Dunottar/ Reigate Grammar - Merger, or what?

[quandry]

Got the letter today, and I have to say I don't really understand what is going on?
Is RGS bailing out Dunottar to save it going under?
I can't see the advantages for RGS at all?

Someone suggested that perhaps they'd make it co-ed, less academic school in the future (like a Box Hill in Reigate?) and share facilities more? (Sports fields closer than Hartswood?)

I'm sure something will be posted on Dunottar Voice in due course. Presumably, everyone's recovering after a late night at the auction!

Progress had been made and when finalised will be posted.

So there is no plan then?

As I have said it is all very confusing and actually feels like there is something not right with all the money being raised.

I heard there was a vote at the school yesterday to agree the plan. Now it appears there is no plan and it being finalised! If there was a plan wouldn't they be shooting about it from the rooftops if it was going to save the school?

I'm not sure dunottarvoice are being that open with the outside community they keep bombarding with information and pleas for money and help.

I hope there is a plan for all the money that they are claiming to have raised otherwise where will it all go?

Shouting not shooting!!

Should have gone to the meeting yesterday

Well with an attitude like that I really hope that you are not in need of 2 more children who are in feeder schools to help sustain this plan.

How rude and arrogant.

Is every parent at dunottar like you? Glad I didn't send my daughter there a few years ago if they are.

Just because I am asking questions about this group (like a lot of people in Reigate) doesn't mean I was not sympathetic to the cause for choice for parents.

No one from the dunottarvoice seems to be prepared to listen to anything that is not positive or praising them for their actions. Choice is about having a debate not cutting people off that don't necessarily have the same opinion as yours.

For what it is worth I wait to see what this plan is. The fact that no one is prepared to update the people of Reigate and the wider community seems very narrow minded given the amount of communication slating Rgs that they have put out publicly. I would have though they wouldn't be able to wait to show what they have as a positive action rather than focussing on the so-called wrong doings of Rgs.

Have to confess I'm still confused as to what the 50k is hoping to achieve, great though it is to have got so far . A legal adviser would do what - advocate the plan or go over the agreement with RGS ? Not sure whether focussing on the latter is particularly beneficial to a positive plan to move forward. There surely is some professional expertise among the D community already . Another similar local case would be Laverock in Oxted being taken over by Hazelwood a few years back .

tinytim , are "outsiders" invited to these meetings , nothing I've read would suggest so . Shouting down those who question what is going on is not a very productive approach.

The meetings are open to anyone with an interest in Dunottar. Parents/teachers/prospective parents/ concerned neighbours etc.

Shockedbunny was that message to me?

All will be revealed on 13th.... Please do come along to the meetings they are very informative more so than on mumsnet. Fundraising will be on going. .....I can't comment further. Yes there is expertise within our community .

The people with a vested interest in the school are now in receipt of the facts and outcome if the vote on Saturday. When chambers convene and the legalities of the propersition have been agreed on with all parties concerned then the wider audience of Reigate will be informed.

I would just like to point out, that yes a plan was discussed on saturday at an open meeting, it is now sunday, not much work happens on a sunday. Any plan put forward by Dunottar voice has to agreed by staff and parents and thr board of governors before it can proceed. It would be inappropriate to share information with the wider community untill all staff and parents have had their chance to ask questions and vote on the proposal and for thr board of governors to agree. I understand that it must be frustrating but the proper channel and procedures must be followed.
Educational consultants are needed to help shape the new plan that will move Dunottar forward to ensure that thr future of the school and its educational direction are sound (this is not to say anything may change, it is just necessary to have the support). A barrister is necessary because there are complicated legal sides to charity law that no one within the Dunottar voice is capable of doing. You can imagine that it is vital that all discussions and documebts are handled in a professional manner by qualified people.
I hope this answers some of your questions. I am sure that once thibgs are finalised internally they will ve singing from the roof tops, your support is grwatly apprexiated at this time as is your patience.

