The Marist School in Sunninghill near Ascot has been bought by the Concept Education group.
The group says the school will become the first, flagship establishment for Concept Education, a new schools network set up by former independent school educators and other leaders from the worlds of education, law and finance.
The 450-pupil Catholic girls’ school, set in 55 acres of woodland, was founded in 1870 by an order of nuns, the Marist Sisters, moving to its current site in 1947.
The Trustees have now handed the ownership and day-to-day running of the school to Concept Education.
Sister Anne Ord, Provincial of Marist Sisters in England, said: “Although it is with regret that our Order will sadly no longer be involved with the school, we are confident, following our discussions with Concept, that our faith, traditions and values will remain at the heart of the school.
“We are delighted that the school we established will continue to grow from strength to strength, with pupils enjoying the high-quality, individualised schooling associated with The Marist and its long history.”
The Marist has been in the top one per cent nationally for A-level results for the last three years, with 86 per cent of pupils gaining A* and A grades. In December the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school’s quality of academic achievement and pupils’ personal development as “excellent”.
“This is an important milestone in our history,” said headteacher Joanne Smith. “The move to Concept Education, following the wishes of the Marist Sisters, protects our high-performing school and will allow us to further expand opportunities for our students.
“We are now looking at a strong and sustainable future, one that builds on our success while preserving our values and heritage.”
Concept Education said it has been set up in response to the changing demands of private education, with the goal of making independent schooling as affordable and accessible to as many families as possible.
Chief executive Hugh Dickinson, added: “The Marist is already a well-established, high-performing school. Our role is twofold: to maintain the school’s excellence and to break new ground. We know that the success of a school depends on the trust of its parents, their children and their staff.
“We are excited and privileged to be asked to carry on the outstanding work of the Marist Sisters in gaining that trust and using it to strengthen even further the evolution of the school as a unique, caring and high-achieving environment. We look forward to working with the governors, the principal and her staff. ”
The Marist School welcomes pupils of all faiths, who agree with the school’s Christian ethos.
The school was originally founded in Richmond, Surrey, in 1870 alongside a convent. Bombed during the Second World War, it was forced to relocate to the Frognal Estate on Kings Road in Sunninghill. The site had been used by General Eisenhower and the American High Command during WWII.
