Education

White House School will close
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White House School will close despite rescue plan

By Victoria Smith
April 05, 2012

A preparatory school will close due to a fall in pupil numbers after parents and governors failed to agree on a rescue package.

White House School in Finchampstead Road will close at the end of the summer term, despite both parties coming up with ideas on how to save the school.

The parent group launched a bid to save White House last month after governors announced the economic downturn meant fewer parents could afford to send their children to the school.

Plans to bridge funding gap could save White House School

The parents had secured loans of £450,000, gathered donations of £25,000, identified short-term savings and fee increases to stabilise the school and come up with ideas to increase pupil numbers.

Parent Harriet Chappell said: “Every parent is passionate about the school and the environment it provides for the children.

Battle is on to save White House School

“We have worked very hard to generate significant funding and formulate robust plans to secure the future of the school, and we’re bitterly disappointed and bewildered that these plans have been rejected by the governors.

“We cannot understand why a school with a 120-year history and such an outstanding academic and nurturing reputation can be allowed to close under these circumstances.”

Governors had suggested the charitable trust that owns the school site could retain the facility, while parents would be responsible for running the school.

Staff and parents unite to save White House School

However parents could not agree to this suggestion.

A spokesman for the governors defended the decision to close the school, saying governors were “baffled” parents had rejected their plan.

He said: “The governors were very grateful for all the time and energy the parents put in – they came forward with some interesting ideas and proposals, which although they weren’t considered sufficiently robust by our advisors, were clearly backed with great determination.

“We were baffled and disappointed when the parents rejected out of hand our offer to let them take on the running of the school to put their plan into action.

“The framework offered was closely modelled on that used to rescue a nearby school recently – it was both feasible and deliverable within the time frame.”

Pupil numbers at the school have fallen to 80 this year, although capacity is for 120 children.

White House School to close due to decline in pupils

The White House is listed as the top preparatory school in Wokingham, and nationally in the top 40 by the Sunday Times.

It was commended as outstanding by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

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Most recent user comments 14 of 14

Having been very close to the discussions that went on at the White House these are the facts:

- as far as I am away, none of the parents at White House are blaming Waverley for anything - the parent body is totally clear that the governors are to blame - wholly and entirely - the merger plans broke down over discussions over whether there would be a joint or single head of the newly merged school - the head at the White House as far as we are aware, was only offered and accepted another job two days after the merger discussion broke down. - the Governors told the WHS parents that they were 'forced' to issue the closure notice due to a leak about the merger discussions with Waverley - but none of the White House parents had heard about this 'leak'; - whilst the parents absolutely share the scepticism about where the funds from the sale of the land will go, and still feel that there is a large hidden agenda being kept from us, the governors have done nothing legally wrong and therefore we have no recourse to get rid of them - long discussions with the Charities commission convinced us of this - having read all the comments above - I don't read anyone being abusive about Waverley - the White House parents are all making decisions about which shcool their child/children should go to based on the school. Everyone recognises that Waverley is a good school - it is only the size of the school and the nervousness about not wanting to be in this position again with a school closing due to small numbers that is stopping some parents - the summary of this sorry situation is that the Governors did not have the right skills to run the school and were too proud to acknowledge this and do soemthing about it last year when the parents suggested they take someo f the parents advice on board - we have all learnt a great deal about the power of trustees andn will be sure not to get ourselves into this situation again

harriet chappell
28/04/2012 at 21:36

It is a shame to see this happening to a great school. We had considered White House for our daughter as we loved the 'family' atmosphere and environment.

We decided to secure a place at Our Lady's in Crowthorne from September. Our daughter has thrived at the nursery in the great family atmosphere it offers. We had been extremely worried about the prospect of securing the best school for her and believe that the right choice has been made for us. I'm now looking forward to seeing her develop in this new chapter of her life!

I feel for all the parents being placed in this situation and would encourage them to speak with Our Lady's about their proposition and plans for the future. My mind was certainly made up once we had this discussion!

