Sold for just £7,000: Staffordshire couple buy their own school
A couple were devastated when their son's village school was closed without warning and the liquidators sent in.
But when no buyers came forward, Clare and Mark Wyatt made a life-changing decision and with 20 minutes to go before the sale deadline, bought Vernon Lodge School in Stretton, near Penkridge, themselves for just £7,000.
"It's not something I ever envisaged us doing, owning a school, but now it's happened, it's exciting and I feel very positive about its success," said Clare.
In its heyday, the fee-paying Vernon Lodge School was one of the best preparatory schools in the country. In 2003 the Sunday Times ranked it 15th in the UK.
But at 3pm on February 26 this year the school, which took pupils up to the age of 11, was suddenly closed and parents called to pick up their children.
Mrs Wyatt said: "I was in Sainsbury's shopping at the time, the closure came completely out of the blue. Parents had been worried about the numbers being low but we'd been reassured that everything was fine.
"I was in shock for quite a few days. It was surprisingly upsetting, it was like a grieving process. But we thought that somebody was bound to step in and keep it going. Although it was struggling, it was very popular, especially the nursery, We thought, it can't just end like this."
But after a few weeks, her husband phoned to find out what interest had been shown in the site, to be told there had been none and the administrators were about to go into the school to start selling off the furniture and other assets.
Mrs Wyatt, aged 38, remembers the moment well. "It was a Thursday afternoon. The liquidators told us there were four hours left for someone to take over, the assets were being sold the next day. We hadn't been expecting that answer.
"We started making phone calls. Mark spoke with the agents and the owner, Piers Monkton, who was interested in the possibility of us taking over the lease. At the same time, I was desperately trying to get hold of Lesley Smith, the former nursery manager.
"Lesley was absolutely key to our decision. We would only take it further if she was definitely on board. Her reputation, enthusiasm and experience are second to none. Luckily, with just 20 minutes to go to the deadline, she said she'd love to come back and re-open the nursery.
"Before we knew what was happening Mark had purchased the assets and we owned a school, all for the ridiculous price of £7,000."
After getting over the shock of what they had just done, the couple, from Milford, Stafford, set about revamping the buildings, spending almost £30,000 on the former Victorian schoolhouse, a small community hall and several temporary classrooms.
The school had been closed with such haste that they found abandoned coats, books and lunchboxes where they had been left.
"It was a bit like walking onto the Marie Celeste," said Clare. "We'd initially thought we would re-open in a couple of weeks and just keep things going but there was a lot of paperwork to do and we soon realised that wasn't going to happen, so we decided to give the place a facelift."
Mr Wyatt, a 40-year-old builder who runs Soden Associates, set about the transformation with the help of friends in the industry, including Paul Essery,from Espire Construction, who landscaped and block-paved for free and Laurie Smith, from LMS Improvements, who decorated. Parents and former staff also lent their support.
A lot of work was done on the exterior of the school, which the couple felt was looking tired, while the inside of the buildings has been completely reworked. Son Jack also enjoyed lending a hand. The end result has been renamed Stretton Lodge Day Nursery and Preschool, which will take in children up to five. The school was today holding an open day, ahead of its relaunch on September 7.
Ironically, Jack will not be among their number. At the age of six, he is too old to enrol.
Clare said: "He loved being involved. Jack's confidence soared while he was at the school so he loved being there with his dad helping to do it up. Owning a school is, well, it's different. But we feel very optimistic about its future."
* For more information on places, call 01902 475405 or email info@stretton lodge.co.uk
