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.

Wishford seem to be part of a wider investment company Patron capital. It’s worth knowing that with such set-ups that governance isn’t the same as in a state or charitable independent school where if you have a complaint it can be escalated to a governing body. Comments on the proprietor in ISI reports give positive feedback on the working relationship between the trust and the school and the link between a commercially driven organisation and actual specialists who advise him. Thankfully, as far as I can see, none of the schools in that group can be found in the DfE warning notices (these highlight major concerns about a school and its management). Overall numbers in the report for both primary and nursery and secondary in 2023 were 736. In 2022 the pre and senior excluding the nursery was over 600. In 2019 numbers were 379. I can’t find the numbers since 2023 but it looks like there’s been positive growth. I don’t see any major red flags.

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!

This is all terribly sad for pupils, staff and families of Rendcomb - and for the community in which it stands. It’s a huge job choosing a school for our children and must be so hard when that is suddenly taken away, particularly for children in critical exam years.
I have three kids at St Ed’s (yr 7,10 and 12) so we have been through various changes there. The current Head started 2 years ago and has had such a positive impact: the school is now bubbling with positivity, warmth and a real sense of purpose; the ethos is all about inclusivity and providing our children with the right environment to thrive and achieve to their best. The senior leadership are a real team and always visible, and all the teachers seem to genuinely love the pupils and the school and always go above and beyond. My three are all very happy and doing extremely well, they all have lovely friends (they are all a bit crackers 🤣) and feel safe and confident. Y7 boy has ADHD and is profoundly dyslexic, yet he is thriving on the support of the EXCELLENT LS department and, like the others, is treated as an individual by all staff . . . he doesn’t always make the right choices but is being guided and supported to learn!
My sister lives in Swindon and has two kids at Westonbirt (yr8 and 12). They are doing fine but complain a lot about poor behaviour. Yr 12 boy had a classmate who was expelled for drug dealing but then allowed back, to be expelled again for the same offence. It does have beautiful grounds though.

As a current St. Edward’s parent I feel I ought to gently step in and put some concerns/rumours to bed. I have several years experience as a parent of the school and so would like to think my view has validity and is similar to that of many other St Ed’s parents. [1] St. Edward’s was acquired by the Alpha Group of schools four years ago. It is financially solid and in a healthy position. For example, it has just laid Astroturf on the sports pitch (tennis/hockey) to the tune of some £200k. In addition, it is in the process of creating a new on-site, two-storey Performing Arts building. Either of these would be a daft implementation for any struggling school. [2] It’s a conscious decision to have deliberately smaller class sizes, therefore balancing the school’s nurturing ethos with a commitment to each child. [3] Staff are overwhelmingly excellent: There is a significant presence of Oxbridge educated/highly qualified/experienced teachers who are both effective, caring and aware of the individual development of each pupil. Staff genuinely go above and beyond for both the school and, more importantly, its pupils. The new Head, who has been at the school since September 2025, is excellent. [4] It’s a truly inclusive school that’s excels in developing a wide range of pupils, from Oxbridge/Medicine/elite university applicants to those that would not always benefit from a university option. Several of last year’s leavers went on to prestigious university destinations and others into highly selective apprenticeships. Specialist careers and university application advice is very good and ‘hands-on’.
This may read as a blatant advert for St. Edward’s (take that as you wish) but I believe it’s an accurate observation of the school in its current, very stable, situation as I and my child experience it on a daily basis. I also had an older child at the school who had a wonderful time and excelled under its all-encompassing ethos. Both of our children have a strong and supportive group of friends from school. This is both unique and endearing, and says a lot for the school and the type of person it nurtures.

One of the schools own's it's land - the other leases it. (forget which way round)

As far as I know staff were called in and told, local schools had been contacted before Wycliffe etc said anything. HTs had spoken about it for a while (reading between the lines). I suspect Rendcomb were slow to put their message up rather than anyone was being snide

Wycliffe friends also doubt it's longevity, but it should last until they retire... Just about!

