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?)

mmm, 6 governors RGS vs 3 Dunottar. Everyone forgets RSM were in the poo in 2004 and RGS bailed them out because there was an opportunity of that junior school being a feeder. You are right, and thank you for mentioning about the children and all the staff. After all, we are forgetting that the impact on these kids is devastating. Parents are angry that it has come to this because we feel that RGS have been laughing at us. You have NOT got a great reputation and I am glad people can see you for what you are. It is obvious that Dunottar have a fantastic reputation - even in a crisis. Lets hope it never happens to your kids.

It is such a shame that there is such bad feeling. Dunottar is a great school but, apparently, too small.

Not that my opinion matters, but itlooksnow that Dunottar trustees must have been pretty close to deciding on a closure last year. I guess, with hindsight, it was always an odd thing for Dunottar to do - go cap in hand to the grammar. It now seems it was a last desperate death throw.

Part of me wishes that they had just been honest then and told people that there was a crisis a year ago and not gone near the grammar but maybe that wasn't possible for some reason? If parents had been told the extent of the problems then they could have done something to sort out the future of the school withoutall this bad feeling.

Whether the new Dunottar Governors, the old ones, the headmistress etcetc have all done enough to boost numbers over the last few years is hard to tell when the news is all a big shock but it does seem such a shame that something more wasnt done much sooner?

Nononsense, I don't think anyone is laughing at you. I think people in the town will be very aware that for the girls, staff and their families this is an awful position. No one would wish it on anyone. People may not be entirely surprised in light of the decline in numbers over time, but still sorry it has happened.
Something like this is bound to make those involved very sensitive, but please don't feel people are laughing at you. I really don't think people at the Reigate Grammar would laugh either. Parents can empathise with other parents and staff empathise with other staff and children.
I don't agree with all your criticism of Reigate Grammar, but understand that when feelings are very raw, people look for outside forces to blame. I just reiterate that Im sorry for those affected.

I think it is a shame that once again the uncertainty comes after the normal application process for alternative schools is well underway , if not completed, so girls who are potentially displaced are left to be considered at reserve dates or once the first round of offers and acceptances are made. Surely this further undermines the creditability of the governors and management team.

ChocolateWombat, you will not change the views of Dunottar parents on here. As you probably gathered Dunottar are a close community and all our comments seem to be aiming at one place here - that will never change. You could have done so much more for Dunottar and I would love to see RGS not getting their hands on our land. Try somewhere else.

Nothing more to say really. I wish everyone all the best for the future and hope whatever the next stages are, they proceed as smoothly as possible.

I didn't expect to alter the view of Dunottar parents but hope I have enough empathy to understand a little bit of why they are held. But I do know about the topic of school closure, numbers, long term trends in schools and the different ways other struggling schools have approached and dealt with similar issues. I am also local and know a variety of people connected with the school, so have been able to relate my broader knowledge to what has been going on in Reigate. I just wanted to present a different view of it, to that of the upset parents. I know you will continue to be upset about it all. It is upsetting.

As I say, I wish everyone all the best and a smooth transition to whatever comes next.

RGS isn't laughing at anyone nononsense1 in fact all the RGS parents I have spoken to are very sad about the whole situation.

I just find all this lashing out at RGS unhelpful and spiteful. If parents approached RGS and want to enrol their children, what were they meant to do? Leave school places open indefinitely for them? And the sweeping generalisations about all 'RGS kids are horrible' to Dunottar kids are just plain silly.

Wombat talks a lot of sense. Looks like the RGS relationship was all about buying a bit of time to make better sense of the situation. In July 2013 when the auditors refused to sign off the accounts Dunottar would have had to shut its doors literally overnight - an even worse situation than currently. Let's not forget that Dunottar approached RGS as a last resort, when all other approaches had failed.

If the numbers are as close as is being suggested then I'm sure the parents action group will be able to do something. However I suspect it's not as straightforward as it might seem.

