Bunhill: Tough lesson for consultants
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AS John Patten, the Education Secretary, is discovering, there is no more emotive subject than the schooling of children. And I hear that a group of City high- flyers is learning the hard way that education doesn't always react to textbook management.
Talisman is the management consultancy that tried to sort out the mess at Maxwell Communications and National Home Loans and is pitching to restructure Brent Walker. Started as a breakaway from Bain & Co, the US consultancy, it includes among its senior staff such 'ex-Bainies' as Olivier Roux, one-time Guinness finance director and star witness.
Two years ago, Talisman, after helping to reorganise Investors in Education, took over the running of its four private schools. Now parents are up in arms over one of them, Beresford House in Bromley, Kent, (right) a prep school catering for 40 children aged five to nine. The parents say funds are so short that the school is locked at lunchtime, leaving pupils to eat in the playground. 'There's a rumour Beresford is going to close at Easter,' one angry parent tells me, 'but we can't get any information.'
Rick Grogan, the effusive American who jointly heads Talisman with David Hoare, admits that Beresford's future is in doubt. They would like to merge it with a larger school nearby, Braeside. 'We do expect to continue to teach children at Beresford House,' he said, 'but our educational team is still discussing the most appropriate and effective configuration for this site.'
Effective configuration? Perhaps the pupils could give their masters a lesson in speaking plain English.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments