Latest news with #Cognita
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Second private school in Wales faces closure as pupil numbers fall
Second private school in Wales faces closure as pupil numbers fall Oakleigh House School in Swansea proposed to shut its doors after more than a century Oakleigh House School, Swansea A second private school in Wales has announced plans to shut. The news from Oakleigh House Primary in Swansea comes after St Clare's School in Porthcawl said it proposes to close at the end of December. Both schools are run by education company Cognita UK which blamed financial pressures. The news, which parents said came as a shock, follows warnings about the future of fee-paying schools after VAT was imposed on top of increased employer National Insurance contributions. Cognita said in a statement: "This week we shared some difficult news with our families and staff about the proposal to close Oakleigh House School. "We carried out a comprehensive review of the school's sustainability in light of local demographic trends and a changing economic environment, which sadly concluded that pupil numbers are expected to continue to fall to an unsustainable level in the next academic year. We will do everything we can to support our families and staff and help our current pupils find alternative school places should the decision be taken to close." It is understood the date for the proposed closure of Oakleigh House is also December this year. The school, in the Uplands area of Swansea, has operated for more than 100 years. It is the only independent prep school in the city and takes children from two and a half to 11 years. Fees range from £3,736 a term for reception to £4,492 a term for children in year six. Article continues below The school says on its website it commits to "opportunities for every child to reach their full academic and personal potential". More than half of pupils achieved above average in English and maths in assessments, conducted in British Curriculum Schools worldwide, last year. Cognita confirmed that Oakleigh and St Clare's are the only schools it runs in Wales. While it proposed to shut St Clare's in December this year it did not confirm a date for Oakleigh's closure. As the proposed closures were announced another private school in Swansea said that it stood ready to help parents looking for alternatives. Ffynone House School, which takes children from age 11 up, said it was even considering re-opening primary provision. The school, which was previously run by Cognita, was taken over by trustees around 10 years ago. Fynnone House School, Swansea Pini Patel, a parent and trustee, speaking as spokesperson for Fynnone House School, said: "We are shocked and saddened by this news [about Oakleigh House and St Clare's]. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for the pupils, parents, and staff affected by this announcement and our thoughts are very much with them. We aim to support them in any way that we can if these closures do go ahead. "We have the expertise and capacity to accommodate more students in years seven to 13 and will do everything we can to ease the transition of any pupils from St Clare's to Ffynone House. We are also currently putting the necessary plans in place to reinstate our primary school offering. "At Ffynone House we are fiercely proud of our independence. All of our trustees have personal links to the school ensuring stability and continuity for our Ffynone family. We remain committed to delivering an outstanding education in a nurturing environment – our future is bright. Our doors are always open and parents and students are welcome to visit us at any time – we are here to help.' The site was originally St Winefride's Convent School from 1887 to 1966 until it became Ffynone House School in 1975. At this point, up until 2008 when Cognita took over briefly, there was an integrated prep school for years three to six and this could be re-instated, said Mr Patel. Blaming government imposition of VAT on school fees and increased National Insurance payments Paul Norton, director of the Welsh Independent Schools Council, said there was a risk that any schools shutting would erode confidence in others. This added pressure to the private school sector across Wales. Mr Norton, who owns and runs Kings Monkton School in Cardiff, said his school is secure. But in his role at WISC he has warned that as many as 19 of Wales' 80 or so fee-paying schools are at risk of closure. He blames this on VAT imposed on fees since January, increased employer National Insurance payments, cost pressures, and increased wages. Article continues below "The blanket application of VAT fails to consider the unique role of small independent schools in Wales. These institutions are integral to our communities and policies must reflect their distinct contributions," Mr Norton said. "Small independent schools of around 250-300 make up the majority of schools within the independent sector and cater for the needs of the local community of children who cannot successfully access mainstream state school for whatever reasons. "
The National
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Friends and family mourn Dubai resident killed in shooting in Kashmir
