This is:
a. communication with the world through the website
b. communication with teachers
c. communication with parents
The website
Rather than analyse the website, why not, as an exercise, make a list as to what you would expect to see on a school website. Then, with the list in front of you, add on anything else you would expect to see on a school website where the school is seeking fees i.e. is run as a (charitable) business.
When you have made your list take a look at these websites:
North London Collegiate
Sevenoaks
Godolphin
Oakham School
St Dunstan's
These schools were all in the top ten of the 'best schools for IB'
So, if the exam results - for various reasons - cannot be a major selling point for to overseas students, the website MUST be.
Also, whever sites have information about the school that, clearly is wrong, someone should write/phone in...
Communication with teachers
The teachers are praised at Bolitho School
But they don't all feel they have been included in the loop:
"
Once again people seem to be so worried about students not being able to learn. What about the approx 150 staff yet again being lead up the garden path not even being told the jobs are on the line and having to hear it on the radio or read it in a paper. Bolitho is one of the largest private employers (or was) in the Penwith area. It was Christmas eve when my Fiancee heard she may not have a job to go to in January. We have had a great Christmas thanks Bolitho management, thanks so very much. Happy new year"
A search in The Student Room using 'Bolitho School' and 'Bolitho School, Penzance' came up with this...
The stress caused by the uncertainty is exhibited by this post in the Bolitho online forum:
"I have had a rotten Xmas with this awful news and would just like to say that although I am understandably angry and dismayed that I have not been paid/possibly will be made redundant, and as the sole earner and therefore only provider for our large family of children, dogs,cats and chickens I still have this crazy idea that somehow we will all get through this. Out of desperation I have contacted a teacher supply agency and WILL fill out the form, but cannot quite believe that my husband and I will have to go to the Dole office in January together. We have no savings, no income and and are now living at the courtesy of my parents having already lost our hopes and dreams with the 15% pay cut. I am now left with the images in my my mind of the gorgeous kids I once taught and can honestly say that I have never felt (after years of teaching thousands of kids in state schools) so desperately sad at the thought of never seeing my lovely students that I have been given the privilege to actually know (due to such small class sizes) well, and bond with (and in some cases still have their work in my bag!!!) . Ill and stressed and absolutely gutted! Please SOMEONE. ANYONE find a solution to this abominable situation!!!! "
Communication with Parents
It seems the recent problems with the school were not properly communicated to all parents.
In particular some parents overseas said they only found out through Facebook!
One parent wrote:
"As ex-parents who recently had the foresight to see this coming, we sit here quietly content at our decision to remove our child from this school. It became obvious to us early on that this is firstly a business then secondly a school. Our child left this school because we felt it could not guarantee the continuity or standard of education we expected. Obviously this decision upset our family and in particular our child who now faced moving schools.
The school was only interested in chasing my family for a full terms fees. Although, these were exceptional circumstances, the school would not accept our reasoning and bombarded us with threatening letters from solicitors demanding excessive fees (which when challenged, could not be justified).
Each letter and in fact each bill whilst my child attended Bolitho was incorrect - that tells its own story
We carried out research into the finances of this school. For the last five years this school has been running at a loss according to their returns to the charities commission.
We also believe another charge was taken out on the properties in early December 2009 - why!!!!
Go to the charities commission web site and read with interest who the school actually pays each month. The named directors of each company receiving payments from Bolitho makes interesting reading.
You may think that this is all sour grapes. Believe us, it's not. We just do not want other families to go through the strain of potential court action, potential financial loss and family upheaval that we have had to over the past few months.
We have also heard that the Royal Navy has changed its ruling on funding for Boarding Schools which will mean that several parents may no longer claim funding. We sincerely wish Bolitho the best for the future but parents please remain open minded and realistic."
A search in The Student Room using 'Bolitho School' and 'Bolitho School, Penzance' came up with this...
The stress caused by the uncertainty is exhibited by this post in the Bolitho online forum:
"I have had a rotten Xmas with this awful news and would just like to say that although I am understandably angry and dismayed that I have not been paid/possibly will be made redundant, and as the sole earner and therefore only provider for our large family of children, dogs,cats and chickens I still have this crazy idea that somehow we will all get through this. Out of desperation I have contacted a teacher supply agency and WILL fill out the form, but cannot quite believe that my husband and I will have to go to the Dole office in January together. We have no savings, no income and and are now living at the courtesy of my parents having already lost our hopes and dreams with the 15% pay cut. I am now left with the images in my my mind of the gorgeous kids I once taught and can honestly say that I have never felt (after years of teaching thousands of kids in state schools) so desperately sad at the thought of never seeing my lovely students that I have been given the privilege to actually know (due to such small class sizes) well, and bond with (and in some cases still have their work in my bag!!!) . Ill and stressed and absolutely gutted! Please SOMEONE. ANYONE find a solution to this abominable situation!!!! "
Communication with Parents
It seems the recent problems with the school were not properly communicated to all parents.
In particular some parents overseas said they only found out through Facebook!
One parent wrote:
"As ex-parents who recently had the foresight to see this coming, we sit here quietly content at our decision to remove our child from this school. It became obvious to us early on that this is firstly a business then secondly a school. Our child left this school because we felt it could not guarantee the continuity or standard of education we expected. Obviously this decision upset our family and in particular our child who now faced moving schools.
The school was only interested in chasing my family for a full terms fees. Although, these were exceptional circumstances, the school would not accept our reasoning and bombarded us with threatening letters from solicitors demanding excessive fees (which when challenged, could not be justified).
Each letter and in fact each bill whilst my child attended Bolitho was incorrect - that tells its own story
We carried out research into the finances of this school. For the last five years this school has been running at a loss according to their returns to the charities commission.
We also believe another charge was taken out on the properties in early December 2009 - why!!!!
Go to the charities commission web site and read with interest who the school actually pays each month. The named directors of each company receiving payments from Bolitho makes interesting reading.
You may think that this is all sour grapes. Believe us, it's not. We just do not want other families to go through the strain of potential court action, potential financial loss and family upheaval that we have had to over the past few months.
We have also heard that the Royal Navy has changed its ruling on funding for Boarding Schools which will mean that several parents may no longer claim funding. We sincerely wish Bolitho the best for the future but parents please remain open minded and realistic."
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