Governors agree to merge Sedbergh and Casterton schools (From The Westmorland Gazette)

aimzygal wrote:
Ok fair enough your all upset your girls are going to have to go through some change e.g. Travelling a bit further and having to work with boys but nothing major they've still got a "posh" school to go to. If you were going to send them to another school it would either be "un posh" or a totally different "posh" school. Surely it's betterer everyone has a job which means less unemployment and there's still a "posh" localish school for them to go to. Yep before you say anything I didn't go to a "posh" school.

sibbetson wrote:
There may well be other solutions. Every parent at Casterton is there because they have achieved a measure of success: there is a wealth of financial experience there to draw on, a resource the Governors have ignored. As for voting with your feet, how easy you make it sound. It means taking your child away from everything familiar, in some cases halfway through exams. And take them to where exactly? One of the other dozens of girls' schools in Cumbria maybe? I wanted my daughter at a girls' school. Evidence suggests that girls do better in single sex education - this may or may not be so but my daughter has been both happy and successful and I believe in it wholeheartedly. We didn't want her to board, we certainly don't want to lose her to school every Saturday (and Friday night since they don't run a bus on Saturday): why did nobody discuss it with us before persuading us to invest thousands in her education, hundreds in her now redundant uniform, and her own emotional investment in the friends she thought she would be with for the rest of her childhood. It is a disgrace.

blade stall wrote:
Cmon guys calm down its called progress, evolve or die. Sedbergh is a wonderful school and if casterton's survival warrants a merger then go for it. As for consulting the parental base why would they possibly do that?? Its their job to make these decisions your job to elect if they warrant your hard earned cash. Simply put if you dont like it vote with your wallet and walk.. but consult?????

Neil Robinson 13 wrote:
What the Casterton Governors have done is shameful...selling out the school, the teachers, the parents, the staff and most importantly the girls who seem almost unanimous in their desire not to go to Sedbergh

This is not a merger it is a takeover...Sedbergh teachers were briefed on this a fortnight ago and told under pain of dismissal to keep it quiet ..Our Casterton team were informed 10 minutes before the announcement.

The takeover includes uniform, head teaching staff and bursar ( but hopefully not their "modest" position in the academic league tables)

If I had wanted to send my daughter to a (mainly) boy's public school I would have sent her to this academically inferior establishment in the first place.

The way this has been handled, manipulated and presented stinks

I am also reminded that Sedbergh acquired Bentham school some years ago with very much the same declared aims ...A school that has now been closed down and sold for development

Final message to the Casterton Governors...your credibility is in tatters...I hope you at least have the decency to resign en masse

Thegreenman2013 wrote:
ATL have been told that redundancies of teachers because of the 'merger' will be between 20 and 100.That could easily mean the equivalent of an entire schools teachers,very good teachers from my first hand knowledge of Casterton.

zaney5 wrote:
At the end of the day the most important people here are the children. Such a shame no-one thought to ask THEM what they thought. Speaking as someone who knows 2 Casterton girls, I feel for them.

PennB-S wrote:
The two schools have completely different values, ethos, atmosphere, attitudes and traditions. Because of this I will not be sending my three daughters to Sedbergh School. (They don’t want to go either.)

Take for example the mottos. Sedbergh's is ‘A Stern Nurse of Men’ and is a school where the majority of senior staff are male (and although I don't know the exact student figures, I would guess there is a majority of boys). Compare this to Casterton’s motto ‘One Heart One Way’ and the fact that its senior school is girls-only with many women role models at senior level.

Girls learn differently to boys. Research has found that girls prosper in a single-sex environment. (See the recent league tables of BOTH schools and make your own mind up.) Boys have been found to flourish in a co-ed environment. It is as though the female pupils are to be used to bolster the male pupils' academic acheivements, to the detriment of the girls' own education. Why didn’t Sedbergh at least consider a diamond system? Or for all girls to be at the Casterton site?

Casterton’s results are down to a number of factors, single-sex being one, but also, it is to do with the small size of classes, individual attention and the calibre of staff.

Information issued first by Sedbergh, currently on their website:

‘It is good to be big.’ (A stereotypically male-originated statement, and not necessarily true.)

‘It is better to be good.’ (Indeed, as Casterton knows.)

‘But it is best to be both.’ (In theory, but in reality, adding something good to something big doesn’t mean the end result will be good and big. If you added a teaspoon of honey to a pint of water, you don’t’ get a pint of honey.)

Hopefully Casterton can be saved. Good things come in small packages. Sedbergh may have the numbers, but they will never have the quality, grace, or results of Casterton.

laserjet69 wrote:
And so the barrage of abuse of Sedbergh School continues. I find this increasingly annoying and somewhat churlish. Those of you who are peddling this somewhat disparraging attitude regarding Sedbergh ought to be ashamed. The girls at Casterton now have the opportunity that many would like to have, to be part of a school that is going places, one of the few public schools in the country to be expanding their pupil role year on year, rather than reducing it; one of the few public schools to be reducing its overseas intake instead of expanding it; one of the few public schools to be overwhelmed with Scholarship interest......with few for sport. I think unless you know the full facts about Sedbergh School, unless you understand how the school works, unless you meet teachers, pupils and ancilliary staff you really have no right to comment. The history of this school stretches back nearly 500 years, and it will be here for another 500, simply because the governors and staff are committed to their work at a 7 day week boarding school. If you feel let down by the Governors of Casterton School, then I suggest you target them with your comments, as Sedbergh will welcome your children, and you will see them grow and prosper as never before

zaney5 wrote:

laserjet69 wrote:
And so the barrage of abuse of Sedbergh School continues. I find this increasingly annoying and somewhat churlish. Those of you who are peddling this somewhat disparraging attitude regarding Sedbergh ought to be ashamed. The girls at Casterton now have the opportunity that many would like to have, to be part of a school that is going places, one of the few public schools in the country to be expanding their pupil role year on year, rather than reducing it; one of the few public schools to be reducing its overseas intake instead of expanding it; one of the few public schools to be overwhelmed with Scholarship interest......with few for sport. I think unless you know the full facts about Sedbergh School, unless you understand how the school works, unless you meet teachers, pupils and ancilliary staff you really have no right to comment. The history of this school stretches back nearly 500 years, and it will be here for another 500, simply because the governors and staff are committed to their work at a 7 day week boarding school. If you feel let down by the Governors of Casterton School, then I suggest you target them with your comments, as Sedbergh will welcome your children, and you will see them grow and prosper as never before

