"So, it looks like GEMS will be the new owners of Bolitho School. The link to this blog has been removed from the Bolitho Forum site, presumably because of the negative articles quoted from, here.
In the end the place we send our children to, has to meet certain standards. We put our trust in a school and often only find out things have gone wrong when it is too late. We tend to believe in what the school's leaders say i.e. the Headmaster.
This 'believability' depends in part on the character, experience and integrity of the Head - as well as the board of Governors. I do not know Mark Shere very well, in fact, hardly at all. we both went to Keele, but at different times. He seems a fine man, an honest man - but he is new. To some extent he is a victim of circumstances and, unfortunately, things he has said in the past mean that his reassurances now may lack a certain reliability.
"Being new has its advantages in that I can see things relatively clearly, and over the last few weeks have been working with a number of people to guarantee that the School will never again go through the uncertainties that it has suffered over the last year. Please be assured that I and a number of Governors are putting in place measures for the beginning of term that will not only halt such insecurities but will make the School continue to give such a quality of education to its pupils"
He also said: "The School will be open as usual on Thursday, and will continue to do so as long as children want to be here. That is my personal guarantee."
That was so nearly not the case. The measures 'put in place' did nothing for the insecurities - but the introduction of GEMS will certainly provide the finances.
Whether that will make some staff and some parents less secure, only time will tell.
Throughout this blog I have shown you how GEMS have been doing at other schools and the effects being a partner with them can have. However they do have plenty of good results - otherwise they would not be the financial success they are now. I have made sure that all the quotations are sourced back to where I read them. I have urged people to read the quotations IN CONTEXT. I have published sections of Bolitho accounts, trawled through their website and checked numerous statements made to the press. It is somewhat disingenuous for the Head to say:
"doomster blogs which are very much misinformed"
when in fact THIS blog is well-informed and far more information has been given out here than Bolitho gave out to the paying parents. Think back to only a few days ago - parents had to read Facebook and other media to find out what was going on. What an organisation that lacked the wherewithal to contact the parents of the children that the school was supposed to be looking after!
Let us all hope they learn - as Mark Shere says they will - from their mistakes.
It is one thing to quote King George VI - but to actually live out (by lacking in communication) the poem the King quoted:
"So heart be still! What need our human life to know If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife of things Both high and low, God hideth his intention.""
(Minnie Louise Harkins 1875-1957)
GEM's success does not mean they have the 'soul' that Bolitho has, rightly, been proud of in these past years. Maybe there is no place in society for schools that offer that 'something special' that Bolitho offers UNLESS they also offer stunning examination results, financial efficiency, expert communication - all of which Bolitho plainly didn't.
Maybe 'caring', 'nurturing' and 'efficiency' are mutually exclusive. Looking at society as it has developed people have become less caring, less communicative (except behind anonymity) and less responsible.
Bolitho will survive - but not as the Bolitho I care about (and have cared about in previous times). I have done the very thorough research. I think I know what will happen to Bolitho and it is not for me. I can 'get' what Bolitho offers, elsewhere.
The 'specialness' of Bolitho will soon disappear.
I will not post here again unless something drastic happens. The information is here for all to see, to check and to carry out further research into.
Buy into Bolitho if you wish - but watch how it suddenly changes. Bolitho used to be about lighting a fire. Now, I fear, it will be about filling a bucket.
"Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction." - Annie Sullivan
Happy New Year - especially to the five people who emailed to 'thank me' for what I was doing here as, (their words) 'by showing us the other side we at least know that everything is not quite as rosy as we first thought'.
I leave you with: So at the end of the day, it’s all about profits? Sunny Varkey: “Surplus. Naturally. Everything else in the world is about profit. If you look at healthcare today, doctors will not come to you if you cannot pay them the money. So what is the big deal?”
Well, 160 or more staff, 400+ parents - not many of them have anything to say. (At least not on the Bolitho forums - though some do email here...)
Regarding GEMs I really hope they do change the 'business model' otherwise we are in trouble!. The question is will it adversely affect the educational model. I don't think so but whatever it has to be a better chance than where we are now. I'm looking forward to it.
