Bentham’s former grammar school, which was bought and taken over by Sedbergh Junior School eight years ago, is to remain an educational facility.

The site in Low Bentham went on the market again last year when Sedbergh School announced it was relocating its junior facility back to the Sedbergh campus.

Selling agents Dacres Commercial placed a guide price of £2 million on the site and now it has been bought by the Witherslack Group.

The group, with its head office in Kirkby Lonsdale, runs eight special educational needs schools (SENS) and five children’s homes. It provides specialist education and care for children and young people aged between four and 19 with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties, communication difficulties and complex learning difficulties.

The former grammar school sits in more than 13 acres, with buildings more than 300 years old. The main building is a former rectory designed by architect Norman Shaw.

When Sedbergh Junior School took over the premises in 2002, it spent more than £1 million on refurbishment.

A spokesman for Witherslack Group said it envisaged moving into the site in 12 months.