I would LOVE to see what YOUR reponse would be if it was Sedbergh that was effectively being taken over by Casterton. Cos I'd bet my **** you'd be **** off.

sibbetson wrote:
It isn't a merger, it's a takeover. Sedbergh Heads, Sedbergh hours, Sedbergh uniform. It isn't exciting, it's shocking. Nobody was consulted, nobody was invited to have an opinion. It's disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the Governors. You will be losing my daughter.

sibbetson wrote:
There may well be other solutions. Every parent at Casterton is there because they have achieved a measure of success: there is a wealth of financial experience there to draw on, a resource the Governors have ignored. As for voting with your feet, how easy you make it sound. It means taking your child away from everything familiar, in some cases halfway through exams. And take them to where exactly? One of the other dozens of girls' schools in Cumbria maybe? I wanted my daughter at a girls' school. Evidence suggests that girls do better in single sex education - this may or may not be so but my daughter has been both happy and successful and I believe in it wholeheartedly. We didn't want her to board, we certainly don't want to lose her to school every Saturday (and Friday night since they don't run a bus on Saturday): why did nobody discuss it with us before persuading us to invest thousands in her education, hundreds in her now redundant uniform, and her own emotional investment in the friends she thought she would be with for the rest of her childhood. It is a disgrace.

Neil Robinson 13 wrote:
What the Casterton Governors have done is shameful...selling out the school, the teachers, the parents, the staff and most importantly the girls who seem almost unanimous in their desire not to go to Sedbergh

This is not a merger it is a takeover...Sedbergh teachers were briefed on this a fortnight ago and told under pain of dismissal to keep it quiet ..Our Casterton team were informed 10 minutes before the announcement.

The takeover includes uniform, head teaching staff and bursar ( but hopefully not their "modest" position in the academic league tables)

If I had wanted to send my daughter to a (mainly) boy's public school I would have sent her to this academically inferior establishment in the first place.

The way this has been handled, manipulated and presented stinks

I am also reminded that Sedbergh acquired Bentham school some years ago with very much the same declared aims ...A school that has now been closed down and sold for development

Final message to the Casterton Governors...your credibility is in tatters...I hope you at least have the decency to resign en masse

Neil Robinson 13 wrote:

blade stall wrote:
Cmon guys calm down its called progress, evolve or die. Sedbergh is a wonderful school and if casterton's survival warrants a merger then go for it. As for consulting the parental base why would they possibly do that?? Its their job to make these decisions your job to elect if they warrant your hard earned cash. Simply put if you dont like it vote with your wallet and walk.. but consult?????

Fair comment, but just to correct you on one matter.

Casterton's survival does not rely on a merger with Sedbergh.

If you look at the accounts (readily available from the charity commissioners) you will see that Casterton do not need to merge to survive.

I have no doubt that Sedbergh is a good school (albeit academically vastly inferior to Casterton..but great if you want to play sport all day) so fine for some, not so good for others... this is not a "one solution fits all" scenario.

The Governors of Casterton, in their infinite wisdom, are claiming they know what is better for our children than we as parents do..they are in for a rude awakening for the ones that attend the meeting tomorrow

This is not about evolve or die...there is an undeclared and cynical agenda going on and they are not going to bully this through as easily as their collective ego clearly imagines

Neil Robinson 13 wrote:
Yes, absolutely certain. My sources (more than one) have confirmed this in writing, including the date that they were informed.

Sorry; don't mean to be pedantic, but this is not a merger it is in my humble opinion a takeover

Regards
Neil

sibbetson wrote:
Quote: "The pupils will need to wear a new kilt, blazer and games kit (but the requirement is minimal)" Q&A sent to me on Tuesday.

PennB-S wrote:
Dear Bynac,

And I can confirm, having friends on the staff at Casterton, that the majority of senior and admin staff did not know before the 26th. An unfair imbalance from the start.

How girls will cope with change when they enter the ‘real world’ as you put it is irrelevant in the case of this ‘merger’ and any changes and moves experienced by pupils in the state sector is also irrelevant here.

Imagine you bought an Audi having researched a certain model. You chose it for its particular set of pros and cons that you considered important. You could afford it and you paid for it and you were delighted with how it performed. You couldn’t be happier with the choice YOU had made. How would you then feel if someone turned up to remove the Audi from your driveway without your permission, telling you they were about to replace it with a Rover? And that they hoped you would be excited to change it to a Rover?

Both may be good cars for different reasons, but you CHOSE the Audi to suit your personal beliefs, lifestyle and requirements.

Would you then say ‘oh I won’t complain because many people are happy with Fiats’? Again, irrelevant.

A crude analogy, I admit, but the point is not about whether and how girls will adapt, or whether Sedbergh School is commendable, it’s the principal of the matter; the autocratic, opaque process, the omission of consultation, the style and timing of communication, the complete absence of sensitivity, the lack of rationale for the decision, the readiness to rapidly dissolve the essence of Casterton, and the failure to consider other options and to discuss them with the people involved, who will be the people affected by the outcome.

