Northbridge House Senior & Royal School Hampstead- to merge sept 2012

[sparklerach]

Any other parents at NBH/Royal School Hampstead on Mumsnet? We received a letter today from head of Cognita(who own NBH schools) saying they've bought the Royal School and are moving the Senior school from the current site at Gloucester Gate(Camden) to the soon to be ex Royal School site at Rosslyn Hill Hampstead.

I'm a parent of a child starting yr 7 at NBH and live North East of the current site and are quite upset. The timing also feels rather off, having just made our 1st of the Month payment for fees - now we discover that at least for us the school we carefully chose for our child will change considerably(double in size, vastly more girls as it absorbs a single sex girls school) and be twice as far away in 1 year's time.

Can't tell you how annoyed I am having turned away offers from closer more 'academic' schools because I particularly wanted my child to attend a mixed smaller school with good results but not a hot house and most crucially - a short commute from home. Truly annoying as of course there are many options school wise in the Hampstead area - none of which we investigated as the commute is tricky from where we live.

I am also not reassured by the promise of extensive remodelling of the very grim looking Royal School site to provide 'state of the art facilities'. This building work would need to be undertaken next summer, since I think the Royal School is continuing as usual this academic year(nothing on their website indicates otherwise) - which means a short schedule & not likely to be truly transformative in scope, as there simply isn't time to do much in 6 weeks and they will have to do a great deal of mundane stuff to convert to mixed gender and create more classrooms.

Not thrilled....

as an aside- is it just me that thinks the Royal School Hampstead website is rather twee? www.royalschoolhampstead.net/
not to mention hardly indicative when you see the actual school site on street view (click on the school on the map to view)...
maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.630055,87.1875&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=41.890062,12.492549&panoid=07gbqMWIg_HId5m7W94qHg&cbp=12,301.45,,0,-4.23&ll=41.889579,12.49307&spn=0.002692,0.005322&z=18&utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=et&utm_source=en-et-na-us-gns-svn

I don't mean to offend any parents at RSH...I am aware it is likely to be better than my impressions just feeling rather wary and bruised..

Good morning
Sparklerach- I have to tell you with a heavy heart that the deal is done, despite the valiant and determined efforts of the Royal School parents. They fought long and hard, but Cognita now own the school and yes, as you say, by September 2012 RSH will be part of NBH.
However, as I mentioned in an earlier posting, Sir Christopher and his team did not realise the passion and committment or, indeed, the anger of RSH parents. This has led to many meetings about what RSH parents want to see in the new school, including an increase in GCSE subjects,(languages) particular attention to the creative arts, and continuing excellence in learning support. It's what we all want to hear.
Re: The forum, it's a bit dead anyway at the moment, but do air any concerns you have, I think they are being answered promptly.

It sounds as though the merger will be dealt with in a sensitive way, but who knows for sure. My daughter is worried she will lose some of her best teachers, and this would be a disaster as some of them are excellent, outstanding.

And regarding the walk from NBH, cut through Primrose Hill via Gloucester Terrace, , over the bridge, up Haverstock Hill and Bob's your uncle!!

100lilgreen, the school is to be called NBHS School. Sir Christopher said this at the meeting for NBH parents. The school uniform will be the NBH Senior School uniform.

I received a letter this morning to say that the NBH parent's visits are on the week commencing 17th October (as promised).

I too am concerned that parents can be identified on the online forum (even though I feel positive about the merger) as I feel parents will not be candid. Last time I looked it was dead (except for the original letters telling as about the move).

So there is no mention of the Royal in either the name or the uniform?!

100lilgreen, No there will be no mention of the Royal in either the name or the uniform unless they change their mind. As I said, at the meeting for NBH parents on the first day of term, Sir Christopher was specifically asked these questions and said that the school would be called NBH and the uniform would be the current NBH uniform.

I think the name would be too unwieldy otherwise and I am pleased about the uniform as parents at both schools will not have to fork out for a whole new uniform.

The parents at the Royal will have to buy a new uniform, no?

Exactly, parents at both schools won't but Royal school parents will have to.

If there are any parents out there with junior school daughters at RSH- you may find it difficult to obtain summer dresses- uniform4kids are planning to wind down all their RSH stock, and certainly wont be restocking summer dresses. There could be a problem getting them in April, you might want to think about getting one or two now.... What a nuisance! We'll all be buying NBH uniforms within months of having to stock up on summer wear for RSH.

We visited NBH today- I was very impressed with the Head Teacher. The kids seem to be very well- behaved and polite, standing up instantly when Miss Ayres walked into the classroom! Wow, my girl's not used to that! The classrooms are so poky and cramped, the NBH pupils wont believe it when they get to RSH. Just wait until you get up to the fourth and fifth floors- views over London you would not believe. I used to sneak up there on a winter's morning, just to get a look at the skyline.
NBH is of course a lovely building, but RSH is and will be more purpose built. I'm feeling much more positive than I did in September when we first got the news. Ms Ayres tells me that there is going to be three class entry from 2012. and the GCSE options have increased.

Mrs Rumpole, I am so glad that you have been reassured. We visited RSH this week too. It all looks very promising for most.

I have a year 9 daughter at RSH and she was so anxious about the move to co-ed. A week or so ago, some NBH pupils visited and she was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and supportive they were, in relation to the planned merger. She's definitely reassured and so am I. Agree with other posters on here, about the size advantage and general facilities at the Hampstead site ; NBH pupils even commented on this during their visit. Just hope some of the excellent RSH teaching staff (particularly maths, science and modern languages) get kept on. The grapevine suggests otherwise.

