This friendly and successful school was started with the aim of providing multi-sensory learning and teaching to ensure all abilities of children were able to access their education. The school is housed in a compact and attractive building with lovely, light modern classrooms. Academically children excel from individualised teaching and children gain many scholarships for 11+.

There are relatively small classes (around 20 children) and the school puts a particular focus on a balanced curriculum with excellent DT, Music and Sport facilities. Sport is particularly strong with excellent range of sport tours and successful teams in cricket, football, hockey, rugby and netball. Over the last decade, Hornsby House has earned itself a good local reputation for offering a lively all-round education to pupils of varying abilities. French is offered for reception to Year 4 then Spanish for Years 5 and 6. There is no assessment for Reception entrance at 4 Years old and places are awarded in order of the age of the child at the date of registration with priority to siblings. Boys go onto London day schools such as Whitgift, Alleyns’s, Dulwich College, Kings Wimbledon and Emanuel with a few to boarding schools. Girls go to JAGS and Streatham and Clapham.

Termly Fees
£7,236-£7,768 inclusive of VAT

Located between Battersea and Nine Elms, Newton Prep is a co-educational academically selective school for three to 13 years olds. It offers a rigorous academic education and has a history of getting children into some of the most academically selective senior schools. The school fills a purpose-built Victorian building and has some of the most impressive facilities I have seen in a London junior school. Facilities include two new gyms, an auditorium, art studios and three science and ICT labs. Unlike many central London schools, Newton Prep has a lot of outside space, with all-weather pitches, two large playgrounds and a garden.

French is on offer from Nursery and Latin from Year 5 as well as Mandarin as an after-school activity. With over 600 pupils it is a large school and is known for offering a wide range of extra curricular activities which include yoga, drama, speech and gymnastics. The school is selective for entry at all levels (except for the Nursery Class) 48 children are admitted at Nursery by lottery, with an additional 35 places available at Reception following a ‘gentle’ 4+ assessment where they look for early indications of ability and potential.

Mathematics and English are streamed from 5 years old. Registrations for nursery are accepted right till 30th September the years before entry, while reception should ideally be sent in by 8th July the year before entry. The current headmistress, Mrs. Alison Fleming, was previously head of Dulwich College Junior School, an excellent South London Boys school. Girls and girls go onto a variety of excellent senior schools including, City of London, Latymer, King College Wimbledon, Westminster.

Termly Fees
Nursery - £4,065
School - £7,500-£8,575

The concept is unique: a traditional English prep school education but for half the day all classes are taught in Mandarin. Kensington wade is the first of its kind in UK offering a Chinese- English bilingual prep school. The school aims to deliver students with fluent Mandarin Chinese, a bilingual mindset and the ability to transfer comfortably between two cultures. The headmaster (Huw May) is highly experienced in the UK independent school sector having been head of Eaton House the Manor, pre prep.

The curriculum has been carefully planned to combine the best of British and Chinese system and there is an average class size of 20 pupils. English is taught similarly to other prep schools following EYFS and Read write Inc. phonics programme. Maths follows the Shanghai Maths approach, encouraging thoroughly acquiring an understanding of an area of math before moving forwards.

Annual Fees: £23,550

WCC is a school for boys from 4-13 years. It is based right next to and in Westminster Cathedral, in Victoria, and, as its positioning would suggest, it has a Catholic ethos, with over 70 per cent of the boys’ families practising Catholics. While its Christian heritage is important, prayers are said at the start and end of each day and 10 per cent of the curriculum is devoted to religious instruction, it is a school which welcomes all faiths. Entrance is not overly competitive, with approx. 60 applying for 24 places (two classes of 12) in Reception and applicants are assessed in the November before entry. In Year 4, up to six choristers join, with informal musical tests two years beforehand. Choristers board weekly, going home on Fridays after mass and returning before song school on Sunday morning.

Surprisingly, for such a centrally based location, the school has good inside and outside space, with a cosy pre-prep building for the younger boys. There is an extremely sizeable all-weather playground and sports lessons are played in Vincent Square and Battersea Park with about 60 regular matches a term – as well as in-house competitions. Music is, as expected, outstanding and academically the boys do extremely well, with the majority of boys who choose London Day schools going onto top level options like St Paul’s, Westminster, Kings College Wimbledon, Dulwich College and City of London. Boarders go on to Harrow, Eton and The King’s School Canterbury.