Mike
Comment: Read through all the posts here about GEMS. Look at the articles in The Times and The Independent, quoted here. Read about how parents reacted when GEMS bought their school.For some, GEMS will change Bolitho for the better – especially if you are an international student. BUT if you have enrolled your son/daughter in Bolitho for the ‘nurturing aspect’ that Bolitho offers then that will soon go – as Sunny Varkey says, he offers cut-price, no-frills schools!
does nobody have any concerns about the long term future of our school run by Gems. I am struggling to see any resemblance between the Bolitho we are fighting to keep and Gems schools. The bolitho Phoenix blog really concerns me. We are currently a church of England school, will we remain so?
Also concerned
Comment:Sunny Varkey is a Christian – though it is claimed (read through the posts here) that he was/is involved with Muslim extremists. What is certain is that he is a very successful businessman – and by success, I mean ‘profits first’. He is a money machine and whilst he lives in high luxury some others lose. Who are they likely to be? In the short-term it will be the teachers in terms of pay and numbers. BUT if it is the teachers that you value so highly, then you as a parent/pupil will also lose. However if your main concern is organisation which clearly if you look at the communications debacle, Bolitho are poor and then you will gain
I dont feel that we are in a position to question the changes, if any, that GEMS will make to our school. They are offering us a future. When we have financial security and a school, of which we wish our children to attend, we can look at the final details. As it stands we have nothing, why bite the hand that feeds us?
Phillips
Comment: Selling your soul, I see.
There were other bids.
Mark was quoted by the BBC as saying that even without the bid from GEMS, the school would still open. So – why not discuss and consider the other bids?
At the meeting the Business Plan and forecast profit/loss and income statements were not given out. In the crowded, hot, standing-room only atmosphere it was difficult to have cold rational debate – but why wasn’t everyone given extra details (as listed in the questions here) for them to consider at home.
170 teachers or so at the school – why have so few posted on the Bolitho forum?
I am a parent and totally understand that all we currently want is to get our children back into the Bolitho we love next week. However I feel we are acting out of such desperation that we are not taking a breath to consider what we are running full pelt into with open grateful arms, once it's done it's done and what if the consequences of our actions now still lose us the Bolitho and teachers we are trying so desperately to keep. I anonymous because I feel I will be classed as negative. I am not negative I think I am just voicing an opinion many may share but are trying to ignore in the hope they will have a say later. We won't, once it starts there will be nothing we can do.
Also concerned
Comment: Other bids were not made public. GEMS have a lot of money – but that does not mean their employees will. It depends on what you actually value at Bolitho. If it is the personal attention, the caring – then you may still get that, but this time it will be charged for.
"Alsoconcerned", I certainly do not see you as negative. However, I am much more cheerful about GEMS. Anders yesterday said several times that they are interested because Bolitho is "a good school". So I ask myself, "What makes it good -- to an objective outsider?"
Clearly not the finances, which are a dog's dinner. The physical premises and equipment are an OK mixed bag, but that is as far as I can go. All that remains are the school's good name, its staff, and its parents. These are the reasons a company like GEMS would acquire Bolitho, and these are the assets it would work hard to keep and enhance. With a new financial base, with maybe intime some improvement to premises and equipment, and with our current matchless staff, Bolitho can be even better than the school we already hold in such high regard
Dolly
It is the finance that makes Bolitho a good school. It is their POTENTIAL for huge profits. It’s quite simple, really, to increase the profits of the school as detailed in this blog. Here’s how GEMS have increased profits in the past:
increase class sizes
reduce total wage costs for teachers
raise process
raise prices of ‘extras’
improve marketing website in particular
bring in more students from overseas
Now, maybe that will be a good thing – but not for everyone. An alternative is to move school, to go to a free school and spend the money saved on private tuition. This would vastly increase the grades of the pupil – but the social aspect would suffer.