People ‘whine’ over trivial matters like rising utility bills, or that the postman is late; my daughters’ education is not among the things I ‘whine’ about.

sibbetson wrote:
Also she is not eligible for a place at Lancaster Grammar because we don't live in Lancaster and they offer places first to children from their own authority. I know because I approached them when she was in yr 6. Cumbrian children are not eligible.

oashton wrote:

sibbetson wrote:
There may well be other solutions. Every parent at Casterton is there because they have achieved a measure of success: there is a wealth of financial experience there to draw on, a resource the Governors have ignored. As for voting with your feet, how easy you make it sound. It means taking your child away from everything familiar, in some cases halfway through exams. And take them to where exactly? One of the other dozens of girls' schools in Cumbria maybe? I wanted my daughter at a girls' school. Evidence suggests that girls do better in single sex education - this may or may not be so but my daughter has been both happy and successful and I believe in it wholeheartedly. We didn't want her to board, we certainly don't want to lose her to school every Saturday (and Friday night since they don't run a bus on Saturday): why did nobody discuss it with us before persuading us to invest thousands in her education, hundreds in her now redundant uniform, and her own emotional investment in the friends she thought she would be with for the rest of her childhood. It is a disgrace.

Absolute utter twaddle!

There are MANY parents at Casterton who have not achieved financial success, but whose daughters are there on academic merit or who receive financial aid from the Armed Forces.

If you would like to continue your daughter's education at a girls' school then I suggest you look in to LGGS in Lancaster.

Mooga23 wrote:

oashton wrote:

sibbetson wrote:
There may well be other solutions. Every parent at Casterton is there because they have achieved a measure of success: there is a wealth of financial experience there to draw on, a resource the Governors have ignored. As for voting with your feet, how easy you make it sound. It means taking your child away from everything familiar, in some cases halfway through exams. And take them to where exactly? One of the other dozens of girls' schools in Cumbria maybe? I wanted my daughter at a girls' school. Evidence suggests that girls do better in single sex education - this may or may not be so but my daughter has been both happy and successful and I believe in it wholeheartedly. We didn't want her to board, we certainly don't want to lose her to school every Saturday (and Friday night since they don't run a bus on Saturday): why did nobody discuss it with us before persuading us to invest thousands in her education, hundreds in her now redundant uniform, and her own emotional investment in the friends she thought she would be with for the rest of her childhood. It is a disgrace.

Absolute utter twaddle!

There are MANY parents at Casterton who have not achieved financial success, but whose daughters are there on academic merit or who receive financial aid from the Armed Forces.

If you would like to continue your daughter's education at a girls' school then I suggest you look in to LGGS in Lancaster.

Are you trying to say that those who are there on academic merit or receive financial aid from the Armed Forces have therefore not achieved financial success? Because I can assure you that is not the case.

sibbetson wrote:
Dear Fromthesouth, So please tell me, is it not correct that the staff asked to have a representative on the Governors and were refused?

RedDevil9 wrote:
Assuming the merger goes ahead (anyone know when this is due to happen?), I wonder how many present Casterton girls are intending to make the move up to Sedbergh. I presume there is also a pool of prospective pupils to Casterton for next year that Sedbergh is able to tap into.

Just wondering how many pupils Sedbergh would need to pick up in order for it to have been worthwhile for them.

Tiffany22 wrote:
@'oashton' you're completely missing the point here. This is not about you and your time at casterton/sedbergh..

. You CHOSE to move schools.
We are all extremely happy with all aspects of Casterton. We do not want to or can not move our daughters to Sedbergh, plus the way it has been handled by the governors is disgraceful...Good for you if you had a great time Sedbergh, but it's not for us.

sibbetson wrote:
Dear fromthesouth acquired. aggression, pursue, has your spellchecker stopped working?

RedDevil9 wrote:
Assuming the merger goes ahead (anyone know when this is due to happen?), I wonder how many present Casterton girls are intending to make the move up to Sedbergh. I presume there is also a pool of prospective pupils to Casterton for next year that Sedbergh is able to tap into.

Just wondering how many pupils Sedbergh would need to pick up in order for it to have been worthwhile for them.

oashton wrote:

Tiffany22 wrote: @'oashton' you're completely missing the point here. This is not about you and your time at casterton/sedbergh.. . You CHOSE to move schools. We are all extremely happy with all aspects of Casterton. We do not want to or can not move our daughters to Sedbergh, plus the way it has been handled by the governors is disgraceful...Good for you if you had a great time Sedbergh, but it's not for us.

You're missing the point. If more people were happier with Casterton as a choice they would have more pupils attending the school. There were 3/4 forms in each year when I started boarding in year 6 and only 1/2 in each year when I left in year 11.

oashton wrote:

Neil Robinson 13 wrote:

blade stall wrote:
Cmon guys calm down its called progress, evolve or die. Sedbergh is a wonderful school and if casterton's survival warrants a merger then go for it. As for consulting the parental base why would they possibly do that?? Its their job to make these decisions your job to elect if they warrant your hard earned cash. Simply put if you dont like it vote with your wallet and walk.. but consult?????

Fair comment, but just to correct you on one matter.

Casterton's survival does not rely on a merger with Sedbergh.

If you look at the accounts (readily available from the charity commissioners) you will see that Casterton do not need to merge to survive.

I have no doubt that Sedbergh is a good school (albeit academically vastly inferior to Casterton..but great if you want to play sport all day) so fine for some, not so good for others... this is not a "one solution fits all" scenario.

The Governors of Casterton, in their infinite wisdom, are claiming they know what is better for our children than we as parents do..they are in for a rude awakening for the ones that attend the meeting tomorrow

This is not about evolve or die...there is an undeclared and cynical agenda going on and they are not going to bully this through as easily as their collective ego clearly imagines

It is funny that you say that this is not a one solution for all scenario.

Casterton is a school where all are expected to become the same, where diversity is not celebrated but quashed, and where the number 1 priority is results and not pastoral care. Casterton is a school where you are expected to fit in to a one size fits all mould, whereas Sedbergh is a school where you are expected to fit in wherever your strengths take you.

I didn't play a single sports match in my 2 years at Sedbergh. Instead I spent the time investing in my music (playing the piano, singing, bassoon and harp), and investing in myself. Casterton broke me, and Sedbergh rebuilt me and my confidence.

