Can I take the opportunity to express my thanks to NST and to Pat Cater, in particular, for the thoroughly professional job they carried out in my particular case. To move any business on whilst ensuring complete confidentiality is in itself an accomplishment not to be dismissed lightly. With hindsight, to have completed my deal in late 2008 with a financial crisis brewing was indeed a fantastic achievement and due in my view to NST ability to maintain an international database which can only enhance the possibilities of a successful sale by hedging against local issues. Thank you NST.

We have been dealing with National School Transfer for more than five years. Initially, we attended one of their very informative courses held at Barnardiston Hall which answered many questions. Pat Carter as our lead contact has been thoroughly professional in his dealings with us; the information we have received on purchases is of the right level and his non-pushy more consultative approach is perfect – so much so that we have been able to tap into his extensive school’s knowledge and contacts. We will continue to deal with Pat and NST.

Selling a school is highly stressful, even when you take any emotional factors out of that situation. It is a hugely complex process and probably a one-off experience for most proprietors, but not so for many purchasers. You need access to experience. The process is likely to take months and, during that time, there is an essential need for discretion, for pertinent advice and moral boosting reassurances. NST found me a buyer very quickly and they were on call whenever I needed advice or encouragement. This accessibility was there from the first moment of an acceptable offer to the final completion of the sale. I wouldn’t wish to go through that stress again, but if I had to, it would be with Pat Carter and his team. In fact, I have now joined the team!

When we decided to retire after nearly 20 years we knew we needed expert help to guide us. Having surveyed the market we chose National School Transfer because Pat Carter understood our kind of school. As we were a 3-16 school we needed a purchaser who would have knowledge of the needs of all age groups. It was particularly to our advantage that Pat guided us on setting our price; he then introduced a succession of potential buyers and engineered three firm offers by our chosen date. He proved an invaluable go-between, keeping a useful distance between ourselves and the buyers when that was appropriate. The process was long and occasionally stressful but Pat’s regular phone calls and reassuring voice were an unfailing comfort. It was also essential that all communications were handled promptly and confidentially. Pat Carter’s service was entirely professional. Phone calls and correspondence were to our private lines or email and postal addresses and we never had cause to worry in this connection. Harriet and I have no reservations in recommending NST to school owners or potential purchasers.

When we decided to retire after nearly 20 years we knew we needed expert help to guide us. Having surveyed the market we chose National School Transfer because Pat Carter understood our kind of school. As we were a 3-16 school we needed a purchaser who would have knowledge of the needs of all age groups. It was particularly to our advantage that Pat guided us on setting our price; he then introduced a succession of potential buyers and engineered three firm offers by our chosen date. He proved an invaluable go-between, keeping a useful distance between ourselves and the buyers when that was appropriate. The process was long and occasionally stressful but Pat’s regular phone calls and reassuring voice were an unfailing comfort. It was also essential that all communications were handled promptly and confidentially. Pat Carter’s service was entirely professional. Phone calls and correspondence were to our private lines or email and postal addresses and we never had cause to worry in this connection. Harriet and I have no reservations in recommending NST to school owners or potential purchasers.

We were very impressed by the sensitivity and confidentiality of National School Transfer, who ensured that the transfer of our nursery school to another proprietor proceeded smoothly and successfully. As a result of this satisfying experience, we can assure anybody planning to use the services of this organisation that negotiations will be conducted in a straight-forward fashion, without disruption in any way to the day-to-day running of the school.

When the time came for me to sell my nursery school I contacted three agents. Mr. Carter on his first visit gave me solid advice without the sales ‘pitch’. It was not until a few months later than I felt ready to put the school up for sale. Mr. Carter dealt with the issue sensitively and a buyer was found within two weeks. The process of actually selling took longer, however, Mr. Carter was always at the other end of the phone when needed. I am happy with the service his company provided. Throughout the lengthy process of buying the nursery, Pat Carter and National School Transfer were always available with a professional service and sensible advice. Their previous experience in these matters proved to be very useful when third-party delays caused a good deal of frustration. As a first time buyer of a nursery, it was reassuring to know they were there when you needed them.

