Montessori Academy expects to renew the lease for its school with the Bermuda National Trust and has therefore shelved its expansion plans.

"We have a wonderful relationship with the Trust and we anticipate amicable relations,'' said principal Margaret Hallett of the private school which is currently negotiating with the Trust to remain at the Tivoli property.

The school is seeking the renewal of the lease before it runs out in 2001 and therefore hope to complete negotiations as quickly as possible.

Last year the school sought to undertake several building projects in order to double the number of children attending the school, but met with opposition from the Trust.

Currently 130 children attend the school and there is a waiting list of 80 children.

Montessori has an option to renew its lease with the National Trust, but cannot build at the Tivoli in order to increase the roll from 136 students to 300 and to expand the age range from 12 to 16 years.

The rejected plans involved demolishing a barn and replacing it with a two-storey, six-classroom building.

The Trust believed the projects would violate the terms of the original lease which meant conserving the property in its original state. The Trust argued that development could jeopardise any future property donations.

The National Trust was left the former farm by Miss Gloria Higgs, who insisted that it must not be split up and that her animals received proper care.

Part of the Montessori plan included an animal zone and a conservation area.

Since that time, according to Mrs. Hallett, the concerns of the Trust have been addressed and school officials have agreed to stick with the original terms of the lease.

"We are disappointed that we can't expand but we have to face reality,'' she said.

But she added: "We are always on the look out for a suitable location to meet the needs of our community.'' The school will try to accommodate as many people as possible on the waiting list and may defer some children for a year as some parents may choose other schools for their children.

Mrs. Hallett stressed that "things change''.

"Bermuda is a mobile society and spaces do become available from time to time,'' she said.

A National Trust spokesman declined to comment on the negotiations other than confirming that the school has expressed it desire to renew its lease.

Mrs. Hallett expected the result of the negotiations to be a "formality'' and said she believed that the school will remain at its Warwick location.

Here to stay: Montessori Academy expects to renew it lease for historic Tivoli Farmhouse with the Bermuda National Trust.