Forres Sandle Manor

[Pompomtutuhasfairyfingers]

We're looking for an independent prep school that feeds in to Canford. We had planned to send our daughter (currently year 5) to Forres Sandle Manor but friends already there say there is an eery atmosphere at the moment due to staff inexplicably and abruptly leaving (including the head). Any ideas? We're looking for co-ed not too far out of Salisbury.

TIA

Yes, I've heard from a friend that they are in real trouble. I think the head was pushed. How about Chafyn Grove? New(ish) head there seems to be doing well. Or Sandroyd if you are after an outdoorsy place? I think both send to Canford each year.

Crikey!!! Shocked to hear the head of FSM had left! Heard him speak at Independent schools show and liked what he had to say.

Sandroyd isn’t too far out, worth a look.

selly24, yes I heard him too! I was actually there for senior schools but had time to spare so I sat up in the gallery when he was speaking. Very refreshing, I thought, which is why I wonder if he was pushed...

Yes Moshan ! He was a breath of fresh air! Clearly very child centred, an ambassador for/defender of happy children (....then the results follow ) perhaps they found their target market were more results led..?

I hate the idea of a school being a ‘feeder’ for another school. Surely most parents want a school which is right for their individual child, and that may/ may not be a big name school.

Love the approach of preps like Windleshsm/ Bilton Grange where pupils go on to a very diverse range of schools ( including several scholarships for the big name/ aspirational schools ( but the overarching philosophy is that the school guides and prepares each child as an individual and isn’t just using the children to fulfil a box ticking exercise... eg X number got in to Y school this year.

Same follows for universities. Horrid to overhear parents badgering the lovely people at the Good Schools Guide insusting that stats like ‘Sixth form sending most kids to Oxbridge’ be immediately available.
To be frank I’d be more interested to know ‘ Which schools have the highest numbers of former pupils who go on to have mental health problems at or leave the schools/universities the transfer to.

Sandroyd? I hadn't thought of there. Yes, I will take a look.

Forres Sandle Manor have an Open Day coming up. Would they have an Open Day if their finances were that bad? Maybe it is all just gossip?

Or desperation? I've heard from others now about it all being a bit weird. Maybe go along and ask them exactly what is happening and see what sort of response you get. Hopefully you would get to meet the new Head?

Some of my children's friends went to Sandroyd (having quizzed them now!) and they said they had a ball!

I've checked the website and the head is still Mark Hartley. I think it's all been gossip.

I'm going to go to the Open Day, just in case. I would hate to pay the deposit and buy uniform for it to be wasted.

The plot thickens. DH came home last night and said his friend told him that the head was indeed pushed. They obviously haven't reflected this on the website. Apparently the "expensive" members of staff were all made redundant last term. Another friend has commented that Forres Sandle Manor are no longer playing the sports fixture circuit due to insufficient numbers of children to make up the teams.

I am not sure how much of it all is true but as they say, there's no smoke without fire.

I’m really sorry to hear this, but I may afraid there are many schools like this who are really struggling at the moment.

Others? Like where? Gosh, this is such a worry. It is such a huge initial outlay. For us, and others I'm sure, independent education comes at real sacrifice. We couldn't afford to pay for outlay twice.

Well I only really know about the south west, where we are, which has been quite badly hit. St Michaels Tawstock closed about 5 years ago, and the Tower House school in Paignton closed earlier this year. Mount House in Tavistock, where my DS went, was only saved when it merged with Kelly College, in spite of having the reputation as being the best in the west.

Mount House’s new head back in 2012 came from a school called Norman Court in Wiltshire which had just closed, and I think the school he had been at before in Hampshire had closed too.

There were rumours earlier this year about a well known prep school, and I’m sure there are other areas of the country seeing similar problems..

FSM sadly sounds like it's on the way down.

From a friend at FSM-
school numbers have dropped from around 320 to 170
Classes are merging and rumours have it Some yrs can't rustle up teams so matches are being cancelled.
Moral is very low
Lots of families are on rolling notice

If anything happens I sincerely hope the staff find new jobs and he children find an equally lovely school as FSM is a wonderful
Place.

If I was an FSM parent I hate to say it but I'd start securing a place for my child in a different School

Went to the Open Day with my DF who is a current parent. All the other visitors were existing parents trying to show support for school. They have a plan in place to save the school but it sounds very much as though they are looking to appeal to the day school market. They are looking to cut costs in the class room by combining classes. They have also cancelled Saturday school (which would suit us actually). The fact they are in financial trouble does leave me jittery so we've crossed it of the list and we've organised a private visit to Sandroyd.

When we were in London, the independent school market was very competitive. We thought coming out to the shires would be a safer bet for schools but clearly not.

I forgot to mention that although the Headmaster has left, the school is currently being led by the Deputy Head who has been there for many years and is extremely able and well liked by all the existing parents, and he appears to have the full support of staff and parents.

