Tag Archives: Christopher Houlding

Housing association CEO takes lead role at Whitgift Foundation

Posted on February 3, 2025 by insidecroydon

For the first time in more than 400 years, the Whitgift Foundation is to be led by a woman. “That’s if you don’t count Queen Elizabeth I,” confided a wag at the Whitgift Almshouses, where the charity and multi-million-pound property … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Fiona Fletcher Smith, Roisha Hughes, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Boris Johnson’s former aide given Whitgift Foundation top job

Posted on October 15, 2024 by insidecroydon

It was an intervention 12 years ago by the then Mayor of London that got Croydon’s biggest landowners into a disastrous £1.4bn gamble with Westfield. Now they are turning to BoJo’s ‘revered’ aide to get them out of the mess. … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Old Palace, Property, Roisha Hughes, Schools, Trinity School, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Crumbling finances see troubled Foundation lose millions more

Posted on July 26, 2024 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Official figures show that the borough’s biggest landowners saw their funds fall by 5.5% in the latest trading year – and that was before incurring any costs from closing Old Palace girls’ school. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Old Palace, Planning, Property, Schools, Trinity School, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Houlding’s decided not to hang on at the failing Foundation

Posted on July 25, 2024 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The man behind the closure of one of the Whitgift Foundation’s three large schools will be standing down from the troubled  property developers’ governors. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Christopher Houlding is to step down as the chair … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Girls and teachers in tears as school prepares for closure

Posted on July 4, 2024 by insidecroydon

At Old Palace of John Whitgift, the fee-paying girls’ school, there’s an ‘end-of-term’ feeling the like of which has never been experienced, by pupils or staff, in its 135-year history. By CAITLIN CLIFFORD Having been at Old Palace since Year … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, Old Palace, Schools, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

£7,000 ‘bribes’ prompt pupil exodus from doomed school

Posted on November 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Fewer than 300 girls returned to Old Palace after half-term, as the charitable foundation that runs the school offered cash inducements to their parents to withdraw their daughters promptly. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Around half of the … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Education, Old Palace, Old Palace Parents' Alliance, Schools, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Foundation abandoned new school plan after taking £70m loan

Posted on November 3, 2023 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The decision to close Old Palace marked a rapid U-turn on all previous policy at the property-owning charity, according to documents obtained by this website. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES As recently as last year, the Whitgift Foundation … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Education, Jane Burton, Old Palace, Schools, Trinity School, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Old Palace parents threaten legal action over school closure

Posted on October 9, 2023 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: With accusations of ‘sexist and misogynistic behaviour’ and even a claim of ‘fraud’ against the financially troubled property developers at the Whitgift Foundation, the fight to save the girls’ independent school has taken a new turn. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Community associations, Education, Old Palace, Schools, Trinity School, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments