Port Regis

[PennyGH]

Any current Port Regis parents on here? It’s one of our options but I have heard rumours that it is in serious financial difficulty and that the fees have been increased by 5% this year AND all current bursary support has been withdrawn. Also that the year 7/8 fees have been increased dramatically. I’m sure this can’t be true. Can anyone clarify either way please?

I don'tknow anything about Port Regis, but you can look for school's accounts on a website to do with charities finances. Sorry, I can't remember the name, but somebody else here will.

In my limited experience schools tend to slash the fees before they go bust in a last ditch attempt to get numbers up. I think it would be more unusual to be cranking up the fees because of critical financial difficulties.

Yes that’s a very good point. Seems a weird move unless they’re bursting at the seams though which, to be frank, no indies outside of London and the South East are!

Have visited Port regis as a parent to watch sport, supporting the away team. Because of my new job I know quite a lot about schools around here.

You sound like you're working in the marketing department of a competitor school (I hope not my kids' school,), spreading dodgy news and rumours about Leweston on your only other message since joining mumsnet. If you want to know about fees and bursaries you find out by PHONING the schools. If you want to make sure there's no financial trouble you go to the charity commission website - it's all there. Yes, Leweston has boys, I've seen them at tournaments. If you want to know how many why don't you ask them? They can't exactly lie about it. Last time I went to Port Regis there was a new astro-turf being put in so I'd be amazed if they're in trouble. If you are genuine and these are genuine options surely you would to go to the charity commission website and call the schools or visit them? Not open a Mumsnet account.

Thank you, I had no idea about the charity commission website! You say this like it’s a thing that everyone knows - am I the only one who didn’t? It might surprise you to know that I work full-time, have four kids and don’t live and breathe schools - thanks though, I will check it out. Not keen on phoning the schools to ask these questions, i would prefer info from other parents - isn’t that the whole point of these threads? Not sure where you are going with your comment about working for another school - why would I work for another school when these are the schools I have looked at and liked? And I have been on mumsnet for over 10 years! Anyway, thanks for your input :-)

Ah Charities Commission- that's what it is! Actually, if you look Port Regis up on that they ARE spending more than their income at the moment. However, they may just have decided to make some investments in infrastructure etc, it's not necessarily sinister.

Is it better to choose a school that lives safely within it's means, even if that means not having the latest equipment (astros, pools, busses, theatres etc) or one that puts it's neck on the line in a 'build it and they will come' strategy.

Up to you!