Leading South West law firm Rickerbys has been called upon to assist in the merger of two of the region’s top preparatory schools.
The Downs School and Malvern College Prep (MCP) are joining forces in order to build upon existing success in providing first-class education to the region. The merger will result in MCP relocating to Colwall, the current site of The Downs School, with effect from 1st September 2008.
The Downs, Malvern College Prep School, as the new school will be known, will be headed up by Alastair Ramsay, current Headmaster at The Downs School while MCP’s current Headmaster, Peter Moody, will be retiring at the end of the 2007/2008 academic year.
Chair of the Board of Governors, Adrian Silcock, views the merger as a progressive step and one that Rickerbys and Veale Wasbrough, acting on behalf of MCP, are assisting in advancing.
“Rickerbys and Veale Wasbrough have been fundamental in ensuring that this merger runs smoothly. Our two schools are very similar both in locality and in values. The merger will combine equals of excellence and ultimately strengthen our offering enabling us to realise our vision to create one of the best co-educational prep schools in the country."
Under the direction of Richard Knight, Partner at Rickerbys, the law firm have been instrumental in dealing with the contractual arrangements between the two schools as well as addressing a number of charity related and property issues.
Silcock goes on to comment “we have been very pleased with the service we have received from both firms, who have dealt very promptly and efficiently with all the details in this complex process and have taken a strong personal interest in the development."
"In this case both schools have voluntarily taken this step in order to strengthen their position within the region,” commented Knight.
“This is not unusual as we are finding that the number of independent schools merging within the UK is on the rise. This is largely due to a shrinking market and it does often make more sense to have one highly resourced school servicing a region.”