A charitable foundation has sold a site for more than £7.5m after taking the “exceptionally difficult” decision to close the school that operated from it. 

The Hindu charity BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has bought the Old Palace of John Whitgift school site in Croydon, south London, from the Whitgift Foundation.

The foundation operates three fee-paying schools in Croydon and cited increased costs and the growth in expenses for necessary capital investment projects as the main reasons for the Old Palace school’s closure.

Anticipated demographic changes also made the sustainability of the school beyond the short term impossible, the charity said.

The independent girls’ school consists of a pre-school for pupils aged three to four, a prep department for pupils aged four to 11 and a senior school for pupils aged 11 to 18.

A spokesperson for the foundation said the site was sold “for more than the £7.5m guide price”. 

The prep and pre-schools closed in August 2024, with the school set to close fully this August.

The school will continue to operate as normal for current pupils for the rest of the academic year, and arrangements are in place to ensure the marketing of the site causes minimal disruption to current pupils and staff, the charity said.

BAPS, a charity that operates temples and centres across the UK, including Neasden Temple in north London, aims to revitalise the site into a hub for education, sports and social initiatives, the charity said.

The Hindu charity has been involved across south London for more than four decades, hiring local facilities around Croydon to carry out its community-led activities.

Mayank Shan, a trustee at BAPS, said: “We are excited to invest in and secure the future of this site, restoring its role as a place of learning and community spirit.

“For many years, we have supported our members and local communities through our programmes, and this new space allows us to expand our services and create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.”

Roisha Hughes, chief executive of the Whitgift Foundation, said: “We are very pleased to confirm the sale of the former site of Old Palace prep school to BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 

“The decision to close Old Palace senior and prep schools was an exceptionally difficult one, but we are pleased that the new buyer will be using the site for educational and community use.

“BAPS already have a presence in Croydon and we wish them the very best in their new base in Melville Avenue.”