I bought my school through National School Transfer and found the service provided by Pat Carter and his team to be efficient, reliable and very professional. They acted with integrity at all times and I was confident of the advice given. A big plus was the seminar on the buying process for schools and nurseries run by Pat and his colleague Keith which I found to be a very worthwhile day. It reassured me in what I was doing and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Having transferred the sale of our business from another agent we were immediately impressed by the service we received from National School Transfer. From the initial consultation to the final sale we were very pleased with the service Pat Carter and his staff provided. He vetted potential buyers carefully to ensure they had the necessary financial backing and this excluded any time-wasters. The confidentiality throughout our negotiations was exemplary and our sale was dealt with smoothly and without any hitches. We would again like to thank the National School Transfer team for their efficiency, professionalism and discretion.

I have recently sold my Prep School in Kent through NST and have been more than pleased with their service. The time taken from initial instructions to receipt of the sales proceeds was less than one year and NST were efficient, courteous and helpful throughout. In my opinion, their valuation was accurate and they achieved a fair price for my school. I would recommend them for their professional and confidential approach.

Having had the invaluable experience of buying our school through the intermediary of NST, who were at all times extremely professional and pleasant in their dealings with us, it seemed very natural and proper to ask them to use their good offices in marketing it when we decided, ten years later, to retire. Although this time, market forces were to some extent against us, Pat Carter and his team tirelessly promoted our school and brought us a succession of potential buyers. We were, finally, in the happy position of having two firm bids on the table at the same time! The sale, to the candidate of our choice, proceeded very smoothly and one can only say that were my wife and I in the (admittedly unlikely in view of our ages) position of re-entering the field of school ownership we should not hesitate to call NST first.

Our school was our love, indeed our life! Passing it on was always going to be difficult. We had never imagined leaving it but Pat Carter and members of his team at NST made us realise that our involvement was too personal and intense to make an appointment of a head-teacher a fair or viable alternative. Pat gave us no false hopes, making it clear that the sale could take between one and ten years. He encouraged us to think of five years, a necessary intelligence to any others thinking of moving on! Suitable replacements and total confidentiality were our major concerns: both were superbly safeguarded by Pat and his team. An encouragingly supportive report of our school was circulated in January 2001 to a selected audience. Pat had particular potential purchasers in mind when details were sent out. The fact that these people ultimately bought the school clearly demonstrates the importance of the close relationships that NST makes with vendors and purchasers in facilitating the important matching. NST were always there for us, in the background, as negotiations progressed – never badgering, but available when needed. We shall always be grateful to Pat and the NST team. They found the ideal purchasers to take our school forward and to afford the children the same love and care that we had always sought to provide.

I write to thank you for successfully selling my school – Silfield Private Day School, King’s Lynn. May I say how impressed I was with your service. I was able to deal with you personally at all times, and on those rare occasions I was not able to reach you, you always rang back very quickly. Of particular importance was total confidentiality, and in this, you excelled – all communications were marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and addressed to me personally; no messages were left electronically or on answer phone and without exception, you always contacted me on my personal number and after school hours. I was able to have absolute faith in your confidentiality and professionalism. Also worth mentioning is the promptness of your passing on details of prospective buyers. I thank you for your professional service which you provide, together with personal contact and total security of confidentiality.

After a number of disappointments in my property search for a nursery, my bank manager suggested the purchase of a going concern, which led me to National School Transfer. Regular listing assisted in the selection process and help was at hand at all stages of the search, through to completion of the sale. As a novice in the nursery market, this provided me with both a useful sounding board and some invaluable advice.

The National School Transfer agency successfully marketed and sold Motcombe Grange School in a professional and friendly manner. The agents introduced many potential buyers who visited the school discreetly at mutually convenient times. Support from the agency in the form of helpful advice or a friendly listening ear was always at hand. Overall, I found that integrity was the hallmark of the service given.