BROMSGROVE School and Winterfold House School are to merge, it was announced this week.
Winterfold is a Roman Catholic independent day school in Chaddesley Corbett for 400 boys and girls up to the age of 14.
The merger, due to be completed by the start of September, will see Winterfold continue to be run as a separate school under the umbrella of Bromsgrove with no changes to its name, uniform or identity as a Roman Catholic independent prep school.
Winterfold Chair of Governors Morag Chapman said: “We have benefited from a long and close association with Bromsgrove School over the years.
“Many Winterfold pupils regularly choose Bromsgrove as their senior school, while several members of Bromsgrove’s senior team previously worked here.
“Having recently developed a more strategic relationship with them, we now see this merger as a logical next step, and the best way to preserve Winterfold’s distinctive brand of education long into the future.”
Bromsgrove School headmaster Peter Clague said: “We have long admired – and greatly value – Winterfold’s strengths and distinctiveness, and are delighted this tie-up will help preserve the unique educational experience the school offers.”
In a letter to parents and staff, Bromsgrove School’s chair of governors Stewart Towe said the school was approached some time ago by Winterfold, asking for strategic support, initially over refining their approach to marketing and admissions.
“We were keen to help on the grounds that a strong Winterfold underpins the diversity of independent education in the area, which in turn is good for Bromsgrove.
“Besides, there is a significant overlap in terms of our two communities, and there has long been a mutual respect for how our approaches to education are distinctive but complementary.
“This in turn led to further discussions about how the Schools could work together, with the eventual, logical, outcome being a full merger. This will formally take place at the beginning of September. “
