A Perth school is selling its main building after more than 70 years of use.
Balnacraig residential school is selling up to finance a more modern care model.
The school is a residential facility for children and young people who are not able to cope with mainstream education because of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
The B-listed property originally cost the trustees just £5,000 and while no price has been put on the current listing, it is understood selling the main Fairmount Terrace building will free capital to allow the school to buy several smaller properties, in addition to those they already own in Errol, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry.
Alison Morley, chief executive of Balnacraig School said: “In recent years care has been increasingly provided in smaller therapeutic environments away from Balnacraig School which has proved very successful in delivering improved outcomes for the young people living there.
“This decentralised approach more closely resembles a traditional family home, providing consistent staff and close individualised support, preparing young people for transition to independent life after care.
“Given this strategy, delivering education at Balnacraig School has been under review. While we have been privileged to operate in such an enviable location, young people will now be provided alternative accommodation locally, in smaller homes separate to learning, suiting young people’s needs more closely.
“It is anticipated that current staff will move to support the young people either in their care setting or in education.”
Balnacraig has its roots in the first residential industrial school in Scotland, the Perth Ladies House of Refuge, which was formed in 1843.
Mergers with the Fechney Industrial School for Boys and Wellshill school resulted in a new trust buying the mansion in 1948.
The property is also being sold with 1.6 acres of garden ground and the building itself comprises of more than 19,000sq ft.
Estate agents Savills believes interest is likely to come from similar institutional users or developers interested in refurbishing the properties for housing, retirement living or leisure uses.
Richard Cottingham of Savills said: “Balnacraig School provides a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial detached property in the desirable Barnhill area of Perth. The original Victorian house has a wealth of original features and a rich history.
“Given the size, location and appearance of the property, it is likely to have wide appeal to a range of occupiers and developers”.
