St John’s-on-the-Hill Prep School in Tutshill, near Chepstow, has been sold to Dean Close School, Cheltenham, securing its future.

Dean Close has enjoyed a very close and successful relationship with St John’s over recent years, and has seen significant numbers of pupils move over from Chepstow to its senior school in Cheltenham.

Headmaster Jonathan Lancashire said: “St John’s-on-the-Hill has a hugely loyal following, among old pupils, parents and staff, and this isn’t surprising.

"It is a place where generations of children have grown up and been well educated. It is respected in the locality for its standards, its sporting success and its links to good senior schools.

"It is small enough to feel very secure and nurturing, it’s a flagship for co-education and with its day care nurseries it fits into family life from the very beginning."

He said: "St John’s gets Dean Close’s financial backup, sharing exciting resources and people, and the scope to develop joint projects. Dean Close gets St John’s trusted knowledge of the locality, some excellent pupils moving on at 13+ and a more secure base for the future. It really is a win-win.”

Since joining forces with co-educational day and boarding preparatory school Dean Close, in Cheltenham, St John’s has received significant investment in its facilities, buildings and learning resources.

So far, St John’s has a new astro-turf pitch, tennis courts and library, and its swimming pool has been refurbished. This investment will continue with more projects in the pipeline for 2016.