Godolphin Salisbury - going coed, United Learning

[Momoffourx]

Any ideas on why they’d be doing this? Is it a sign they’re in financial trouble? Our daughter is due to start in September 2024 and I have no issue with boys being admitted - we didn’t choose it because it’s single sex although some of the parents I know there already are not impressed.

And anyone know anything about United Learning? Is it a good or bad thing to join them?

Obviously they are a large schools group across the U.K. owning all sorts of private and state schools and nurseries. (They own Guildford High which is regarded as 1 of the leading private girls day schools in the U.K.).

Near to Godolphin they own Embley.

Interested in any comments on this post as we are also considering Godolphin for Sept 2024 entry ….

I’ve spoken to a couple of my pals who are current parents and there’s a lot of grumbling on the WhatsApp groups about it but I’m not sure that means much in the long term. I’d be interested to hear about other schools who went from single sex to coed and how they managed it. Our other option is the grammar but I think Godolphin is still our first choice.

United Learning's imminent takeover of Godolphin is NOT a good thing. United Learning will have complete control of the school and could effectively sell off the site if they choose to. All back office staff at Godolphin will lose their jobs as admin, payroll etc will be moved to the United Learning's central office. And that is the best case scenario. I would not consider moving your child to Godolphin for at least 5+ years. It might not even exist after this time anyway. The school Governors are completely naïve as to what could happen and do not care what the current parents think. It is so underhand. 300 Years of tradition will be lost to a corporate company that will only act in their best interests.

@MrsRSmith do you have a connection to the school/a current parent? The parents I know are really unhappy but I’m not sure whether to opt out now and choose elsewhere or see what happens! The fact they own Embley puts me off, I must say, as it’e not a school I particularly rate for a few reasons.

I don't have skin in the game, but know a few girls who went there.

We also looked around Embley just after the United takeover a few years ago. It really put us off.

Agree that Godolphin has a tradition and community which will not benefit from United.

Besides which, what's the male equivalent of a pinny (the pinny was one of the reasons we didn't choose it for our daughter!)

They’re getting rid of the pinny!

@Momoffourx after all those years of 'but the girls love it' and 'they vote to keep it each time'!?

I am following this with great interest! We had also chosen Godolphin for our daughter for year 7 but now not sure because of this change. Of interest why the negativity about Embley? We live between the two so was going to revisit as an option.

@MrSJonesHants it just wasn't our kind of vibe. We felt the head was all chat but not much follow through - plans for developing the school etc.

That said know people with DC there who've been very happy with it.

I think you go with your instinct and it wasn't the right place for either of our DC.

I work with a group of Godolphin parents who are EXTREMELY concerned about this. On a personal level we chose Godolphin because of the outstanding culture and the confident well-rounded happy girls we met there, and being single sex was a part of that, although I understand that this isn't the case for everyone.

But everything one learns about UNITED LEARNING rings alarm bells, from their top-down corporate culture, their record of disposing of school assets and the way they treat teaching staff. We've spoken with parents who have had children at schools taken over by UL and they talk of an exodus of excellent teachers and pupils under the new regime.

Then the way this matter has been negotiated behind closed doors and just announced with no consultation with parents – some who have moved house to get their children into the school – is unacceptable and shows complete contempt for parents – or should I say paying customers?!

We feel the excellent culture and quality of education at Godolphin is worth fighting for.

We've started a petition which as I write has 411 signatures – please have a look and sign if you agree with us:

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/protect-the-future-of-godolphin-girls-2

Thanks for that update about the petition. I’ve been doing some research on United Learning too. From what I understand they buy schools that are on the way down in terms of pupil numbers and financial situation and either turn them around or close them. But as you say this does not seem the case at Godolphin. I have spoken to a few Embley parents and their opinion is that the arrival of UL and the new headmaster has led to the ‘moving on’ of less able teachers and disruptive pupils and that the school is now very much on the up. I’m still undecided what to do September.

I work for a UL school and would say Godolphin joining UL will mean a huge change for staff and pupils. Over several years.

Just to update, we have decided over the holiday not to send our DD to Godolphin. It feels too big a risk, particularly as she has had a few school moves already due to relocating. All I hear from current parents (we know quite a few - military connections) is negativity and we just don’t want to feel that way going into the big move to senior school. Thanks for all your replies.

I’ve just googled Godolphin as we are looking at it for our DD and this thread came up. Any update on the United Learninh takeover please?

The school my DS attends was taken over several years ago by UL (way before he started) and was in real trouble, the lowest progress 8 in the borough. It has completely turned around, it has won awards, has the top progress 8 in the borough and top 50 progress 8 in the country. However... I'm a fan of the school rather than of UL, although there's no doubt this wouldn't have happened if the school hadn't changed hands.

I would be rethinking about sending your child there. As others have said UL have a reputation for not being nice places for staff to work, which kids pick up on and reflects back into the school. They are just focused on money making. UL may have made Embley look good but it's not all about how it looks!

There is so much gossip in Salisbury (Smallsbury) about this - apparently very unhappy staff and critically low numbers in the prep for September. It was in the local paper AGAIN this week. I haven’t heard any complaints about them going coed, it seems to be the United Learning thing that is bothering parents.
Are people choosing Leehurst instead?

Any more news on this...?

I'd be interested too - I had earmarked the school for the future as when I looked around found the prep disappointing but liked the senior school. Really sad to hear this has happened, single sex was also its usp, now it's in direct competition with all the other nearby co-Ed's.

The school currently is still excellent – our daughter in year one thriving. The UL ownership hasn't kicked in yet so we're tentatively watching too see how things go. For now I couldn't be more impressed.

@GodolphinParent have they signed with UL or is it still possible it won’t happen? And can I ask how many girls are in Y1? Thanks.

Yes, they've signed, despite our efforts to have the deal thrown out. So it's happened and we're waiting to see what the effect will be.

There are only 32 girls in year one this year.

Gosh, 32 is loads! I think that’s more than any other Salisbury prep! I’m assuming you mean Year 1 of pre prep rather than the first year of the senior school?

@GodolphinParent I ask as we are looking at moving our DD to a prep - currently in Winchester but Salisbury more affordable!