GORDONSTOUN, the Moray school which lists a number of royals among its former pupils, is to merge with North Foreland Lodge secondary girls' school in Hampshire to create the largest group of independent schools in the country.
The two will create a new co-educational preparatory school for eight to 13-year-olds in Hampshire - Gordonstoun NFL - in September next year, bringing to five the number of schools under the Gordonstoun Schools umbrella.
Both schools have a similar holistic approach to education which Mark Pyper, head of Gordonstoun, said made them perfect partners in a deal which also makes good business sense.
North Foreland Lodge is the older of the two having been founded in 1909 on the North Foreland at Broadstairs in Kent.
Brechin woman Miss Gammell took over as headmistress in 1938 and later described it as similar to Winchester and Gordonstoun.
It was evacuated during the second world war and in 1947 the governors bought its present building from the Earl of Winchelsea.
The aim of the school is to motivate each girl to do her best in a caring, stable, disciplined and friendly environment while following the motto ''Bene Agere Ac Laetari'' - work well and be happy.
Gordonstoun was founded in 1934 by Dr Kurt Hahn, previously headmaster of Salem School, who left Germany under threat from the Nazis.
His objectives were to foster in young people qualities of skill, compassion, honesty, initiative and service to their fellow beings.
Mr Pyper, principal of Gor-donston Schools, said: ''North Foreland Lodge was long seen as the Gordonstoun of the south by headmistress, Miss Gammell.
''The model she took for the school lay somewhere between Gordonstoun and Winchester College, and we have representation from Foreland Lodge on the board of governors here.
''I am delighted that two excellent educational strands are coming together to create an entity embracing holistic ideals.''
North Foreland has suffered from a fall-off in numbers, particularly from girls not wishing to attend an all-girls sixth form, which has affected the balance of the school.
Gordonstoun Schools now has five distinct units on three complete sites, making it one of the largest in complex terms, although there are other schools that are larger numerically.
There are 240 boys and 170 girls at (pounds) 18,750-a-year Gordonstoun and 200 girls at North Foreland.
Angela Harkness, development director for Gordonstoun, said: ''We feel this is a wonderful school and its holistic approach to education is very close to ours.''
Gordonstoun former pupils include the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and Prince Edward.
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