The Stonar Way 23.01.26

This week has been one of sharp contrasts for the independent schools’ sector and a powerful reminder of what truly underpins a strong school community.

This week, parents, staff and pupils at Rendcomb College, a 3–18 co-educational day and boarding school, located near Cirencester, received the deeply sad news that, after 106 years, the school will close at the end of the current academic year. Some parents will be aware that they have understandably postponed the boys’ hockey fixture we were due to play against them tomorrow. This decision follows the significant political and economic pressures currently facing independent schools, and it will understandably come as a great shock to everyone connected with Rendcomb. As parents ourselves, we know how unsettling news like this can be, and our thoughts are very much with the Rendcomb community as they navigate the weeks and months ahead.

Against this backdrop, I want to reassure our own community about Stonar’s position. While we, like all independent schools, have to work hard to navigate a challenging environment, we remain in a sound and secure position. Our numbers for next year are looking very positive, with waiting lists already in place for some year groups. This is a source of real confidence and optimism for the future.

This sense of strength and stability was brought into particularly sharp focus during our ISI inspection this week. Although we will not receive the formal outcome for six weeks, we received positive feedback from the inspection team. They saw a community that supports one another, believes in its values and is united in its purpose. The feedback from the parent survey was genuinely humbling, and it was clear that the inspectors really understood the warmth, care and ambition that define our school. I cannot thank our pupils, staff and parents enough for the way the whole community came together to show the inspectors what makes Stonar such a special place.

It is precisely this sense of community that has allowed Stonar to remain resilient, even in uncertain times. While the wider landscape may feel challenging, we move forward with confidence, gratitude and a renewed appreciation of what we have built together here.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.