Changes at Orchard House prep school Chiswick

[Babytalk2019]

Hello,
I wondered if there may be any Orchard House (Chiswick, London) parents out there that have any opinions or insight into the recent, and future changes at the school?
My son is due to start reception there this September. We have just heard that there will be a new headteacher starting and that the school will be merging with Chiswick and Bedford Prep (which we know nothing about). I am also aware that the school is now under Dukes Education, as of last year I believe. All big changes since we accepted our son’s place...
If you happen to have a child attending the school already, are they happy there?
Are the new changes welcomed in any way??

We are of the belief that up until 9/10 years of age results and formal education are less important than opportunities to explore, have fun with learning etc. The current headteacher seemed to convey OH had a similar ethos - if this is the case, do you expect things to change?

Our biggest concern is that the school (or management) is now forced to focus on P&L and results at the cost of achieving the head’s ethos, hence the new merger.

I do appreciate that there cannot be any hard facts about the future and that opinions are by their nature of subjective- we are just keen to do whatever research we can and gauge feedback given that the school may be quite different by next year.

Thank you in advance x

Hi@Babytalk2019

I cant talk about Orchard House. But I can speak about Dukes Education - as they took over at Heathside school in Hampstead where one of my DC is currently. All we have seen is huge investment in the school - we were worried as Alpha group were after the school and they are notorious for focusing on profit rather than education. We were nervous when Dukes took over - but what we have seen is that they are focused on making the education experience the best it can be and I have seen no evidence of 'profit making' drives. Classes are small 16 max, two staff in every lesson, investment in facilities etc.....Heathside, through Dukes investment is now back to being absolutely brilliant.
Good luck!

I realise this doesn’t answer your question, but I recently attended an online open event at Orchard House and it was staggeringly underwhelming. I’m not usually one to be won over by marketing initiatives used by schools, but online events held by Ravenscourt Park Prep and King’s House in Richmond were just so far superior it was almost laughable. It was like the presenters at Orchard House (Head and Admissions lady) just couldn’t be bothered. They were also completely scathing when someone dared enquire about before and after school care - ‘we’re not your babysitters’ was pretty much the line used. Put me off completely, I won’t be registering!

@PipaJJ ah this is so positive and great to hear! Thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate it. Glad to hear your child’s school is benefitting and much improved! Let’s hope it’s a similar outcome for OHS! Thanks again.

@user1471592279 goodness I’m sorry - well I guess it makes decisions easier for you at least..! We recently joined one of the online meetings as well as we hadn’t visited the school since our son was 3 months old.. I must admit it was quite a brusque reception and some questions were firmly answered but nothing that gave us much to worry about. Unfortunately we didn’t know the Head was leaving or any of these changes were coming up at the time.. anyhow - I hope you have found a good option for your child. We are looking in to other options now as a backup too. Thanks for your time in replying.. x

Hi,
We don't have experience of Orchard house but we do know the new head from his previous school and he is very much concerned with children's mental health and having a balanced education without hot housing. He spent a lot of time telling everyone not to tutor out of school for example (although it being south west London most people did it anyway, but that's a whole other story). We didn't always agree with him on everything but he is definitely not a person in favour of all results and no arts/sports/play etc.

I didn't see this thread before but want to share my concerns I voiced on another thread. Yesterday, I was walking my dogs behind two OHS teachers and overheard them discussing their pay rises, which apparently were lower than state schools. If this is true, is it because the school bought Chiswick and Bedford Park and now cannot afford to pay its teachers properly? We are concerned as our youngest hasn't started school yet. Will there be other compromises? Has anyone else heard anything?

I live quite close Orchard House. There has been a lot of talk about this in the neighborhood and it seems like nobody really knows yet how it’s going to turn out. Dukes has handled it in a pretty disorganized way so far. But I can tell you that OH is a much bigger school than Chis & BP and it’s not so much a merger as OH absorbing C&BP. The C&BP parents have more to worry about IMO. It’s an old school with lots of history abs it is basically disappearing. Many of them specifically chose C&BP over OH for various reasons.

But TBH if you’re not focused on intense academic education at a young age I’m not sure why you chose Orchard House in the first place. Compared to the other local independent schools it is most definitely a hothouse. Nice families although definitely a strong contingent who are quite concerned with making sure others know how posh/wealthy they are. I have several friends and neighbours whose children have really liked OH and done really well at 11+ but I wouldn’t have chosen it for mine. I think it is nuts in general how much academic pressure we put on small children in this country in general so I wouldn’t have wanted a very competitive school. We chose another private school quite close by with a more relaxed ethos and my children have absolutely blossomed. We were very happy with our oldest two 11+ results as well, the youngest isn’t there yet.