Whenever my parents attended functions at Casterton (many times, as I was involved in many areas of school life) they were shunned, as were many others, whilst those parents with monetary value were given all the attention. There were a few staff who were outstanding, and really cared, but most were unforgiving and ineffective.

As a trainee teacher now, evaluating my own practice is standard. The one thing that sticks out to me is that too many of the teachers at Casterton were the kind of teacher that we are warned about in our training - the teachers not to become.

It is not just the governors who have made this decision, but also senior staff. And many would argue that if you think top A level results are more important than moulding your child into a happy, healthy, well-rounded and well-grounded individual, then the governors do know what is better for them.

For all this bleating about results, you would assume that you are personally concerned with getting into a top university and then a top job. Casterton's notable alumni consists of the Bronte sisters, who did not even attend Casterton School. Once you leave Casterton there is no support, from staff or COGA. Sedbergh, however, has been responsible for many industry leaders, partly because of support upon leaving the school and partly because of their obsession with allowing young people to flourish wherever their strengths lie.

And just so you know, I loved my time at Casterton. But I loved my time at Sedbergh more. It was their hard work that has moulded me into the responsible adult I am today. It is their continued support which sees me at the top of my class and flying through my placements. It is their support that will see me applying for a Masters in Education at Harvard University.

P.s. More Sedberghians have attended Oxbridge colleges in the last decade than Castertonians.

Sir arthur wrote:
The bottom line seems to be that the current governance of casterton has been questionable to say the least and they intend to close down a fine institution with indecent haste without due regard to the community it serves and its pupils present and future .
Hopefully the current parents can recover this sorry situation and i wish them all the best

sibbetson wrote:
It isn't a merger, it's a takeover. Sedbergh Heads, Sedbergh hours, Sedbergh uniform. It isn't exciting, it's shocking. Nobody was consulted, nobody was invited to have an opinion. It's disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the Governors. You will be losing my daughter.

Gemma5511 wrote:
Sedbergh is a super school!!!!

PlainTalker wrote:

Gemma5511 wrote:
Sedbergh is a super school!!!!

That may well be the case but I think the point is that many regard Casterton as a super school too, Gemma, and have chosen to send their daughters their for specific reasons. Whilst I have no doubt that Sedbergh will try hard to accommodate the needs of everyone, it will not be to everyone's taste nor will it necessarily suit every Casterton girl.

Sedbergh staff, parents and students could go a long way to make this work by being understanding and appreciating that everyone is different and will need time and support to come to terms with this initiative, something which the Casterton Governors could have usefully thought about in advance of their clumsy communication efforts.

RedDevil9 wrote:

PlainTalker wrote:

Gemma5511 wrote:
Sedbergh is a super school!!!!

That may well be the case but I think the point is that many regard Casterton as a super school too, Gemma, and have chosen to send their daughters their for specific reasons. Whilst I have no doubt that Sedbergh will try hard to accommodate the needs of everyone, it will not be to everyone's taste nor will it necessarily suit every Casterton girl.

Sedbergh staff, parents and students could go a long way to make this work by being understanding and appreciating that everyone is different and will need time and support to come to terms with this initiative, something which the Casterton Governors could have usefully thought about in advance of their clumsy communication efforts.

Indeed, though let us not forget that Sedbergh staff will be more worried about their own jobs. This does seem to be a merger - on paper if not in principle - and all staff from both schools will be going into a pool for (re)selection at the 'new' Sedbergh School. My wife has been through this process before, and I suspect that, for now, very few staff at both schools have a guaranteed job.

As I stated earlier in the thread, this will be very tough on both sets of staff albeit for different reasons.

annon13 wrote:
Where were the other Governors on Friday evening? If the decision to ‘merge’ had been for financial reasons, maybe the Chair of Finance should have been there to answer the questions regarding the accounts that Mr Tomlinson couldn’t answer??? The Chair of Finance is also a current parent of the school, are his daughters continuing to Sedbergh in September 2013??

PropMeUpWithTeabags wrote:
Wow, posh people are very opinionated... Or is it... Wow. Posh people are very opinionated ? I'm joking ladies I'm sure it is a terrible thing and worth 111 comments.

zaney5 wrote:
"Remember, despite all your protests, this merger will happen, the sooner you accept that the better for all...especially your children."

You seem very convinced of that. The old phrase regarding chickens and hatching eggs springs to mind.

stormin1 wrote:
I have noyiced that no comments have been directed to the fact that jobs will be lost. Not onlt the teaching staff will be reduced but also all the other staff who maintain the school such as catering, groundsmen, cleaners etc. Give a thought for them please.

PeterRogerson wrote:

zaney5 wrote:
"Remember, despite all your protests, this merger will happen, the sooner you accept that the better for all...especially your children."

You seem very convinced of that. The old phrase regarding chickens and hatching eggs springs to mind.

Its nothing to do with being convinced it's to do with knowing the full story, which very few on here actually know.

sibbetson wrote:
Dear Closey1983,

I don't want my child at school on Saturdays.
Discuss.

stormin1 wrote:
I have noyiced that no comments have been directed to the fact that jobs will be lost. Not onlt the teaching staff will be reduced but also all the other staff who maintain the school such as catering, groundsmen, cleaners etc. Give a thought for them please.

sibbetson wrote:
Dear Closey1983,

I don't want my child at school on Saturdays.
Discuss.

