Dukes Education acquires Minerva Education
Last Updated on : 12th October 2018
Dukes Education acquires Minerva Education and announces new schools to the group
Knightsbridge School
Knightsbridge School has joined Dukes Education to expand the prep school offering, a perfect fit for Dukes. Founded in 2006 by Magoo Giles, now Principal and labelled affectionately by the Good Schools Guide as ‘energy, enthusiasm, loquacity, and huge fun in pinstripes’, ‘KS’ has quickly established itself with the local community, despite being relatively new on the scene. Set in beautiful buildings on Pont Street with 430 pupils and 100 staff, it is a happy, vibrant school that focuses on developing children from ages three-13 as well-rounded, confident, and fully-prepared for their transition to senior school. Magoo, and Head, Shona Colaço, will both stay in post to lead the school onto even bigger and better things with Dukes.
Little Dukes & Miss Daisy’s
Another addition to the group is Miss Daisy’s Nursery. A group of four nursery schools, with 160 pupils and 50 staff, based in Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and ‘Little Owls’ in Brook Green, Miss Daisy’s is well-known amongst London parents as the crème de la crème of early years provision. These four nurseries are the first of the Little Dukes nursery schools, firmly establishing Dukes as a leader in EYFS, and allowing us, for the first time, to provide parents with an all-through education.
Director of Performance
In ‘Building the Crown’ – the group’s culture book, Dukes set out their cause ‘to realise, fully, the human experience through inspiring teaching and learning’. Having a purposeful organisation in which the team is developed, happy and has a genuine sense of belonging is key to achieving this aim. To this end, Richard Fletcher has been appointed to a newly-created role of Director of Performance, supporting the Principals to promote wellbeing of staff, help develop teams, create future leaders, support CPD, and embody the culture.
Education Advisory Board
As it grows in prominence in the UK education sector, in order to ensure the highest quality of education is cultivated in their schools and educational provisions, Dukes have launched a new Education Advisory Board (EAB). A true representation of the great and the good in education today, they welcome Professor Mark Bailey, High Master of St Paul’s and Professor of Later Medieval History at UAE, David Goodhew, Headmaster of Latymer Upper, Christine Leslie, formerly of Godolphin Prep and Hawkesdown House and the authority on quality prep and senior school education for London parents, and finally, William Russell, Deputy Chair and Trustee of the incredible Place2Be initiative which supports mental health in schools. The EAB will provide thought-leadership, guide innovation, and promote best practice.
In September, Dukes Education signed an agreement to acquire Minerva Education, where Chairman and Founder of Dukes, Aatif Hassan served as Chairman of Governors for the last five years. The group comprises the Eaton Square Schools and Nurseries and The Lyceum in London, Sancton Wood School in Cambridge, and Twickenham Park Day Nursery. Each of the schools is an ideal fit with Dukes, and the exceptional people who run and teach in them share the same values and culture.
In just three years since the launch, Dukes Education has made extraordinary strides and these developments are a strong representation of their intent. Now, along with consulting and summer schools provision, Dukes will have three boarding and day colleges, three secondary day schools, five preparatory schools and ten ‘Little Dukes’ feeder nurseries, with over 2,700 pupils and over 900 staff.
The Dukes Family of Schools