As in fact it will anyway as the balance between locals and international students changes.
alsoconcerned, I am hoping that you were at the meeting yesterday and you would have heard the cold, hard facts.Without a buyer the school closes. Fact. If we do not get sufficient support for the contingency plan, our children have no school to go to on the 5th. Fact At the moment there seems to be a very good deal close to being finalised. What do you want the Administrators to do? Sit and wait for the Church of England to step in and buy the school? Dismiss GEMS potential offer for fear that the school will change? To me it is obvious there needs to be change otherwise we wouldn't find yourself in this situation. You have the choice regarding your child's education as does everyone else. I will not judge anyone on making the decision they think is right in their own circumstance. But it is your choice to remain anonymous. I believe in freedom of speech, but I also think if you have something to say, no matter how unpalatable it may be to others, at least be open enough to stand by your convictions and be honest with your identity. Too many people on this forum are hiding behind false identities when the whole idea was for this to support the future of the school. If individuals want to discuss other issues, feel free to set up your own forum and vent there.On another note, I would like to publicly thank all involved at Bolitho, especially the teaching staff, at what has been a most exceptionally difficult time. Also, to Steve Litherland for your hard work in organising the contingency plan. Let us not lose focus of what needs to be done. Fact Nick Hipkin
Nick has got it totally wrong here – or he is simply calling Mark a liar
“Headmaster Mark Shere said even without a buyer the school could open if parents committed to paying fees.” - BBC
To any one who is concerned about Gems, please go and look at their website. They strike me as a solid and decent organization with many schools very similar to Bolitho. They are also clearly a moral organization as they have agreed to honour the debt to Friends of Bolitho and the Forward feees scheme which, as they are buying a business in administration, they did not need to do. BUT they will not buy an empty school, so if we do not support them the school will close.
Fanlack
Comment: Clearly a moral organisation? Yes they give a lot to charitable causes – but this poster clearly has not read through this blog!
I was greatly impressed at the Wednesday meeting, by all in attendance but, I have made my decision and it is that I feel the time has now come for me to concentrate on providing my daughter with a stable, long term, high calibre educational career, something she had been enjoying at BolithoSchool. But, and this is a personal view, I feel that even if a buyer is found the fundamental reasons that I originally chose Bolitho will not be there for whoever buys it will have to change its business model, what has been happening simply cannot continue, change, and the subsequent unrest, are inevitable, she only has a few years left in education. To those of you who wish to remain you have my utmost support for I truly hope that BolithoSchool continues its wonderful traditions? However, for me, I must move for I only have one shot at getting my children’s education right, no one can give us a second chance. As a parent it is my choice to do what I see is in the best interests of my daughter, no emotion has been involved it is purely a business, and personal, decision.
Simon
This seems to be the absolutelyright conclusion BUT the deal has not yet been done. Mark said the buyer was not essential for the school to open. There is still time. There are other bids – whatever they are. Could the parents not buy the school?
What will happen in the short term will be instability – read what happened to other schools! Look through this blog. Parents in revolt. Lawyers threatening the parents…
looking at the GEMs website one can see that Bolitho would be an asset to their portfolio, our strengths come in the form of education from pre-school to year 13, and of being international already. And they can't possibly disregard the enormous good will from all sectors. Their benefit to us is in being part of a larger network. They'd been daft to squander the assets! And we all gotta recognise we need to make some changes.
Xponsford
Comment:The goodwill will go when people realise the ’special relationship’ they have with staff and the ethos of the Christian Bolitho school, has gone, to be repackaged and sold.
““We’re very cost-focused,” Mr Varkey said. “A parent paying $15,000 to $20,000 is very specific in what they want, whereas the parent sending [their child] to a mid-market school is not concerned about their child speaking five languages or learning the cello. They want a good education and for their kid to go to a good university. It’s very aspirational.”
"It would be a tragedy if Penzance were to be deprived of its social and educational contribution to the area, even if the majority of children are prevented from benefiting. What is more difficult to understand is how the financial management of the school could be allowed to get to this parlous and critical state, without steps being taken earlier to balance the books and why large and much needed sums will now be diverted to the newly appointed administrators? Parents and teachers appear to have good reason to be dismayed. Hopefully the adminisatrators will prove their worth by identifying wealthy charitable or government institutions, prepared to support the school, maybe in return for greater community involvement and inclusion for those of limited means, who might benefit from the style of rounded and balanced education it has to offer.
