When it comes to our children’s education, few decisions feel more important - or more daunting, than choosing the right school. For Lauren Savill, it was also deeply personal.
Once a DESS Primary Oud Metha pupil herself - and the daughter of the school’s former Headteacher Arnie Cartwright and Year 1 teacher Barbara, getting her own daughters Paige and Peyton into Years 3 and 4 at her old primary school, was a dream come true for Lauren.
So, when news broke of plans for a new DESS campus in Academic City, it presented Lauren and husband Andy with an opportunity and a challenge of equal measure.
Hours of discussion focused on one key question: could the magic of DESS Primary Oud Metha, with its deep sense of community and personal touch, truly be replicated in a brand-new setting?
Though the pull of the new school’s convenient location near to their family home in Mudon, was a strong one, convenience wasn’t enough on its own. Lauren’s and Andy’s main concern, like so many other DESS Primary Oud Metha parents, was whether the cherished ethos and close-knit community of the original school would be carried over to the new campus.
Reassurance from the Heart
"We wouldn’t have even considered applying to move the girls had we not been certain that all the things that make DESS Primary Oud Metha so special would be available at the new campus,” said Lauren. “I mean, come on - where else can you arrive for drop-off and find a Deputy Headteacher playing football with children in the playground before school even starts! Within a few weeks of arriving at DESS, it seemed like every teacher knew both our girls by name. It’s astounding how they still manage to do what they do, 60 years since the school started.”
For Lauren and Andy, DESS isn’t just a school; it’s a chance to be part of an extended family that nurtures and supports both students and parents. Lauren is convinced that the DESS Primary Academic City campus will continue this tradition.
“It’s easy to get excited about the fantastic new facilities, but it’s so much more important to know that the core values and community feel of the Oud Metha campus will remain intact. Having met new Headteacher Neil Brinicombe, it’s clear that everything everyone cherishes - and many of the people responsible for delivering the magic – will remain intact.
“It’s such a pleasure and privilege to be able to drive the girls to school, and I never take it for granted. But it’s quite a journey for us every day. However, school run journey time pales into insignificance if your children aren’t happy when they get there. Our decision to apply for a place for Peyton and Paige came down to trust, and we’ve never been more certain that we won’t be let down.”