WANTAGE'S Grade-II listed Convent could become the headquarters for 13 CofE schools in Oxfordshire.

The Community of St. Mary the Virgin in Wantage is exploring the idea with The Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, which runs 17 CofE schools in total, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

The trust says the site could also become a "centre of educational excellence", offering further training to current schools teachers.

A spokesman for the trustees of St Mary's said: "While we are at an early stage, the possibility of a creating a new centre is very exciting for children and teachers in the region and for the local community in Wantage."

Abingdon-based architects Frankham Consultancy Group will review the potential of the site and buildings on Denchworth Road over the next three months.

They will advise the trustees on how existing buildings could be adapted for a new use, including" greater local community involvement" and the costs involved. 

It is anticipated that the review will be completed in February.

No decision is expected until the trustees have had a chance to consider the results of the feasibility study next March.

The sisters who live at the Victorian convent announced they were planning to move to a smaller home out of town in June 2014.

Just 14 sisters now live at the community which was built to house 300.