PeterRogerson wrote:
The facts are pretty clear to see, the Casterton parents have been let down by their Governing board, however lets be honest with no parent representative on the governing board, and therefore no one to represent your interests it is clear that you have not taken a keen enough interest in your daughters schooling. Sedbergh School has at least 3 if not 4 parents on the Governing board, QES in Kirkby Lonsdale has at least 6 parents on the Governing board, LRGS has 4 on the board and LGGS has 6 parent governors and 3 staff governors. As apparent repsonsible Casterton Parents, you should have been aware of your Governing body and who was representing yours and your pupils interests. Both sets of Governors have taken what they feel is the responsible decision to merge the schools for the long term future of both establishments. I have no parental interest in either school, so speak without bias or favouratism to either, in my view, and looking at the comments here, there is a great deal of emotion from parents at Casterton plus negativity regarding Sedbergh. Funnily enought the Sedbergh Parents seem to be quiet regarding the merger and the effect it will have on their children, in my opinion they seem to be the most accepting, even though they will be affected. I am aware that Casterton School has been a fantastic school both for the pupils and the local community, however I can see the advent of Sedbergh Prep School bringing just as much to the community, and possibly a busy more vibrant atmosphere. I sympathise with Casterton Parents who put their girls at Casterton partly for the single sex education, however reallife isn't single sex, and in my humble opinion children should be educated together to give them an all round education. Don't forget sending your children to a fee paying school is more than about just education, it is about the all round experience they will gain, and that means growing up on a day to day basis with both boys and girls. Casterton parents you need to:
Stop slating the Governors, and look at your own part in this
Be positive with your children regarding the change - a positive parent brings a positive child
Stop pushing your opinions onto your children, let them form their own thoughts on the move
Remember, despite all your protests, this merger will happen, the sooner you accept that the better for all...especially your children.

sibbetson wrote:
Dear Closey1983, I genuinely wondered if you had something to suggest. I was rather hoping you might be an important sort of staff member rather than a humble one, who might just say: Ah, yes, well, we'll get on to that right away.

Dear me: it is all so awful. I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody. I have never really thought much about Sedbergh other than deciding that it wasn't for us after we looked at it: and I would much rather I wasn't having to think about it now. I wish to the bottom of my socks that it wasn't happening.

oldgirl11 wrote:

PeterRogerson wrote:
The facts are pretty clear to see, the Casterton parents have been let down by their Governing board, however lets be honest with no parent representative on the governing board, and therefore no one to represent your interests it is clear that you have not taken a keen enough interest in your daughters schooling. Sedbergh School has at least 3 if not 4 parents on the Governing board, QES in Kirkby Lonsdale has at least 6 parents on the Governing board, LRGS has 4 on the board and LGGS has 6 parent governors and 3 staff governors. As apparent repsonsible Casterton Parents, you should have been aware of your Governing body and who was representing yours and your pupils interests. Both sets of Governors have taken what they feel is the responsible decision to merge the schools for the long term future of both establishments. I have no parental interest in either school, so speak without bias or favouratism to either, in my view, and looking at the comments here, there is a great deal of emotion from parents at Casterton plus negativity regarding Sedbergh. Funnily enought the Sedbergh Parents seem to be quiet regarding the merger and the effect it will have on their children, in my opinion they seem to be the most accepting, even though they will be affected. I am aware that Casterton School has been a fantastic school both for the pupils and the local community, however I can see the advent of Sedbergh Prep School bringing just as much to the community, and possibly a busy more vibrant atmosphere. I sympathise with Casterton Parents who put their girls at Casterton partly for the single sex education, however reallife isn't single sex, and in my humble opinion children should be educated together to give them an all round education. Don't forget sending your children to a fee paying school is more than about just education, it is about the all round experience they will gain, and that means growing up on a day to day basis with both boys and girls. Casterton parents you need to:
Stop slating the Governors, and look at your own part in this
Be positive with your children regarding the change - a positive parent brings a positive child
Stop pushing your opinions onto your children, let them form their own thoughts on the move
Remember, despite all your protests, this merger will happen, the sooner you accept that the better for all...especially your children.

Perhaps you should discover why there are no parent representatives on the Governing body rather than launching an attack on parents for (in your opinion) a lack of interest.
Sedbergh parents remain quiet because the merger is stacked in their favour.
I find your comment to be more of a lecture to parents in how to conduct themselves with their own children.
Btw, if you think the fees are only £15,000 you need to recheck the fees section on the website.

PeterRogerson wrote:

oldgirl11 wrote:

PeterRogerson wrote:
The facts are pretty clear to see, the Casterton parents have been let down by their Governing board, however lets be honest with no parent representative on the governing board, and therefore no one to represent your interests it is clear that you have not taken a keen enough interest in your daughters schooling. Sedbergh School has at least 3 if not 4 parents on the Governing board, QES in Kirkby Lonsdale has at least 6 parents on the Governing board, LRGS has 4 on the board and LGGS has 6 parent governors and 3 staff governors. As apparent repsonsible Casterton Parents, you should have been aware of your Governing body and who was representing yours and your pupils interests. Both sets of Governors have taken what they feel is the responsible decision to merge the schools for the long term future of both establishments. I have no parental interest in either school, so speak without bias or favouratism to either, in my view, and looking at the comments here, there is a great deal of emotion from parents at Casterton plus negativity regarding Sedbergh. Funnily enought the Sedbergh Parents seem to be quiet regarding the merger and the effect it will have on their children, in my opinion they seem to be the most accepting, even though they will be affected. I am aware that Casterton School has been a fantastic school both for the pupils and the local community, however I can see the advent of Sedbergh Prep School bringing just as much to the community, and possibly a busy more vibrant atmosphere. I sympathise with Casterton Parents who put their girls at Casterton partly for the single sex education, however reallife isn't single sex, and in my humble opinion children should be educated together to give them an all round education. Don't forget sending your children to a fee paying school is more than about just education, it is about the all round experience they will gain, and that means growing up on a day to day basis with both boys and girls. Casterton parents you need to:
Stop slating the Governors, and look at your own part in this
Be positive with your children regarding the change - a positive parent brings a positive child
Stop pushing your opinions onto your children, let them form their own thoughts on the move
Remember, despite all your protests, this merger will happen, the sooner you accept that the better for all...especially your children.

Perhaps you should discover why there are no parent representatives on the Governing body rather than launching an attack on parents for (in your opinion) a lack of interest.
Sedbergh parents remain quiet because the merger is stacked in their favour.
I find your comment to be more of a lecture to parents in how to conduct themselves with their own children.
Btw, if you think the fees are only £15,000 you need to recheck the fees section on the website.

The fees i am refering to are day fees which are £5250 per term for yr9 upwards...please refer to the website to confirm. And yes I am having a go at the parents, as they clearly have not looked into the organisation of the Governing body at Casterton. In my opinion Sedbergh parents are quiet as they have a touch more decorum.

Fromthesouth wrote:
Quite interesting comments on the Prep school and I may have learnt more about the situation and how things have become. Thank you Cas Res and Rms for explaining.
Was the Prep school ever a single-sex establishment? If Casterton continues it sounds like it will be gone. I'd be interested to know the demographic intake of Casterton girls; what it was in the past and what it might be in the future bearing in mind the trio of other schools in the same area.

LivingInCumbria wrote:
I was also appalled to find that this entire merger was done without consultation and it would seem, with a worrying degree of covertness. That alone is a bad example to the students and disrespectful to not just them, but the fee-paying parents. I am not an involved party, but I do know that there will be a good deal of staff made redundant. And we're not, of course, talking upper management staff; but administrative, accounts, and others. 'At Risk' letters will no doubt be posted soon and staff will have to fight for their positions wherever roles are duplicated between schools. I don't know about Casterton, but Sedbergh has a long history of not showing their staff respect in more ways than one. This situation is shocking and upsetting for more than students.

LivingInCumbria wrote:
I was also appalled to find that this entire merger was done without consultation and it would seem, with a worrying degree of covertness. That alone is a bad example to the students and disrespectful to not just them, but the fee-paying parents. I am not an involved party, but I do know that there will be a good deal of staff made redundant. And we're not, of course, talking upper management staff; but administrative, accounts, and others. 'At Risk' letters will no doubt be posted soon and staff will have to fight for their positions wherever roles are duplicated between schools. I don't know about Casterton, but Sedbergh has a long history of not showing their staff respect in more ways than one. This situation is shocking and upsetting for more than students.

sibbetson wrote:
Letters have already been sent and staff have found their details have been sent over to Sedbergh for inspection without their consent.

In other words, CVs, many of them out of date, have been forwarded to the new Heads for use during the interview process without permission, without staff getting chance to review and update them, and without regard for anybody's wishes or personal decisions.

If Sedbergh do have a history of not respecting their staff, their present behaviour is doing nothing to improve the situation.

This is a disgrace. Once again I call on the present Governors to step down, if they have any decency left anywhere. Wouldn't you think Gill Sykes would have more fellow feeling for the staff she is helping to decimate?

Bezzaberry wrote:
I think you need to check you information of 11 new starters. If you understood the admissions process of an independent school you would understand that deadlines haven't even passed yet. Recruitment goes on right until the end of the summer term so these figures are totally incorrect!

PeterRogerson wrote:

LivingInCumbria wrote:
I was also appalled to find that this entire merger was done without consultation and it would seem, with a worrying degree of covertness. That alone is a bad example to the students and disrespectful to not just them, but the fee-paying parents. I am not an involved party, but I do know that there will be a good deal of staff made redundant. And we're not, of course, talking upper management staff; but administrative, accounts, and others. 'At Risk' letters will no doubt be posted soon and staff will have to fight for their positions wherever roles are duplicated between schools. I don't know about Casterton, but Sedbergh has a long history of not showing their staff respect in more ways than one. This situation is shocking and upsetting for more than students.

'Sedbergh has a long history of not showing its staff respect'
Are you able to expand on this, I have many friends who have worked and still work at Sedbergh School who would not agree with this. To see a statement such as this i think we need examples and clarification.

Bezzaberry wrote:
Any future ones were looking unlikely? How little you know!

sibbetson wrote:
I need to reiterate this on behalf of many parents.

We do not need to think that Sedbergh is rubbish in order not to want to send our children there. Some parents may not think very highly of it, but the majority have no reason at all to think it is a poor-quality establishment.

However that does not mean we have chosen it. I like duck in plum sauce very much but I did not think it appropriate for my breakfast this morning, and I do not think Sedbergh the appropriate choice for my child.

I am sorry if Sedbergh staff feel they have difficulties at work: It is awful to feel that one's employer does not have one's best interests at heart. If nothing else comes out of this it might be that the powers that be in Sedbergh feel shaken up by that, recognise that they have a problem, and start rethinking their HR policies hard. Happy staff work harder and contribute more. If Sedbergh has any kind of dynamic management at all - and it seems that they do - it may be that through reading their staff's feelings on this site they are shaken and inspired to look hard at their practices and change some of them.

As far as the Save Casterton team's plans for the future - there are an awful lot of ideas floating round at the moment. Nobody will be able to come up with anything realistic and sensible unless we can get the current Governors to release their figures, which so far they have not. In the meantime it is premature to even daydream.

However I suspect that the collection of very bright, perceptive and well-informed people I have met so far during this campaign are likely to be able to come up with some good ideas, and I think we have all taken on board the need for communication, transparency and fairness. It would be very good indeed if we can between us build something fantastic out of this disaster.

sibbetson wrote:
I need to reiterate this on behalf of many parents.

We do not need to think that Sedbergh is rubbish in order not to want to send our children there. Some parents may not think very highly of it, but the majority have no reason at all to think it is a poor-quality establishment.

However that does not mean we have chosen it. I like duck in plum sauce very much but I did not think it appropriate for my breakfast this morning, and I do not think Sedbergh the appropriate choice for my child.

I am sorry if Sedbergh staff feel they have difficulties at work: It is awful to feel that one's employer does not have one's best interests at heart. If nothing else comes out of this it might be that the powers that be in Sedbergh feel shaken up by that, recognise that they have a problem, and start rethinking their HR policies hard. Happy staff work harder and contribute more. If Sedbergh has any kind of dynamic management at all - and it seems that they do - it may be that through reading their staff's feelings on this site they are shaken and inspired to look hard at their practices and change some of them.

