Updated 18 April: Parents are scrambling to find places for 94 children after they were told that the Harenc Preparatory School had become insolvent.
Last week administrator Grant Thornton was called in to help raise £90,000 to keep the Sidcup school solvent for another term.
However, the administrator wrote to parents at the weekend to declare that the fundraising had failed and the school will close after 30 years.
The follows a crunch decision on Friday to decide the fate of the school.
Over the weekend the school failed to comment on the outcome of the meeting. However, in a statement issued this mornign the school said: “The company has been placed into administration and will close with immediate effect.”
Parents are angry at the way the matter has been handled, accusing the school of failing to provide adequate and timely information on the state of Harenc’s finances.
Parents are today making arrangements to collect pupils’ belongings from the school. They have been further angered by the fact that the contact details in the letter from the administrator were wrong. The correct number is: 0208 309 0619.
The school has maintained that its financial problems are caused by the economic slowdown that has resulted in fewer pupils.
I would suggest that anyone trying to get to the root of this mess looks out the last set (2009) of accounts (which are online). The evidence of impending doom was all there, if you bothered to look for it.
Merton Court School would warmly welcome enquiries from any ex-Harenc parent seeking to place a child in a nearby private school.
In response to the comment above: having gone to such a lovely, warm, friendly and nurturing school, why would anyone want to go to a such a big school like Merton Court? I say a big NO to Merton Court.
It’s a real pity it had to come to this. Harenc was a lovely school and my son has many happy memories from the years spent there..albeit brought to an abrupt end. My wish is that all Harenc boys settle well in their new schools and do Harenc proud….THREE CHEERS FOR HARENC!!!
Come on everybody, let’s play spot the blatant advert!
I have spoken to other people working in the independent education sector and they are condemnatory of the way Harenc handled the issue. The point blank refusal to give parents more detailed financial information so they could consider their next course of action, in my view, destroyed any trust remaining between Harenc senior management, governors and the parents. It seems that the receivers had already decided that the school could not be saved in any way and that a high pressure demand for money would be the best way to ensure that closure.
Harenc could and should have handled it much better than this; their failure to do so has cost the school very very dearly. A definitive timeline of who did (or didn’t do) what, when and why may never come to light. That is very unsatisfactory for the parents, who deserve to know whose failures were responsible for the closure of the school.
I hope that the displaced Harenc boys are able to find places elsewhere for the new term.
Re the comment above about blatant advert. Yes, it clearly is. You are a customer in a free market in education. If you are prepared to pay for your kids to bypass state schools in the hope of them getting a better head-start in life then you’ve got to accept that if your private supplier of choice fails – as Harenc has – then there will be others that are prepared to pick over the bones. If you don’t like this then send your kids to a state school.
Mr Harris, I am not stupid. I am simply pointing out the presence of an advert on a blog disguised as a comment. Where I come from it is only polite to seek permission to post adverts. I trust that Mr Price has sought permission for his advert.
Mr.Yates,
I have no wish to start a “flame war” but Mr.Harris is right. In any case, I didn’t need to add to this posting. We were besieged by desperate Harenc parents after the news was broken to them on the day after their prize giving. Accept the fact that this is a market – Schumpeter was right. “Creative destruction” is the order of the day and weak schools, like weak businesses, go to the wall.
Merton Court is a business. Harenc was a school. I felt at Harenc, the focus was on my child, not, on the bottom line. That’s why I chose Harenc over Merton Court.
I guess that’s what Harenc parents bothered to look for.
Proud Parent,
It’s a good job we DO focus on “the bottom line” as well as on our scholastic endeavours. Harenc clearly had only one focus – the scholastic.
Merton Court IS still a school (and a business) and we have a future. Harenc, regrettably, has only a past.
Mr Price
your words “Harenc clearly had only one focus – the scholastic”
As a parent, that’s exactly what I want in a school.
I’m very sad to hear the news about Harenc. My son was a pupil there from 1995 to 2002. It was a wonderful school and the staff were lovely, caring professionals. I fear my son would not have done so well if he’d gone to the local state primary with their large classes. I wish all the current staff and pupils all the best for the future and hope the parents are able to quickly settle their boys into new schools.
Like everyone I was shocked and saddened at Harenc’s closure. My Son was in year 5 and he was as happy as could be. It was a nurturing community, the boys thrived there, they were proud of their school and cared very deeply for each other. The warmth and well being in the school was palpable. Were it not for the declining numbers due to the ecomonic down turn I feel sure that the school would have continued for years to come. Costly mistakes were made in how and when teachers and parents were told of Harenc’s imminent demise. Leaving it to the last day of term was cruel and unnecessarily stressful for parents, children and staff alike. However, the fact remains that it was a very good school and I am proud to have been part of it and wish everyone connected with Harenc at the time of closure and before all the very best. Having read Christopher Price’s mercenary comments above I am glad that regardless of Harenc’s closure at least my Son didn’t end up at Merton Court. Judging by the tone of his remarks to others leaving comments here he hasn’t changed from the off hand way he dealt with my Husband and I when we went there to view the school when my son was first due to start his education hence the reason we chose Harenc then and didn’t even consider Merton Court this time around. Thankfully my Son is now settled in to another lovely prep school hopefully all the other boys are too. I shall look forward to seeing them at the party that’s been arranged for them on the 20th May.
If only the School Governors had approached me earlier I am confident that I could have found a buyer and the School would still be there.
Dear Piers,
Having only just read your comment I would like to make you aware that there is a small but dedicated group of Harenc staff who are endeavouring to raise money to restart a school on the Harenc site.
If you are interested in any involvement in this venture, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Like others totally shocked and saddened by events, our son has only just started a new school. The way the administration dealt with the closure was bad and the lack of communication to parents and staff. However I will always be proud that my son went to Harenc. Harenc school was a fantastic experience for my son, it provided him with a confidence and a good study ethos. Miss Woodward might not be the best headmistress in terms of school administration but her compassion and caring towards the boys can not be questioned. All the staff at Harenc gave the school a friendly and compassionate atmosphere. I wish all the staff and boys well and hope that we can all move on from a difficult period. I will greatly miss Harenc.
Thank you for all the comments – especially from parents. At ChislehurstNews we hope that you have found places in new schools for your children and that they settle in quickly. Perhaps you could share through this blog which schools they will be moving to.
All the best. CN.
Christopher Price needs to think before he writes.
Desperate times at Merton Court meant parents were being offered £50 to bring in other families to the school.
I also noticed the school is no longer charging a registration or deposit to secure a place. All these point to desperation. From inside information, Merton Court was able to take in roughly 35 boys from Harenc, most other prep school in the area are full and could only make space for 4 to 5 boys.
Bizzarre comments from Mr Price. It seems Harenc’s collapse was Merton Court’s saviour otherwise why was he offering parents £50 for any introduction of a new pupil to his school? Methinks those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. It is wise to remember that the prep-school community is small indeed and often parents have feet in more than one camp. Just a thought.
Harenc failed because of mismanagement.
The opportunism and free-marketeering displayed by Mr Price in a public forum is similarly dangerous mismanagement.
For a school, which trades on good academics AND (presumably) the promise to instil a solid set of values in every child, to be led by someone showing this lack of compassion bodes ill for Merton Court and the children it is producing.
It is up to parents to decide, finally, whether to allow their children to be led by someone motivated more by growing his pile of gold than the children who provide it.
Let us hope children who have landed there from Harenc by default are coping with the culture shock and don’t lose their decent, family values.
I’m sorry to hear of the demise of what was clearly a good and valued school.
Happily, I’m not seeking a school for a child. If I were, though, then Christopher Price’s comments here would have ensured that Merton Court was the first crossed off the list. That’s not the sort of attitude I’d want to engender in any child of mine.
Good luck to the Harenc children and parents in finding appropriate alternatives.
Harenc school failed. It had a wonderful staff and all but one were totally committed to their jobs and the education of the children attending. It is such a pity that the management did not heed warning to deal with problems that arose over a period of several years in relation to complaints about a member of staff. If they had the gumption to deal with these issues, there would not have been the steady trickle of pupils and staff leaving the school. Instead of worrying about getting new pupils in to the school, they should have kept the ones they had.
Like ‘Insider’ I also worked in the school. It had a lovely family atmosphere and the boys worked and played hard, they cared for one another and it was lovely to see the year 6 boys looking after the year 1 boys. The staff worked hard for the boys and I agree they were totally committed and treated the boys the way they expected the boys to treat them, with RESPECT, with the exception of one and thanks to that member of staff, the boys left the school, rather than go into that member of staff’s class. If management had heeded warnings from staff and parents and had dealt with this problem, then the school would still be a thrieving concern. Thank you Harenc for the happy years I spent with you, I just wish it could have been longer!
I was deeply saddened by the news of the closure of Harenc. I knew many families who had boys who were very happy at the school, performed extremely well there and were proud of its achievements. Good luck to all of them. The comments posted by Mr C Price must be extremely embarrassing for the headmaster at Merton Court and must make uncomfortable reading for the poor parents who have chosen to go there. In a difficult financial climate for all prep schools – this can only be described as a PR disaster.
Dear Sir / madam ,
I cannot comment on Harenc school matters or be somewhat caustic , maybe there are matters that are not immediately transparent to some . Merton Court school is beieng dismissed out of hand – it appears by people who have never been there / have secret inside informtion /” donn ligh eet “, etc etc .
Merton Court is run by an astute , kind family with a wealth of experiential learning as well as being top academics who love their vocation . As point of fact the Price family actually support a number of families at the school – which they do not crow about at all.
Those who are enlightened to the “scholastic”in addition to recognising the bottom line will inherit the earth ! Amen
Judging from these comments it seems quite apparent that a good number of people are quite happy to “flame” me under the cloak of anonymity – “insider”, “another insider”, astonished” etc. to name but a few.
Frankly, this is puerile. If you don’t have the courage to use your own name then don’t post.
I feel VERY sorry for the likes of Mrs.Brindley and Mrs.Merryweather which is why I made my original comment. It must have been a truly horrible situation to have to tell their sons that they could not return to their school. We are just up the road from Harenc and ours is the nearest private school.
The boys who came here have settled and their parents, judging by their comments to us, seem very happy here. If you know one of them, then I suggest you ask them – rather than relying on rumours and tittle-tattle.
Might I also point out to some of those who clearly dislike my, admittedly overt, approach to business, that my comments, like yours, have been assessed by the moderator as fit to print.
If the moderator finds my comments offensive, then he/she is at liberty to take them down.
A word from the moderator:
Would you walk up to a stranger in the street and shout abuse? No. Well, please don’t do it on this site.
All comments are moderated on ChislehurstNews. I have, regrettably, had to block a number of postings on the subject of Herenc which were gratuitously abusive. In other cases I have edited out abusive remarks within postings.
I do accept comments from people posting under a pseudonyms, as it can allow a freer flow of ideas. But please don’t abuse this by thinking that you can hide behind it with nasty remarks.
As a general rule it is better to post comments under your name. If you believe in what you are writing then put your name to it.
Thank you.
CN.
“grumpy old mum” – thankyou!
I owe you a beer
(And I’m sure you’re not really grumpy either
“Concerned” (though not “concerned” enough to give your true identity) why on earth should I show compassion for a competitor school??
This is the economics of the madhouse – and, while we’re on economics, let’s mention a couple of statistics. At the time of its demise, Harenc had 95 children and 41 staff. At the same time we had 220 children and 36 staff.
I feel sorry for the children and parents – though one does wonder how the parents thought this situation was sustainable – but not for the people who orchestrated this economic train crash.
It IS a free market and I reserve the right to take advantage of that free market at every available opportunity.
As for “growing the pile of gold”, the gold comes first and THEN you can try and make a difference. Socialists try and do it the other way round – it doesn’t work.
Sir,
I would not walk up to a stranger in the street and shout abuse at them however I would pass comment on one seeking to gain from the misfortune and distress of others.
Whilst I accept that this is being done under the guise of business, the one seeking to make money in this situation must expect a backlash from those who have suffered in this financial debacle. Especially as the subject is so emotive.
Mr Price’s comments have clearly angered the people on this forum and he in turn appears to be angered by their replies. If you can’t take it Mr Price, I suggest you don’t dish it out.
By simply posting, Mr Price must accept that he is leaving himself open to comments from others, hence the word forum. Whether this is done anonymously or not is irrelevant, the comments are still valid.
Mr Price is right by saying that he reserves the right to take advantage of that free market at every available opportunity. However, judging by comments from others, it may not have worked to his advantage this time.
My name is David Poulter. According to Mr Price, this makes me eligible to post
Mr.Poulter,
Thankyou for your comments. I freely accept this is a forum but am angered when I am attacked by people who are clearly economic illiterates and who seek to conceal their identity.
We did NOT seek to “gain from the misfortune and distress of others”. Any such misfortune and distress can be laid entirely at the door of the Harenc governors and management. We were merely presented with the “fait accompli” of a group of Harenc parents appearing on our doorstep desperate to secure their child(ren)’s future. They probably came to us because we are the nearest private school.
