and they have packed up and left.
clearly been ‘let go’ but making out he chose to go. Bit like when they expel students from the school

I think it’s really strange to resurrect an empty thread from 9 years ago to say this. The insinuations are borderline defamatory.

Emmanuelll · 30/08/2024 17:51

It's not strange at all. Where there is a pattern of work behaviour, parents have a right to know what they might be signing a contact to pay for.

GrumpyMuleFan · 30/08/2024 17:59

I’ve just looked at W News, but comments (with the real story) have been deleted. Can anyone PM me with the reason?

TwinklyMoose · 31/08/2024 10:49

How is it strange to resurrect a thread about something that is currently in the press? Nothing defamatory has been said as far as I can see.
There will naturally be an interest as to why he has gone in such strange circumstances. Perhaps if the school was more transparent there would not be wild rumours circling. As a previous poster said, it will all come out but currently Kings is not looking an attractive option for prospective parents.

Emmanuelll · 31/08/2024 13:54

I read a lot of the messages before they were deleted. The business with him getting rid of the former popular prep school head and installing his bestie instead certainly does answer some of my questions about how this person possibly came to be head.

Emmanuelll · 31/08/2024 13:55

The installed prep head that is. My experience of that particular person was dreadful to say the least.

DestinyDover · 20/10/2024 20:45

Same happened to him at Dover College too. Funnily enough his wife was Head of Marketing there too!!

DestinyDover · 20/10/2024 20:59

The current head of Kings Hawford was Head of Sport at Dover College and his wife ran the girls Boarding House. Both were friends of the Doodes and I see that she also has a job now at KH too. Doodes also brought his ex colleague from Milton Abbey school in as deputy head at Dover College and then they both subsequently left under a cloud. That man is now Head at Kings Ely. Doodes wife was Head of Marketing at DC and also at KW. Any complaints of nepotism at DC were quickly shouted down by Doodes but I see the pattern has continued. Genuine candidates for these jobs clearly stood no chance, neither did the people who were ousted to make way for the Doode’s followers. Hardly a fair way to run a school.

TwirlyGirly67 · 15/11/2024 13:31

The man is relentless- he has a new job in a school! Have they vetted him?? Words fail me!
foundation.hppc.co.uk/news/foundation-news/657/657-Hurst-launches-its-175th-Anniversary-bursary-appeal