Redcliffe Garden School shut down

[Toots12345]

Redcliffe Gardens has just stated it will close this year. Just found out as my DS at Cameron Vale and parents started turning up today from Redcliffe wanting a place there.

It seems parents have been pushed to the Hampshire school (which is further away and owned by some giant private equity firm and also failing!) as they are paying a fee for every pupil they receive.

Crazy how naive Goldphin and Latymer are (owners of Redcliffe) to think that parents won't see through that. Pretty shady the whole tie up and close down. Presumably they sell off their pupils and then make a few million selling off the property!

Anyone else have any other info here?

Also just checked LinkedIn and show previous Head there for almost 3 years.

@Toodlepip2023 @HerMummy1989?

Hi @makinghay11 My comment about the number of heads at Cameron Vale is aimed at @Toots12345 who keeps saying the Hampshire School is failing because it had “3 heads in 3 years” but it’s not true. And it’s a technicality. If you’re a head somewhere for 5 years and then you leave. The next year Toots could say “oh look, it’s had 2 heads in 2 years”.

Her comments on multiple threads on here are very negative towards the Hampshire School and aggressively pro Cameron Vale.

Anyway, I had a bit of time so Google has provided me with the following information. I hope it helps. It’s hard enough to make choices about our children’s schools without people trying to sabotage another school.

At Cameron Vale:
Head 1: possibly Padraic Fahy when it was Cameron House School until August 2020. There is little info online.
Head 2: Bridget Saul from Sept 2020 until January 2023
Head 3: Alison Melrose from January 2023

So technically 3 heads in 2 years and 5 months (but, it is also true to say Bridget Saul was there for 2 years and 4 months)

At the Hampshire School:
Head 1: Donal Brennan until Sept 2018 (and he says online he was there 5 years)
Head 2: Pamela Edmonds until Sept 2022
Head 3: Richard Lock from September 2022

So actually it’s 3 heads in 4 years technically but it is also true to say it has had 3 heads in 9 years.

I cannot believe anyone is counting the number of heads in this way. It is completely unreasonable to include Head 1 in your calculations above but exclude their entire years of service.

Why on earth would you be so disingenuous?

Agree. I don't think the number of heads is that important, more the quality of the current head and what they have done before.

I just think if people are going to start making claims they should have the facts.

Effectively cameron Vale had 1 Head for the last 3 years and another has just started, similar to Hampshire. All Heads involved seem highly regarded and have moved on to good roles.

Hopefully no more on that!

@jeanne16 The post is in response to @Toots12345 who keeps saying on various threads that the Hampshire School is failing because it has had "3 heads in 3 years". It is entirely disingenuous, I'm glad you agree.

@makinghay11 absolutely! The number of heads is entirely irrelevant to both of these schools. Unfortunately, I was taken in by @Toots12345 and believed her to be a genuine parent so unfortunately I was very dismissive of The Hampshire School before I even went on the tour. I believed her when she said it was failing. I wish I hadn't let it affect me so strongly.

Anyway, for any parents reading this thread in the future. The number of heads at Cameron Vale and The Hampshire is a normal-ish level of turn over in London. Visit the schools yourself and make a decision. Don't be affected by what you read on here. People are not always as honest as they could be and they may well have an axe to grind.

Thanks @HerMummy1989 Interesting stuff. That's the kind of sleuthing I love. I'd noticed that Toots person attacking The Hampshire too. She seems to have stopped now it's been suggested she works at Cameron Vale. 😂

Sorry for all those children, parents and staff affected by this closure.

@IWantToMakeTheBestDecision I have no knowledge of these schools but it's odd that most people aren't gushing about CV & say facilities poor and yet @Toots12345 is exact opposite about it. Maybe CV is struggling & desperate for bums on seats?

I totally agree with @makinghay11 the number of heads is not the important part. It is a shame that @HerMummy1989 was given a tainted view of the Hampshire by @Toots12345. It is clearly more than coincidental that Toots doesn’t comment since he/she is exposed ( could be male/female, who knows… I believe definitely vested interest in Cameron Vale though).
Toots was also using the veil of these owned establishments making profits etc… but so is CV .. owned by Forfar education I believe, so for profit also.
The Hampshire have had a good inspection report in the last year, doesn’t seem to be failing to me! It’s also not too far away from CV so maybe that’s why toots is trying to steer people away from it? Ultimately, parents should pass on positive viewpoints about any school rather than criticising things ( which IMO toots seems to push too much about eg numbers, heads, profits etc).
Another thought is Queens Gate… I think they have some spaces. Wonder what toots has on that one 😂

@makinghay11 @HerMummy1989 @IWantToMakeTheBestDecision
For info… having searched for Toots on here… I can see he/she has made several posts in last few months bigging up certain schools around the UK eg Horris Hill, Park School, The Gleddings, all Forfar schools. So I’m pretty sure this is some sort of marketing ploy by toots, hence pushing CV school!
Hope this helps and allows anyone researching schools to dismiss Toots’ ‘opinion’.
Parents… make your own minds up from facts you can trust.

Another top sleuther @Toodlepip2023 ! Thanks for alerting us. What a pity that in order to promote a school Toots tried to diminish another. It's obvious really now you've uncovered this, Toots never really explained what was good about Cameron Vale specifically. No real information about what made the school special, what her kids enjoyed etc. She never answered direct questions on here. Just very strident and anti the Hampshire. Clearly a head office person. What a shame @HerMummy1989 was misled in this way. I hope you find somewhere you love for your DC.

I had Redcliffe Gardens on my list with its connection to G and L. Sad to think it will be closing down as it has been there for a long time. I just had a look at the Ofsted report for The Hampshire and it looks really great. Thank you @Toodlepip2023 for the advice.
I was also thinking of Francis Holland and Queensgate as well as we have heard good things about both schools and the 11plus exams can be avoided! We may also have a look at Brighton College, Kensington as Brighton College itself is a really well known school and always gets amazing reviews.

My son 4, was supposed to start there in Sept 23, we accepted a place 3 weeks ago, week later received this shocking email! it makes no sense!

It's a failing business. Maybe they were still trying to recruit enough to keep going & failed to ?!?

I am so unsure as to what school to choose from for our 3yr old (Redcliffe Gardens nursery boy) as from September. We have two offers; Cameron Vale and Hampshire.

Is anyone in the same boat? Any recommendations?

I like both

Has anyone been for a tour visit at these schools recently? I would appreciate any comments at all

Thank you

Anyone knows the answer to this?

The Ofsted report for the Hampshire School is very good and their children in Reception do really well and reach really high standards. The report is on their website

Hampshire is being sold to Francis Holland and will become all girls is the rumour. The group that owns it Bellevue just sold their crown jewel Sherfield school to a chinese group as they are mired in debt. Comment on that!

Likely all the Falcons schools may close certainly the one in Chiswick. They were just sold to Inspired 8 weeks ago and are all losing money according to companies house

Cameron Vale just got the highest inspection rating possible and seem on the up with everyone else closing

@toodlepip2023
Looks like Hampshire is closing and Cameron Vale just had a double excellent inspection report.

If Princes Gardens/Brighton fails their recent inspection - maybe Toots was in the know?