The teachers are what we like about OHS. We could send our children further afield to schools with better facilities but we like the convenience and the teachers make up the difference. My mother is a retired teacher and I know how important it is to pay good teachers properly to keep a strong staff. I also don't feel very happy paying private school fees if Dukes is paying less than state school salaries! What will they cut back on next and will good staff leave?

@Babytalk2019 did you find anything out about the merger that’s helped you? We’re in the same boat and struggling with the decision. We really love the school as it currently is and are apprehensive that the merger will turn it from a small familial school to a bigger one with a three form entry system like Ravenscourt Park.

I hope that the new head will also be concerned with the mental health of the staff. I don't have experience with the school personally but I have heard talk in the unions and like many elite London preps, it might look soft and fluffy on the outside but can be very political and cut throat on the inside for teachers. Hopefully he will improve the school's reputation with the unions and make life more comfortable for the staff.

Sounds horrendous - really hope its works out for staff and children involved.

Not surprising really as Dukes are a business. But they seem to promise the world and then deliver very little. Paying less than state schools is just out of line. Where is their integrity?

Goodness, what an interesting take on Heathside, not what I've heard at all.

We are very disappointed to learn that one of our favourite teachers is leaving, along with quite a few other form teachers. It concerns us that in our child's current year there has been a lot of changes in staff over the last few years. I hope there will be some stability in the future.

@queenvictorvictoria

We are very disappointed to learn that one of our favourite teachers is leaving, along with quite a few other form teachers. It concerns us that in our child's current year there has been a lot of changes in staff over the last few years. I hope there will be some stability in the future.

I could have written the exact same thing about the Dukes prep in Hampstead. Really seems like a race to the bottom.

@queenvictorvictoria

We are very disappointed to learn that one of our favourite teachers is leaving, along with quite a few other form teachers. It concerns us that in our child's current year there has been a lot of changes in staff over the last few years. I hope there will be some stability in the future.

queenvictorvictoria I am confused, in one comment above you say you have no personal connection to the school and then you say your favourite teacher is leaving!

Maybe Queen has not joined yet, or maybe she is a parent. In any case the news about so many teachers leaving is is now well known in Chiswick and disconcerting. They have a new headteacher now so let's see what he does about it.

@Coronateachingagain

Maybe Queen has not joined yet, or maybe she is a parent. In any case the news about so many teachers leaving is is now well known in Chiswick and disconcerting. They have a new headteacher now so let's see what he does about it.

Ah not only the new Ht but Dukes too and foremost...

Most London schools have a high turnover of teaching staff, I have children in other schools and it is the same there. Not sure what this is all about. Very odd!

Dukes PR working overtime I see

they have also purchased Eaton House group. i have grand children there. although i only became aware of this i gather it's been 6+ months.

That is an odd comment @backflicflack .

If too many teachers leave because they are unhappy then the school management is on the spot of responsibility. If too many teachers leave because of underperformance, to a number it is also the school responsibility. As I understand it there were some good teachers there so you do wonder.

The change in pensions + change discount in fees for own children + change of ownership and environment and more corporate objectives are making the staff seriously reconsider.

On Eaton House, I also have friends there. While they publicised more the other schools they purchased, they kept Eaton House quiet, perhaps because it caters to a different kind of parents too and they are now quite concentrated in London so you don't want to grab attention that much. Time will tell how much they focus on delivering good education and how much on making money for their private equity owners. They are sweeping west London and I wonder if the Competition Authority is watching them, my guess is they may buy more in Chiswick if they can. Affluent areas is what they like I guess, a pull of parents to pay the chunky fees!

Not that it matters but we are two generations of mothers living temporarily under one roof, sharing a laptop and both posting to mumsnet - a simple login error.

Hi all,

Really interested to read these comments regarding the merger of OH and C&BP. It seems that Dukes is facing a legal challenge by shareholders - I wonder if this has had any impact on £££s and services? To be fair to them, some positive comments about Dukes on here, as well as criticism. I'd be interested in feedback.

@DadMusic

Hi all,

Really interested to read these comments regarding the merger of OH and C&BP. It seems that Dukes is facing a legal challenge by shareholders - I wonder if this has had any impact on £££s and services? To be fair to them, some positive comments about Dukes on here, as well as criticism. I'd be interested in feedback.

Can you tell me any more about this legal challenge? Dukes have just purchased my DS' prep and nobody is quite sure what to make of it yet, although certainly mixed signals on MN.