Coventry School

A 'merger' with Bablake on the cards? - link Edited by Midland Red, 18th Dec 2020 5:25 pm (Copied from 'King Henry VIII Grammar School' thread for onward discussion)

Yes the schools are merging to become one - The Coventry School What the Foundation are not saying though is it's down to dwindling numbers What is almost inevitable by this is that sadly the Henry's playing fields and the Swallow campus on Kenilworth Road will now almost certainly be sold off for funds. The Swallow site is prime luxury housing land. I just hope the main school building is preserved. I hadn't realised it was so old - 1720!

Letter received today I am writing to inform you that from September 2021 King Henry's and Bablake will officially merge to form a new school. I realise that this is quite a shock for all members of our community, from existing students and staff through to our alumni, so wanted to take the time to write to you about what has happened. I appreciate that many of you will be understandably upset and angry by the news, but I hope that this letter and the information included within will go some way to explaining the rationale and allaying some of your fears. I know from the large variety of comments that I have seen in social media that the initial reaction has been quite negative. What is happening? The two schools will merge in 2021 to form the new school. We will retain the King Henry VIII School name and site, but this will be through the relocation of all of the prep and junior schools onto our site, as children aged 5-11 will be taught at Henry's. The senior school will be at Bablake. This will be a phased transition, starting in the next academic year with all Year 7 being housed at Bablake and all Year 3 being at Henry's. Next year's Year 8 to Year 13 (our current Years 7-12) will remain here at Henry's. Then in September 2022, subject to the completion of building work at Bablake, the remainder of the senior school will move over. Why is it happening? This is a positive move which will allow us to develop the School and to continue to provide an outstanding education. Many of you may ask why change something that is working. To be honest, the impact of Covid on the economy and rising costs elsewhere meant that maintaining the status quo was not viable. Governors looked at lots of options and felt that this one protected the schools as much as possible, while also securing their future. Is that the end of the OCA and how we as an alumni group are represented? No! Nothing changes! We still hope you will come back to visit us and see what's happening. You will still be represented by the OCA and the new school will have an alumni and development team who represent both ourselves and Bablake. Our events such as the annual dinner, KHVIII Relays, amongst others will continue. This sounds like a takeover not a merger? This is absolutely not the case. Although we will be moving over to the Bablake site, we will move all of our teachers and students with us, taking our traditions, identity and uniqueness with us. The new school will be a collaboration of the things that we both do well, whilst also giving us the opportunity to begin something new, revisiting academic offering, curriculum profile, pastoral structure, co-curricular provision etc. It is possible that Bablake may even have a good idea or two themselves! What about our History and our site? The site itself will not change drastically, all of the existing facilities and buildings will continue to be used as before, with some internal work completed to ensure that the space is fit for younger children. The Jeff Vent Archive Room will remain as the room that showcases our history and traditions, whilst the little subtleties such as the sports shields in the Burgess Hall will also remain. What about the name? I've heard it will be called 'Coventry School'. This was a holding name of the launch. We will be consulting all stakeholder in the school for their ideas in what the name of the new school should be. The King Henry VIII name will continue in some form. So what are the positives? Aside from ensuring that both schools continue to exist into the future, the merger will bring the best that both schools have to offer together and allow us to offer so much more. There will be much needed investment at both sites that will allow us to upgrade facilities. I have more questions. Where do I find out more information? You can visit the project website www.coventryschool.org, which has an FAQ section which gives further details and explanations on the justifications for the merger, the processes forthcoming and the intended outcomes. We hope that you will continue to support us and be interested in the progress of the School. This is the next exciting chapter for our fantastic school. With regards, Philip M Dearden Headmaster

This should never have been allowed to happen. Unless they dump the numpties that they call 'management', in a very short period they will be in the same position again.

Midland Red, The decision to amalgamate King Henry's and Bablake, will, I am sure, upset many ex-pupils of both eminent scholastic establishments. I have friends who attended both. Approaching my 11+ in 1952 my parents received a letter from the Coventry Education Authority asking them to select which school they would like me to attend should I be successful in passing my 11+. My father, being very left wing and trade unionist said he would not contemplate me going to King Henry's or Bablake and selected Coventry Technical School as his first choice. He worked in the Toolroom at Morris Engines at that time. I respect any Toolroom workers regardless of their political opinions. If I remember correctly, at that time, the options, should I pass my 11+, were Bablake, King Henry's, Coventry Technical School, John Gulson and Churchfield High. My wish was to go to King Henry's. I did pass my 11+ and went to Coventry Technical School, which a year later combined with Templars Boys to form Woodlands in 1954. My father and myself had an altercation at the time of my leaving school, he wanted me to take an apprenticeship at Morris Engines, I wanted to join the Royal Navy. Eventually he relented, and I had a very successful and enjoyable 24 years in the Royal Navy. These events did not alter the loving relationship I had with my father.

It's the Henry's numbers that have dwindled and ultimately prompted the decision. The Foundation consulted no parents before the move was announced - even the teachers only found out about it literally hours before and they are all now going to have re-apply for their jobs, given there are x2 lots of year staff.

This article - Our Shared History - has some interesting information, as does the wider website in which it appears.

What was its earlier history from 1720? Swallows / Cov Prep appears to have also be known as Styvechale Villa and The Firs. EMC Instone (Daimler, Coventry) appeared to have lived there in 1911 - he was Daimler's General Manager and Partner of its first dealership Stratstone, also a member of the Coventry City Council, Justice of the Peace for the City and county of Warwick. The company produced the first cars - Grace's Guide The building is shown in the 1855 painting of the 'White House' Inn by Thomas Hough, housed at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Edited by Midland Red, 13th Dec 2020 11:50 am (Web links clarified)

Latest news - We are pleased to let you know that the decision has been taken that the new school will be called Bablake and King Henry VIII School. The new name clearly recognises the long and proud contribution that both schools have made to the city, and signals that this is a merger of two great establishments. We anticipate that this official name will inevitably get shortened, and will liaise with our marketing departments over the colloquial name (e.g. Bablake King Henry's, BKH, BKHS) although we also suspect that this will happen organically as we all get used to referring to our new school.

Excellent article and images from the Coventry Society here on The Firs/Swallows School building.

Nice find Neil. I was wondering where the picture of the pub was. It became the Stivichall Lodge. I pondered whether the Firs was one of those mystery buildings on the old slides found in an attic but from this I don't think it fits.