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?)

Oh ok - just sounded like you have insider knowledge!

Sorry, Luckypup, was out all yesterday evening. .
First I knew was when I got an email forwarded from a current parent. Looked authentic to me. Still not a lot of info to confirm or explain WHY?
Assume the whole evaluation continues with 1 less person...

One word "confirmed"!!!! Thats all folks.

Very pleased to share that we at Dunottar are now officially part of United Learning. Having been involved in this process throughout it is a decision that I am very happy about. Today is a great day :)

One word byebye "confused". Sorry, what's been confirmed?

Ah, post cross over, thank you.

Good luck Bolligog!

Thank you. Appreciate the good luck wishes! Thankfully whilst luck is lovely, a massive amount of research and care should also mean that this union is a great one for generations to come :)

Well that is good news. Glad it is sorted.

Would be interested to hear from anyone who was at the meeting last night, if UL have or will provide a written guarantee to keep Dunottar as a private fee paying school. There is no mention of that on the Dunottar website.

I look forward to seeing it all evolve over the next couple of years. Am sure there will be some well deserved celebrating again today.

Fascinating.
To be clear: Dunottar will NOT become an academy!!!!

I was at the meeting last night and I have to say that The 2 gentlemen from united learning were very impressive. They answered every question honestly and fully. John Coles the Group chief Executive is a qualified secondary school teacher with 2 daughters of his own and he seemed to really understand what the parents of Dunottar had been through. He came across as a really genuine guy who understood that Dunottar's ethos and academic achievements reflected very closely the motto of United Learning, which is "The best in everyone" I also didn't realize until my friend told me that he was also the the director general for schools at the department of education. I'm very happy for my daughter, we'll be celebrating this weekend with cinema and a trip to that new pudding bar in Reigate can't remember what it's called but my daughter had 3 puddings last time she was there. Hurrah!

As I said yesterday a resolution by the end of the week and now we have it. Rejoice!

obviously a lot going on behind the scenes. The key point is that the parents are happy with what UL can offer their children and the school longer term. Well done and best wishes for the future!

That's good news that a decision has been made, it will be good for the parents to now have that security and begin to look to the future.

Very good post below, Wombat - I agree - all parties have worked very hard to get to a solution, and the governors should get recognition for their inputs into a very difficult situation - however unpopular at times. Personally I think they did the right thing to confront the issue, as it has resulted in a much stronger situation for the future, despite the bumpy ride!

Apparently some of the governors/ Dunottar Voice team were at a big RGS concert last night in Dorking, and were in the bar area all together having a very affable chat together with the RGS Head, Shaun Fenton, so it's not all the 'cloak and daggers' picture people have tried to create on here!

Being a governor is a thankless task, and I'd be surprised if any of the current ones stayed on, even if asked. Presumably UL will want to transplant some of their own blood in too. I wonder if any of the current DV committee will be willing to take it on? After seeing all the stress, responsibility and accountability the post can entail, they may think twice!
It's a huge ask, and of course entirely voluntary/unpaid.

Does anyone know why the formalities with UL were suspended and an evaluation of 3 other providers' bids were to take place, then suddenly there were no other credible bids? That does not look good; why did Walker resign and is he still an RGS governed?
I expect an enquiry will reveal what actually happened and we will know in due course.

Surely there won't be need for a dunottar board any longer as the governance of the school will now be undertaken by United Learning.

Parents, staff and DV will be represented on the board. That question was asked at an earlier meeting.

Apparently UL schools have a local board to deal with local issues like fees, teaching etc, which reports to a national board. Or something like that anyway.

I see from the Dunottar website that a contract has now been signed between Dunottar and UL. May seem slightly premature, except that I understand that owing to certain people leaving the scene, and also because no other bids were in fact coming forward, there was no point in delaying things any longer, and potentially losing more pupils. Presumably the RGS Board now have to vote on handing over control to Dunottar, and if that happens then we are all done and dusted. I also understand that UL have given certain commitments to Dunottar Voice, the parents group, about the running of the school and its future.

RGS board don't have to vote.

ATrueBeliever, I'm sure you know more than I do, but wouldn't RGS Board, still having legal control over Dunottar, have to vote to relinquish that control to UL? Or have I missed something?

Batman: Doubt v much whether there'll be an inquiry - neither RGS or UL have the appetite for it. But a friend of a friend of a man they met down the pub thinks that the RGS Board may be getting a new Chairman soon.

Must be the same person that told me the same 3 days ago! I would be very surprised if there is not some form of enquiry .

I was at the meeting last night and I thought that John Coles From United learning was amazing. He showed real care for what Dunottar parents have been put through over the last year. David Leven was also there and he is United Learning's Managing Director of independent schools. He was the head of The Royal Grammar in High Wycombe and he was also head of the City of London School. He was already talking about putting in a new five a side football pitch for the boys and girls. and putting better drainage into the bottom sports field. They're already talking about really practical stuff that matters. They're guaranteeing continued education all the way through to A Level for anyone coming to Dunottar. They also said that Dunottar would not be turned into an academy and that it needed little change as it was already a fantastic school. I'm so pleased that they have the same ethos as Dunottar. My daughter has only been at Dunottar since September and she is a bit on the quiet side but the girls in her class have been lovely to her and she was invited out for playdates and sleepovers within a few weeks. The Dunottar girls are lovely and just seem to accept people for who they are. I was really devastated when Mr Walker said the school was not viable and the board began consultations for closure. I'm so pleased for my girl, she has flourished under the care of Dunottar and her confidence and academic work has improved dramatically. I did not know about Dunottar having one of the highest value adds in the country. I think that their academic achievements are remarkable considering they take in pupils with a wide range of abilities.

What a great post from Hippygall. This really is a Good Friday that has come early. More delay would have been so cruel.

Yes, a great (first ever) post from Hippygall - welcome to Mumsnet...

Hippy gall love reading all those things about Dunottar. Batman 111 was going to ask that same question....why did Mr W resign? No doubt all will be revealed. Happy Friday everyone!