TimV, Pz"
If a Company takes money whilst the owners/senior managers know (the teachers may not have known if they were being paid to their contract) that they are insolvent then that is illegal.
Notify the receivers immediately and take legal advice. You may find that you have first call, even before the banks, on the assets.
Colin McNamee, Baltonsborough, Somerset
Am very upset as my son is a new pupil at the school, we paid a whole year up front, surley the teachers knew it was in big trouble? Why did they take our money?
vicki rogers, penzance
Grant Thornton will make money and be be paid in full for their 'services'. . Now there's a surprise. . It's a bit like being in government.Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
The school principal and governors would have known they were trading at a loss...for a very long time. As phoney as MPs.
Alan, plymouth devon uk
I am a parent and have heard nothing from the school or administrators. First I knew about it was from the media today so I am sad and angry to say the least.
Kathryn
Kathryn, Cornwall
Prestigious?Since when?Bolitho was nothing of the sort,it was a very average private school,the sort of place "Daily Mail" readers sent their children so they didnt have to mix with "common children" Its exam results were average,its facilities poor by comparison to other schools,it had boosted its sixth form by an influx from abroad,it really wasnt even on the radar of people that wanted a really good private education.
Why were people still sending children to it,it had closed once before,the banks wouldnt let it have an overdraft,the teachers took a pay cut,all the signs that this was not an establishment that had a future. Truth Teller, penzance
Sad news, however lack of information is always the problem. We removed our child due to this reason a long time ago, I hope things can be saved and lessons learned. l andrews, cornwall
Firstly, thank you to those who have left comments. Most of them I could not publish as they were rude and threatening. Some actually used four letter words beginning with 'f'.
Shame on you.
Likewise the emails. 13 received so far.
Non are printable - except one which was very long. I have put an extract at the end of this post.
Well, at least people are beginning to take notice as to what is about to happen to Bolitho.
At least some are not so blinkered to let bank balances rule their hearts.
Now, more research. Remember, see these quotations IN CONTEXT i.e. read the whole article or the whole thread.
"Parents at Bury Lawn have presented Gems with a list of demands after the school lost its fourth headteacher in two years.
Pupils marched out in protest last week when the school's latest acting head Mark Olejnik was dismissed days before the start of A-levels. Mr Olejnik, who had been a history teacher and deputy head at Bury Lawn for 15 years, was replaced by Gems with Dr Sheila Kaye.
A group of 250 parents this week drew up a list of demands for Gems, including that the company give parents a say in the appointment and dismissals of staff and explain why it replaced Mr Olejnik.
The company said in a statement that it had greatly improved Bury Lawn's facilities and curriculum and reserved the right to make staff changes when it deemed them necessary"
"Mr Roche said: "Private companies have developed considerable expertise in cutting costs and will pare down unnecessary expenditure by centralising as much leadership, management and servicing as possible.""
He came like the promised saviour, Sunny Vary and his dream team at Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) - rather like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea - so why is it they are already proving to be something of a disappointment?
Because apparently, despite all the expertise, the gathering together of a hybrid team of all the great and good, they have managed to completely ignore the fundamentals.
GEMS appears to have seriously underestimated parents' knowledge and understanding of the independent sector. State-of-the-art facilities are no longer their primary motivation - as is clearly demonstrated by the fact that they are prepared to pay fees even though facilities offered at the local maintained school are frequently superior to those at the school of their choice.
Research shows that class size is the main driver for parents when opting for the independent sector and therefore to increase class size in order to provide enhanced facilities does not in any way reflect the needs of the key stakeholders.
There appear to be deep-seated flaws in a business model that does not enable a product to meet the basic needs and expectations of its customers - surely not an intentional own goal for the dream team at what could have been the start of such a promising season? Dr Rosemary Taylor Educational Consultant & Advisor Harrogate
"If people tell the truth about this company this thread will soon be deleted. I lost the use of one of my fingers whilst working for them in Doha - my advice is avoid them! Good luck with your search"
"Job losses follow assurances by schools chief that there was no call for 'panic' over impact of recession on expat employment
One of the world's largest providers of private education has made some 40 staff redundant because of the global downturn, prompting a campaign from pupils to have popular teachers reinstated.
