Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Dale House Independent School & Nursery in Batley, West Yorkshire.
Established by Andrew and Sarah Fletcher in 1999, Dale House is an independent Prep School with a capacity for up to 120 students aged two to 11 years. It occupies a former Edwardian Sunday School that was originally built for the St. John’s Church congregation in 1907 and extended in 2002.
Set within a residential area of Batley, West Yorkshire, the property is in a good location, less than five miles from the M62. Dale House was ranked by the Sunday Times as one of the top 50 Preparatory Schools in England in 2020.
Having battled with a serious illness, Andrew and Sarah decided it was time for Andrew to step back from the bursar’s role and for Sarah to retire to help look after him after having dedicated over 24 years of service to the local community. They did not have time to engage in a lengthy and public sale offering so approached Christie & Co for assistance.
Following a highly confidential sales process with Vicky Marsland at Christie & Co, a wide range of interested parties were engaged. Despite this being a highly regarded and profitable independent school, the majority of interest came from specialist education providers and a sale has now been agreed to Polaris Community, one of the UK’s leading communities of children’s services providers.
Andrew and Sarah Fletcher, former owners of Dale House, said: “It was very sad to see such a lovely and successful school close, but we are delighted that it will remain as a school, providing desperately needed specialist services for the children in Kirklees.”
Loren Cahill, Project Manager for Polaris Community, said: “We’re thrilled with the acquisition of Dale House School in Batley. With this remarkable space, we are poised to provide the best outcomes for young people, offering a nurturing, supportive and empowering environment to learn, grow, and thrive.
“We cannot wait to open the doors to this School and witness the positive impact we will undoubtedly make in the lives of these promising young individuals.”
Vicky Marsland, Associate Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, said: “I was very excited to take on this project when I originally met Andrew and Sarah. From the outset, the primary concern was to sell the school as a going concern but, after exhausting all avenues, the highest level of interest came from specialist education and care providers.
“It was extremely difficult for Andrew and Sarah to decide to sell with vacant possession but, ultimately, they had to make a decision that allowed them to move on to the next chapter of their lives. It’s been a pleasure working with them and I wish them both a very well-deserved retirement, being able to spend more time with their family and friends.
“Whilst there are a select number of large independent school providers in the UK that remain the subject of strong investment, unfortunately, we have seen those smaller schools struggling to compete when the time comes to sell and retire.
“As the SEND schools sector continues to thrive due to the growing demand for suitable settings that support the needs of children who are unable to access mainstream education, the demand for vacant possessions on independent schools has increased.”
Dale House Independent School & Nursery was sold for an undisclosed price.