I would be interested to hear more about the concerns regarding a 1 year funding arrangement for Our Lady's. I have spoken with the Trustees and Headmistress and was assured that this was not the case. Maybe there is some confusion with Waverley?

mum, wokingham
18/04/2012 at 14:36

Parents. Rather than arguing amongst yourselves about which school your children will be moving to, and what the building looks like, wouldn't it be better to find out exactly where the money from the sale of the land at White House School is going? That will make it crystal clear who the true beneficiaries of this situation are, which could prove to be very enlightening. You may not be able to prevent the closure of your school which is extremely sad, but as a charitable trust, the governors are answerable to the Charities Commission. If there has been any wrongdoing they should be notified. Otherwise the governors are free to go and behave in the same way in other schools. Your anger towards other schools is misplaced; they did not run the school into the ground. As several of you have already stated, the governors did that.

City type , Woodley
13/04/2012 at 11:51

I have recently moved to the area and considered both Waverley and the White House for my children. It is with sadness that I learn that the White House school is closing. In my opinion both schools were excellent on many levels; they both offered a “safe” and “nurturing” environment for the children to grow in confidence and ability, the family ethos of both schools was overwhelming, and such that you would not achieve in bigger preparatory schools. Grant Hawkin’s words ring true on many levels, forget politics, having followed the recent events I cannot see how blaming Waverley for the school’s demise can help - surely our children are our future and take comfort and solace in the fact that Waverley can offer a solution to this sad situation, if you want to continue your child’s education in a smaller setting. Having spent time talking to the head and staff at Waverley I have utter confidence that my children’s education will be in excellent hands. The curriculum is bespoke and exciting and rarely do you walk into a school where you have such an energetic buzz of learning! My heart truly goes out to the children, staff and parents at The White House. Please do not get bound into the mediaeval blaming mindset that may affect your decision. Take time to make your choice. Base your decision on your child’s needs and where the best fit for your child is. We are fortunate to have choices, use them, do not discount them!

Sarah Smith, Wokingham

Sarah Smith, Wokingham
13/04/2012 at 10:11

Surly the priority for selecting a new school for our children should be based on what is best for them and their education and not on a schools buildings character, background politics, rumors & lies.

Grant Hawkins
12/04/2012 at 20:17

If Waverley is what you say it, why has it got 4 members of White House Staff starting there in September with at least 12 children of whom I know. Kate you obviously did not attend the meeting on Tuesday with some staff and parents at my sisters house! Waverley School has an Open Day on Saturday 21st April, go see for yourself, speak with the governors who were in the merger meetings, you'll be surprised of what work got put in. I will be there with my family holding my head high with many others. Every parent has a choice and never say ever as 125 Years is a long time to say goodbye to history.

Keith Smith Wokingham, Wokingham
12/04/2012 at 19:47

Our daughter has been a pupil at the White House School and the nearest school to feel the same is Holme Grange, it has everything to offer. I am very impressed with the head teacher at Holme Grange, were there over an hour with our daughter and she was shown around the school by 2 very polite girls whose year group she would be in. Overall rating of this school is 100%.

kate turner
12/04/2012 at 17:39

It seems that the governors of White House School have used Waverley school as a convenient vehicle to blame for the closure of their own school, and thus absolving themselves from accepting responsibility for poor management over several years. However now that the White House parents are more aware of what their governors have been up to, they can probably see that what they have been told by the governors about the breakdown of the merger talks was not necessarily true, as the governors seem to be manipulating the situation to suit their end plan. It would be worth the White House parents looking into exactly why the merger talks really broke down. My sympathies lie with the children, parents and teachers who have been treated appallingly.

City type , Woodley
10/04/2012 at 09:50

It is with sad news that i read this as we had choosen this School for our daughter to start Reception 2013 as our niece currently attends. Our families are cross and angry that the governors did not do more and nor did they release that the head teacher was leaving. The governors are left satisfied that parents are blaming another local Pre-Prep school that was willing to support their school by providing the pupils with a school, teachers with jobs and to use both premises to become the most successful school in Wokingham with the same ethos for everyone. Instead the governors have been supporting parents who have looked at Bearwood who have less than 50 children in their Prep School with joining classes. Also Our Ladys who has less than 20 pupils in the school, no ISI inspection and a satisfactory Ofsted report with major concerns within the report also with one year left of funding, who have also put applications for a free school. Please, please do you research, financial papers are available and the school should be honest. I am more than happy that i have choosen the right school for my daughter and that my niece will be following. We have decided that Waverley School is the most suitable. Reasons being that we were able to discuss a sound future for the school, the governors made themselves available during our tour, we spoke with parents that couldn't be happier with their children's education, the new head teacher knew exactly what the school were delivering, the Pre-Prep was so organised with happy children that were content and not screaming so well behave for 3 year olds. The facilities are clean, colourful and big. The plans for the future of Waverley will make them a flagship school in my eyes especially after their results from their Year 6 pupils within the Wokingham Times. Please make sure you make the right choice as this is not about friends and who says what, this is your child's future, that we as parents have chose to pay for!!