The staff, axed by Global Education Management Systems (Gems), include administrative staff, teaching assistants and five teachers in schools in the United Arab Emirates, where it operates 25 of its 60 international schools.
The redundancies come just months after Gems' chief of schools Professor Ralph Tabberer said there was "no reason to panic" over predictions of a 17 per cent population drop in Dubai this year due to heavy expat job losses.
At Wellington International School in Dubai, the decision to lay off popular British maths teacher Neville Hopwood has prompted an online campaign by hundreds of students.
A Facebook group with nearly 500 members claimed the teacher, from Leeds, had been unfairly treated and pupils initially threatened a walkout."
"What you are doing is detrimental to the future of the school. The financial details are in the process of being completed and your blog merely serves to unsettle those closely involved. Remove this blog immediately or I will instruct lawyers to start making sure that you personally are held liable for any financial penalties imposed on Bolitho."
The email sent in response to this threat...bounced.
Interesting response to a blog that largely exists of quotations from other sources...
I wonder who really benefits out of the GEMS takeover. As an exercise make a list of the WINNERS and LOSERS in this sage.
"According to Sunny Varkey, the founder of Gems, 38 per cent of families would purchase private education if an affordable, good quality option was available - a potential market of 1.7m students. He foresees the market developing into three sections for non-boarding private schools: mid-market schools with annual fees of £5,000-£6,000, "mid-market plus" schools at £6,000-£7,000 and "premium" at £8,000-£10,000."
Financial Times 19.11.05
"A Dubai-based millionaire who promised to bring cut-price private education to the UK has sold one of his schools after the upkeep of the grade-1 listed building proved too expensive.
Global Education Management Systems said yesterday that Kingswood College in Lancashire will close at the end of the summer term this year.It said that the cost of the upkeep of Scarisbrick Hall, near Ormskirk, could "not be reconciled with the cost of repair and maintenance".
The closure underlines how tough the private education market is despite the optimism of Sunny Varkey, the entrepreneur behind Gems, when he came to the UK promising to make it more affordable for middle-class parents."
Financial Times 11.01.07
"This is a dynamic and vibrant community which upholds the values of a traditional education whilst, at the same time, engaging in innovation appropriate to education at the start of the 21st Century.
Our purpose is to provide an outstanding education for children, supporting them in their passage to adulthood by developing character and intellect within a small community in which each individual is cared for and valued equally.
Such a stimulating and supportive atmosphere enriches children in all aspects of their academic and personal development in such a way as to prepare them to face a future of change and challenge.
I believe that education should be an exciting, uplifting and liberating experience, a process that unlocks a world of opportunity. It must give pupils a lifelong appetite for knowledge and understanding, a curiosity about the world and a delight in it."
Well, it's great to hear that the school will re-open but disappointing not to read about it on the school website. Parents overseas may not be aware of, or access, the Bolitho Forum- or even remember the full address.
But they would know the website address for the school.
Owing to time differences it is likely that some parents overseas will look at the website late tonight - and see nothing new.
""I'm delighted to say the school will be reopening at the beginning of next ter Not every parent will have bookmarked them, obviously we've got one of two small negotiations in terms of people coming to re-finance but as far as we're concerned that is almost completed.""
Grant Thornton were more cautious:
Alistair Wardell from Grant Thornton said if the deal with Gems was not finalised before the new year the opening of the school may be delayed until 11 January or it may not open at all.
He said: "We are very close to a deal with a potential purchaser, unfortunately the deal is complex, there are issues that are still coming out and in order to confirm that the school will open on the basis of a sale, we need to do that by 30 December."
It does certainly look like GEMS will save the school, but will it be the same school in a year's time as it is now?
In some respects - such as examination results, subject choices, range of examinations, utilising capacity - it will be far better.
In other respects, job security, treatment of employees, budget targets imposed, non-essential expenditure curtailed - it will not.
However it is precisely because (in part) of the rather lavish treatment of teachers and pupils that Bolitho got into this mess in the first place. In an education market where European students can study elsewhere, for free, and still get good results it was always going to be the non-EU market that Bolitho was going to look towards in terms of an income stream. (And that, of course, is where one of GEMS's many strengths lies.)
