Royal School Hampstead parents consider legal challenge to stop sale

Parents at the Royal School Hampstead are considering mounting a legal challenge to stop a planned takeover of the school by the education consortium Cognita, as exclusively reported in the Ham&High last week.

Around 70 parents attended an emergency meeting at the school in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, last week in response to the controversial and secretive deal.

It will see the exclusive independent girls’ school taken over by Northbridge House school and turned into a co-ed.

Trevor Colman, joint chairman of the Royal Parents Association, told the meeting he had been in touch with a barrister about the possibility of “bringing an action for breach of trust against the trustees.”

He also claimed to have seen a letter sent by school staff to Cognita which expressed concern that the Royal School’s identity would be eclipsed by Northbridge House.

The deal is due to be finalised this week. Cognita representatives and the trustees both claim it will safeguard the future of the school, which has been in deep financial trouble for several years.