Stonar, the Wiltshire independent boarding and day school renowned for its equestrian excellence, is to become part 
of a European schools group.
Contracts have been exchanged for the transfer of ownership of the school, at Cottles Park, Atworth near
Melksham, to NACE Educational Services Ltd, subsidiary of a successful international education group with
head offices in Madrid, Spain.
NACE (Nuevo Agora Centros Educativos) was established in Spain some 40 years ago. It already operates seven schools in Spain and four in France (under the name EIB – www.eibparis.fr) with a total of more than 7,000 pupils and more than 1,000 staff, and is currently negotiating expansion into Switzerland, Germany and the Indian subcontinent.
Stonar is set to become the flagship school for the group in the UK, as further additions to the group are contemplated.
Stonar’s Governors are convinced that the change of ownership offers the immediate prospect of substantial
investment and development whilst retaining the ethos and educational philosophy of the school.
Schools in membership of the NACE group are encouraged to flourish in their current areas of expertise whilst
benefitting from administrative, financial and marketing support.
The Head and senior staff will continue to lead the school and will benefit from the advantages of partnership
with a like-minded group of international schools. It has been agreed that a number of the current Stonar
Governors will be involved in voluntary consultative roles with NACE UK in coming months.
Looking further ahead, NACE will continue to develop Stonar. This will include opportunities for boys to be
admitted to the Senior School. This change would not take place before the 2014/15 academic year and would
start with the admission of boys to key entry years only, so there would be minimal effect on current pupils in
the Senior School.
The transfer follows many months of discussion and negotiation between Stonar’s Governors and NACE to
ensure that there will be a smooth transition. The Chairman of Governors and the Head undertook a factfinding
visit to NACE’s operations in three of its thriving schools in Barcelona and the one in Palma, Mallorca.
Tim Holgate, Chairman of Stonar’s Governors, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Stonar to become part
of a truly European group of schools. We have worked hard to achieve this development and are delighted to
have secured Stonar’s future in this way. Stonar shares similar values with NACE schools, and a common
commitment to enable pupils to make the very best of their talents.”
Serafín González, President of NACE, said: “We are very pleased that Stonar is to be the first of our schools
in the United Kingdom. In the course of our dealings with the governors, we have discovered a great deal of
common ground in the ambitions we have for our young people and the educational opportunities we want to
offer them.”
“A high level of knowledge of languages, including English, the use of new technologies, regular sports activity
and the study of music, the option to follow the IB curriculum, together with a wide range of extra-curricular
activities, are the distinguishing characteristics of NACE’s schools.”
“Joining the NACE family will bring exciting prospects for pupils and staff alike, now and in the future as we
grow and develop Stonar as a vibrant educational centre and foster links with our other schools. We have
plans already to upgrade and extend its current facilities and develop its internationally-renowned equestrian
expertise.”
Stonar, the Wiltshire independent boarding and day school renowned for its equestrian excellence, is to
become part of a European schools group.
Contracts have been exchanged for the transfer of ownership of the school, at Cottles Park, Atworth near
Melksham, to NACE Educational Services Ltd, subsidiary of a successful international education group with
head offices in Madrid, Spain.
NACE (Nuevo Agora Centros Educativos) was established in Spain some 40 years ago. It already operates seven
schools in Spain and four in France (under the name EIB – www.eibparis.fr) with a total of more than 7,000
pupils and more than 1,000 staff, and is currently negotiating expansion into Switzerland, Germany and the
Indian subcontinent. Stonar is set to become the flagship school for the group in the UK, as further additions
to the group are contemplated.
Stonar’s Governors are convinced that the change of ownership offers the immediate prospect of substantial
investment and development whilst retaining the ethos and educational philosophy of the school. Schools in
membership of the NACE group are encouraged to flourish in their current areas of expertise whilst
benefitting from administrative, financial and marketing support.
The Head and senior staff will continue to lead the school and will benefit from the advantages of partnership
with a like-minded group of international schools. It has been agreed that a number of the current Stonar
Governors will be involved in voluntary consultative roles with NACE UK in coming months.
Looking further ahead, NACE will continue to develop Stonar. This will include opportunities for boys to be
admitted to the Senior School. This change would not take place before the 2014/15 academic year and would
start with the admission of boys to key entry years only, so there would be minimal effect on current pupils in
the Senior School.
The transfer follows many months of discussion and negotiation between Stonar’s Governors and NACE to
ensure that there will be a smooth transition. The Chairman of Governors and the Head undertook a factfinding
visit to NACE’s operations in three of its thriving schools in Barcelona and the one in Palma, Mallorca.
Tim Holgate, Chairman of Stonar’s Governors, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Stonar to become part
of a truly European group of schools. We have worked hard to achieve this development and are delighted to
have secured Stonar’s future in this way. Stonar shares similar values with NACE schools, and a common
commitment to enable pupils to make the very best of their talents.”
Serafín González, President of NACE, said: “We are very pleased that Stonar is to be the first of our schools
in the United Kingdom. In the course of our dealings with the governors, we have discovered a great deal of
common ground in the ambitions we have for our young people and the educational opportunities we want to
offer them.”
“A high level of knowledge of languages, including English, the use of new technologies, regular sports activity
and the study of music, the option to follow the IB curriculum, together with a wide range of extra-curricular
activities, are the distinguishing characteristics of NACE’s schools.”
“Joining the NACE family will bring exciting prospects for pupils and staff alike, now and in the future as we
grow and develop Stonar as a vibrant educational centre and foster links with our other schools. We have
plans already to upgrade and extend its current facilities and develop its internationally-renowned equestrian
expertise.”