A private prep school near Romsey has been bought out by a Southampton secondary school.

The governors of King Edward VI School announced the acquisition of Stroud School, in a statement which said both schools “see this as an opportunity to enhance the education of children between the ages of three and 18 years.”

The Romsey school will be known as “Stroud, the King Edward VI Preparatory School” and will continue under the headship of Alastair Dodds.

Mr Dodds said that Stroud was in a “strong position” and had around 320 pupils booked in for the start of next term, a figure which would be close to its upper limit.

“There will be no immediate changes,” said Mr Dodds. “We will be in the same location and will continue to be a major employer in the Romsey area.”

“King Edward’s has been looking for a prep school and we are very flattered they have come to us.”

He said that, on average, around 24 Stroud pupils moved on to King Edward’s, most of them at 11, but a few at 13.

While King Edward’s has an entrance exam, Mr Dodds said that Stroud would remain non-selective.

The head paid tribute to the work of the Sanger Davies family at Stroud over 52 years.

The school, founded in 1926 by F E Woodall, was taken over by Andrew and Elizabeth Sanger-Davies in 1960. The late Mr Sanger-Davies was headmaster until 1984.

The couple’s daughter, Judy Gregory, is the current deputy head.

Mrs Sanger-Davies, said: “As a family, we are immensely proud of the success of the school and our joining King Edward’s will ensure that the excellent education of children at Stroud will continue for generations to come.”

Chairman of governors of King Edward’s, Brian Gay, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stroud School as part of the King Edward’s family. The links between the two schools are strong and well-founded.

“Over the years, hundreds of pupils have proceeded from the one school to the other with great success’ reflecting the values shared between the two institutions.”

King Edward VI School is an independent co-educational day school for 11 to 18 year olds, founded 450 years ago.

Stroud is a co-educational preparatory school.

In its 2011 ISI inspection report, the team stated that the school “fulfils its aim to promote an education of the highest quality”.