In terms of EU students - especially those from the UK - some jumped ship some time ago, in part because of the lack of organisation/communication from the school:
"We made the decision to leave earlier this year. There was a consistent lack of information coming from the school when it asked parents to bale the school out yet again. Inevitably this led to rumours and chinese whispers. This isnt the first time the school have gone to parents for money. The school nearly closed when it was st clares and again 6 or so years ago when parents paid money into the school to keep it running.as they did yet again this year. What makes parents think that if the school can be sold it will make any difference ? Why is the school running at a loss anyway? Its not commercial sense - it is commercial suicide and we are now seeing the final results of this gross negligence and incompetence. It is not rocket science. Maybe parents should look at other schools we are certainly really pleased. Our child is now much happier and working at a higher educational level. I think what everyone is overlooking is what this is doing to the children. So stop bickering between yourselves and as someone wrote "wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!"
Time after time posts in the forum and press releases have stressed that one of the main strenghts of Bolitho is the experience, ability and attitude of the teachers. Some teachers have responded in kind posting in Twitter and on the Forum about what a wonderful job it is and how great the kids are:
Simon (ICT) wrote:
"I would like to thank the kind comments from parents during and after the meeting. I have been at the school coming up 10 years and it is the atmosphere that has kept me there. Wonderful children, supportive parents and a freedom to teach exciting topics that you would not get if you had to blindly follow a national curriculum to the letter.
I sincerely hope that the deal does go through successfully as I believe that GEMS want to preserve what is best about Bolitho and give us the support to grow. I think we could have exciting times ahead of us! With Mr Litherland's outstanding efforts I think there is now no excuse for Year 11 to not get that ICT coursework done by next week! See you in schooI'"
Parents reciprocate, in some cases offering financial 'extras' to the teachers as a 'reward' for recent stresses. They write of a 'holistic' approach:
"I am sure that we have all looked at alternative schools prior to enrolling our children at Bolitho. I choose this school because it had a good academic record but importantly felt that there was a more holistic approach to the development of my daughter as an individual and equipping her to deal with the world in which we are now living. I am confident that with the amazing spirit from the body of parents remaining, and with the Gems deal, that the school is on the edge of a launch pad for success not your predicted belly flop! I don't know about coffee, I'm getting a whiff of sour grape!"
This 'holistic' approach should not be unusual - it is what is expected from all, at the very least, independent schools - it is one of the things you pay for! You also get a 'holistic' approach form many state schools. Pastoral care....extra curricular activities....parents meetings....support groups....etc.
Remember too, as state schools in the catchment area improve and improve - in terms of examination results, subject and course choices, facilities and resources - so Bolitho will become more and more dependent on the overseas market. GEMS's expertise lies in 'international type' schools so they are likely to welcome this. However, as numbers increase, in particular from international students whose first language is not English so resources (now more tightly controlled) will be stretched. The needs of international students are different - they are more likely to need extra English (EFL) classes and guidance/advice about 'British culture'. In general international students represent the 'best' (certainly in terms of income) from other countries. The abilities of such students - certainly their background education if they enrol only in the Sixth form - is often superior. Chinese and Russians are often way ahead of UK students in Mathematics, for example. By definition, international students will also have a greater awareness of international culture and customs - plus they will be fluent in one, becoming two, languages.
Minimum.
So the needs of the UK students will not be the needs of the internationals.
The UK students will, over time, also not represent the core (post-16) market.
Resources will be more controlled than before.
Therefore Sixth Form UK students are likely to have a smaller share of the 'educational pie' than before - or at the least not have as great a reward for their financial commitment, as before.
This too means they are more likely to look elsewhere, increasing the student imbalance in class.
Given that, for UK students/pupils, it is the 'holistic attitude' of Bolitho that makes it so special, it is likely that bias towards UK students will decrease.
Something for the parents currently agreeing the interim plan which entails paying money up front, to consider.
"The UK press has taken major objection to the way GEMS’ 13 schools are run as a chain, taking advantage of economies of scale with centralised purchasing and teachers shared among schools; the approximate UD$ 11,800 (AED 43,400) a year fees – less than half the normal cost; the less luxurious product with a narrow curriculum; and that in a market driven education system, you only get what you pay for meaning that this could damage state schools by removing their social base.