As far as the Save Casterton team's plans for the future - there are an awful lot of ideas floating round at the moment. Nobody will be able to come up with anything realistic and sensible unless we can get the current Governors to release their figures, which so far they have not. In the meantime it is premature to even daydream.

However I suspect that the collection of very bright, perceptive and well-informed people I have met so far during this campaign are likely to be able to come up with some good ideas, and I think we have all taken on board the need for communication, transparency and fairness. It would be very good indeed if we can between us build something fantastic out of this disaster.

sibbetson wrote:
I need to reiterate this on behalf of many parents.

We do not need to think that Sedbergh is rubbish in order not to want to send our children there. Some parents may not think very highly of it, but the majority have no reason at all to think it is a poor-quality establishment.

However that does not mean we have chosen it. I like duck in plum sauce very much but I did not think it appropriate for my breakfast this morning, and I do not think Sedbergh the appropriate choice for my child.

I am sorry if Sedbergh staff feel they have difficulties at work: It is awful to feel that one's employer does not have one's best interests at heart. If nothing else comes out of this it might be that the powers that be in Sedbergh feel shaken up by that, recognise that they have a problem, and start rethinking their HR policies hard. Happy staff work harder and contribute more. If Sedbergh has any kind of dynamic management at all - and it seems that they do - it may be that through reading their staff's feelings on this site they are shaken and inspired to look hard at their practices and change some of them.

As far as the Save Casterton team's plans for the future - there are an awful lot of ideas floating round at the moment. Nobody will be able to come up with anything realistic and sensible unless we can get the current Governors to release their figures, which so far they have not. In the meantime it is premature to even daydream.

However I suspect that the collection of very bright, perceptive and well-informed people I have met so far during this campaign are likely to be able to come up with some good ideas, and I think we have all taken on board the need for communication, transparency and fairness. It would be very good indeed if we can between us build something fantastic out of this disaster.

Cas Res wrote:
I am as stated earlier a parent of a child in the prep school and I welcome this merger to secure the schools future. If this merger fails to proceed due to the actions of some has anyone considered the possible outcomes? I along with a considerable number of other parents will be withdrawing their children and taking them else where for a stable future.
The group that is aiming to prevent this have not disclosed a viable alternative;
Have they a business plan in place to state how they will turnaround an establishment saddled with debt?
Have they got access to finance to allow the school to continue; the simple P&L accounts do not show the full picture (Bank loans, selling of assetts, there is no more family silver to sell)
What will happen if sedbergh pull out?
No one has convinced me that there is an altenative for the school to continue.
This merger was proposed around 4 years ago, but failed to happen, so it has been on the cards for a long time.
Have they considered what will happen to the local community if the merger does not go ahead and the school has to close, the village will loose its church as this is funded by both the school and the parish, the school buildings will be sold for development by those holding charging orders, the economic loss to the local business will be considerable as well as the loss of local employment.
Numbers are falling and continue to do so as mentioned in earlier posts marketing has failed to deliver the numbers, there are only 11 new starters when more than double will be leaving in the 6th Form when their exams are completed.

zaney5 wrote:
"...your issue should be with the way Casterton has been run over the past 5 -10 years, the way the numbers have dwindled, the way the marketing and promotion of the school has been next to nothing, and the way, in all likelihood it would have been closed down in the very near future."

In which case the current governors should resign because quite obviously they haven't been doing their job properly.

Brionny wrote:

Cas Res wrote:
I am as stated earlier a parent of a child in the prep school and I welcome this merger to secure the schools future. If this merger fails to proceed due to the actions of some has anyone considered the possible outcomes? I along with a considerable number of other parents will be withdrawing their children and taking them else where for a stable future.
The group that is aiming to prevent this have not disclosed a viable alternative;
Have they a business plan in place to state how they will turnaround an establishment saddled with debt?
Have they got access to finance to allow the school to continue; the simple P&L accounts do not show the full picture (Bank loans, selling of assetts, there is no more family silver to sell)
What will happen if sedbergh pull out?
No one has convinced me that there is an altenative for the school to continue.
This merger was proposed around 4 years ago, but failed to happen, so it has been on the cards for a long time.
Have they considered what will happen to the local community if the merger does not go ahead and the school has to close, the village will loose its church as this is funded by both the school and the parish, the school buildings will be sold for development by those holding charging orders, the economic loss to the local business will be considerable as well as the loss of local employment.
Numbers are falling and continue to do so as mentioned in earlier posts marketing has failed to deliver the numbers, there are only 11 new starters when more than double will be leaving in the 6th Form when their exams are completed.

I am interested in the lack of response by zaney5 and sibbetson with regards to this incredibly valid foresight mentioned in this post?
What are your intentions?how are you planning on 'saving' Casterton?

PeterRogerson wrote:

sibbetson wrote:
I need to reiterate this on behalf of many parents.

We do not need to think that Sedbergh is rubbish in order not to want to send our children there. Some parents may not think very highly of it, but the majority have no reason at all to think it is a poor-quality establishment.

However that does not mean we have chosen it. I like duck in plum sauce very much but I did not think it appropriate for my breakfast this morning, and I do not think Sedbergh the appropriate choice for my child.

I am sorry if Sedbergh staff feel they have difficulties at work: It is awful to feel that one's employer does not have one's best interests at heart. If nothing else comes out of this it might be that the powers that be in Sedbergh feel shaken up by that, recognise that they have a problem, and start rethinking their HR policies hard. Happy staff work harder and contribute more. If Sedbergh has any kind of dynamic management at all - and it seems that they do - it may be that through reading their staff's feelings on this site they are shaken and inspired to look hard at their practices and change some of them.

