Malbec, caring and doing the right thing

[thisAngelBites]

So it's been a hellish 8 weeks here.

I moved my kid to a new school in January and it was everything I wanted for him - unbelievably good academics but warm and inclusive. Imagine a small school run by someone who is as lovely as the kindest grandmother, but inspirational as well, and with a doctorate from Durham who gets great work out of the kids and knows them all personally.

Well, she took on some investors shortly after we joined, and sold a controlling interest in the school because (trusting, kind person she is) she trusted what they told her instead of making sure the verbal agreement was well-reflected in the written agreement, and a fortnight into the term they sacked her, and turned our whole world upside down. They turn out to care nothing for children and are really just profiteers.

After a huge lot of moaning about it, a couple of parents and I decided it was not okay for the founder to have been treated this way, and that we would not stand silently for it, and we decided to start a new school, and hire away teachers and get the head back when her non-compete would allow, and take all the people who joined the school for the amazing founder with us. I took over the legal end, did all the research, wrote a business plan, and someone else found a building for sale by a charity that supports children, and a former parent went to meet them with the business plan to talk about how we had a lot of overlap in our aims and then we made an offer.

Well, on Monday the charity agreed to sell to us, and today we convinced a parent to buy the building for the agreed £2.2 million and to lease it to us for 10 years for a very reasonable sum, and so our is school is going to be a reality. And I am celebrating by enjoying a gorgeous malbec.

And I am able to tell my son that we do not have to sit by and watch people we care about treated poorly. And that we can affect real change in the world if only we take it beyond the realm of just talking and wishing. It's going to be an amazing, inn0vative place. But the real takeaway is that if we want something bad enough, we can take small steps to make it real.

[novastepp]

Very inspirational story, Angel. Congratulations on making your dream a reality!

[Back In Black]

Wow, that's a massive move and commitment from you all.

Congratulations.

(Well done on the Malbec too, my favourite red)

[RaginCajun]

Way to take control and make it happen!!!

Enjoy that Malbec mother dear!

And send me some fresh eggs, please!

[clarky.]

Amazing Tab you sure do deserve that Malbec.

[kelkel]

Glad it worked out for you Angel!

[musclestack]

Well done, Angel! I would like to hear a follow-up on the outcome of the new school, as well as what happens to the 'old' one once they find out they can't compete.

[RaginCajun]

and I am still waiting on your sister's number!

[thisAngelBites]

Thanks for all the support, guys. My real dream was just to just keep the old school, which required no work from me! But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Sadly, I think the old school will prosper with different students. They have a very good brand name, which will be highly valued by some of the increasing number of Russian and Chinese parents who would like their children educated in England. They have plans to more than double the amount of students, and raise fees, and are hiring more expensive management and are replacing experienced teachers with newly qualified (cheaper, less experienced) teachers, so the writing is on the wall, but foreign buyers may not be able to discern these things and will be impressed with the name, and the lovely location. Maybe once I'm done with the new school I can start on the mission to destroy the old school.

[bartman314]

go angel, go. have you considered selling the movie rights to help finance - it's an inspiring story! :-)

[DCI]

Holy fcking shit TAB that is seriously cool thing to do and make happen in such a short amount of time.

Really really cool wow. Stress of all that would not have been pleasant at all great job and no doubt your son and the parents who helped you will be forever thankful for what ye all did.

[Moonjumper]

Way to be proactive. Glad it is working out.

[thisAngelBites]

Holy fcking shit TAB that is seriously cool thing to do and make happen in such a short amount of time.

Really really cool wow. Stress of all that would not have been pleasant at all great job and no doubt your son and the parents who helped you will be forever thankful for what ye all did.

Thanks. I care a lot about education, and think it is one of the few things in the world that does not have diminishing returns (along with love).

I did so much searching to find the right school, and we had about four days of my son saying "actually school is pretty good!" when he came home in the afternoon (he is a good student, but still doesn't really love school), and then we got a letter about a new head, and I just totally lost it. There was no way I could sit by as the school is destroyed.

But we still need fingers crossed - I still have to negotiate the rental agreement with the parent (all while being incredibly grateful to him) in order to make sure the fledgling school is protected, and then this guy needs to write a cheque for £2.2M. And then have to hire away teachers without getting sued, but I have a plan. ;-)

And then we have to go about the whole business of making a school. It's a long road, but it's something I really believe in, and so is worth it.

[DCI]

Amazing to get so far so fast. No doubt you will get it all organised and sorted soon.