The Alpha Plus Group has added to its illustrious roster with the opening of Wetherby Senior School, which has quite a tough act to follow
There’s an exciting buzz around the head offices of Alpha Plus Group and it’s little wonder why. Over the past week before my visit, they have unveiled the new state-of-the-art DLD College London which sits in the heart of London overlooking Westminster and the River Thames and opened the doors to Wetherby Senior School in Marylebone. ‘It’s history in the making,’ says the Group’s Director of Schools & Colleges, Jenny Aviss.
The opening of Wetherby Senior School is not only a big moment for Alpha Plus Group, but the London education scene in general
My interviewee is well placed to offer such a superlative. Jenny started working with the Group in 1998, at a time when it was owned by Davies, Laing and Dick College and she was still Head of Wetherby Pre-Prep. She has seen the Group evolve in the 17 years since to now own and operate 18 top independent schools, nurseries and sixth form colleges throughout the UK. ‘It has always been an ambitious Group,’ she says on that evolution. ‘We are presented with a lot of opportunities and it’s been a case of deciding if those presented will fit with the ethos. We have developed quite slowly – if you look at the history it’s not something that has snowballed overnight.’
Although I haven’t visited every single Alpha Plus Group school, the ones I have had the pleasure of taking a peek around have left me hugely impressed. They all have their own individual touches, but as Jenny points out, there is a common strand throughout. ‘That’s the Gold Standard,’ she smiles proudly, ‘and that’s what we are recognised for. That will pervade every area of school life. The children will experience high quality teaching and learning, we will employ the best staff, and the learning environments will reflect the Gold Standard and ensure the children can benefit in the way they should and deserve to.’
We talk at length about the involvement of parents, which is crucial to the way the Alpha Plus Group works, and also a sense of the children being proud to be a part of their schools. ‘If you were to enter any class you will find very happy children,’ Jenny says, ‘engaged and stimulated, with very enthused teachers going the extra mile for them. You would find passion and commitment, and amongst the children you would see a real belief, identity and pride in belonging to their school and to wear their uniform. You don’t just instil that by putting 15 children into a classroom.’
Class size is another important factor of the Alpha Plus Group, and Wetherby Senior will follow the trend. ‘It’s history in the making for Wetherby,’ Jenny repeats where we started, ‘we now offer education from two and a half years up to 18. I don’t know who was more excited when it opened last week, Nick Baker [the Head], the children or me!’ Ambition is again high for the school, with the aim that all boys will apply and transfer to Russell Group universities in the UK, as well as the Ivy League in the US and notable universities across the globe.
A view of the impressive atrium inside DLD College London
DLD College London is already known for its top results – it achieved 98% A level pass rate in 2015 – and the new 15 floor boarding house is sure to push that even higher. It’s a stunning building and a real vindication of the beliefs that run deep at the Alpha Plus Group. ‘There’s a word I didn’t let teachers use when I was Head at Wetherby,’ Jenny decides on ending with one more superlative, ‘and that’s awesome and that sums up DLD!’
WORDS: Mark Kebble
Find out more about all of the Alpha Plus Group schools and colleges at alphaplusgroup.co.uk