Has anyone got views on Cognita?

[nkf]

...and power mad Chris Woodhead who seems to want to buy up every private school in the country? A friend's daughter's school has just been bought by Cognita and she wondered what changes might happen.

If local experience is anything to go by, she can expect to be in the queue of families heading for the exit
Not our school thank god

Where are you Marina? That's not what I've heard about other schools.

Another recent thread on this topic.

In some respects it depends on how the school was pre-Cognita. If it was in demand, popular and full, then it will probably stay the same. The dcs school had recently grown from 2 form entry to 3 form entry due to popularity (and the fact that the main competitor had a new head who seemed to allow bullying!) and so far I haven't seen any parent leave, though admittedly it is early days.

The school used to be proprietor owned which I was always a bit uncomfortable about. The changes Cognita have made to date have been to launch an internal (to the Group) inspection (which hasn't exactly thrilled the teachers, but I don't see as being bad), and to re-assess the charges it makes to teachers and other organisations for using its facilities out of school. This involved quite a hike in its charges which upset a number of users and made certain holiday activities less financially attractive for the teachers. The Parents Association stepped in and made it clear that the parents wanted to see these activities continue, so Cognita negotiated rates that were more acceptable.

The only other negative seems to be that we will have Chris Woodhead at Speech Day.

Chris Woodhead at Speech Day - oh dear!!

Reading that thread and new posts on this, I am now wondering whether there were problems at the school in question that even Cognita have failed to remedy, thanks for the link LM
I do have a powerful aversion to Chris "Gradgrind" Woodhead in person, I have to say, so I'd be hurling tomatoes at speech day...

When news broke of the takeover there was a meeting with parents and CW did explain that they were looking to take on a significant number of private schools and make them profitable - in some cases this would involve injecting capital for buildings etc, in others it would mean replacing leadership so that the school filled its available places, in others it meant doing very little other than a periodic "audit". I suspect that if you happened to be in a school which was currently down on numbers then there might be concern if your current class-size of 9 was being pushed up to 15-18 in a class. The only other thing that I'm looking at carefully is whether the teachers decide it is time to move on. There wasn't a mass exodus over Easter, so I guess that I would have to wait another year in order to work out whether the teachers dislike the new environment.

All the parents did get surveyed about how they felt about all aspects of school, and we're meant to get feedback from that by the end of term, so will be interested to read it.

As for speech day, I just feel sorry for the teachers and younger boys. Ds2 will have just turned 5 so what he will get out of it is probably quite limited. Thankfully it is fairly optional for parents due to limited space so my hope is that CW tailors his speech to take account of the 5yos rather than the parents.

Interesting topic due to Cognita are currently considering closing down Ffynone House School in Wales, despite it being one of their top performing schools educationally. I would warn any parent, in any of the Cognita schools to be wary in these tough financial times, if they can close such a academically successful school like Ffynone then they could close anything! Mostly what upset the staff, parents and children was the way in which it was handled, they did not show us any respect and they had the audacity to send a representative who could not answer any of the questions put to him. They have no concern for the students, especially those in the middle of doing their AS- Levels and GCSE candidates, who could face difficulties finding schools which do the same exam boards and also the same subjects, not to mention the disruption it causes the individual in a year that's academically challenging anyway! So whilst I realise that Cognita is primarily a business, when children are involved there should be morals.
However we have had great support from the community, parents and staff! These past days have shown us the true spirit of Ffynone House, much more than simply a school, a family. Positive meetings and outstanding support could lead to the school remaining open, we will continue to fight and do all we can to ensure the staff and students don't lose their extended family.

MrsHoman I am reporting your post. I do not think it is appropriate to refer to a named individual as a "compulsive liar" without providing substantive evidence

As discussed on the other thread, the head teacher to which MrsHoman refers actually sold the school to Cognita.

I would like her to return and tell us what her relationship with Cognita is, and where she gets her information from.

Just for an update for anyone considering putting their children into a Cognita owned school - ontheedgeofwhatever, i know you are incorrect with your comment, as evidence there is to what has been stated in your thread. I can be proud to say that i have after two interested years successfully won a court battle with the Cognita Group - in my case it was Polam Oaks, now re-named as Polam and this wednesday jut gone, justice was served.
The Cognita group who purchase independant successful schools are a business, they clearly advertise untrue things to an intending parent wanting to bring their child into the school but once you have signed along the dotted line, should you complain then Cognita will use their fnancial might to quash you and they legally do it to many a parent, their collection agencies play dirty tricks to achieve their goals to an unsuspecting parent - only with me they got stuck, wanted lots of money, ramped up their claim against me. only to have it quashed and crawl out of the door.
Parents need to be aware of their position when entering their child into a Cognita owned school, read and understand their terms and conditions, do not tick the box, read it, you will be amazed as to what it says - very scary.
I will stop here - as i need to tweet about the truth to everyone as justice was served, shame a prison sentance didnt come with it.

Hi Justice13 I have sent a message to you and would like some advise