The principal concern voiced in the UK, however, is that he is simply out to make a quick buck in the process. Varkey admits that he has faced “unexpected problems” in the UK because education is an “emotional business”, but refutes his critics emphatically by saying that he is doing a “service to the community” and creating a better generation”."
what will happen to the cosy, nurturing Bolitho environment?
I hope for the sake of everything that Bolitho holds dear, that these people do not get their hands on the school - profits in at the expense of 'education' and 'staff motivation'. I have worked at two Nord Anglia-owned schools...no thanks!
Julia Hopson released a statement late on Tuesday 29th December:
"To all parents, pupils and staff I have just come home after a three hour meeting with Grant Thornton and can confirm that very positive negotiations are continuing through the night. I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting at 3pm tomorrow in the Gym.
Julia Hopson Chair of Governors"
This of course is excellent news, for Julia (as a parent and as a governor) and for her children (and other children) at the school.
Some questions remain though:
1. Who is buying in - and what is the reputation of the investor? Despite good websites, not all are universally liked...
2. Given the importance to Penzance in terms of image as well as employment, will the culture of the school change at all?
3. Will the school be sold for a knock-down price? According to 'Mike' in the forums:
" According to notes issued at the meetings in January the school was valued in 2006 at £3 million so we would all be OK. Unfortunately I suspect it is valued considerably less than that in the present market as a school but hopefully it would still cover the £2million. If the school was sold as a potential building plot (which would require potentially endless negotiations with Cornwall County Council) then it could realise a lot more but there is no guarantee that this would ever happen. Of course even if it was worth more than £2 million it has to be sold and all the costs associated with that would be paid first. If this is handled by a lot of expensive city lawyers, accountants and administrators the bill could be substantial. So it is all looking a bit borderline."
4. Will the pupils who are - allegedly - leaving make much difference to the school's revenue and/or any difference to the investment offered?
5. Are staff jobs/pupil places, safe?
6. What actions will be taken to ensure that this situation does not become an annual event?
All that glitters Is not gold So don’t believe What you’ve been told And take a chance of being strong Because they’ll destroy you If you’re wrong
Physics at Bolitho
The Overall Purpose
This blog serves one purpose:to save Bolitho School.
The method:
It is believed that the best way to serve the school's future is to be totally transparent. To discuss anything and everything about the school. We can talk about teaching (fantastic), surroundings (brilliant) community effect (unique) - anything as long as the overall purpose is served.
It is not 'saving' a school if in seeking out a benefactor we don't care where the money comes from or who is giving it.
So, it looks like GEMS will be the new owners of Bolitho School. The link to this blog has been removed from the Bolitho Forum site, presumably because of the negative articles quoted from, here.
This 'believability' depends in part on the character, experience and integrity of the Head - as well as the board of Governors. I do not know Mark Shere very well, in fact, hardly at all. we both went to Keele, but at different times. He seems a fine man, an honest man - but he is new. To some extent he is a victim of circumstances and, unfortunately, things he has said in the past mean that his reassurances now may lack a certain reliability.
That was so nearly not the case. The measures 'put in place' did nothing for the insecurities - but the introduction of GEMS will certainly provide the finances.
GEM's success does not mean they have the 'soul' that Bolitho has, rightly, been proud of in these past years. Maybe there is no place in society for schools that offer that 'something special' that Bolitho offers UNLESS they also offer stunning examination results, financial efficiency, expert communication - all of which Bolitho plainly didn't.
Maybe 'caring', 'nurturing' and 'efficiency' are mutually exclusive. Looking at society as it has developed people have become less caring, less communicative (except behind anonymity) and less responsible.
Bolitho will survive - but not as the Bolitho I care about (and have cared about in previous times). I have done the very thorough research. I think I know what will happen to Bolitho and it is not for me. I can 'get' what Bolitho offers, elsewhere.
Buy into Bolitho if you wish - but watch how it suddenly changes. Bolitho used to be about lighting a fire. Now, I fear, it will be about filling a bucket.
