St Mary’s is perfectly positioned to become a sporting academy, with a range of high-class facilities already in place.

A 25m, six lane indoor swimming pool was built in 2006 with viewing space for spectators, changing rooms and a hoist for disabled access. Tennis is a major feature of the complex with six hard courts and a dozen floodlit Astroturf courts.

The artificial courts double up as hockey pitches in winter: swimming, hockey, tennis, netball and athletics were the major sports at St Mary’s, for which the school offered scholarships.

There is also a sports field including a 400m track, a large sports hall and gym. Other sports played at the school were archery, basketball, cricket and rounders. The school even had its own elite athlete programme, which offered specialised coaching in all fields. Tennis coach Ian Griffin spent 13 hours a week teaching the girls and described the school’s closure as a “complete shock.”

In advertising the school for sale, Savills made a point of highlighting the sporting potential, describing it as “an exceptional freehold property including… playing fields, sports pitches (and) a swimming pool.”
Savills offered the site as a freehold development opportunity for residential or mixed uses, including retirement housing, care or hospitality.

The school has its own private water supply from a bore hole and is heated by biomass and solar panels. Around half the 200 pupils were boarders.
As well as the pupil and staff accommodation in five halls, there are four cottages and houses on site with a further 11 bedrooms.
An application to establish a sporting college with accommodation on site would require planning permission.

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