Thank you for taking the time to write this the way you did. Really interesting to read, and nice to hear from the inside.

Facts not rumours are ofc important. If schools within a group that has been set up for personal profit can be found on public lists for failure in recent years, listing safer recruitment, staff management or safeguarding concerns, the facts about the owners who oversee these schools speak for themselves.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-schools-warning-notices/list-of-independent-schools-that-have-been-issued-warning-notices
Finances of schools set up for profit can easily be found on Companies House, though issues can be hidden from most who aren’t accounts/law savvy if an individual wants to set up multiple shell and holding companies. Clear reports and finances can be found via the Charities Commission for the larger independents, most of which are registered charities.
I think it’s sad that parents can’t just trust what they are told, but it’s a criminal amount of money to spend without checking the facts. I hope that helps those in this unenviable position right now. What we want to believe from the marketing and those running tours needs to be checked. Personally, in the current climate, I would never move DC to a school run for profit. Many of them didn’t start off like that, but have been bought… along with their land and buildings.

Parents considering Ashley Manor might also look into other local prep schools before making a final choice. While the school has an attractive outdoor setting, some issues aren’t immediately obvious during a quick visit. The sports hall is kept hidden from visiting families and has been in very poor shape for years, with a leaking roof that affects games and PE classes. The owners Alpha have not invested much outside of the nursery, leading to cuts in food quality, fewer specialist teachers, and larger classes since they took over. This has caused some parents to worry about the school’s financial stability and future. Over the past 6 months several families have pulled their children out, and others are exploring other options. Bullying is also not properly addressed by the school's senior management. Other local prep schools offer better facilities and a more positive experience. I suggest doing thorough research to ensure you make a well informed decision and avoid rushing into one too quickly.

I think the points you raise are very valid. I get the impression that Ashley Manor is now marketing itself more and more as the school for parents who want their child to go to one of the Gloucestershire Grammar schools and who find that their state primary is not able or willing to provide that extra attention. Therefore, they see 2 to 4 years at a prep as an investment and then plan to revert to state grammar. Such parents probably won't be as bothered by poorer sports facilities because those aspects are not high profile in state primaries or even in the Gramnar schools. Their children will also be used to class sizes of 30 or even more. If a parent is looking for a genuine prep school experience with the intention of moving on to a private secondary school then Ashley Manor probably won't be a great fit.

I agree, and see it as a positive that parents have a choice of different prep schools according to their long term plan for their dc’s education. Just as St Edward’s senior school offers an alternative to the town’s boarding schools. Choice is good.

Yes this doesn’t sound great. Especially when you look at somewhere like Cheltenham Prep which has absolutely amazing facilities/ teachers / grounds etc etc

Out of interest, of the 4 recommended schools, which ones seem secure and which a shambles? And what is this based on? Asking out of general interest btw, not looking to be combative at all!!

Wycliffe the dodgiest as it is the smallest - the same sort of size as Rendcomb, but I don’t know the exact numbers. If I was a parent I would push them to give me the exact numbers for each year now and compare with previous years. there’ve been rumours for a while and they aren’t part of a bigger group I don’t think.
If I were a parent I would want a school that is part of bigger group. smaller schools like Rendcomb can’t compete with them as they can’t benefit from the economies of scale that the schools in groups benefit from. I would also look through the accounts very carefully to see if there are any debts - charity commission has all the info, Wycliffe does appear to have some debts (Rendcomb didn’t, for context)I think there is going to continue to be a market adjustment with the smaller schools going under as they can’t get through the storm but the bigger schools / groups can hold on and wait for the others to close and grow their numbers. It’s a last man standing kind of situation.

I moved away from the area many years ago but no one has mentioned Hatherop. Is it still going? I guess that could be an option for some, if it is.

hatherop is a prep school, part of wishford trust with Westonbirt.

