Education

Campaign is launched to save White House School
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Battle is on to save White House School

March 14, 2012

A campaign to save a Wokingham school has been launched by parents, governors and staff after it was announced the economic downturn could force it to close.

Falling pupil numbers has led staff at the White House School in Finchampstead Road to announce the independent preparatory school is under threat.

Staff and parents unite to save White House School

However, the school community’s enthusiasm to save White House could safeguard its future.

Parents are putting together a proposal that could keep the school open and governors are to consider the plan this week, with further information expected to be released soon.

Just months ago White House was placed in the top 40 independent schools in the country by The Sunday Times, but now staff are fighting for its future after the economic downturn hit parents struggling to pay school fees of around £9,000 a year.

White House School to close due to decline in pupils

Governors had been in merger talks with Waverley School in Finchampstead, which itself was saved from closure by parents and the CfBT education trust last year, but these broke down two weeks before White House announced it could close.

White House has also explored becoming a free school, although governors found the funding available would not safeguard the school’s future.

A statement from the school said: “The situation facing White House Preparatory School is a serious one.

“However it is evident that both governors and parents will work actively together on a number of options that would allow the school to remain open.”

White House has been teaching children in Wokingham for more than 100 years.

Last year pupils and staff celebrated an ‘outstanding’ judgement from Ofsted.

However pupil numbers have fallen to 80 this year, even though the capacity is for 120 children.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m really pleased that parents now have the opportunity to work with the staff and governors to explore ways to save the school from closure.

“The response from parents at last week’s meeting was amazing!

“There’s a lot of energy and expertise to harness, and parents have been busy with meetings over the weekend.

“We will hear the outcome of these discussions soon.

“White House School is such a wonderful place for children to learn.

“As you’ve already reported, the school does do well academically, has outstanding inspection reports, and ranks highly in national tables.

“However, just as important to me, as a parent, are those things that are not so easy to measure.

“The school has a real family feel, something that is regularly commented on when new families join our school from elsewhere.

“The teachers and support staff are fantastic; it’s clear from all that they do that they genuinely care about the children in the school.”

Threatened White House School parents look for alternative pupil places

Wokingham Borough Council confirmed last week it had received enquiries from parents of children at White House about places at other primaries in the borough from September.

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Most recent user comments 2 of 2

Sounds like it has a lot of people who really care about the school. Unfortunately this story is becoming more common, as small prep schools feel the effects of the downturn more acutely. Private education is one of the cuts many families have had to make, to balance the household budget. The existing parents are going to have to dig deep into their pockets unless some wealthy benefactor comes along, if they are serious about bailing the school out. Enthusiasm on its own won't stop the school closing, what it needs is money. And for that, long term, it needs more bums on seats than it currently has. That needs to be addressed urgently.

Sandycar, Tilehurst
14/03/2012 at 10:49

I hope they succeed - ironic that falling numbers in one area (albeit due to the cost of attending in this case) may cause this school to close, whereas in my area we have had to fight to have our local community school expanded so that there are enough places in Twyford to accommodate everyone locally.