For over 130 years, St George's has pioneered the very best educational experience for girls, blending academic excellence with co-curricular activities and adventure to set us apart as one of the leading independent schools in the UK. Our facilities, teaching, environment and commitment to a 360-degree experience is designed specifically for girls. We help them explore and grow, question and create, work hard and win. Fearless young women leave St George's each year, ready to step out into the world and contribute positively to society.

The environment our girls grow up in, needs to empower our girls and be future fit to prepare them for the fast-changing demands that the world will place on them.

It is for that reason, having assessed the investment that would be required to upgrade the beautiful, but dated, Lansdowne Lower School Campus, we decided to sell it and reinvest in our main 15-acre single-site parkland campus.

St George’s will sell the Lansdowne House site to Vivere, a specialist extra care developer, following a thorough and carefully considered process.

Lansdowne House has been part of St George’s since 1976 and is a much-loved chapter in the school’s history. It was therefore vital to us that any purchaser would respect the heritage of the site and be a positive neighbour to the school and wider community. We are confident that Vivere will do so.

Vivere’s vision is to restore and conserve Lansdowne house and lodge house, and to create a new community of high-quality extra care homes that meets an important need in Edinburgh. Their proposals include conserving and restoring the listed Victorian villa and lodge house, sensitively refurbishing heritage rooms for shared use, and enhancing the landscaped gardens while protecting mature trees.

The proceeds from the sale will be reinvested directly into St George's Ravelston campus, enabling us to upgrade and strengthen facilities, transform learning and pastoral opportunities, promote our competitive and compelling position in the market and remain at the forefront of girls’ education in Scotland.

Carol Chandler-Thompson, Head of St George’s, said: “After a thorough and carefully considered process, we are confident we have selected the right buyer who will be respectful of the site during the development phase, and a good neighbour to the school and the local community in the years ahead. St George’s has a proud and pioneering heritage in Edinburgh, and an exciting future as we continue to bring inspiration, opportunities and positive role models to our students, and to girls right across the city. The proceeds from this sale enable us to invest further in our 15-acre, single-site parkland campus in Ravelston, enriching the exceptional 360-degree school experience and sector-leading education we provide.”

Further information about Vivere and their plans can be found at www.vivere-scotland.com.