The funeral of Dubai resident Niraj Udhwani, who was among 26 people killed by militants in one of the worst attacks in years in Indian-controlled Kashmir, took place on Thursday. Mr Udhwani was among 25 Indians and one Nepali killed when gunmen opened fire on tourists on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley, a popular holiday destination in the Pahalgam region of the Himalayan territory. Several others were injured. Family and friends gathered in Jaipur, the accountant's home city, on Thursday for his funeral. Mr Udhwani lived in Dubai with his wife and had been in India to celebrate the wedding of a friend. A finance manager with a school group in Dubai, where he worked for more than four years, he was also remembered by his colleagues in the UAE. 'Our community is deeply saddened by the passing of Niraj Udhwani, a much-loved and respected member of our finance team,' said a Cognita school group representative. 'He was a dedicated and inspiring member of staff, and a kind, generous colleague. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.' Mr Udhwani, who was in his early 30s, worked with education consultancies and insurance companies in Dubai for more than a decade and had studied at the Indian High School in the emirate. Indian media reported he and his wife Aayushi were on holiday in Pahalgam after attending a friend's wedding. 'After the wedding, Niraj and Aayushi left for Pahalgam on holiday. They were supposed to head back to Dubai in a few days,' his uncle Bhagwandas Udhwani told The Indian Express newspaper. Kashmiri media reported witnesses recalling at least four armed militants emerging from the surrounding forest and opening fire on tourists in a meadow where authorities said about 1,000 people had gathered. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, accused it of supporting 'cross-border terrorism,' has downgraded diplomatic ties and closed a main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied involvement and a previously unknown group called The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed India would 'identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers'. 'Terrorism will not go unpunished,' he said in a speech. 'Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in its resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.' The attack came on the second day of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India. Offering his condolences, Mr Vance said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims of the 'devastating terrorist attack'. US President Donald Trump called the attacks 'deeply disturbing.' India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, though both claim the territory in its entirety. The attacks on Tuesday will escalate tension between the neighbours. India has announced a clampdown on travel to India by Pakistani citizens, cut the number of its high commission staff and withdrawn its naval, defence and air advisers from Islamabad.
The National
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Friends and family mourn Dubai resident killed in terror attack in Indian Kashmir
The funeral of Dubai resident Niraj Udhwani, among 26 people killed by militants in one of the worst attacks in years in Indian-controlled Kashmir, took place on Thursday. Mr Udhwani was among 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali killed when gunmen opened fire on tourists on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley, a popular holiday destination in the Pahalgam region of the Himalayan territory. Several others were injured. Family and friends gathered in Jaipur, the young accountant's home city, on Thursday for his funeral. Mr Udhwani lived in Dubai with his wife and had been in India to celebrate the wedding of a friend. A finance manager with a school group in Dubai where he worked for more than four years, he was also remembered by his colleagues in the UAE. 'Our community is deeply saddened by the passing of Niraj Udhwani, a much-loved and respected member of our finance team,' said a Cognita school group representative. 'He was a dedicated and inspiring member of staff, and a kind, generous colleague. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.' Mr Udhwani, who was in his early 30s, worked with education consultancies and insurance companies in Dubai for more than a decade and had studied at the Indian High School in the emirate. Indian media reported he and his wife Aayushi were on holiday in Pahalgam after attending a friend's wedding. 'After the wedding, Niraj and Aayushi left for Pahalgam on holiday. They were supposed to head back to Dubai in a few days,' Bhagwandas Udhwani, his uncle told The Indian Express newspaper. Kashmiri media quoted witnesses who recalled at least four armed militants emerging from the surrounding forest and opening fire on tourists in a meadow where authorities said about 1,000 people had gathered. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, accused it of supporting 'cross-border terrorism,' has downgraded diplomatic ties and closed a main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied involvement and a previously unknown group called The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed India would 'identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers'. 'Terrorism will not go unpunished,' he said in a speech. 'Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in its resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.' The attack came on the second day of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India. Offering his condolences, Mr Vance said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims of the 'devastating terrorist attack'. US President Donald Trump called the attacks 'deeply disturbing.' India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir though both claim the territory in its entirety. The attacks on Tuesday will escalate tension between the neighbours. India has announced a clampdown on travel to India by Pakistani citizens, cut the number of its high commission staff and withdrawn its naval, defence and air advisers from Islamabad.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The private school turf war coming to north London
