The ongoing disposal of the historic former Old Palace of John Whitgift School in Croydon has reached another milestone with the sale of its swimming pool and associated buildings. This marks the third major transaction in the phased wind-down of the site, which ceased operations as a private girls' school in July 2024 after more than 130 years.
A £750,000 Transaction to an Educational Charity
Last week, the John Whitgift Foundation (JWF) confirmed the completion of a £750,000 sale. The assets involved include the school's swimming pool and the Jubilee Buildings, located on the Church Road campus. The purchaser is the RISE School of Excellence, an educational charity established in October 2025.
Roisha Hughes, Chief Executive of the JWF, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. "It's pleasing to have completed a third sale of the properties that comprised Old Palace School," she said. "I am delighted that these buildings are being put to good use by a range of community and educational organisations working within our community. We wish them all well."
RISE's Plans for the Site
A spokesperson for RISE conveyed the organisation's enthusiasm, stating: "The RISE team are thrilled to have completed the purchase of these two buildings and look forward to announcing their plans for the site soon." The charity's stated intention is to return the facilities to educational use, continuing the legacy of the location.
Previous Sales and the School's Closure
The sale follows two earlier disposals as part of the comprehensive wind-down. The closure of Old Palace was prompted by significant financial difficulties and a sustained decline in pupil numbers, with the final decision announced in 2023.
The earlier transactions included:
- The former nursery and prep school site on Melville Avenue, sold in February 2025 to the Hindu organisation BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. BAPS plans to refurbish the site for schooling, including special educational needs provision, alongside wider community facilities.
- The Grade I listed Great Hall, Science Block, and Cathedral Building, sold in August 2025 to the Curwen Group. These buildings are now leased to the Serenity Education Group, which opened a special educational needs school on the site in September 2025.
Preserving Educational Legacy and Foundation's Strategy
The JWF, which also runs Whitgift and Trinity Schools in the area, has emphasised that proceeds from all sales will support its ongoing educational provision within the borough. Furthermore, the foundation is actively addressing the specific loss of girls' schooling in Croydon resulting from Old Palace's closure.
A key strategic move involves transforming Trinity School into a co-educational institution. This expansion is projected to increase the independent school's capacity from 1,050 to approximately 1,400 pupils by the year 2031, thereby helping to fill the gap in local educational provision.
The disposal process has been guided by a concerted effort to ensure the historic buildings—some of which have origins dating back to the 9th century—remain in valuable community and educational use, mitigating local concerns following the school's closure announcement.
