Rendcomb college closing?

[happyhopefulmummy]

Has anyone else heard about Rendcomb College near Cirencester closing? The rumours are doing the rounds that they are sending kids to other schools, and parents are removing kids as it’s set to close. Nothing has been announced, and this is such sad news if so. Hoping it is just rumours.

St Edwards USP used to be that it was the only Catholic private school. In fact, I'm so ancient I can remember when St Edwards was formed by the amalgamation of an ex convent school and the boys Catholic school.

St Ed’s has struggled as Balcarras in particular has thrived (remembering that the latter’s origins are as an 11-16 Secondary Modern, rather than the very leafy high achieving comprehensive it has become) and also as it has lost it’s traditional Roman Catholic roots, which at one point were a selling point.

It has always been cheaper than the other Cheltenham privates, and always been a day school rather than boarding, but again that distinctiveness is potentially not enough in today’s market.

GCSE and A level results against county averages and its nearest state rivals make for sobering reading.

I just feel so much for the kids displaced st Rendcomb though, I think they have a higher proportion of SEN there in the younger years, and it must be extra difficult for those kids. :(

I wonder whether, with the falling birthrate, some of the smaller and most nurturing of the rural state primaries may have more space than usual for in- year / non standard admissions? I have noticed some reaching out via social media.

Rendcomb didn’t have the assets to keep going, they referenced it in the head’s letter. I know that Wycliffe does own fairly significant land. If you look at the Charities Commission website, Westonbirt and Wycliffe have double the assets of Rendcomb (and of course Westonbirt is part of a group). In this landscape, this is one of the things I’d be looking at as a parent.

Kings Gloucester seems pretty secure too. It is day only though so no boarders will be transferring there.

I think I got muddled about Westonbirt as the school is part of Wishford so not a charity anymore presumably… But yes I suspect that the leadership team at Rendcomb wouldn’t recommend any school that was in a similarly precarious position, as the last thing they would want is for their pupils to face this situation in a few years’ time. So they must be fairly confident that these four schools are secure for the time being.

No they aren’t in a precarious position, they were bought a few years ago by Alpha and are doing ok. They were busy today with lots of Rendcomb parents coming for tours, my ds (a pupil) told me.

Sadly I can’t agree. They have missed a trick (as they did, presumably, in choosing to work where they did at the time that they did). Numbers at Rendcombe have been unsustainable for several years, though labour’s recent policy was probably the nail in the coffin. Student numbers and other financial factors, (as well as educational standards and knowledge of the management teams/owners) at the supposedly ‘ recommended’ schools are radically different. Some seem very secure and others are, quite frankly, a shambles.

@KindUserKing’s is in a special position, though, as the cathedral choristers have to go there, as far as I know?

I’ve always thought that Gloucestershire was a bit oversaturated with private and public schools, so I’m not entirely surprised to see one have to close. I mean, Cheltenham has three boarding schools within walking distance, basically, of each other. It’s a lot. (Yes, it’s a hike from Dean Close to Cheltenham College, but it’s doable if you’ve got a couple of hours to spare!)

Numbers are tiny, though - about half full? 41 took GCSEs in the last year on the DfE site, and about 30 took A levels, which can’t allow for a lot of options - have numbers gone up recently? Results are poorer than average for the county (state and private).

Alpha who bought St Ed’s saw an opportunity in Cheltenham for another prep school who would actively prepare children for the grammar school test. That’s what Ashley Manor offers, however lots of them still go onto St Ed’s senior.

Easy 30 minute walk.

St Eds were recently purchased by Alpha schools and have been spending a lot recently so they are clearly in an alright position, they also had a lot of tours from Rendcomb today to the point where random members of staff were having to give tours because there wasn’t enough deputy heads. St Eds also just got a new Astroturf.

43 in 6th form this year. New pupils joined from other Cheltenham schools including Balcarass and other private schools. Results are not poorer than average, how did you come to that figure? Are you taking into account pupil numbers entered? My ds had no issue getting the A level courses he wanted. We moved him there from a much more expensive Cheltenham school in year 8, best decision we could have made for him.

DfE results page.

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/115794/st-edward-s-school#SearchSchools

If only astroturf was a reliable indicator of financial security, educational robustness and informed strategic oversight…

Its a bit sad and a little odd, that on a thread about the demise of one school which will be so upsetting for pupils, staff, and families, there are posters so determined that another school must now follow suit. I wonder why?

I think it is very sad that a long-standing school has failed to thrive and is closing. They are acting responsibly in making links with a small number of other schools with spaces for their pupils. I find it distasteful that another school, not a name link school and which published data suggests may not be robust, has made such a quick and public grab for new pupils - more particularly as the worst possible scenario would be for pupils to endure a second school closure.

If posting on this thread alerts Rendcomb parents that they would do well to do due diligence to satisfy themselves that the ‘worst case’ is unlikely to occur, for whichever school they choose, then I think that is valid.

I think it is just suggesting that parents check out all aspects of the schools they are now visiting so as to be sure that the school they choose for their child is solvent, especially in the younger age groups. Any school which is taken over by a group is putting itself at risk of being asset stripped. In plain numbers another poster indicated that when she was a past pupil at St Edwards there were twice the number of students that there now are. That is quite a significant reduction,I think you must admit.

Looking at published data,

https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/115794

states that St Ed’s has a capacity of 475 and a current pupil number of 257.

I see that Royal High Prep is also closing this year:

https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/education/financial-pressures-force-prep-school-close-115104/

I’m sure the parents will choose a school which they think best suits their children. There is a good choice of private schools in Cheltenham, it’s all about the right school for the right child. Some of the bigger private schools might be brilliant for some kids but not the right fit for others. Anyway I hope all those kids manage to find a school they can fell welcome in, and that they can thrive in.

Westonbirt is thriving, doubled in size the last few years. Now very good all round for Academics, Sport and The Arts.

I agree- the Wishford Trust are really well managed and know what they're doing.

I've been very impressed with them ever since they turned Heywood Prep around so amazingly.