It's been over 400 years since the Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn set up his school for '12 poor scholars' in Dulwich, south London. The estate he set up still benefits three fee-paying south London schools – Dulwich College, Alleyn's and James Allen's Girl's School (JAGS). But now the elite private school Alleyn's – where Jude Law, Pixie Geldof and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen were educated – is moving north of the river for the first time in its history. It's just the latest example of a prestigious public school franchising its name to create branded outposts all over the world. In February, Alleyn's announced that it was launching offshoots in Regent's Park from September this year and in Hampstead from September 2026, with an aggressive marketing campaign in underground stations across north London. Alleyn's – which costs £10,000 a term – has teamed up with the private education group Cognita to take over two existing north London schools – North Bridge House Regent's Park Preparatory School and North Bridge House School Hampstead. 'It's super exciting and we're genuinely thrilled,' says Jane Lunnon, head of Alleyn's, which boasts a 25-metre swimming pool and dance studio on site. 'Cognita will continue to run the schools, but Alleyn's is responsible for the education. So I'll sit on an advisory board at these new schools, but the teaching staff are staying the same. A lot of work and thought, and care have gone into ensuring the quality is transferred.' Lunnon says that the new schools will benefit from Alleyn's 'value-led holistic education', including AIQ – an AI-focused curriculum which 'prepares kids to flourish in an AI world' and AEQ – which concentrates on their 'emotional quotient'. 'We're in a very fortunate position that the school is flying and we have 10 applicants for every place,' says Lunnon. 'There's an excitement about sharing what we do. The demand for places [at the new outposts] has been beyond our wildest dreams.' Lunnon says that if all goes well, Alleyn's will look to expand further, including internationally. Alleyn's isn't the first prestigious private school to lend its name and ethos to other outposts. In 1996, Alleyn's sister school, Dulwich College, opened a 'sister school' a little further afield than north of the river – in Phuket, Thailand – largely catering to expats. Two years' later, Harrow School followed suit in Bangkok, and you can now attend Harrow (or a version of it) in 14 locations around the world. The famous British private school, which counts Sir Winston Churchill amongst its alumni, licenses its name, logo, uniform and education practices to international partners for a considerable fee. According to the Independent Schools Council, there are now 107 branded school campuses operating worldwide, educating almost 71,600 pupils. The franchise model has become a much-replicated way of raising funds for these schools, without having to put their fees up. And now that the Labour government has applied VAT to school fees, could many more private schools be following suit? Selina Boyd, editor of the Good Schools Guide International, says the success of a branded school hinges on its reputation. 'Parents are attached to the perceived track record and trust of branded schools,' she explains. 'Branded schools can almost short-cut the process when they're setting up – it might take an unbranded school years to develop their name and demonstrate their credibility.' Nneka Eze, 49, a surgeon from south London has a daughter in Year 8 at Alleyn's. 'We heard inklings about expansion and initially parents were apprehensive about how it would work,' she says. 'But after an online discussion with the senior leadership team, I understood that it was about extending Alleyn's network away from the mothership. My daughter's having the time of her life at Alleyn's, I think it's great they're offering that opportunity to other children.' But not everyone is happy about Alleyn's imminent expansion. Many parents' WhatsApp groups are ablaze with the news, and existing north London private schools are reportedly anxious about the competition. Devonshire House in Hampstead – where children currently leave at 13 – has allegedly started surveying parents to see if they're keen for them to open the school until they are 18 years old. Haverstock Hill, the main road from Chalk Farm to Hampstead, is now plastered with adverts for Alleyn's on one side of the road and Devonshire House on the other. 'Plenty of parents have lots of unanswered questions about the impact this will have on the school values and the educational approach. I wouldn't be happy if North Bridge House (NBH) suddenly becomes highly competitive and academic, as not every child needs that,' says one parent of a Year 9 child at North Bridge House, Regent's Park. 