Fees
Reception - Year 3 £7,183, Year 4-8 £8180 per term.
Registration Fee: £200 

This is a relatively new addition to the London school scene and is aligned to the very successful senior school Brighton College in Brighton and a member of the Cognita schools. Brighton College schools have a reputation for engaging and ambitious teaching and strong academics. Brighton College Kensington offers a co-ed education for children aged 3-13 years old. The current headmistress was also responsible for setting up Brighton College in Singapore.

The children attending are very international and the school will be following own curriculum which will be setting children up very well for entrance into Brighton College itself. No guarantee of a place but they will be at an advantage applying to the senior school. As a new school they have no record for London school destinations. The attractive London town house has been newly renovated and is a high quality. It is centrally located close to Hyde Park and South Kensington.

The converted London town house is a period property so there are limitations as to how big a room can be, as a result there are no very large halls, sports halls or theatre spaces, but there is a beautiful period details and homely feel. The facilities are good with a new library, well-equipped music rooms, STEAM space, Science rooms, canteen and small eating area which is used on rotation by every year in the school.

There is a fantastic shared green communal garden and smaller early years play area and the school is right next to top sports centre which they use for swimming and the majority of sports lessons. The school has developed their own assessment for 4+ entry along their own specific developmental goals.

Fee
£9,199- £10,294 per annum (exempt from VAT at 20%) 

Falkner House is a new and highly regarded pre-preparatory school, for boys aged from 4 to 11. The boys schools opened in September 2017 and is located just south of Earl’s Court station and only a 10 minute walk from Brechin Place. It is a large 19th century building with space for a reasonably sized playground at the back. The school will prepare boys for 7+, 8+ (if they feel the boys are ready) and 11+ examinations which is a rarity in London Pre Prep schools and will allow boys a number of exit points.

The school offers high quality education, an excellent teaching, highly-focused classes and the headmistress aims to produce confident, independent boys. Classes are on the larger size with an average of 22 boys. There is also an emphasis placed on camaraderie, good manners and kindness. This is a small, family run school much like Falkner House Girls and is run by the current headmistress’ daughter, Mrs. Eleanor Dixon. Exit results are strong with children going to competitive day schools St Pual’s, Alleyn’s, City of London, Hampton, Dulwich, Latymer Upper, Westminster and top boarding schools, Wellington College, Tonbridge, Eton and Harrow.

Termly Fees
£8,246 per annum (exempt from VAT at 20%)

Chepstow House is a relatively new co-educational pre-preparatory school, opened in January 2010, for children aged from 2.5 to 13. It used to part of the Alpha Plus Group of schools, and was originally set-up to address oversubscription at Pembridge Hall and Wetherby Pre-Prep. However, recently all three schools were bought by Inspired Education.  The nursery building (Little Chepstow) is attached to the main school and offers the youngest children fantastic sized classrooms and their own outdoor area/playground.

The school offers high quality education, an excellent teacher -to-pupil ratio to ensure small, highly-focused classes and outstanding facilities (including an impressively large onsite playground). A wide range of extracurricular clubs is offered after school, giving pupils the chance to try out chess, martial arts, music, fencing, gymnastics, robotics, among many others. In September 2014 Chepstow House moved to a new location and extended its age groups to offer an education from Nursery to age 13. There are no assessments for entry into Reception (4+).

While the school is known to cater well to students with small classes and a good amount of individual attention, there is also a structured approach to learning and a fair amount of homework from Reception onwards.  There are a number of teachers with specialist subject knowledge, namely in French, Latin, Art, Drama, computing, music, science and physical education. This year 11+ girls results were solid with offers from Queens College, Francis Holland, Godolphin and Latymer and South Hampstead High.  Boys went to City of London, Kings Wimbledon, UCS, St Paul’s, Wetherby Senior and Maida Vale.  Brighton College, Charter House and Wellington were popular boarding options at 13+.

Termly Fees
£8747 School (excludes VAT)

Cavendish School is an all-girl’s school with a friendly and warm atmosphere.  The school was traditionally Catholic but is not explicitly catholic anymore and welcomes children from all faiths and backgrounds.  The school is located near Regents Park and is housed in a modernised and extended Victorian building with a secluded playground and netball court.  It is surprisingly spacious and boasts a modern wing with auditorium and impressive modern classrooms.

The school is academic with a good scholarship record both academic and music and impressive exit results at 11+. Specialist teachers are provided in Spanish, Music, PE, French and Ballet and class sizes are on average a maximum of 20. French is introduced in nursery class and continues throughout the school, Mandarin Chinese is then introduced in Year 4 with Latin available as an after school club. The school’s broad curriculum is reflected in pupils’ high achievements in speech and drama as well as music qualifications, science and Maths awards.