As far as the Save Casterton team's plans for the future - there are an awful lot of ideas floating round at the moment. Nobody will be able to come up with anything realistic and sensible unless we can get the current Governors to release their figures, which so far they have not. In the meantime it is premature to even daydream.

However I suspect that the collection of very bright, perceptive and well-informed people I have met so far during this campaign are likely to be able to come up with some good ideas, and I think we have all taken on board the need for communication, transparency and fairness. It would be very good indeed if we can between us build something fantastic out of this disaster.

'I am sorry if Sedbergh staff feel they have difficulties at work: It is awful to feel that one's employer does not have one's best interests at heart. If nothing else comes out of this it might be that the powers that be in Sedbergh feel shaken up by that, recognise that they have a problem, and start rethinking their HR policies hard.'

Sibbetson, you obviously know very little regarding Sedbergh School, its staffing and its HR procedures. Please do not generalise following one comment from an ex member of staff who feel they have been wronged in some way. Sedbergh School employs over 300 staff, most of them local, and I am sure, as in all organisations, there are times when there will be unhappy staff. Time and time again with your comments you seem to have an issue with Sedbergh School, your issue shouldbe with the way Casterton has been run over the past 5 -10 years, the way the numbers have dwindled, the way the marketing and promotion of the school has been next to nothing, and the way, in all likelihood it would have been closed down in the very near future. I think you ought to be thanking Sedbergh for having the foresight and desire to keep the school open as a different entity,and therefore keeping as many jobs as possible tenable, instead of thinking about the doom and gloom that you seem to surround yourself in.

zaney5 wrote:

Brionny wrote:

Cas Res wrote:
I am as stated earlier a parent of a child in the prep school and I welcome this merger to secure the schools future. If this merger fails to proceed due to the actions of some has anyone considered the possible outcomes? I along with a considerable number of other parents will be withdrawing their children and taking them else where for a stable future.
The group that is aiming to prevent this have not disclosed a viable alternative;
Have they a business plan in place to state how they will turnaround an establishment saddled with debt?
Have they got access to finance to allow the school to continue; the simple P&L accounts do not show the full picture (Bank loans, selling of assetts, there is no more family silver to sell)
What will happen if sedbergh pull out?
No one has convinced me that there is an altenative for the school to continue.
This merger was proposed around 4 years ago, but failed to happen, so it has been on the cards for a long time.
Have they considered what will happen to the local community if the merger does not go ahead and the school has to close, the village will loose its church as this is funded by both the school and the parish, the school buildings will be sold for development by those holding charging orders, the economic loss to the local business will be considerable as well as the loss of local employment.
Numbers are falling and continue to do so as mentioned in earlier posts marketing has failed to deliver the numbers, there are only 11 new starters when more than double will be leaving in the 6th Form when their exams are completed.

I am interested in the lack of response by zaney5 and sibbetson with regards to this incredibly valid foresight mentioned in this post?
What are your intentions?how are you planning on 'saving' Casterton?

Had you listened to the spokesperson of Casterton Parents Ltd on Radio Cumbria yesterday you would be aware that their intentions (I say their as I am not a parent myself) are thus:

They effectively want the pause button to be pressed on this merger, for the current board of governors to step down (as the majority of parents, staff & pupils now have no faith in them whatsoever) and for a newly elected board to re-examine all the facts and various options, with full transparency. And if it comes down to it that there IS no other option than to merge, then so be it.
I am under the impression that the main issue isn't with the actual merger itself (although this has obviously been met with anger by some) but more about the way the process has been conducted and more importantly how it was communicated with pupils, staff and parents.

And maybe, given the chance for the facts to be exposed and for a full consultation that INCLUDES the major stakeholders involved (ie parents) another option can be brought to the table.

PlainTalker wrote:
As at 1856 hrs this evening, the Chairman of the Casterton Governors issued a 3 page letter via e-mail to parents in which he explains some more of the detail of the decision making process that led to the course of action to merge and in which he apologises for the upset caused through the majority of pupils being informed before their parents. How difficult was that? One cannot help but feel that had this preceded the announcement of the decision, that an awful lot of angst, upset and vitriol could have been avoided and, from a position of transparency and understanding, parents could more readily have been brought onside.

Whilst this letter may go some way to alleviate what has become an unnecessarily fractious situation.

The letter concludes by stating that Governors have tried to ensure that the new school maintains a Casterton "stamp" - culture, ethos, welfare and support to parents, pupils and staff - by ensuring that the existing Casterton Governors are part of the new governing body. Unfortunately, in the case of Mr Tomilinson, I am not sure how reassuring parents will find this! For the sake of everyone and the good of what follows, I suggest he is better cutting his loses and walking away.

bynac wrote:
Can anyone explain, why, if Sedbergh staff are so badly treated, the majority of staff, both teaching and ancillary have been at the school for twenty or more years, staying until they retire?

zaney5 wrote:
I'm slightly intrigued as to why the front page story in this weeks Gazette isn't featured on the website.

Maybe someone from the Gazette might like to elaborate?

Fromthesouth wrote:
Quite interesting comments on the Prep school and I may have learnt more about the situation and how things have become. Thank you Cas Res and Rms for explaining.
Was the Prep school ever a single-sex establishment? If Casterton continues it sounds like it will be gone. I'd be interested to know the demographic intake of Casterton girls; what it was in the past and what it might be in the future bearing in mind the trio of other schools in the same area.

oldgirl11 wrote:
I hope your above comment wasn't aimed at myself, as a Casterton Old Girl I am aware my comments reflect the education I have had. I am not in here to criticise parents, schools etc. just to merely comment on my wish for the merger to prove to be the right decision and not a quick fix that became a failure.

sibbetson wrote:
Dilute the excellent standards! If this is the sort of unsubtle and unpleasant put-down our daughters can expect from Sedbergh you fail to convince me that bullying is not an issue. Just because bullying is an issue in other top schools as well does not make it acceptable. It is not acceptable at all, anywhere. It is not an issue at Casterton.