How did it happen? Schools give their answer

Parents say both Beaconhurst and Morrison’s must have known well in advance of this arrangement therefore why was it sprung on parents just a few days before the school holidays? Was this a calculated move to give them little or no choice than to take the only option being offered to them? Over the last five years Beaconhurst has seen a reduction in pupil numbers similar to a number of other independent schools. The board had been reviewing a number of options to secure longer-term funding.

The school was recently notified of a significant number of withdrawals during the summer term.

This further decline in pupil numbers resulted in projected losses of £1m, which meant that the options under consideration are no longer viable.

The board then concluded during the week beginning June 18 that the only option was closure or merger with another school. Discussions were then held with Morrison’s Academy on options to support the needs of the current pupils and staff and to progress with the earliest possible communication of the situation.

Morrison’s Academy worked with the board of Beaconhurst in trying to develop a support package which could be offered to parents, pupils and staff, as much as possible, on the basis the announcement was to be made on Monday, June 25.

Parents have asked for refunds for Beaconhurst school blazers, some of which were bought only days before the announcement, and also for school trips but are being told there is no authorisation for this. Will they receive refunds and if so when? Morrison’s Academy has offered to supply new blazers, ties and, in the case of the girls, kilt skirts for any Beaconhurst pupils choosing to move to the Crieff campus as part of the Beaconhurst pupil arrangements.

This is available to all Beaconhurst pupils who choose to join Morrison’s Academy and is not meant to form compensation for anyone who has already purchased a new blazer.

This is to assist all pupils who move to Morrison’s to feel part of their new school and not to be identified as anything other than part of the Morrison’s Academy family.

Parents claim that there are actually no teaching jobs available at Morrison’s and all the senior school Beaconhurst staff are being dismissed, giving them little opportunity to find alternative jobs by the new term. Is this the case? Morrison’s Academy will be identifying vacancies across their school in Crieff where the increase in numbers to any particular subject or class causes the ratio of pupils to teacher to exceed the expected threshold.

These vacancies will be made known once the pupil numbers are confirmed but until the contract with the families is completed then the actual number of vacancies remains unknown.

Details of the areas where these vacancies may be required have been provided to Beaconhurst staff as part of their consultation process.

If part of the Beaconhurst site is to be sold where will the proceeds of the sale go? In the medium term part of the site considered to be non-core to the operation of the junior school will be considered for sale.

The funds from any sale will in the first instance be used to pay the creditors who hold security over the land. Any surplus funds from this activity will be part of the Beaconhurst Trust and will be redeployed into the Bridge of Allan campus.

Funds may also be deployed in the form of a Beaconhurst Bursary to continue to support the scholarship and bursary programme for pupils in the area to be educated locally or at Morrison’s Academy.

Has there been any communication from parents suggesting they will take legal action against the school over how the matter was handled? Beaconhurst is not aware of any such action and parents who have spoken to the school have understood that the drop in pupil numbers led to the senior school no longer being viable.

Have any parents of children in the nursery and junior schools asked to withdraw their children? Beaconhurst is not aware of any notifications to withdraw at this stage.

Is there expected to be a drop in interest for places at the nursery and junior school, given there will be no longer be the continuity of a senior school on the same site?

The interest in the school will be driven by parental choice and in the short term there may be a small reduction in numbers due to the disruption.