Headteacher Message

Hello all,

I hope you are all well. Tomorrow, myself and a number of staff will return to the doors of Darell School and host an open morning for prospective parents. These Saturday events are usually well attended and vital in our attempts to attract new families to the school. You will have seen that the local authority have published a consultation proposing the closure of Kew Riverside School. We are well aware of the reasons for this decision. This vulnerability had absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the school and is wholly due to the falling birth rate in London and in particular Richmond. The simple equation is, there are not enough children to fill the schools within the borough. We, like all surrounding schools, are trying to attract families with young children from an ever decreasing pool and marketing the school will continue to be a school priority.

Why am I telling you this? Well, first to thank you because it is you speaking to others about Darell School that attracts families here. As a parent myself, I always listened to the views of other parents when making decisions about schools and the fact that our numbers have stabilised means that positive news is spreading.

Yesterday, we heard about a family of ours who moved back to Brazil last year and wanted to know how to write a positive review of the school. This is so lovely to hear; halfway across the world and they are still thinking of us. Please continue to spread the word.  I see it as ripples in a pond. Somebody says something positive and someone passes it on and on and on.   

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you as always for your support. 

Joe