 In 2001-2002 Gordonstoun School of Scotland sought to acquire the school with the support of some of the North Foreland Lodge governors, and the success of this bid was announced in March 2002, when it was revealed that a new prep school was to be built within the school grounds and that North Foreland would continue as a girls-only senior school.However, having paid only £1 million for the school, in 2003 Gordonstoun closed it, soon selling the land and buildings for £6 million.The Gems Education group relaunched the site as Sherfield School in September 2004, operating as a co-educational day school for children aged two to nineteen.