INSPIRED SIGNS AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE ALPHA PLUS GROUP SCHOOLS
- Inspired welcomes 17 schools and around 3,300 students to the Group
- The acquisition includes prestigious brands Wetherby School and Pembridge Hall
- Inspired provides a premium education to 80+ schools, 75,000+ students in 6 continents
London, UK, 14 June 2023 Inspired, the leading global group of premium schools which delivers an outstanding holistic education to students around the world, has signed an agreement to acquire 17 premium UK schools from Alpha Plus Group, including the prestigious Wetherby School, Pembridge Hall School for Girls and Chepstow House School in London. The transaction does not include the acquisition of the three Colleges. Closing is subject to the seller receiving regulatory approvals.
The acquisition supports Inspired’s strategic ambitions to continue building the world’s leading group of premium schools.
Nadim M Nsouli, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Inspired, commented: “The best schools in the world join Inspired, and we are proud to welcome the Alpha Plus Group’s schools, including some of the leading London schools such as Wetherby School and Pembridge Hall School, to the group. Alpha Plus schools offer an outstanding world-class education and environment for students, who will now be able to benefit from the additional support of a global group of world-leading educational experts. Access to Inspired’s global best practices in teaching and learning ensures students will receive opportunities specifically designed to transform and broaden their horizons, giving them a deepened appreciation of their fellow global citizens, magnifying and informing their aspirations, and preparing them for a successful academic and working life in an evolving, global world.”
Sir John Ritblat, Chairman of Alpha Plus Group, said: “Merging with the Inspired Education Group will allow our Alpha Plus schools to work closely with their schools, and help us to realise our expansion plans to Olympia and beyond. Our students and teachers will be able to share experiences with other schools within the Inspired Group, here in the UK and abroad. I am sure that we will derive great benefits from merging with this excellent Global group of schools, helping Alpha Plus to build on our schools’ impressive history and to continue to flourish.”
Mark Hanley Browne, CEO of Alpha Plus Group, said: “We are very excited to be joining the Inspired Education Group, whose own story, vision and approach is very similar to that of Alpha Plus. Inspired is a group which has a long-term outlook for both our schools and their local communities. For the staff, there will be the opportunity to work in schools abroad, using the Inspired group. There will be opportunities to see best practice, for example in the teaching of science and mathematics at prep school and secondary school level. For pupils there will be opportunities to take part in exchange visits with schools abroad.”
Alpha Plus’ schools have a strong academic focus, excellent pastoral care and outstanding locations, which have resulted in Alpha Plus students achieving excellent 11+ and Common Entrance offers, and with many students being offered places at their first-choice senior school winning exhibitions and scholarships in drama, music and sports.
The agreement also includes Wetherby Arts School, a new co-educational senior school set to open in 2025, which will be set in a state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot building in the prestigious Olympia development in West London.
Both Inspired and Alpha Plus philosophies focus on the individuality of each student, with the aim to unlock their full potential by providing each with a holistic education, in a specialist environment to enable them to flourish. Alpha Plus’ philosophy and values are perfectly aligned to Inspired’s forward-thinking educational ethos, constantly encouraging children to be truly resilient independent learners. The schools emphasise the importance of learning to collaborate, caring for others, asking great questions, researching thoroughly and reflecting on personal actions.
Inspired utilises the best educational practices from every corner of the globe to ensure each student receives a first-class learning experience, from Kindergarten to Year 13. Students benefit from a robust, holistic, international curriculum formed around the Inspired three pillars of modern education: academic excellence, sports, and performing and creative arts, with dedicated, highly qualified specialist teachers who demonstrate Inspired’s exemplary methodology.
Notes to editors
Alpha Plus and Inspired Education have signed an agreement for Inspired to acquire 17 schools and nurseries and are working towards an expected completion to occur within a matter of months, subject to satisfaction of certain limited conditions to closing and depending on unforeseen complications. Until completion Alpha Plus Group will remain under the management of Delancey.
Macquarie Capital acted as financial advisor to Delancey and Alpha Plus Group.
About Inspired Education Group:
Inspired is the leading global group of premium schools educating over 75,000 students world-wide across 80+ schools in 6 continents. The international group of leading, premium schools utilises best educational practices from every corner of the globe to ensure each student receives a first-class learning experience, from Kindergarten to Year 13. Students benefit from a robust, holistic, international curriculum formed around the Inspired three pillars of modern education: academic excellence, sports, and performing and creative arts, with dedicated, highly qualified teachers who demonstrate Inspired’s exemplary methodology.
Schools being acquired subject to completion:
- Wetherby School
- Wetherby Kensington
- Wetherby Preparatory School
- Wetherby Senior School
- Pembridge Hall School for Girls
- Chepstow House School
- Anthony’s School for Boys
- Anthony’s School for Girls
- Hilden Grange School
- The Minors Nursery
- Davenport Lodge Nursery
- Falcons Girls
- Falcons Pre-Prep School
- Portland Place
- Rolfe’s Nursery
- Little Wetherby Edge Street – Opens in Sept 2023
- Wetherby Arts – Opens in Sept 2025
Media contact:
Chloe Walters, Global Head of Communications, Inspired – press@inspirededu.com
