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.

Ripon Grammar is not too far. State boarding.

IGS definitely different. I have a child there and it’s perfect for them but it would not be for everyone.

I knew that Durham and Chorister were linked now. I read up on Independence grammar is different.

@PinkHairbrushClub how do you find IGS? I’ve always been sceptical by the very low numbers and therefore questioned its ability to employ the necessary staff ext but I understand numbers may be starting to grow. How does it differ from a small state school?

I find the teaching more comprehensive. My child loves the stretch that is offered. TBH the main reason we moved there is that classes remain small and the school not overwhelming in a way our local comp could never achieve. With a naturally academic child who will learn independently it was an easy decision, but actually I think the teachers have been great. It’s a totally different to the comp our older child goes to, much less rigid in terms of how they learn. From a primary point of view it’s not hugely different (we came from a small rural primary and went in at yr7) but its miles apart from our local high schools.

For us it works great, they are still very new and some of the comms and parent interaction could be tighter if I’m honest, but in terms of having a happy child who is learning well, it’s a success for us.

Their staff recruitment is smart and the focus is very much on getting that right not providing bells and whistles. For many the lack of sport, drama etc would be a barrier, but for a quiet academic child it works well.

Do you mean Durham city, or County Durham? Barnard Castle School is another in County Durham. It has a bus route to Durham city. Further afield you have Red House, Teeside High and Yarm. Or up to Newcastle.

Just Durham city! Barnard Castle is so far away from, I feel it’s a different county. Even though I know it is!

A private school near us closed 2-3 years back and it was handled really badly - they told people in mid June that they wouldn’t be open after the end of term (mid July) they basically gave 4 weeks notice - they’d also had some fees for students for the next Sept that turned into a nightmare for people too. One of my son’s friends was there but joined my son in year 7 at the comp and he’s doing absolutely fine.
Sadly private schools are run as a business primarily and their books need to balance and I think less people are choosing to send their children there now and this is the knock on effect.
if it was me I’d rock up tomorrow morning and ask them outright x

I see Mary Foy is now on the case. Saying it was a complete surprise, even though someone emailed her about it middle June.

Mary Foy who doesn’t respond to or acknowledge emails. I’ve not once heard back from her as my MP. So I’m not surprised she had no idea. Her emails must go in a black hole.

🤣

She couldn’t even apologise properly on the post in the comments! The woman said a month and she said well it wasn’t a month! As it was halfway through!

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26252647.durham-high-school-headteacher-investigated-misconduct/?ref=ebln&nid=936&block=article_block_a&u=4239a55972f619aa66c2a7b07c49c0fb&date=040726

I have no further information on the article but given the ruthlessness of Galaxy was this a convenient way of removing an obstacle to closure?

That is a disgraceful headline! Just put the knife in!

I’ve run into a paywall so I can’t see the article but that is quite a headline!

Can’t read it what does it say?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/laura-middleton-b0358a11b_to-the-very-end-the-truth-of-the-final-activity-7480176316797919232-T8I0

That's despicable behaviour from global.