'The message being delivered to NBH parents is that this is just a name change, whereas the publicity material Alleyn's has put out sounds like a school takeover. It's been very confusing for current parents, and I can only imagine what it's been like for teachers.' Cognita has operated since 2004 and now manages 100 schools in 17 countries. They were also behind Brighton College's expansion into satellite schools in Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and other locations. James Carroll is the general manager of Cognita. He says that while there is, of course, a commercial agreement behind these franchises, the most important thing for these schools is that they can 'grow outside their current jurisdiction and expand their alumni network'. 'The North Bridge House schools have been part of Cognita for some years, and we've been exploring opportunities for their future direction,' he explains. 'It's about an alignment of values so not all school brands would work. Quite a few schools do come to us, but we chose Alleyn's because we felt the visions were aligned. Alleyn's is very much about a whole child developing their character, not just academics.' Carroll says turning NBH schools into Alleyn's has been a year in the making, and has involved a 'multi-million pound' investment from Cognita. 'They'll be new learning spaces, a new logo, new uniform, new name, but with the teaching staff we've strived to stay consistent. Fees at the new schools won't match Alleyn's, they'll follow their own fee cycle. There won't be a huge spike. We're setting ourselves up to be an authentic Alleyn's education, and for parents it's an amazing opportunity.' So is this the new model for private education? Could we see an Eton on every street corner? 'There are some schools that have said that they will never do it – I think Eton is one of them,' says Daniel Lewis, managing director of Repton International Schools Ltd, which started in Derbyshire and now has outposts on three continents. 'They tend to be schools that have no need to, since they have huge endowments and know that they are totally secure. They don't want to be bothered with it, which is a perfectly reasonable position to take.' And although north of the river isn't such a distance, if Alleyn's has its sights set on international outposts, it may not be such easy money to line the school coffers. Joy Qiao is the founder and chair of the governors of Wellington College, China. 'Opening an overseas campus is not for the faint-hearted,' she says. 'Try explaining the design of a cricket field to someone who's never heard of the sport, or finding a vendor in China to build the wicket and the nets. Qiao says that although more people will know a school's brand if you set up other outposts, it all comes down to the quality. 'It can either enhance or damage your reputation.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The private school turf war coming to north London
It's been over 400 years since the Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn set up his school for '12 poor scholars' in Dulwich, south London. The estate he set up still benefits three fee-paying south London schools – Dulwich College, Alleyn's and James Allen's Girl's School (JAGS). But now the elite private school Alleyn's – where Jude Law, Pixie Geldof and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen were educated – is moving north of the river for the first time in its history. It's just the latest example of a prestigious public school franchising its name to create branded outposts all over the world. In February, Alleyn's announced that it was launching offshoots in Regent's Park from September this year and in Hampstead from September 2026, with an aggressive marketing campaign in underground stations across north London. Alleyn's – which costs £10,000 a term – has teamed up with the private education group Cognita to take over two existing north London schools – North Bridge House Regent's Park Preparatory School and North Bridge House School Hampstead. 'It's super exciting and we're genuinely thrilled,' says Jane Lunnon, head of Alleyn's, which boasts a 25-metre swimming pool and dance studio on site. 'Cognita will continue to run the schools, but Alleyn's is responsible for the education. So I'll sit on an advisory board at these new schools, but the teaching staff are staying the same. A lot of work and thought, and care have gone into ensuring the quality is transferred.' Lunnon says that the new schools will benefit from Alleyn's 'value-led holistic education', including AIQ – an AI-focused curriculum which 'prepares kids to flourish in an AI world' and AEQ – which concentrates on their 'emotional quotient'. 'We're in a very fortunate position that the school is flying and we have 10 applicants for every place,' says Lunnon. 