It's always a difficult situation when there is a hint that a school might be in trouble. People's loyalty is tested when their childs education is at stake. I'll bet most parents at Dunottar have been on the phone to other schools today, even if they're not admitting it.

I know many current Dunottar parents and I'm glad to say that none of them share the negativity for RGS expressed here.

Like Wombat, I wish Dunottar families a smooth transition, and the very best of luck at a difficult time.

Agree to disagree.

Likewise. How many other schools describe themselves as a family? This is why everyone's in so much pain. It's like a bereavement.

One question, why was Dunottar school not embraced by RGS and included on their websitewebsite? It is now looking as though the charities commission may not allow the closure as proposed.

Dunottar mums please follow me on twitter @savedunottar, parents action group against poss closure needs your support please xxx

Please can I ask all of you on this thread to follow @savedunottar on twitter and share these important comments? Urgent please x

Dunottar mums, dads, we need your comments and support on our twitter page pleased?? @savedunottar, meeting at school 10am tomorrow parent action group against closure x

No ill feeling towards grammar parents or pupils, not at all, I would hope that they are as horrified as we are about what has not been given and what stands to be gained. If the boot was on the other foot I'm sure grammar parents would feel exactly the same, they are nice, good people. Please, all support us?! This is about our children, that is all :) @savedunottar

Am not in the area, or with any specialist skills, but take an interest in private school closures/finances.

If there isn't sufficient demand in the area for single sex girls school in addition to RGS, RGS would surely have made this assessment before getting involved, so if RGS will now get all the assets for no or very little investment ( is that the case?), it does seem to an outsider like "asset stripping".

Another thought following batman1: RGS promised Dunottar a new website and brochure for last September but it didn't deliver the goods. Now we know why.

If the Dunottar land is really that valuable then surely the trustees could have explored some way of unlocking the value?

I think loopytiles has a point, is there enough demand? I guess Dunottar

Loopy tiles. Your assessment is indeed correct. No investment at all.

Interestingly they were also not interested in trying to make cost savings. Dunottar put proposals that would save £150,00 a year by joint purchasing and joint administration. Rgs turned this down.
There was never a genuine intent to help.

Hello everyone / I'm just trying to follow this thread - is it true that Dunnottar is actually closing then? Have letters been sent out to parents informing them the date they will close?

Or, is this still a matter that closure is still threatened but not actually yet happened?

Sorry if this is going over old ground - could someone clarify this for me please?

Thanks.

It is reported as a consultation period here, so not definite yet. However I could imagine there will be only be further fall out and decline in numbers as parents seek potential places elsewhere. I would imagine that the nature of the trust means that selling off tracts of land is not an option, although that is what Reigate St Marys did in a bid to expand and survive about 10 years ago, pre-RGS merger. It may even be that the land was bequeathed for educational purposes only, or with similar restrictions.

I think this is very sad and I hope that they manage to save the school, we know lots of girls at Dunnottar. Dd is in year 8 and we looked at Dunnottar for high school. There were loads of girls at the assessment but it seemed to be the 'back up school'. .. it was our first choice. As dd is dyslexic the additional SEN assistance was going to put the price higher than Moon Hall (a specialist dyslexic school) which seemed over the top really. . she. needs minimum help at this point, so for us they were overpriced for what you got.

The head had such high hopes for the RGS help. . and talked about how it was going to work. I think it's really sad and if RGS ends up with that land I think I would have serious doubts about their governors and their ethics... Time will tell.

By the way growing up in SA I knew of three English schools... Eton, Rhodean and Dunnottar. . so I consider it quite an important English school

Just realised I've spelt it wrong sorry

lizs, the land being beqeueathed for educational use wouldn't necessarily be an issue for a school taking over, if they were looking for local land to expand. But maybe there are other rules.

Parents from Dunottar really are proving their loyalty. Certainly making progress . Just need to get governors we trust which shouldn't be too difficult. Come on dunottar...