Nord Anglia said it would focus on its much larger nursery schools business.

The schools have been sold to Global Education Management Systems (Gems), which is based in the Middle East.

Gems UK, which currently has three schools, said last autumn that it was planning to expand through building and acquisitions.

It already owns schools in Milton Keynes and Southampton - with a third opening in Hampshire this September.

The parent company runs about 30 private schools in the Middle East.

Gems UK is advised by the former chief inspector of England's schools and government troubleshooter, Mike Tomlinson. He has just been made executive vice-chairman.

The Nord Anglia deal brings in another 10 schools, seven of which are located in the North West of England.

Nord Anglia said: "The decision to dispose of the UK schools as part of the group's restructuring reflects the fact that, although profitable and cash-generative, the UK schools earn a lower return on capital than that achieved across the Nord Anglia group as a whole."