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 am a local resident and have just got wind of this story. I've read the stuff on DunottarVoice.com and can see nothing deliberately negative about RGS, they are just facts?

Are there any Dunottar staff or parents on here to say how many girls there actually are in the secondary school bit right now, not last year but now?

I think that there are currently students leaving every week. I think there are currently about 15 in year 7, similar in year 8. I think there are only 25 in year 9 and then about 30 and 40 in year 10 and 11. Is that right? More parents are planning to leave in September, even if the school continues. Lets say that they recruit 15 into year 7again - which would be an optimistic target!
So, Dunotar will have fewer than under 100 in years 7 - 11 and that means certain closure - surely!

Are you not forgetting L6 and U6?

I don't think DunottarVoice are giving those figures. For one thing they probably don't know as the situation is changing every day. People are looking at other schools but it is unclear if they will definitely leave. But some of them will. And of course, it doesn't suit their argument to say what the current numbers are. The numbers they give between 2010 and 2013 are carefully selected to shown a least bad scenario.
Clearly they want to save the school. This does not involve giving balanced information and all the facts, just those that support their campaign. I think that is why so many of us are confused about exactly what is going on. The 'official' source of information is effectively a propaganda machine to save the school. This is exactly what you would expect. They are doing their job. That's fine, as long as we realise we will probably never get all the information from them. In fact we probably never will. If the school closes, there will be scapegoats, regardless of whether they really are to blame.

According to the exam stats in the Surrey Mirror, I think it was last week, there were 8 candidates for a levels in 2013, so it doesn't sound like the 6th form is huge. I know a couple of girls at least who moved to Reigate College for 6th form after they changed their admissions policy to not discriminate against independent school candidates.

I think the exam stats that were published in the Surrey Mirror on local schools for a levels in 2013 indicated 8 a level candidates so it doesn't look like the sixth form is huge.
I think they are being selective with the their figures but would expect that but I would imagine at some point those who appear to being blamed for this will publish their own version, it would appear that the trustees are already contradicting the figures being given.
At the end of the day this situation was sown by the inaction of the school over the years, it's just a huge shame that the pupils and staff are going to suffer if it does close.

argh, didn't think first post has stuck, hence another one!

Even when I looked round 3-4 years ago the 6th form was small. A level maths class had 4, attractive to some but too small to me.

How do you know the trustees are questioning the figures?

Dunottar is a much-loved school in Reigate. What's with the smirkfest over its potential closure? I don't get it, sorry. If it closes that will be a sad day for the whole area.

I totally agree it will be sad. I don't think anyone is gloating or pleased. The thing is, we don't know what's going on. There is an organisation saying they are there to keep everyone informed, but we don't Understand and would like to. First they were saving a girls school. Then the USP turned into value added, not it being a girls school. Then they were saving it to be co ed. Seems like there's no mention of that now. They tell us numbers until July but not for now. We don't really understand what kind of education they are saving Dunottar for and can't tell if it is viable or not. I really don't think anyone is happy it is happening. This is a public forum and it would be good if DunottarVoice came on here to tell us the facts. If things were explained carefully and fully it would stop speculation. The fact this isn't happening increases the sense that all is not well.

A friend's daughter went there many years ago and the 6th form was small then, from what I recall. But a quick Google found this interesting snippet:

www.dunottarschool.com/news/sixth_form_numbers_rise

There was a quote in I think, the Surrey Mirror or one of the other local papers that stated the Trustees said the figures were at 186, which is different to what's been stated elsewhere. I don't know whether they are comparing like for like though. Given that the success of the school will depend on how many pupils it has/can get I don't see how it can be difficult to state exactly what the figures are to see how close they are to being a viable concern. It's especially important to parents who have to make a decision over the next few weeks as to whether to accept an alternative school place or hope that Dunottar survives.

I don't see a "smirk fest" there's a lot of sympathy locally for the situation that pupils, parents and staff face, but it's not clear what the strategy is.

Choccywoo, I think you're accusing them of all sorts of stuff when all they seem to be doing is getting the information out there? The co-ed thing : just because they don't say on their latest they're thinking of coed, does that meant they're not thinking coed?

Hey, it doesn't say they're not turning it into a chocolate factory either. The wife will be thrilled!

That's the point though, I don't think it is that clear. If you have sons in this area and are looking at a less hot house environment can they consider Dunottar or not, or maybe but only for 6th form. I appreciate that they haven't had much time but they need to be clear on what the vision for Dunottar is otherwise how can they work out what will work number wise?

I'm sure that will all come clear. From the website it is obvious that it is a very busy group that is working towards a viable solution. Who can blame them for batting ideas about? It's only been going a couple of weeks or so. Or is that propaganda too and have they been working in a secret bunker since 2008? I think we should be told.

Reigate School Has Secret Agenda Not To Become Not A Chocolate Factory.

Please don't tell the wife.

If they could arrange a chocolate factory alongside the school that would be fab!

I listened to Susy radio today and john a spokesman from DV stated that the number was 186 but really needs to be 200 for the school to work without loss, or better still up to 250 which is what they hope for in the future.
Def not a smirk fest at all, just A genuine concern for the school and pupils and the future. Choc wombat hit the nail on the head with the comment about them only giving selective information but that is only coming off as confusing.
I suppose the best thing to do is wait and see what happens but it is difficult to be patient when the future education of your child is at stake.

But seriously, how do you know it is selective information? Do you have other information? I just see a group of people trying to reach a solution in a short space of time. More power to them, I say.

Because the press release from Dunottar voice originally said the pupil number was 203, sorry I originally said it was 206, the trustees said it was 186 and now it appears that the spokesperson for Dunottar voice says on the radio that it is 186. That's quite important if the break even point is 200.

Alberteinstein Is right there is a smirk factor on this forum. When there was some unfortunate publicity about 10 years ago involving some RGS boys there was not nastyness from competing schools.
Dunottar is a fine school that has lost it's way a little, turned to a friend and then got mugged! Fortunately it has many clever and influential friends that will enable the school to stand on it's own 2 feet and thrive again. It will happen.

Sorry but I don't see nastiness. It seems that if people query the direction or the information being put out it's nasty? Local people are contributing to this forum, individuals who have an interest in local education and want to know what options may or may not be available for their children in the future regardless of where they currently attend school. If they don't happen to concur with Dunottar voice that's not nasty, it's debate.

There's debate and there's sniping, 'tis a fine line. Some of the comments here seem to have strayed across that line, which is a shame.