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

SW11,

Just what's in the public domain. The sister company for Dukes Education, Grove (part of the same group, same ownership), has been taken to court by one of its shareholders. The exact nature of the dispute is unknown, other than the fact that it's a civil litigation claim. Could be any number of things, or nothing at all.

@DadMusic can you show a link? grove is controlled by the main owner but from quick Googling then the holdings are owned by offshore companies (which is typical for private equity companies so they save on tax, less disclosure etc). Who is suing them or which company filed a lawsuit against Grove/Dukes?

They have just bought ten more nurseries. www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/06102021-ten-nurseries-sold-to-largest-independent-schools-group-in-london/

1. How are they growing so big, so quickly? Where is the money coming from?
2. How can each school be well managed under the circumstances? 3. What is their agenda? Will parents in West London be left with any choices or will all independent schools in the area be under the Duke's umbrella?

Much to think about!

@queenvictorvictoria

1. Mainly through debt, maybe a bit of equity but majority debt. They must be highly leveraged, meaning they also need to maximise cash
2. Who knows
3. Agenda is sell for a multiple of what they paid in say 3-5 years - most probably to another PE firm or bit school group who will take it to the next stage and keep milking it
4. No. And I think the Competition Authority is being outplayed / ignorant about this one.

@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.

If I were you I would look into the first poster on this thread's post history. Lots of odd accounts have been pushing Heathside on MN. I hear some of the local Hampstead Mums have proof it's someone high up inside the school.

Whatever Dukes future agenda, its an impressive commitment to buy and completely redevelop the wonderful grade 2 listed Kneller Hall into a new senior school for Radnor House.

@Pastamaking

Whatever Dukes future agenda, its an impressive commitment to buy and completely redevelop the wonderful grade 2 listed Kneller Hall into a new senior school for Radnor House.

It is first and foremost a sound business decision. When you find out in a few years that they sold the group for xxxx million and xxx multiple of earnings, you will agree with this a little more. It will increase capacity especially for boys places but make no mistake, they will charge what they can for it and repay their investment plus a lot more. Just expected as Dukes Education are a big business now, and not a charity.

I'm not sure there is any reason to be that negative at present.
Its first and foremost spending millions building a new school in wonderful grounds....it might be good business in the long run, that's their risk.
The vast majority of West London Independents charge similar fees, it won't be great business to price yourself out of your market.

I also see from the Orchard House website 2.5M is being spent on the merger with Chiswick and Bedford Park Prep. David Goodhew, Head of Latymer Upper, is a current parent there and is on the Dukes Advisory Board.
That sounds positive, but would be interesting to get any feedback from current parents on how the takeover and merger is looking?

Well there have been some posts already on how the takeover of Orchard House by Dukes is going on recently. If you are fishing for more positive comments, I do hope for the sake of the community that these come forward, but more importantly it would be great to see a success out of it overall through tangible facts.

Flash facilities are wonderful for pupils and business alike but what about the focus on teaching and learning, nurturing talented and motivated staff, the long term welfare of the community? Buildings do not equate to good education. As Coronateachingagain questions - do education and big business make for good partners in the long term? The grapevine indicates that Chiswick parents are uncomfortable and wary of the merger - they want a focus on excellent teaching and pastoral care and have already seen good teachers leave. Will the 2.5M make a difference in these areas? When push comes to shove, schools are about people and Dukes have yet to prove their educational expertise in this respect.

OHS is now advertising for their tenth teacher in Year 3 in four years - that is a turnover that begs inquiry.

Think that is a bit misleading about the teachers as many of them are still at the school but have moved to other year groups. For example, the year 4 teachers taught my children when they were in year 2. I would take some of these comments with a pinch of salt as I am not sure they are all genuine.

Actually, queenvictorvictoria is right. We are new parents and listening to talk about another Year 3 teacher leaving this Easter, one of the parents listed the names of all the teachers that have been in that year group over the past four years and apparently the new recruit will make 9! 5 of them have left the school. We took note as we come from an international school overseas where this type of turnover is unheard of. I was enquiring as to whether this was normal for school in London on another thread. Perhaps we are just used to consistency.

Hi Babytalk2019
I do not recommend Orchard House in Chiswick. The school is not going in the right direction.

@ILikeMango Can you please disclose which school you chose? :)

A bit late to ask this but where did you send your children instead?

my little girl is in Belmont already but have been deliberating moving her to a private school. Any views on Heathfield House ?

I understand Belmont has an excellent reputation, however you are spoilt for choice in Chiswick, if you are happy to venture just over Kew Bridge, as many do.
Kew College, Kew Green ,Broomfield, Unicorn.
I thought Heathfield House lacked space, but that was a few years ago, maybe they have expanded?

Broomfield is owned by Dukes education - same as Orchard House and Chiswick and Bedford Park prep. Long term it seems Dukes hopes to feed all the dc to either the new secondary in Whitton - Kneller Hall opening in 2023 or the new multi site London school with Suzy Longstaff (currently at Putney high) as the head.

My grandchildren went to Kew Green prep and loved it.

Agree with post from pastamaking. All of the schools in Kew are fantastic and worth commuting to.

This is exactly what is happening. They rely on teacher’s sense of responsibility and loyalty to the schools. However, this only takes you so far and staff are leaving/will inevitably leave. Less qualified staff will then take their place. It is incredibly short sighted IMHO.

@Bluenigellas agree with you it is shortsighted, however the reason is their interests are aligned as Dukes Education owners will sell at the first opportunity. They need to build just enough economic value for someone to bit and but then out and that means excellence in the classroom and welfare of staff comes well after that.

*bite and buy

Bullying is an issue in Orchard House in different year groups. Instead of solving the issues the school responds as “you don’t have any evidence”.

I understand the staff are bullied by management so I am not surprised there is a culture of bullying amongst the children too.