Just reading these posts about the NBH/RSH. I am in the process of looking into moving my two eldest kids yr 1(boy) and yr3(girl) into the independent sector. We live in N8 which has a dearth of nearby ind schools (with exception of Channing & Highgate that are v hard to get into). I knew (a little) of the merger situation and when I called NBH funnily enough they were very keen for us to come in . Am I completely bonkers to consider an educational setting in so much flux when I have the chance to avoid?
My worry would be that notwithstanding the "bigger" issues - the settling in of two new kids could be at the very bottom of the lost of priorities with everything they have to deal with.

Turniphead1 I do not think that you would be completely bonkers to consider it. I am sure that they will be able to prioritise your children as the school will still be 'small' even when merged, in comparison to others. I would visit.

BTW are there any RSH parents out there? I had heard that the deadline for acceptance of a place, by the RSH girls, at the newly merged school was to be sometime in January. Has this deadline passed? Does anyone know what the take-up rate is?

Thanks doesnotlivelocally. Really helpful. I am sure it will all work out in the end. Like others - Camden for prep really suits us much more than Hampstead - and by time they need to go to the Senior School they can make their own way there.

Hampstead, what made you seek out this thread? Why rubbish both schools and the parents who send their children there?
You wouldn't send a dying rat there...really?

doesnotlivelocally, I do not mean to rubbish parents who send their children to NBH and RSH. I have just heard these things from someone who worked at NBH so I apologise if you feel offended. Also, don't you think it's rather hypocritical given your negative comments about RSH in your opening message? If you want a one-sided glowing post about NBH, why post this thread? I am not saying that the examples I quoted are unique to NBH but given that a former employee provided the information, I would say the source is quite reliable. Do you not think its important for parents to know about practices that aren't disclosed to them? Furthermore, there is a difference between profit run and non-profit independent schools. UCS, Highgate and the like are non-profit. Whether you want to like it or not, more is compromised in profit run schools. Cognita have not bought RSH to benefit NBH (or vice versa). They see an opportunity to make money. They have shareholders to report to and whether you want to believe it or not, their priority is profit. Contact an educational consultant if you want more information.

Hampstead, I have re-read my posts and there is nothing negative there. I never disagreed with you in so far that Cognita is a profit making organisation. However as I have said before, I am generally happy with the school. You are neither a parent or directly involved with the school and whilst you are entitled to your opinion, I just do not think that this thread is the most appropriate place for them.

Is the merger still going ahead ? I am curious to know if the teachers and head at RSH get to stay on .

BahrainB, merger has gone ahead, works have commenced at RSH site, and the RSH Head Teacher is stepping down to start a new post after Easter Hols.

Actually, the Head Teacher is leaving on the last day of this term, in order to have a sabbatical before she starts her new post in a Cognita-run prep school in September 2012. In other words, she is fleeing the sinking ship. I feel a little bit bitter because my Year 8 daughter has had a very unsatisfactory year so far, with demotivated teachers worried about their future, and a Head Teacher who, frankly, may as well have commenced her "sabbatical" in September 2011, for all we have seen of her. It's been very sad, and there are still teachers there with a great deal of integrity, but they are mostly leaving or have had their hours severely cut to make way for NBH staff. So scary to read Hampstead Heath mum's derogatory comments. Not helpful. We are all anxious but NBH Head really does seem very professional, and I have to keep my fingers crossed that things will improve because, you know what? I have no choice......and they couldn't get any worse!

Turniphead- it's rather difficult to get into any school at this point, I am still on a waiting list for a state school with a decent reputation, daughter is 23rd on the list (for A band pupils) so little chance of that happening, and besides, she will be in the same school as such! Hopefully with better and more structured teaching. She loved it at RSH, and because so many of her friends are staying ( yes, you heard me, most of the Senior School are staying, despite comments from some people above!!) she is going to stick it out. Hope they deliver. One or two of her friends moved schools, but they are known to be less academic and either too small, or too ahem, exclusive shall we say!! The really top schools are just too tough to get into. Not sure she would flourish in that environment anyway.

I moved my daughter from RSH last year (just in time, without knowing what was going to happen). The headmistress has really failed the school in my view. By the way, she is going to Thomas's Kensington not to another Cognita school. The parents at Thomas's are very stressed because they have heard bad things about her.

I actually moved my daughter because I really did not like the headmistress. She behaved like a movie star, she said she was leaving a couple of years ago, then she decided to stay,

She then decided to sell the school with the parents having no say in the matter.

NBH Is fine, many parents are really happy about it. The royal was a great school but thr lack of money made life really difficult (for example, there were girls starting mid-term all the time, pupil turnover was very high, etc)

If you want a RSH-like school, try St Margaret, in hampstead-ish.

Sorry Emanuela but I have it on good authority that St Thomas's Kensington is indeed a Cognita run school. Also, although I totally agree about certain things you are saying regarding the Head, (Movie Star ha ha) she didn't sell the school- the Trustees did. They could not fulfill their charity status, they couldn't be bothered to improve the school, because they lost interest. The parents dutifully tried to suggest ways of recruiting more army daughters, but it was hopeless. And I will say that the Head Teacher did virtually nothing to prevent the sale, and so, yes, we all feel she "sold us out" but actually she didn't!