'There's an excitement about sharing what we do. The demand for places [at the new outposts] has been beyond our wildest dreams.' Lunnon says that if all goes well, Alleyn's will look to expand further, including internationally. Alleyn's isn't the first prestigious private school to lend its name and ethos to other outposts. In 1996, Alleyn's sister school, Dulwich College, opened a 'sister school' a little further afield than north of the river – in Phuket, Thailand – largely catering to expats. Two years' later, Harrow School followed suit in Bangkok, and you can now attend Harrow (or a version of it) in 14 locations around the world. The famous British private school, which counts Sir Winston Churchill amongst its alumni, licenses its name, logo, uniform and education practices to international partners for a considerable fee. According to the Independent Schools Council, there are now 107 branded school campuses operating worldwide, educating almost 71,600 pupils. The franchise model has become a much-replicated way of raising funds for these schools, without having to put their fees up. And now that the Labour government has applied VAT to school fees, could many more private schools be following suit? Selina Boyd, editor of the Good Schools Guide International, says the success of a branded school hinges on its reputation. 'Parents are attached to the perceived track record and trust of branded schools,' she explains. 'Branded schools can almost short-cut the process when they're setting up – it might take an unbranded school years to develop their name and demonstrate their credibility.' Nneka Eze, 49, a surgeon from south London has a daughter in Year 8 at Alleyn's. 'We heard inklings about expansion and initially parents were apprehensive about how it would work,' she says. 'But after an online discussion with the senior leadership team, I understood that it was about extending Alleyn's network away from the mothership. My daughter's having the time of her life at Alleyn's, I think it's great they're offering that opportunity to other children.' But not everyone is happy about Alleyn's imminent expansion. Many parents' WhatsApp groups are ablaze with the news, and existing north London private schools are reportedly anxious about the competition. Devonshire House in Hampstead – where children currently leave at 13 – has allegedly started surveying parents to see if they're keen for them to open the school until they are 18 years old. Haverstock Hill, the main road from Chalk Farm to Hampstead, is now plastered with adverts for Alleyn's on one side of the road and Devonshire House on the other. 'Plenty of parents have lots of unanswered questions about the impact this will have on the school values and the educational approach. I wouldn't be happy if North Bridge House (NBH) suddenly becomes highly competitive and academic, as not every child needs that,' says one parent of a Year 9 child at North Bridge House, Regent's Park. 'The message being delivered to NBH parents is that this is just a name change, whereas the publicity material Alleyn's has put out sounds like a school takeover. It's been very confusing for current parents, and I can only imagine what it's been like for teachers.' Cognita has operated since 2004 and now manages 100 schools in 17 countries. They were also behind Brighton College's expansion into satellite schools in Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and other locations. James Carroll is the general manager of Cognita. He says that while there is, of course, a commercial agreement behind these franchises, the most important thing for these schools is that they can 'grow outside their current jurisdiction and expand their alumni network'. 'The North Bridge House schools have been part of Cognita for some years, and we've been exploring opportunities for their future direction,' he explains. 'It's about an alignment of values so not all school brands would work. Quite a few schools do come to us, but we chose Alleyn's because we felt the visions were aligned. Alleyn's is very much about a whole child developing their character, not just academics.' Carroll says turning NBH schools into Alleyn's has been a year in the making, and has involved a 'multi-million pound' investment from Cognita. 'They'll be new learning spaces, a new logo, new uniform, new name, but with the teaching staff we've strived to stay consistent. Fees at the new schools won't match Alleyn's, they'll follow their own fee cycle. There won't be a huge spike. We're setting ourselves up to be an authentic Alleyn's education, and for parents it's an amazing opportunity.' So is this the new model for private education? Could we see an Eton on every street corner? 'There are some schools that have said that they will never do it – I think Eton is one of them,' says Daniel Lewis, managing director of Repton International Schools Ltd, which started in Derbyshire and now has outposts on three continents. 'They tend to be schools that have no need to, since they have huge endowments and know that they are totally secure. They don't want to be bothered with it, which is a perfectly reasonable position to take.' And although north of the river isn't such a distance, if Alleyn's has its sights set on international outposts, it may not be such easy money to line the school coffers. Joy Qiao is the founder and chair of the governors of Wellington College, China. ' Opening an overseas campus is not for the faint-hearted,' she says. 'Try explaining the design of a cricket field to someone who's never heard of the sport, or finding a vendor in China to build the wicket and the nets. Qiao says that although more people will know a school's brand if you set up other outposts, it all comes down to the quality. 'It can either enhance or damage your reputation.'