The school also offers flexible hours with morning and after school clubs on offer to extend the school day when necessary. Girls go onto a range of strong senior schools including, city of London, Francis Holland, Queens College, Channing and South Hampstead High. 

Termly Fees
£6,359 (Nursery Full Time) £6,450 (School)

The Gower school is split into the nursery (3 months to 5 years) and the separate primary school. The primary school opened in 2007 and takes children form Reception to Year 6. 25 children are welcomed into Reception class, which has its own light classroom and outdoor areas and nature garden. The school is selective for entrance in to Reception at 4+ and group assessments take place in in the Oct/Nov of year preceding entry with a smaller group taken forward to individual assessments in Jan. Offers made in Jan. 

The nursery and main school combine the government curriculum with Montessori materials and method. Both schools are housed within modern, bright buildings and have won recognition for their well-planned learning environments in the past. The school follows some Montessori teaching aspects and has a particular emphasis on Music and the Arts.  French is taught as a second language and there are many French/English bilingual children who are accommodated in native speaker classes.  There is good provision during the holidays and within breakfast club (8 am) and After-school clubs. There is a very wide range of clubs including, choir, theatre, French, Mandarin, swimming, archery, gymnastics, origami, journalism and cookery. 

There are specialist teachers in French, cookery, science, ICT and music. Children swim at the local pools and have to PE sessions a week lasting 30-45 minutes.  11+ results definitely reflect the mixed ability classes with a respectable amount of children getting into highly competitive schools like South Hampstead High, Latymer, Wetherby, City of London, UCS and a larger amount getting into excellent options like Highgate, Channing and Queens College.  There are a few scholarships being gained with places in less academic options like Forest School and Belmont. Classes in the top years are small (on average around 10 children with equal amounts of girls and boys.

Termly Fees
££6,589 (exclusive of VAT)

UCS Pre Prep is aligned to University College School and used to be known as the The Phoenix School. Although it is not a ‘hot-house’ environment there is a strong academic focus. UCS is one of the top boys senior schools in London. UCS Pre Prep was originally a co-ed pre-prep starting at nursery, however it then become an all-boys schools starting from Reception. The school is housed in a large house, opposite South Hampstead High with a small but well-designed play area.

The inside of the school is beautifully designed and decorated with colourful and inspiring displays and art-work. Despite its relatively small size, there is a dedicated art and science room, ICT and indoor PE space. The school prides itself on itself creativity and individuality alongside a strong academic record. The headmistress emphasizes there is no ‘one type’ of boy that comes out of UCS but a huge range of personalities and talents. The school provides a very broad curriculum and this is especially evident in the Prep school building. Boys busily participate in excellent art, drama, music and sport provision with high standards across the board. Both heads are sympathetic and approachable figures and they have managed to keep a warm and nurturing boys school environments.

There are two main entry points into UCS; at 4+ into reception and 7+ into the prep school. The assessments into the Pre-Prep are split into two separate days of hour-long group activities within the schools early years classroom. The school is not looking for tutored existing knowledge but a curiosity and interest in learning and participating in activities as well as a resilience and ability to pick up new ideas.

All boys in the Pre prep area assessed for entrance in to the prep at 7+ with a focus on English and Maths and most children get a place( at present about more than half the places go to UCS Pre prep boys.) The school benefits from the funding and facilities of the UCS foundations. Children also have use of UCS swimming pool, ICT suite, and theatre. There are specialist teachers in music, art and PE and before and after school clubs including ballet, yoga, taekwondo, mandarin and art.

Termly Fees
£8,184

St Christopher’s is small but has distinguished itself as being London’s highest achieving academic girls prep schools. The school is split into three Victorian buildings on the same site. The modernised facilities are very impressive and include a spacious garden with creative outdoor learning environments, including a science garden, netball court, gym on site and playground.  The building includes ICT suite, Science labs, a gym, Art/DT and singing rooms. 

There is also an all-weather surfaced court for games.  The school has an excellent reputation for getting girls into the most competitive senior schools at 11+ with the majority of girls getting their first choices.  Competition is fierce at Reception level entrance with 300 children applying for the 38 available places, classes further up the school have an average of 18-20 pupils. The 4+ assessments are play based and are looking for bright and ambitious girls with high levels of concentration.

