American-Chinese private educational institution Sias has purchased St Michael’s College in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, which will reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic forced its closure in June 2020 due to its international pupils being unable to travel, Worcester News has reported.

The former boarding school will reopen as a private school offering day school and boarding for secondary education from Year 9 upwards, as well as sixth form education for UK and international students.

Commercial property estate agent Fisher German facilitated the sale of the 22.76-acre site which included the Grade II* listed main building and 13 other buildings including the former sports hall, boarding houses and educational blocks.

St Michael’s Abbey School’s chief executive Lily Colton said: “It is a very attractive site with an interesting history and a beautiful main building, which will make a very nice learning environment for our students. We will be opening a high-quality private school open to both UK and international students and intend on making our fees affordable for those within the local community.

“The school has not been in use for a number of years, and we now have a significant amount of work to do to refurbish the site ahead of opening in September 2025.

“We aim to become a major employer in the area and will soon be engaging with the local community in order to fill a wide variety of vacancies at the school.”

St Michael’s College was founded in 1856 as a choir school for boys. Financial difficulties forced the school’s closure in 1985, before it reopened in 1990 as an independent international boarding school.