Hi DWNmum, are your children boarders at FSM then? The boardinghouse did seem very welcoming and homely and a definite selling point of the school. The deputy head did confirm to me at the Open Day that many teachers from across the school left at the end of last term and they were restructuring to fill these gaps as opposed to recruiting. He did also confirm that the numbers were down significantly which has caused the current financial issue.

Hi Pompomtutuhasfairyfingers

Mine are day children but the eldest will start boarding soon to prepare for "Big School". Lots of their friends are boarders and they seem to have a lovely time.
I know they hired a couple of new teachers but yes they are also trying to maximise the staff they have which I guess makes sense. I am there every day so able to keep an eye on things and if I had any concerns, I would be moving my children...but currently I don't and most importantly they are really happy and doing well so as long as that continues, I'm happy and would recommend the school to my friends!

Just to clarify - they never had 370 kids, the school can't fit that many...yes the boarding numbers are down mainly due to the fact that many army parents are thinking twice about taking the educational grant...I know from friends with children at other schools this has affected boarding in many places. I think this is why they are thinking about the Saturday school as that puts many day people off. It is all about balancing everyone's needs I guess.

Every school has pros and cons and I guess you will get the right feeling when you see the right school for your child. I hope you find the right one for your daughter! If you wanted to talk off line...let me know..I know most schools in the area as have friends with children at most!

That's interesting about the forces' families. According to the post mistress in our village (who's DH is ex army) the services are no longer subsidising new children through Forres Sandle Manor. Apparently they are trying to get children to feed in to the senior school attached to their prep.

oh, I don't know the details but there were a quite a few new army children starting this term at FSM so I don't think that's the case! I don't know how the army grants work to be honest so can't comment but I think all schools have seen reduction in the army numbers sadly.

We are an FSM boarding and Forces family. The continuity of education allowance is available to mobile families from year 3 and we can choose almost any boarding school (there is an approved list...FSM is certainly on that list). We chose a stand-alone prep school (rather than an all through school) for our Year 7 daughter because felt it would be the best nurturing environment for her and it would mean we could take expert guidance on a Senior school that suited her. FSM provided outstanding care and support for her and now at 13 she has just moved to our Senior School of choice with a Scholarship and is bursting with the inner confidence and compassion that FSM have helped to build in her. My younger daughter is in her second year of boarding at FSM and is thriving both academically and really gaining in confidence and the teachers seem to understand her and care about her as an individual. I won't hesitate to send my youngest daughter there when she is old enough and certainly highly recommend FSM to anyone looking for a co-ed day and boarding prep school in the South. It is a place where children are encouraged to put on their wellies and boiler suits and play in the woods as well as looking after each other, working hard and enjoying inspirational teaching and learning. I would advise anyone not to listen to gossip but to go and see for yourself and make your mind up; it's a very special place.

My children are at Chafyn Grove and we are very happy. It's a really busy and buzzing school with so many opportunities for them. There have been quite a few new pupils from FSM this term but I don't think it's true that they have stopped playing fixtures as my son is in a match against them soon, and they were at Chafyn for a swimming gala this week!

The trouble is that once the rumours start about a school people do back off which compounds the problem.

Both of my children are boarders at FSM and we love the school. The recent changes are more about financial economy than anything else and in the current climate, make complete sense. The teachers that left were either on the top pay scale or very close to retirement so it makes sense to hire teachers that are cheaper but are equally as good at their job. As a teacher myself, I know that many schools are doing this at the moment. The current head is great and has brought new vision to the school and I have every faith in him. The fact is that the school needs new pupils to continue coming (as do all schools) in order to provide the funds for more activities etc, hence Saturday school being altered. The boarders have a wonderful time with a lot of fun engaging activities taking place and wonderful pastoral care. It is indeed the 'best boarding house in the world' according to the children and is a wonderfully warm and welcoming school. I have no intention of moving any of my children.

I would suggest a visit and see what you think. By scratching it off the list based on second-hand rumour you are merely ensuring its failure as others will follow without actually having been or seen how great it is. I would say the only problem the school has is that it needs more pupils. By all means listen to the opinion of others but don't write it off until you have engaged with the people there and formed your own opinion.

I have to agree that I thought this school was wonderful! I visited lots (and lots) of schools and this one had a lovely family feel, not too busy and the children looked so happy. I could also tell that there wasn't this rigid academic pressure on them and that children were given room to grow and flourish in their own way whilst still achieving enormously - this really was important to me. I didn't end up choosing this school for my children due to having to compromise with my husband, but for me this was my favourite. I met Mark initially and thought he was wonderful (one of the best heads that I had met) it is unfortunate that he left but I wish him all the best! nothing is black and white in life and there are so many pressures on schools now- I wouldn't make judgement on a few rumours but instead go and visit!