Estate's sale brings prep school concern (From Daily Echo)

Concern as Norman Court Prep School goes up for sale

12:30pm Monday 21st May 2012 in Romsey By Emma Streatfield, Senior Reporter

One of the region’s most prestigious private schools is up for sale.

The uncertainty over the future of Norman Court Prep School has led some parents to consider moving their children elsewhere.

It comes after the school’s landlord revealed he was selling the estate on which the Grade 2 listed Georgian manor house stands.

But bosses at the school, which costs nearly £21,000 a year for boarders, have vowed that its future is secured.

The school is an independent boarding and day school which caters for around 200 three- to 13-year-olds and is run by a board of governors and trustees.

It is on the 2,000-acre Norman Court Estate at West Tytherley on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border but estate owner Tim Parker is looking to sell.

School head Paddy Savage said Mr Parker was in discussion with prospective buyers for the estate who are people with “serious educational interests” and he and the governors were involved in negotiations.

He said: “Negotiations have been ongoing involving him and external groups who are keen to make serious investment in the school with serious educational purposes.”

Mr Savage, who is leaving the school in the summer, said it was not going to be sold up and there were no plans to relocate.

He added: “Mr Parker is extremely supportive of Norman Court and he is very keen that the school should remain as a prep school.

“Norman Court is not on the open market.

“The potential investors are interested in Norman Court as a preparatory school.

“He is passionate about the school so he is keen to make sure that the best elements of Norman Court, the prep school, are retained.”

Mr Savage said no parents had moved their children out of the school, but added: “I’m aware that parents are considering other schools for their children.

“It’s very much business as usual. Understandably parents wish to know more and that will happen in due course, I’m not able to put a time scale on that.”

Mr Savage leaves his post after five years in charge to take up a head teacher role in the West Country.

His deputy Janet Kirkpatrick will take over as the new head teacher.