The influx we received appears to have come entirely from distressed Harenc parents contacting parents at Merton Court (through external friendships) to see if we could accommodate their children. Happily we could. Such is business.
We took in approximately a third of the Harenc cohort. Apparently another Sidcup school took a similar proportion with the rest being dissipated elsewhere. I do not see the owners of these other schools being vilified in this thread, though they too, were happy to take the money.
These Harenc parents did not HAVE to come to us. We live in a free market. They chose so to do. If we prove to be unsatisfactory, then they will leave us. That is the role of the free market.
There are clearly some people on this thread who, judging by their comments, would dearly like to subvert the basic rules of economics and the free market. Good luck to them.
Dear Mr Chris,
The owners of the other private schools have not been vilified on this thread because they have chosen not to post a message on this news story concerning Harenc School. A wise move I think. Before Easter there were not 30 but nearly 60 boys who were interested in joining Merton Court which could only have been good for the school. However, after Easter this had fallen to 30. I don’t think posting the initial comment on this forum has been terribly helpful to the reputation of Merton Court.
Disappointed,
You clearly know me. I don’t know you
Perhaps you’d like to have a chat and discuss this??
My only intent was to reassure any Harenc parent that, if they wanted to come to us we had spaces. I still do not regard my initial remark as, in any way, inflammatory. Harenc School had ceased to trade and so they were going to have to move somewhere else.
My remarks about the accounts were based wholly on what I had read. I suggest you have a look at the accounts if they are still online.
All I know is what I saw on the Wednesday, and Thursday, after Harenc collapsed – a group of parents who had been abruptly told that their school had ceased trading. They were in shock and desperate to find another school. At the end of the day we had enrolled about 30 which I regarded as perfectly satisfactory.
The school would have carried on anyway, so it was an unexpected bonus to have another 30 pupils – not life changing, but a good bonus.
Mr Chris,
Why would I or anyone else want to look at the accounts of Harenc school on line? I don’t know what has gone on there but what I do know is this article says the school had 94 boys and I believe a one form intake. With a two class intake and just 220 children (with both boys and girls to choose from) the numbers at Merton Court were seriously dwindling. Compassion and humility says “there for the grace of god go I”. Leave it at that.
Disappointed,
Whilst I disagree with nearly everything in that last statement, this will be my last posting.
Dear Mr Chris,
This will also be my last posting as I find this totally demoralising for ALL concerned. There have been many comments made about the management at Harenc School. It clearly failed. But I leave these thoughts with the management of Merton Court. Harenc School had 94 boys. Merton court could have accommodated all of them. Merton Court is the nearest prep school to Harenc and has the best facilities. Why in a free market did two thirds of the Harenc cohort opt NOT to come to Merton Court School? And let’s hope the remaining third didn’t settle for it because there was nothing else.
Thank-you Chislehurst News for the opportunity to air all our views – I’m sure its been cathartic for many.
Disappointed,
Following last week’s final hurrah, some of the Harenc parents spoke of panic after the school closure and the term “any port in a storm” was mentioned in relation to Merton Court.
Maybe some of those who had originally looked at Merton Court found reason not to send their children there and made alternative arrangements. This may account for the reduction of numbers ending up at Mr Prices’ school
Mr Chris,
May I congratulate you on standing your ground on this subject and defending your point of view, it is however in business important to look at the bigger picture and for the benefit of ones business not comment on subjects that could damage future revenue. Your very first post which contained “if you bothered to look for it.” could easily be perceived as a direct jibe at those parents who put their trust in what appears to have been a great little school, your continued argumentative stance only adds to this. Much as your so called gold is important the absolute concern of an educational institute should be by definition education. Your transparency that your main concern is money is comendable honesty however perhaps another misguided comment and one better kept between you and your accountant, as in all service industries the customer should outwardly be your main concern.
May the demise of Harenc be a lesson to everyone, from the failed management of Harenc to the miss guided management of Merton Court.
No where and nobody is perfect.
