Fears over closure of Rottingdean school (From The Argus)
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Fears over closure of Rottingdean school
2:20pm Sunday 24th February 2013 in News By Peter Truman
Fears over closure of Rottingdean school
Hundreds of pupils are facing an uncertain future as their school faces closure.
Parents were told on Thursday that St Aubyns in Rottingdean may have to close. Staff were only told the day before and the school held an open evening on Tuesday.
The private school, which can cost parents almost £5,000 per term, blamed the situation on a drop in pupil numbers and the inability to recruit a “suitable” new headteacher to replace Simon Hitchings, who is leaving later this year.
It means the 189 pupils will now have to find places elsewhere come the next academic year should the school close in July.
The school said it was planning a series of meetings to discuss what happens next. It is run by the Cothill Educational Trust, which took over the school last March.
Parent Chloe Rakhshandeh said there had been anxiety over the takeover.
She said: “We were assured that there would be no negative impact of this, and that only good would come of it.
“Now we have received the news the school would be closing in July. It has been handled atrociously.
“Obviously the parents wish for the school to remain open, especially for the poor students who were rehomed when Roedean pre-prep closed and are now going through it again.”
Tim Verdon, the bursar at the Cothill Educational Trust, could not explain why it had been unable to recruit a suitable head, despite the position advertised nationally and several expressions of interest.
Asked if the trust had any indication the school could be in trouble when it was taken over in March, he said there was “always a fear a school could close”.
St Aubyns was founded by Mr CEF Stanford in 1895 as a boys’ boarding prep school.
A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “We are aware St Aubyns has announced it will be closing at the end of the school's summer term in July.
“We've already received calls from a few parents looking into alternative arrangements.
“Anyone wanting to find out more about how to apply for school places in the city can contact the schools admissions team.”
l What do you think? Write to the |letters editor or email letters@theargus.co.uk.
Comments(9)
monkeymoo
says...
8:55am Mon 25 Feb 13
SEAGULL08
says...
2:43pm Mon 25 Feb 13
It is common knowledge about the intentions for this site and that developers have been eyeing it up for some time waiting to pounce
RottingdeanRant
says...
5:13pm Mon 25 Feb 13
I wonder what is really going on but I am sure it is expecting too much of The Argus to actually investigate anything!
Heathian
says...
5:14pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Though I heard that the parents met with the owners at the weekend and are putting forward a plan together with the teachers to secure the future of the school and the site.
I certainly hope that they are successful.
TrueBlue13
says...
5:49pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Meetings took place on Saturday 22 February 2013 at St Aubyns School between parents, staff and Adrian Richardson, Director of the Cothill Educational Trust, regarding the future of the school.
It was agreed that a core group of parents would now develop alternative proposals, including new initiatives for the school's structure and funding, therefore securing the future of the school. The non-selective school employs 67 staff and currently has a total of 155 children attending from 3 years to 13 years. The Cothill Educational Trust and their accountants are making available the school's financial and business records.
During the meeting, Mr Richardson said that the Cothill Educational Trust had definitely not yet taken a decision to close St Aubyns “because we can't possibly make a decision like that without meetings such as this.”
robbyl
says...
5:48am Tue 26 Feb 13
I suggest that your group get a Fire brigade inspection done as a matter of urgency and ensure all the sprinklers etc are working properly, just in case there is a unexplained fire.
Sea breeze
says...
7:49pm Tue 26 Feb 13
TrueBlue13
says...
3:40pm Wed 27 Feb 13
St.AUBYNS LIBRARY
Come and hear the future plans for this great school: They would like as many people as possible to attend.
Parents, Teachers, Prospective Parents, Local people/Businesses,Al
umni
Etc. Please help to spread the word - come on lets help them along
Music Lover says...
7:45am Mon 25 Feb 13
They have just taken over and now, after a 120 year history, they are closing. The excuse from Mr Verdon about not being able to replace the current head is just a smokescreen as I am sure that there are other reasons; it is prime development land.
They should be ashamed that they are closing the school after owning it FOR LESS THAN A YEAR and left its 200 pupils in such turmoil.
It WAS a very good school indeed with an excellent track record and happy pupils before they took over.
If they knew that there was a possibility of the school having to close they said nothing to the parents about this. To just fire off an email giving the pupils a few months notice is disgraceful.