Keith Smith Wokingham, Wokingham
06/04/2012 at 12:40

I find it of great interest to read these views about the situation and what has happened to what is clearly a great school and I sympathise with the pupils and parents. It is not nice to know that someone wants to close your school with no regard on the impact it has - I know, I have been there!!. It is always easier to try and apportion blame other people, situations, processes or schools than face up to the decisions that could or should have been made.

. .
05/04/2012 at 14:32

I think many of the parents will find the Governors comments in this report as being extremely offensive. The governors had zero ideas - zero!

The school is classed as the best prep school in the area and had the 2nd lowest fees. Er...if they couldn't work out they they could have done with that one, is it any wonder they were confused on anything bigger and had to pay for expensive advisers to do their job for them.

You look at the governors of other schools and they've got relevant business experience - you need more than to have had a child who went to school there to be credible as a governor.

kazgunu, Oxford
05/04/2012 at 13:32

The fact that the Governors are "baffled and disappointed" when the parent body rejected their 'so-called offer' speaks volumes as to their business acumen. Show me any businessman/woman that is prepared to lend substantial funding to a business when the major asset (i.e. the school buildings and grounds) are not to remain in the control of that business?!?

It remains my opinion that the Board of Governors were hell bent on closing White House School and had been for some considerable length of time. This fact is supported by the fact that the Headmistress had handed in her notice two terms ago - which can only indicate that the 'writing was on the wall".

The parent body came forward with some fantastic ideas in the weeks since the school closure was announced. It does beg the question why the Governors had not considered some or all of these plans during the previous couple of years of their tenure when there would have been a chance of rescuing the situation?

Whay announce the closure of a school and only then ask for ideas from the parent body. Once this announcement had been made - the rescue became alot harder as any propsective parents would understandably have had second thoughts about sending their children to the school.

As an example of the lack of business nouse shown by the Board of Governors - the school building and grounds were valued at some £800k in their latest published Charity Commission accounts (yr ended 31 Jul 2010) - when the real value must be nearer the £2-£2.5 million mark. Perhaps they wanted the accounts to look as bad as possible?

According to statistics there is a baby boom about to hit this age group and state primary provision will be hard hit as a result. That is not to even mention the 13,000 additional new homes planned to be built in the Wokingham area in the comng years.

I will not be alone in taking a keen interest in exactly where the proceeds of the eventual sale of the school site are redistributed - given that the charity's remit is to help fund christian-based education. If that is the case, I could not think of a better group of beneficiaries than the current pupils - but that opportunity has now been taken away from them by the incompetence and lack of vision shown by the Board of Governors.

At the end of the day, the Governors were unwilling (or unable) to support an institution with a 120 year history due to a catastrophic lack of business planning. In this instance, the Governors had absolute control and are self-elected - there was nothing the parent body could do to address the situation.

Hang your heads in shame !!!

Blonkie, Wokingham
05/04/2012 at 12:03

time for a tesco express then! bring it on

countrylad, Tilehurst
05/04/2012 at 11:58

Was the proposal by the governors to spend £thousands to try and merge schools and then not go through with it considered "sufficiently robust by our advisors"?

Was the fact the Governors had clearly shown the minimum of initiative to raise funds considered "sufficiently robust by our advisors"?

Was the fact that the Governors had no business plan when they made the decisions to take the school to the wall considered "sufficiently robust by our advisors"?

At the first Governors meeting, one governor put up a photo of the Costa Concordia and said that was the situation the school was in. An interesting analogy for them to own up to. The Concordia was an excellent ship, with great staff, happy clients and ONE person at the top who sailed the ship on to the rocks.

The parents had the commercial acumen, the skills and the passion for the school. The governors should have stepped down and let real business people manage the school.

A+ marks to the parents and teachers. D- to the governors - I wouldn't say must try harder as they should not take on similar roles again.

What a real shame.