Durham High School closing?

[Wegovygirl]

Can anyone confirm? Rumour mill is doing the rounds that Durham High is closing. I have 2 children there and worried sick.

Another school run by Galaxy also announced today they will close. Ruthin.

@Stanislas DJS are no better, Toll House Bank is clogged every morning with parents who drop their children off then do 3-point turns, holding everyone else up.

Very sad message on website.

So sorry to hear this. I had children at Sunderland High when it closed. It felt like the end of the world at the time but all worked out in the end.
RGS has sixth form places available and I’m sure other Durham and Newcastle Independant schools will reach out with offers of places.

I went to Durham High between ‘78 - ‘85 and I can still remember the unofficial school song..

They say at Durham High School the staff are mighty fine,
They sit around the staff room drinking beer and wine,
Oh I don’t wanna go to DHS
Oh boy I wanna go,
Stevie won’t let me go…
Oh boy, I wanna go hoooome!
Etc…

(Stevie was Mrs Stephenson, Head at the time 😀)

RIP DHS X

Ex pupil 1969-1981 here. Devastated. So many happy memories. Thoughts with staff, pupils and families at this time

This Is heartbreaking for all involved and Durham itself. I remember going for an interview there as a young teacher and being so impressed by the girls and teachers.

I hope some can find places in the next few days so the whole summer isn’t in disarray and for the teachers who are left with no pay, I have no words.

So sorry OP. This is devastating news for all at the school. I hope you manage to find somewhere else decent for your DDs

there is literally not going to be any more admissions.

Everyone has been treated appallingly by Galaxy.

This is so sad for everyone affected and Durham as a city. So sorry to all staff and families involved. Red House is a good option as an alternative school for anyone close ish to Norton, similar class sizes and small nurturing atmosphere. Thinking of all the staff and families and hope parents all find suitable alternative schools for your girls.

This means that of the schools that Galaxy Global Education Group has acquired, all within the past couple of years, 3 out of 4 have been closed within the past few months (Malvern St James, Ruthin School and Durham High). Only Plymouth College is now remaining.

Durham sixth form has a lot of pupils from Durham high school for sixth form.
I know Durham Johnson has a small catchment area. A lot of the secondary schools around Durham are oversubscribed.
Very sad for staff and pupils. The site of school and grounds are prime building material.
I wish parents the best of luck finding a new school.

Unfortunately, this might have been predicted by the business model. Galaxy separated the schools (DHs, Malvern, Ruthin, Malvern) into land/property and operational companies with galaxy sitting at the top. The operational companies have no money in the bank accounts unlike the property ones. Which means when the operational companies close it doesn’t impact the others or subsequently Galaxy. So essentially it was a clever investment and land grab on the part of the ‘investors’. One has to wonder how they can get away with this, and how the governing bodies of the schools didn’t foresee it. I suppose difficult times and the promise of a cash injection might have been too attractive.
Devastating for the pupils, families and teachers. Feels incredibly wrong that this can happen.

I have one question.

NICK GRENFELL-MARTEN.

How can you sleep at night?

So they have basicslly asset stripped the schools. Wow. Someone did not do due diligence.

I did a bit of digging on this company yesterday - one part of it is located in the Cayman Islands.

Parents are also going to have to do their due diligence when choosing private schools, it's survival of the fittest now.

That one's been an issue since the early 2000s - I was working at a private school in Newcastle that announced a closure incredibly late into the term - owners flogged all the buildings off for nice luxury flat developments, staff didn't get paid for July/August (till I got the union involved :D ) and everyone generally got fucked over royally.

What DID happen though was that the other local schools rallied round and everyone got sorted out with a placement that worked for them before the end of the academic year. That may be some comfort to some of you... buggered up my teaching career though no end (but I ended up career switching into something that suits me much better so everything worked out OK).

It is absolutely shit, but you and your kids WILL get through it.

The problem was - these school were making a loss. So they accepted the buy out by Galaxy because otherwise they would have most likely closed anyway. A risk - a huge risk - but only once backed into a corner.

Parents of children at Plymouth College aren’t going to sit around and wait are they; they’ll be predicting what is coming and trying to find new provision quickly.

There were 4 private schools in Durham - in the current climate with VAT, cost of living etc as well as lower birth rates it was always going to be tough. I just wish this had all been handled so much better for those poor staff and pupils.

There’s still Durham School and IGS Durham (very different options) plus some great local state schools. Fingers crossed your children settle into new schools in no time. And I’m hoping the amazing teachers find new roles quickly too.

The previous Governing body left it far too late and sleepwalked into the sale to Galaxy. They should have done something about the declining roll and finances long ago but chose to ignore the problem in the hope it would just go away. It didn't and look what has happened as a result.

An acquaintance of mine’s child was due to go to DHS next year, I’ll have to get in touch and see how they’re doing, this must be so stressful. I really do feel particularly for the kids in the middle of GCSE and A-Level years.

IGS just increased capacity a small amount but it’s such a different school, I know it wouldn’t suit a lot of young people. I bet Durham School is seeing an increase in enquiries!

Can I ask what are the 4 private schools in Durham are, please? I know Durham school and The Independent Grammar, so I thought there were only 2 left now.

Choristers school probably, although it's now "part of the Durham Schools Federation ".

IGS is very very different to DHS and Durham School!

Am very sad that DHS is closing and sorry for all of the current pupils.

Currently on the local news.