King Edward VII and Queen Mary School - Merger

Merger

The Board of Governors have announced that King Edward VII and Queen Mary School will be merging with Arnold School, another fee-paying school in the North-West, in September 2012. This has happened without consultation inclusive of parents, pupils or staff. A parent group opposed to the takeover submitted objections to the Charity Commission which prompted a review prior to allowing the merger to proceed. The Charity Commission completed their report and announced on 11 November 2011 that they had approved the new scheme. The parent group immediately announced their intention to appeal against the Charity Commission decision. The appeal was lodged with HM Courts and Tribunal Service – First Tier Tribunal on Friday 9 December 2011. The tribunal's decision was made on 17 May 2012 and states that the merger can proceed however the lease agreement puts the charity assets at undue risk and will need to be re-written. The parents group have since announced that they are not going to appeal and the merger will therefore proceed.

In 2011 Fylde M.P. Mark Menzies became involved in the heated controvesry surrounding the proposed take-over of the school by the United Church Schools Trust and its merger with Arnold School.