Global private schools group Inspired Education has signed an agreement to acquire Alpha Plus Group’s 17 schools and nurseries.
The deal will include schools such as Wetherby School, Pembridge Hall School for Girls and Chepstow House School in London, but not its three colleges, including DLD College London.
Inspired educates 75,000 students in 80 schools across six continents, although it currently only owns two UK schools, Fulham School in London and Reddam House School in Berkshire.
It is understood that Mark Snell, headmaster of Wetherby School will be made UK education director at Inspired. Thomas Lewis, current head of academics at the school, will become UK deputy education director.
The acquisition of the schools follows the trend for schools, especially in London, to be owned by chains, including big players such as Dukes Education, which now owns 20 schools in the capital.
Nadim M Nsouli, founder, chairman and CEO of Inspired, said in a statement: “The best schools in the world join Inspired, and we are proud to welcome the Alpha Plus Group’s schools, including some of the leading London schools such as Wetherby School and Pembridge Hall School, to the group.
“Alpha Plus schools offer an outstanding world-class education and environment for students, who will now be able to benefit from the additional support of a global group of world-leading educational experts.
“Access to Inspired’s global best practices in teaching and learning ensures students will receive opportunities specifically designed to transform and broaden their horizons, giving them a deepened appreciation of their fellow global citizens, magnifying and informing their aspirations, and preparing them for a successful academic and working life in an evolving, global world.”
Sir John Ritblat, chairman of Alpha Plus Group, said: “Merging with the Inspired Education Group will allow our Alpha Plus schools to work closely with their schools, and help us to realise our expansion plans to Olympia and beyond.
“Our students and teachers will be able to share experiences with other schools within the Inspired Group, here in the UK and abroad. I am sure that we will derive great benefits from merging with this excellent Global group of schools, helping Alpha Plus to build on our schools’ impressive history and to continue to flourish.”
Mark Hanley Browne, CEO of Alpha Plus Group, said: “We are very excited to be joining the Inspired Education Group, whose own story, vision and approach is very similar to that of Alpha Plus.
“Inspired is a group which has a long-term outlook for both our schools and their local communities. For the staff, there will be the opportunity to work in schools abroad, using the Inspired group.
“There will be opportunities to see best practice, for example in the teaching of science and mathematics at prep school and secondary school level. For pupils there will be opportunities to take part in exchange visits with schools abroad.”
The agreement also includes Wetherby Arts School, a new co-educational senior school set to open in 2025, which will be set in a 60,000 square foot building in the prestigious Olympia development in West London.
Schools being acquired subject to completion:
- Wetherby School
- Wetherby Kensington
- Wetherby Preparatory School
- Wetherby Senior School
- Pembridge Hall School for Girls
- Chepstow House School
- Anthony’s School for Boys
- Anthony’s School for Girls
- Hilden Grange School
- The Minors Nursery
- Davenport Lodge Nursery
- Falcons Girls
- Falcons Pre-Prep School
- Portland Place
- Rolfe’s Nursery
- Little Wetherby Edge Street – Opens in Sept 2023
- Wetherby Arts – Opens in Sept 2025