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?)

That's most unfair Soothsayer - John Coles IS better looking than Alan Walker!

I'd quite like an academy, saves a few thousand a year!
Anyone who has a child in the independent sector knows that fees go up year on year, what I am saying is that there isn't any evidence that I can see that RGS needed Dunottar assets to avoid financial difficulty. The accounts that are published look healthy enough. I don't see much evidence of RGS having spent vast sums in the last year. There is some upgrading of the facilities at Hartswood to come I believe but no plans for flocks of exotic birds to enhance the grounds.

Urmel my comment was not addressed to you, I can't type quick enough!

Ah, so you want an academy Sheldon - which school are you connected to? I wonder how many of your fellow parents share your views.

Published RGS accounts are for 2011/12, i.e ancient history. 2012/13 accounts, which are probably already compiled but not published yet, should be much more informative......

Er, I was joking about the academy!

As the accounts won't be published for a few months it's rather a moot point speculating about them, but I still believe you are being disingenuous to suggest that RGS is in financial difficulty, anyone would think you wanted to put people off considering them!

Being serious for a moment Sheldon, from what I've been told RGS are quite stretched on the finance side. No danger of going bust, but perhaps being a bit over-ambitious.

I don't have access to the Bursar so I don't know the details. All I can tell is from what I can see being spent, it doesn't strike me as over ambitious, anyway I am going to bed now.

I am not the same as Redill; I had not seen any confirmation at the time I posted that UL had given formal confirmation that D would never become a state academy, so I was genuinely trying to work it all out.

Anyway, as a local parent I am genuinely delighted that D has been saved and that the girls there now don't have to move schools, and that there is now more choice for private education in Reigate. I have said before that I am impressed by what DV has achieved, and by their obvious hard work.

However I agree with a lot of posters upthread that particularly recently there have been some amazingly bitchy and snide comments from some of the D parents on here. Quite entertaining in some ways as so clichéd and over the top; but worrying in other ways.

When I look at Petals step by step account of the events of the previous year or so, I don't see a balanced account, purely giving the facts, but an interpretation of it.

For example, more children sat the entrance exam. Yes, but it is also widely known, that typically, in the last 5 years, less than half of those receiving offers actually accepted them.....Dunottar was often the back up school, it seems. (petal didn't mention that)
OR
In the period since Dunottar voiced its difficulties by going to RGS, many girls left and have continued to do so right until now. No idea what the numbers left are....no one wants to give those figures.
OR
Dunottar had mild financial difficulties...yes, but to a level that staying single sex was not viable....going mixed quickly seemed to emerge as the only possibility.

So Petal presents a picture of a school in very minor difficulties.....but of course, the situation of declining numbers goes back well beyond 2013.

The trouble is, this has been a highly emotive issue (understandably) and to get a balanced assessment of it all, is virtually impossible.

The thing I think is the worst of recent posts, is this character assassination of the Governor who people say has resigned. It all seems to be based on hearsay and speculation.....and it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable, when an individual is targeted like this.

Tinytim welcome on board if you send your boys here.!

CW it maybe a "back up school " as you keep reminding everyone but look was has happened in the last few months. ! The reason why girls left was because scaremongering was very evident . Not mentioning names of course. ! Just so relieved we can all carry on doing and giving CHOICE to REIGATE!

ChocolateW. Do you not believe that Mr Walker resigned from the BOG of Dunottar?
This is fact, and is the reason why the contract with UL was then signed. Why not email him and ask him if he resigned and you can also ask him why ! I am sure he is a very nice man who was doing his very best for the school so I am intreaged as to why he gave up the cause. I actually don't know why he went, I have my own ideas but only interested in posting the facts on this forum otherwise it all gets out of hand.

That particular governor is the one that many D parents feel caused several pupils to leave since September. His inappropriate speech at prize giving in September created a bit of panic with some leaving to RGS soon after and his subsequent meetings with parents to address the panic created even more uncertainty. I don't think his actions or attitude were appropriate in the circumstances. As a result I don't think that particular governor is very popular within D. I think it's totally ridiculous and insulting to be discussing who is better looking btw. This is a serious issue and to trivialise it makes me a little angry, as does the silly bitchiness and one upmanship shown frequently from several people on this thread.

As to why he resigned - I doing know why. Perhaps he realised he was in the wrong and was conflicted in some ways, perhaps he was advised to by lawyers or someone else, perhaps he had had enough - can't have been an easy time for him either. We can speculate all we like - perhaps the truth will come out one day. Maybe we can focus on facts instead. He did resign and UL are now in charge. I think everyone wants a happy ending, so let's see what the future brings.

Batman, I honestly don't know. I am not a parent and don't receive communication from either school.
I haven't seen anything on Dunottar website to say he resigned or that allowed the deal to go through. There is a lot on here, which Im sure is incorrect and misrepresented. I certainly couldn't comment or speculate on his dealings and if they have been correct and above board or not, which is what some people are doing. The impression I have got, is that whilst all the 'rah rah' has been going on from DV (understandably) the governors have been working away behind the scenes....must have been hours and hours of work. They have only put out the occasional factual update, rather than enter into debate about it all. Seems dignified to me. But I don't know what has been going on behind the scenes.....and with local individuals being involved, I would be very careful of saying things which are speculation at this point (not necessarily you). In fact, it would probably be good forum form, to try not to talk about individuals at all, but that is another topic.

Interesting posts over the last 24 hours since the news was announced about UL taking over the running of Dunottar. I don't want to enter into that debate ......however.......
I'm personally looking forward to hearing the facts on what plans they have and how quickly they will be implemented from them at their open mornings?

I've been on the school website and they are running an "open week" 3rd 8th March - great idea as I can now fit this round my work commitments - well done UL and Dunottar for opening your doors and being so flexible for those of us yet to make a decision for September entry.

Wombat, that made me chortle - "governors working away behind the scenes...must have been hours and hours of work"! Maybe there was hours and hours of work, but not on saving Dunottar! Oh, if only you knew....oh wait, perhaps you do?

Quite a few people.....actually no, Suzy78 put it much better than I could - just read her post at 22.15 last night.

PP1 you wonder in your post whether RGS is financially stretched. Don't think that can be right when there is talk of a new 6th form building at RGS.

Agree flipcharting. I am very impressed with how quickly UL have taken command of the situation. New logo designed, open week a great idea and cast iron guarantee of a super secure school. Staff will really want to work for the school, parents will view it as the school of choice. I have spoken to many people in the locality and there is a lot of interest. It is my view that the maximum capacity of the school is about 430 students, still a small school and one which could be oversubscribed sooner than most people think. There is much work to do, I am sure it will be done with input from staff, parents and pupils. The future for Dunottar looks excellent, it has been a tough process but the school is now in a very good place. Not much more to said by me but there will be by others. I have no doubt that the "story" will be told in the the newspapers next week.

Hi. As Ive said earlier it is what it is! we can go on forever. United Learning have done the deed. We have seen a lot of disruption and very upsetting scenes. I personally do not need any more of that. So very well done to everyone involved in getting this sorted out once and for all. My weekends can now be free of talking whether my girls can stay at the school. Batman111 thank you! Lets hope all the year groups now can carry on studying for those very important exams .

Can't think why but most of the shops in Reigate have run out of champagne, also been a run on eggs!

Good luck everybody.

Wheres the party batman111? lol

Bloody hell – I go away for half term, and when I come back it’s all kicked off on here!

Suzy78 – interesting first ever post on Mumsnet Think it’s quite disgusting in the personal attacks actually and it should be removed.

Interesting too, to see Petalpower’s version of events for newcomers. Are you a fiction writer by any chance PP, because you certainly have a creative streak in your work…

Let’s have a look at a different perspective on the same events, shall we:

1. Dunottar has been in long term decline for almost a decade. It gets into very deep shit when future numbers fall and accounts show it will start to lose money in 12-18 months.

2. After casting the net very wide and failing to find help, old Dunottar board approach RGS in desperation and plead for short term help to prevent overnight closure.

(Yes – constitution is changed, as Dunottar becomes part of RGS group, and yes, there were probably some things which the (old) Dunottar governors should have tied up better then.)

3. In 2013 a proposal was discussed to make Dunottar co-ed in order to improve the schools prospects, but it was rejected on the basis that the ‘ethos’ and ‘essence’ of Dunottar was single sex education.

4. By end of 2013 it was clear that there simply wasn’t enough demand for single-sex girls education based on the existing Dunottar model, hence the (admittedly badly executed) communication from the governors about the future prospects for the school.

5. Parents continue to remove daughters (given worry about future) and hence situation becomes even more dire. Jan 14 applications are good, but the reality is that the school would still be on target to lose £250K+ in 2014/15 which RGS simply never signed up to underwrite.

6. Consultation is announced and 200+ angry & aggressive parents meet, baying for blood, and looking for anyone to blame. Conspiracy theories are hatched and begin circulating like wildfire. Chair of the governors, as the figurehead, is the easy target.

7. Dunottar Voice, a parents action group, run by a banker and a marketing expert, is launched and seeks alternative solutions. Dunottar mums begin to bake cupcakes to raise funds for a ‘hotshot lawyer’.

Dunottar Voice discover that (strangely) United Learning (a group with a reputation for running state academies) is very interested in taking on the multi £££ assets of Dunottar school and running it as a co-ed school.

8. A cleverly worded questionnaire is designed by DV which ‘proves’ that in fact Dunottar parents don’t really care about single sex education after all, and the ‘Dunottar Ethos’ is, in fact, ‘Added Value’ instead.

9. With the co-ed door now ‘open’, some other options are also under consideration by the governors. This includes one from RGS to run it as a non- selective co-ed school alongside RSM.
   DV are now in bed with UL however (presumably because Jon Coles is better looking?) and don't want to consider any other options, being the RGS-haters they are.

DV are pushy and aggressive however and apply significant pressure for a UL head of agreement before Half Term (which happens).

10. Somewhere along the way, everyone fires their lawyers, and advice changes.

11. Chair of governors steps down (either because of legal advice re conflict etc, or just because he says, ‘for fuck’s sake, I don’t need all this crap, I don’t want all these death threats from perimenopausal mothers…’)

12. Remaining governors are due to discuss all options on Friday morning, but meanwhile DV + pro-UL governors + UL + their lawyers, meet overnight and sign an agreement with UL . No idea if this agreement will be legally binding! One lawyer might say yes, another no…..

13. DV then take to the airwaves and promote the glory of the deal far and wide as a ‘done deal’ in the hope that RGS will just now go away.

Nice.

I bet I’m not the only person that wishes RGS had never got dragged into this murky mess.

In response to one or two posters:

“LuckyPup: RGS will no longer have the burden and expense of carrying a loss making school”
Strange that - everyone in DV was at great pains to tell us that it wasn't loss making, but of course it was precisely BECAUSE it was on course to lose £250k+ in the next financial year that the governors had to move to consultation.

Urmel – the reason the deal was done so secretly, by stealth, and overnight was precisely to block any other offers from being considered (due to be discussed the next day)

Whatever you do, don’t use this thread as a basis to make any decisions about these two schools folks – go and meet the staff, pupils and see the facilities.

This thread has become a work of fiction – a PR platform for Dunottar Voice and United Learning. There are a suspicious number of ‘new’ posters wading in to spout forth about how wonderful the whole UL deal is – don’t be fooled.

Thought you might like to read this. We current parents are happy, its been a really upsetting time.
"Delight as takeover saves Reigate's Dunottar School from closure" t.co/mWEpLgPrpU

Nikkisurrey - interesting way of approaching the debate and i do think everyone is clearly entitled to have an opinion.....

I agree with two of your points

1 people should go along to the school and make up their own minds
2 It probably would have been better for RGS never to have got involved

The rest - I'm waiting for the facts to be established........

NikkiSurrey, WHO did the secret deal? Was it done without Dunottar board?