I am an ex-Harenc parent who sent their son to Merton Court when Harenc suddenly closed. I am extremely disappointed at a number of comments made on this thread on both sides of the “argument”. With regard to Looking Forwards’ comments re “any port in a storm”, I was at the Harenc farewell party last week and certainly did not hear this view from anyone I spoke to and nor have any other ex-Harenc parents I know. I am sick and tired of hearing derogatory comments regarding Merton Court both on this forum and other comments made elsewhere, particularly from ex-Harenc parents who think they know this school but never bothered to look at it or speak to parents whose children already attended the school. Other private schools in the area have not had to suffer this antipathy (irrespective of Mr Price’s comments on this forum). When Harenc closed, parents had to reach very quick decisions to ensure that their son had a school to attend after the Easter Holidays. Parents would have had their own personal and practical reasons for choosing the school their son would eventually go to, myself included, which resulted in my son attending Merton Court. He is very happy and has settled there fantastically well and so have a lot of his friends who have also gone there. Harenc has unfortunately gone – everyone needs to move on and look to the future.
Was Harenc now Merton Court.
I am obviously glad that your son has settled at his new school, but what made you chose Harenc over Merton Court in the first place?
Perfection Personified,
Thankyou. My intent was not to offend but to inform. If I have offended anyone then I apologise unreservedly.
As I posted earlier, the fact that we work in a private establishment means that we have to be good at BOTH managing the money and the education. Our parents are our customers and, if we get it wrong, they are fully entitled to go elsewhere and we suffer financially. The current situation would tend to indicate that they’re quite happy – or, at least, not unhappy enough to go elsewhere
The comment about the accounts was made in all seriousness. As in any post mortem, an examination of the corpse can tell you a great deal – as did the Harenc accounts. Maybe I’m a sad, old g*t
but I find accounts quite interesting and informative. What I read told me that the business side of the school was not viable, and hadn’t been for some while.
I’m sure many of the Harenc parents looked at their small classes and must have wondered if they were viable. Given the numbers we have been told were in various classes, many year groups clearly weren’t but the management appeared to insist that they were - much against the evidence. That is a fault of management and is reprehensible. Parents are not stupid and can work out elementary maths.
One last point – about the gold. As I posted earlier – if you don’t have the gold, you can’t do any good
Nor can you pay your staff. We have a lovely staff but I don’t think they’d stick around for pie crust promises. One of the Harent teaching assistants is now part of our staff. She still hasn’t been paid for her last month’s work and they took her on in January when they MUST have known the end was in sight.. That’s shabby.
Was Harenc Now Merton Court!
I owe you a beer too! Thankyou for your comments. I hope you stay with us until your lad goes on to secondary school – whenever that may be.
All the children call me Mr.Chris so I guess you know who I am by now
I hope you’ll identify yourself to me when we’re in school.
And thanks for your support here
P.S. The remarks by Abby (11/05/11) – yet ANOTHER person who doesn’t have the courage to post under her own name! – clearly indicate the public sector ethos that caused Harenc’s demise.
She clearly doesn’t recognise astute marketing when it happens
As a bystander I have been fascinated by this forum. As mentioned before I thought Mr C Price’s were very peculiar. But then I saw maybe he had seen the error of his ways when he stated he would not post further. I was further pleased to see the apology for offending anyone affected…….but then the shabby final jibe about the treatment of a teaching assistant. Is that necessary? How can this sort of comment help any of the children and families concerned? Good luck to all of you. Be happy, life’s too short. x
PS perfection personified – your posting was eloquent and right on the money.
Astonished,
Sorry, but I can’t let that one go.
How would YOU have felt if you were that teacher/teaching assistant/parent/child and were told that you had 48 hours to find another school for your child/place of employment because your school was closing?
I take it from your comments that you find this sort of behaviour completely acceptable – well, I don’t.
To use Warren Buffett’s phrase “I have skin in this game”. You clearly don’t. Maybe that’s the difference. Your pseudonym is “astonished”. Well, I’m astonished by your callousness.
Dear mr price, some of your customers existing and new seem awkward about your comments. I am sure no one wants to keep being reminded that their school failed and particular details of that failing. I know nothing of your school and I am sure it must have some very good qualities. I am not looking for a prep school but if I was I would not consider paying for an education at an establishment where I knew a member of staff could be fostering such an argumentative attitude onto its pupils. I do hope this helps and you can accept this point of you. You could have restored some of your credibility if you had stuck to your word and ceased with your comments on may 25th. By having the first word you don’t need to always have the last. This is my last posting.
Mr Price
what a delight to have you back on the forum.
I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away for long.
Having followed this threat I can honestly say that I am glad that I can’t afford to send my three kids to a private school. I would truly not to want to expose my children these bitter, backbiting parents who use made up names to post comments on this blog.
