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A former boarding school in Worcestershire is set for a new chapter as it reopens under a new operator. The former St Michael’s College, located near Tenbury Wells, has been acquired by the newly-formed St Michael’s Abbey School, with backing from the American-Chinese private educational institution Sias University.
The purchase, facilitated by property consultancy Fisher German, includes the Grade II* listed main building, known for its appearance in the 1986 TV movie The Worst Witch featuring Diana Rigg and Tim Curry. The site also comprises 13 additional buildings, such as a sports hall, boarding houses, and educational blocks, spread across 22.76 acres.
The new owners plan to refurbish the site and aim to open for the 2025/26 academic year. The school will offer secondary education from Year 9 onwards and sixth form options for both UK and international students, with provisions for day school and boarding.
Lily Colton, chief executive of St Michael’s Abbey School, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “We are extremely pleased to work with Fisher German to purchase St Michael’s College. It is a very attractive site with an interesting history and a beautiful main building which will make a very nice learning environment for our students.”
Colton also highlighted the school’s commitment to affordability for the local community, noting, “We will be opening a high-quality private school open to both UK and international students and intend on making our fees affordable for those within the local community. The school has not been in use for a number of years, and we now have a significant amount of work to do to refurbish the site ahead of opening in September 2025. We aim to become a major employer in the area and will soon be engaging with the local community in order to fill a wide variety of vacancies at the school.”
Tom Pike, partner at Fisher German, commented on the successful sale, saying, “We are extremely pleased to complete the sale of St Michael’s College. It is fantastic that the school is going to be given a new lease of life as an educational establishment to make good use of the property, particularly the Grade II* Listed St Michael’s College building. It will be an excellent asset for Tenbury Wells and the surrounding areas, providing high-quality schooling as well as a range of employment opportunities.”