I’m looking at Westonbirt for the youngest. Possibly at reception but more likely at 8. Do you have any thoughts on the pre-prep and prep please at all? The alternative is Malmesbury Primary which had a huge investment from Dyson but will still have large class sizes etc and the other issues that come with state sector. I’d be aiming at grammar for senior but private back up as I have no clue as to academic ability right now!

One final point from me that should be considered, if I may be so bold! Pupil numbers are somewhat irrelevant to concluding a negative financial situation if the school is either set up for - or has re-adjusted for - the relevant pupil numbers to offer the best possible 'service' (in this case, education.) If a school has 'larger' numbers yet has a smaller infrastructure, it's likely to struggle at some stage without fiscally sensible re-adjustment and perhaps even more so if the case is vice versa. Not quite super simple economics but pretty much the same as responsibly running any other business.

Is anyone on here able to verify whether Wishford Education withdrew from the offer of a rescue merger with Rendcomb at the 11th hour?

If any one has any details of what happened behind the scenes and why, it would be very helpful.

For secondary, I’d personally look at Cheltenham College, Kings, Dean Close and perhaps Westonbirt though I know a bit less about the last. (Ladies college if they can get scholarship or have loads of cash and are female! Teaching is first class, environment peaceful and nurturing, but it’s super expensive.) Parents will at least get what they think they are paying for with these, in terms of reliable quality of education, specialist qualified teachers not teaching outside of their subject, strong understanding of safeguarding and safety, and normal school systems/recourse/governance when they enter into a contract. To my knowledge, all apart from Westonbirt are set up as charities so are not owned to generate profit for individuals. They are each very different, so it depends on the child of course. I would also look at the local maintained sector in these circumstances, though I understand why that might feel even more of a wrench after this shock. Many DC made the move to maintained (when the VAT came in, or because they experienced difficulties at one of the small independents) and those I know who did this in the Cheltenham area have settled well if they were able to secure places. For those families totally committed to the independent sector, unfortunately I think they have to commit to paying more if they are not going to be hoodwinked by ‘kind’ promises of a ‘small caring school,’ but in fact not really getting what they would hope for their DC in terms of decent school provision with young people’s education and wellbeing as the raison d’etre.

it’s something to note that CLC give no fee recompense for girls awarded scholarships, it’s purely the accolade and also the path they put them on when they are there.

Cheltenham College has the most expensive day fees of all those schools mentioned, even more than the Ladies College….

interestingly I know a family who moved their children to Kings and left after a year, and the comment was, “it felt like we were paying a lot of money for state school facilities…:the sports and music weren’t top notch.” Can’t speak for the academics or teaching though….

Ah interesting re day fee differences. I think CLC have bursaries and like any of the long-established top independents, what the school judges as ‘affluent’ might not be what parents who make a big personal financial sacrifice to send DC to much smaller independents might expect, so maybe it would be possible for some to apply in the circumstances. They’d need to find out. Re Kings, I don’t know about sport, but drama and the arts have strong practice and outcomes. Music is first-class of course, particularly for the singers with the links to the cathedral where training is renowned. But again, all factors need reviewing in relation to the particular DCs concerned.

https://www.schoolmanagementplus.com/owners-operators/wycliffe-college-joins-new-for-profit-group/

This adds to the pot this morning - Wycliffe now being purchased for profit. The new mentioned owner of Wycliffe, has also used the name Delaney on companies house. Her past and present school groups (Chatsworth/QED/Blenheim) are structured as commercial, for-profit businesses. There was direct business overlap historically with some of the activity with the proprietor and office staff of Alpha schools. The whole ‘education for profit’ model is entirely unsettling to me. Due diligence with such set ups seems very challenging to reliably assess as parents.

Would this suggest it’s in a good, financially stable position or that it is most definitely not if they are having to relinquish charity status and sell?

I’ve heard that they’ve been super helpful and hosted an evening for Rendcomb teachers. St Ed’s is a lovely school, fantastic new Head, keen to drive it forwards.