I personally don’t like the idea schools making a profit out of educating children. But if you pay for your children to attend a private school then you’ve got to accept that you are exposing your little darlings to the free market. With that comes schools advertising and poaching for business as the bloke from the other private school has done on this forum.
If you don’t like it then save yourself a heap of cash and send your kids to a state school.
Mr R James
Well done Mr Price. You have been outnumbered on this forum by people who post bitter comments but don’t have the conviction to put their name to them. You have held your own and resisted the temptation to rise to the bait of the faceless, gutless majority.
Jane C,
Thankyou. I think we have exhausted this topic.
To my detractors – I understand your views but I do wish you’d had the courage to put your names to your comments. I would have had much more respect for you if you had.
To those who have supported me – thankyou. Perhaps you’d care to come round for a visit – just a social, I won’t press you to buy
To those like Mr.James – I respect your views. Please accept that we come from different parts of the political spectrum and, in my part, what I am doing is perfectly respectable.
So long – and thanks for all the (philosophical) fish
Dear all,
I think things have been blown out of proportion here.
Mr. Price, admittedly, I was disgusted at your comment when I first viewed it; as the news of Harenc’s closure was only fresh in my mind and after 8 great years there, I had such feelings for the school and grown quite and attachment to it. However, after reading some of your responses I do see your reason of posting the comment – a business opportunity. As a business-interested person, I couldn’t disagree with spotting a business opportunity like this; its fantastic. However, and I’m keeping this as reasonable as possible, I think it wasn’t the most appropriate comment to make because, albeit nothing negative about Harenc. This is because many ex-Harenc parents were obviously in a state of dismay, distraught, confusion and emotion after the closure of a much loved school and at the time, the parents were obviously in not much of a state to be moving straight into thinking about another school choice, rather, comprehending the loss of a lovely school.
In regards to some other responses by Harenc parents, I can understand your thoughts and reasoning for such responses, but let’s not allow anger to overcloud the good ethos of Harenc.
Now, lets leave all of this “to” and “fro” and end this on a positive note. Lets forget all the business, whether of truth or not, of “Harenc failed” and “Disgraceful Management” etc.
I for one am proud that I went to Harenc. It was a truly wonderful school! The amazing staff! Caring! Funny! Everything! Harenc wasn’t JUST a school, it was a community to. The school has helped me so much, it gave me a great start in life and now I go to a very good senior school (sorry, no intention of bragging there
). Harenc was simply PHENOMENAL, I’ve many brilliant memories to remember from it. 
Now everyone, lets all be nice to one another. I see everybody’s point of view and respect them – but I feel that a school that meant so much to me shouldn’t spark a flurry or “arguing” and negative comments. I would like this post to end all that and, instead, express good views and happy memories of Harenc
Three Cheers for Harenc!
And one for luck…..
well said Rishil
Wow very sad to hear this news about Harenc. I was one of the pupils who moved from Merton Court to Harenc when it was first started up by many of the teachers and parents from Merton Court after some disagreement with the owners. It had a fantastic family atmosphere and from the sound of it, it still had that feel about it when it closed. Well done to the teachers for keeping that warmness to the school.
Mr Price, were you the owner of Merton Court at that time?
N Salmon
No, that was my mother, but, yes, the family is still running the school.
I was a deputy head boy at Harenc whilst S.Cassidy was the headmaster.
Harenc had such a pleasant community feel and throughout the staffing team there was an air of real integrity and care for the students.
I am not here to badmouth MC as I don’t know much about it, however now I have moved into my professional career which in the large part involves understanding people. I feel obliged to comment on Christopher Price’s handling of this situation.
The first step after realising one has made a mistake is it to apologise for it, truthfully with no other motive but to accept that you were wrong. This transparency will gain you much respect. CP could have given an apology and explanation of why he posted that advert. This would have softened 90% of the backlash against him. It even gave him an opportunity to promote Merton’s family focus. His reproach hinted at this although read to contain little sincerity and instead added the sour comment that Harenc was a weak school, and like a business went to the wall.
Price represents Merton Court. Does Merton court school this kind of superficial earnestness?
Mr Price should have thought about how parents would be feeling, upset about the closure? Yes, but more so anxious to find a school for their child, He should have looked at Harenc’s value proposition, the reasons why parents may have chosen to send their pride and joy there and how these fearful parents may be sold Merton Court as offering equal benefits for their children’s education.
He should employ a press manager to handle his social media output in the future.