Hindus take over Croydon sites of discontinued old girls’ schools

The John Whitgift Foundation has completed a £7.5m sale of its Old Palace pre-school and primary school site to a Neasden-based Hindu organisation.

The religious organisation promised to invest in the South Croydon school after it closed its doors last summer.

The prep and primary school on South Croydon’s Melville Avenue closed last July after serving many years as a high-performing girls’ school. The John Whitgift Foundation (JWF) cited long-running financial concerns for its closure.

The Old Palace’s senior school in historic Old Croydon is also up for sale and due to close its doors at the end of the summer term. The Old Palace of John Whitgift School has a history arching back 130 years in the area as a private girls’ school.

While the announcement of both schools’ closure in September 2023 sparked concern, the recent purchase of the lower-year schools has provided some relief.

Buyers BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is one of the biggest Hindu communities in the country. It has provided education and outreach programs for over 40 years and is headquartered in the iconic Neasden Temple in north-west London.

BAPS has insisted its takeover of the site will expand local educational and community initiatives and offer ‘much-needed facilities for residents.’

BAPS has promised that a significant portion of the space will be dedicated to schooling, particularly special needs education. The site’s gym, sports facilities, classrooms, and outdoor areas will be revitalised for community use and available for hire by local schools and organisations.

The Hindu organisation also plans to improve parking facilities, upgrade existing amenities, and ensure reduced congestion in the area compared to the previous school’s operations.

BAPS Trustee Dr Mayank Shah 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 programs, and this new space allows us to expand our services and create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.”

Newly appointed chief executive of the JWF, Roisha Hughes, said: “We are very pleased to confirm the sale of the former site of Old Palace prep school to BAPS. 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.”

Pictured top: The Old Palace of John Whitgift School, which had a history arching back 130 years (Picture: Google Street View)