Typing on my phone led to a few typos sorry

Hoo rah.

Thanks Lysette for clarifying. So it would seem therefore somewhat premature for those further down the thread to get excited if the news cannot yet be shared.

Thank you for clarification tiny tim. Items have to remain confidential. Better for all concerned! 13th is DDay this gives them time. It's only been three weeks but of course seems longer. They are doing a fantastic job for our kids, teachers parents etc. Just so proud to see a tiny school pull together in such circumstances. Beautiful beautiful school. Just cannot speak highly enough of Dunottar ! Nearly half term!

Surely any plans made by DV are actually only proposals that are going to be put forward to the board, so any decision making is to be done by the board of governors.
Am I correct? Just trying to understand in the simplest terms.

Thanks for clarifying although I am still confused!

How can the meetings be open to anyone yet what has been discussed now be strictly confidential??

So the plan has to be approved by the govenors? And they will hand Dunottar back?

I will wait to see the outcome.

Oh and yes Tim earlier message was in response to you

Sorry won't be doing the survey . The information requested is very identifiable even with the caveat that no 3rd party would use it . Shame as I think that may well put others off too . What has been the response ?

I've joined just to comment on this thread.
Reading throught the points that others have added and then been attacked if not how I'd expect this forum to be used.

I'd like to know what is causing so much excitement across this forum, the official save Dunnottar facebook site. From these messages the school seems to have been saved!
Why give this message out if you cannot share the information. Dunottar School will need all the support it needs. When parents talk about senior schools in the area they talk RGS, Catherham and Boxhill. Very rarely does Dunottar get a mention.

I thought it was an open meeting to current and prospective parents.
It seems that people are getting carried away on things. Others want to know and have asked the valid question. Now the message is coming out, that what was discussed, can not be shared! So has everyone at this meeting signed paperwork confirming that they will not share the information discussed in the meeting. I think not.
As a parent who's daughter is half way through year 4. I wasn't at the meeting. Couldn't make it due to work. We need to start thinking about where to look. We need to know what the future is for the school, not only now, but will still be around when it comes to her sitting her GCSE exams.

If it is success that's brilliant for the current pupils and the Reigate area! But the damage has been done and will take a while to get through to people that the future is strong. Everyone wants to know.
Share all the information or just keep it until you can give the full picture.

It's not going to be an easy task. Will RGS hand the school back. I think not. When handed a school, whose building is worth large amounts of money and then there's the cost of the land. No will be the answer.

this should have been done last year, then they decided to close the junior part. There was only going to be one outcome with RGS and still could be. Closure.

Everyone wants to hear that RGS does not have the monopoly on the Reigate area and people have a choice if their child doesn't fit the RGS mold.

I think this thread shows the benefits and dangers of the Internet age.
On one hand, we get constant updates (although these are only odd bits of the story that are posted here and on DV, which leave lots of people feel like all the info is not being given)
On the downside, the work of DV is clearly a work in progress. The final plan is probably not clear to them yet. Without the Internet, we would have all had to just wait until they were ready to tell us the final plan. This constant flow of bits of information, at a point when the full plan is either not known or cannot be divulged, generates arguments, speculation and I think prolongs the suffering of those waiting for the end result.
I also think that whatever the outcome is, the intenet will have created more bitterness within the community, through the range of rumours, which people will have believed whether they are true or not.

On one hand , the Internet has allowed DV to reach many people and raise the profile of the school. But the constant positive posts seem so unbalanced in that they only present positive information, when clearly Dunottar has not been in a good state, that you wonder if sometimes they do more harm than good.

All part of the Internet age eh!

Well said Tombaker, my thoughts exactly

It will be announced on 13th! Lol. Ps sorry disagree with the comment up thread, when children not offered spaces then suddenly parents have an interest in Dunottar. Remember Dunottar girls were offered first choice university places! Nothing on here will ever change my view of Dunottar School . Happiness is the key to successful learning......