Mostyn House School - dropping like flies

Eleven Plus (11+) in Wirral

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

11 Plus Platform - Online Practice Makes Perfect - Try Now
guest43
Posts: 237
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:06 pm

Mostyn House School - dropping like flies

Post by guest43 »

Mostyn House School has announced its closure at the end of this term. Undoubtedly they are another victim of BHSA following on from Heswall Prep.

To my knowledge the remaining private schools on Wirral will be:

PREP
Prenton
Redcourt
Avalon

ALL-THROUGH
Birkenhead
Kingsmead
mumto2
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:41 pm

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by mumto2 »

Flippin' 'eck. I didn't know that. When was that announced?
guest43
Posts: 237
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:06 pm

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by guest43 »

It's on their website, though I heard it from my DD, who heard it via the Facebook grapevine, from one of the girls who is going to have to find another school. (She previously went to BHS and Highfield so I think she might be the angel of death for schools!)

Mostyn House School ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS

Friday 28th May, 2010

Dear Parents, Alumni and friends of the School,

It is with great regret that I am writing to inform you that, as matters stand, Mostyn House School will have to close at the end of this summer term. Numbers on roll have fallen below a viable level during this academic year and there has been minimal recruitment for the new academic year starting in September 2010. The School has only been able to keep going during this academic year because of several extremely generous donations by the Grenfell family. The family were anxious to ensure that all pupils were able to sit their public exams without the trauma and dislocation of closure. The family and the Governors also hoped that the economy would recover sufficiently to boost pupil numbers to a viable level for the academic year starting in September 2010. Sadly this has not proved to be the case and, if anything, the position has worsened in the independent education sector.

During the last few months all possible options have been considered but unfortunately no sustainable solution has been found. The School took steps during 2009 to streamline its operations; however, since then the following factors have worsened the situation:

· fewer pupils than expected stayed on into the VIth Form in September 2009;
· foreign pupils whose parents worked for multi-national companies have left and not been replaced because of the recession;
· other pupils have left during the academic year, particularly from the Prep School;
· some current parents are struggling to meet their commitments to the School and there has been a considerable rise in bursary requests.

The School started September 2009 with 125 pupils; it will finish the Summer Term with 110. There are only 85 who would be on roll for September 2010 and there has been no sign of an upturn in prospective enquiries despite new marketing initiatives. Further reduction in teaching staff numbers would severely compromise educational standards.

Pupils at Mostyn House come from an extremely wide catchment area: the whole of the Wirral peninsula, into Chester and North Wales. For this reason we feel that a merger with another school would be unlikely to succeed – pupils travel to Mostyn House for various reasons (small class sizes, specialist dyslexia tuition, etc.) and would not move to another school en bloc.

Relocation to much smaller premises has been considered: this would reduce overheads and running costs. However, with a falling pupil roll and the uncertainty that a move would generate, it is most unlikely that this would succeed and therefore the School would not be able to secure the loan necessary to make it possible.

We have sought advice from several companies which specialise in buying schools but the small number of pupils and Mostyn House’s semi-rural catchment area do not make it an attractive proposition to buyers.

The decision has only been taken once all options had been explored and once it was clear that sufficient pupils would not be enrolled for September 2010 to enable the School to continue. The Governors wish to ensure an orderly closure of the School and to ensure the least possible disruption to those pupils sitting public exams. The announcement has however been made now to give parents and staff as much notice as possible and to give the opportunity for a ‘white knight’ to be found but it must be emphasised that this is thought to be highly unlikely because of the fundamental issue of viability referred to above.

What about the pupils?

Mostyn House will operate as usual until the end of this current term. The Headmistress and staff will provide the usual excellent level of education and pastoral support to all pupils. The Headmistress will meet any parents who would like to discuss schools which might be suitable for their sons or daughters to transfer to. The Headmistress is writing to local schools to ask for their assistance in placing pupils as quickly as possible.


What about the buildings?

When the School closes, under the terms of the School’s lease, the buildings will revert to Suzi Grenfell and her sister Lynda Armstrong. They will endeavour to find an alternative use for the site which is sympathetic to the Conservation area.


It is incredibly sad that a school with such a unique heritage that has provided such a wonderful start in life for so many pupils will have to close its doors. Unfortunately the School is not alone in finding it impossible to survive these unprecedented economic times, which have also claimed a number of other independent schools across the country.
3pink
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:20 pm
Location: Wirral

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by 3pink »

Well I cannot say we're surprised, I doubt the fact that the headmistress decided on a 12 month sabatical whilst Rome burnt helped matters, I hope the good teachers are snapped up by local schools, but as I can only think of two it shouldn't be too much of a concern.
johnny
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:33 am

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by johnny »

i'm a pupil at mostyn house school and i can tell you that neither the teachers or us had a clue that the school was about to close. it was only a few weeks ago they were on about changing the uniform!
And we are very concerned cos we are halfway through our GCSE'S and trying to find a new school that can fit us in and have spaces in our chosen subjects is not going to be easy as they all have different exam boards as well. just hope the last four years havn't been wasted
and i'm gonna miss friends and teachers who have had the blow that they're out of a job. :x
pheasantchick
Posts: 2439
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:28 pm

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by pheasantchick »

Johnny - hope you find a new school soon and settle in well. :)
bestpossibleoutcome
Posts: 83
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:35 am

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by bestpossibleoutcome »

We'd like to add our best wishes for the future too

BPO
johnny
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:33 am

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by johnny »

thanks for your support. been to see kingsmead today through an open evening for mostyn students which miss grenfell arranged. seemed ok, ive got a personal appointment next week but think if i went there i will have to board during the week
kelannhugh
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:53 am
Location: wirral

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by kelannhugh »

What about all the pupils who transfered from Heswall Prep when that closed? Must be so hard for them as they are having to go through this again!!
guest43
Posts: 237
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:06 pm

Re: MOSTYN HOUSE SCHOOL-DROPPING LIKE FLIES

Post by guest43 »

I've a friend whose daughter went to Highfield.
When that closed she moved to Birkenhead High School.
When that became an Academy tried and failed to get her into Birkenhead School.
So she moved her to Mostyn House!
Post Reply