A Hindu group purchased former girls school sites in Croydon, planning community resources and educational facilities.
Old Palace prep and primary school closed in July. It was a good girls’ school for years, but financial problems caused the John Whitgift Foundation to close it. The senior school will also close at the end of summer, after being a girls’ school for 130 years.
The school closures caused concern last September. But the lower-year school sale offers some relief. BAPS is a large Hindu community in the UK. They have provided education for over 40 years, with their headquarters in the Neasden Temple.
BAPS says they will expand local programs and want to provide needed facilities. BAPS will dedicate space to schooling, with a focus on special needs education. They will revitalize the gym and classrooms, ensuring the facilities are available for community use.
The Hindu group plans parking improvements and will upgrade the site’s amenities. They also aim to reduce local traffic. John Whitgift Foundation is happy with the sale and pleased the site has new educational use. BAPS has a Croydon presence already.