COVENTRY School Foundation has announced the merger of two historic city independent schools Bablake and King Henry VIII into a single all-through day school.
The new Coventry School for three to 18-year-olds is set to open in September 2021.
Announcing the launch yesterday (Thursday October 1), Julia McNaney, Chair of Governors for the Coventry School Foundation, said: “As a parent and now grandparent of Coventry Foundation pupils I know firsthand how our schools have nurtured the dreams and ambitions of local children.
“Throughout our 400-year history our schools have thrived by adapting to circumstances while staying true to our mission to provide a first-class, affordable independent education for the children of Coventry and beyond.
“The creation of the new Coventry School is the next chapter in that proud history. By creating dedicated age-specific campuses under a single Coventry School leadership we will provide more choice and opportunity to every child. Coventry School will be a place where our valued heritage is thoughtfully preserved and where exciting new futures are forged.”
The announcement follows a dispute which began during Lockdown when parents from both schools united to form a Fee Dispute Action Group calling for a freeze in last year’s academic school fees after schools were forced to close during the pandemic.
The Bablake and King Henry VIII names will be preserved, with pupils aged 4 to 11 based at the Coventry School prep campus at King Henry VIII and senior pupils, aged 11 to 18, based at the Coventry School senior campus at Bablake. Nursery pupils will be based at The Grange.
The move to becoming Coventry School will take place over two academic years, to enable a smooth transition for all pupils. The two-year transition also means ambitious re-development plans for both the prep and senior campuses can be undertaken with minimal impact on the day-to-day school experience for current pupils, according to the foundation.
The decision to open Coventry School comes after a substantial period of detailed planning by the governing body and senior leadership teams of all schools.
In a joint statement to staff the Heads of Coventry Foundation Schools, Caroline Soan, Lorrian Holder, Phil Dearden and Andrew Wright said:
“At the heart of our plan for Coventry School is the determination to bring everything that we do well across our four schools into one educational establishment, providing a consistently high-quality academic, well-rounded education for all.
“We have seen both very recently, and over the years, how our staff teams have risen to the challenge in the best interests of pupils. We have no doubt that staff will do this again as we work together on becoming Coventry School – the next chapter in our long and successful history.”
By September 2022 all pupils will be on their own age-specific campuses, with facilities and opportunities that are closely matched to their evolving needs.
New facilities will include a brand-new covered play and learning area for Reception pupils in the Coventry School prep campus at King Henry VIII and on the Coventry School senior campus at Bablake a brand-new sixth form centre.
Jacqui Hammond, Director of Finance and Operations for the Coventry School Foundation, said: “As we continue to share details of the new Coventry School I’m convinced that both current and prospective families will recognise it as a fantastic opportunity. We’re offering more of what we do best to every child, underpinned by high academic standards and at an affordable cost.”
There are further plans for improvement to be announced in the coming months along with details of a new Principal to lead Coventry School.
Families, pupils, staff, alumni and others will be invited to get involved in shaping specific aspects of the new Coventry School in the next few months and a project website has been set up to share updates as it takes shape – www.coventryschool.org.
- Is your child a pupil or are you an old girl or boy? What do you think of the merger? Email:[email protected]