The recent ISI report commended the school on its excellent teaching, broad curriculum (history of art, chess and philosophy are offered) and child centered learning approach. The school has high expectations but follows a ‘child-initiated learning’ approach- pupils are taught to question and take responsibility for what they learn.  Sport does not take such a central role as in some other schools but extra curricular choices are original and wide-ranging including; public speaking, self defence and Indian dance. Children are taught Spanish from Reception, French from Year 3 and Latin from Year 5.

Although academically excellent St Christopher’s prides itself on its balanced approach, which avoids the pressures of exam cramming. The school has recently gone through a period of flux with changes in headships, however from April 2025, it will be Christopher Hammond, currently Headmaster at Abercorn School.  Girls go onto St Paul’s, South Hampstead High, City of London, North London Collegiate and Highgate.

Termly Fees
£6,950 (exclusive of VAT)

The largest independent pre-school in the UK, the school is known to be one of the best feeder schools in Dulwich.   It opened in 1976 and is based both in the traditional Victorian Vicarage building and in a modern and bright new build. It is lucky enough to benefit from a wonderful playground (big and astro-turfed with sport and play activities) and an on-site nature area used for Forest School.

The largest point of entrance is Kindergarten (40 places) and these places assigned firstly siblings followed by the date of registration, the informal assessment and the school’s perception of how committed families are to staying long-term (e.g. till 7 years old) Note that to be eligible for assessment for Kindergarten at least one parent must have attended a Kindergarten information session.

The school expanded their building and playground facilities in 2016 and can now offers healthy hot lunches (prepared onsite) as well as an indoor hall for drama, PE and assemblies.  This school gets excellent exit results but is not a hot house environment with limited homework till year 2 and only 20 minutes a day at that.

There are very high staffing ratios (up to 4 in a class of 20 pupils) and music and drama are considered a particular strength. Parents praise the amazing concerts and the range of specialist visiting teachers for individual music tuition. There is an impressive range of after school clubs too including gardening, drama, Lego, yoga, ballet, hip hop, football, art and cycling club.

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory is located near Hammersmith and borders Ravenscourt Park. It is owned by the Gardener Group, who also run Kew Green and the new secondary school Kew House.  All three schools share the same creative and nurturing environment and Ravenscourt Park caters for a range of learning styles.

The building is light, spacious and well designed with a very good-sized playground, the original school building has been hugely extended and improved on over the last few years. There is a dynamic art and music departments and Ravenscourt Park Prep offers a wide range of sports. The school also makes good use of the next-door park’s tennis courts, football pitch and basketball courts. ICT facilities are impressive with all children provided with access to their own laptop.

To ensure all children progress pupils are screened for literacy and specific areas of difficulty and there is a focused special needs teacher and speech and language support. Extra-curricular groups are varied and include: Judo, fencing, ballet, football, ICT, Science, dance and drama. Registration for entry is on the child’s 1st birthday (with around 1 or 2 weeks leeway). Informal interviews held in September prior to entry the following year.

Kew College is a co-educational prep school that prides itself on being a welcoming and friendly environment with strong relationships between parents, teachers and children. The school is situated in Kew and is split over two Victorian buildings. These have been extended by the fantastically designed Octagon and Sedum building created to provide specialist accommodation for Science, ICT, Music and Art.

The space and design of these buildings have added much to the learning experiences of children in the top end of the school. There is a busy and productive buzz during lessons and the children attending come across as confident and happy. The ISI report confirmed that pupils of all abilities and needs are successful in their learning and personal development and rated the school as being a ‘good’ overall with some outstanding features. There are two classes in each year group which are mixed up every other year to make sure children have the opportunity to make a range of friendships. The school does not participate in national tests at the age of eleven but it is clear that pupils achieve well across the curriculum and extra-curricular activities, and standards are exceptionally high in all aspects of English and mathematics. Pupils are admitted to Kew College without assessment in order of application, with priority given to siblings and children of former pupils.

Early registration is necessary therefore to secure a place at nursery level and the fee is £75.

Fees
£5,515

The Harrodian School is a co-educational day school that provides an excellent education for girls and boys aged between 4 and 18 years of age. Located on the south bank of the River Thames in West London. The Prep School (for 4 to 12 years olds) is integrated into the senior school, but is self-contained in a separate building.

As part of a much larger school it is blessed with many excellent facilities, including a superb library, swimming pool, playing fields and lush, green gardens. The amount of space it offers is a rarity in London schools. Sport plays an important role at the school and there is a great deal of choice – such as fencing and gymnastic as well as football and netball. Approximately 10% of pupils speak English as an additional language; however, the vast majority of these pupils attending the school are bilingual and are not in the early stages of learning English.  Art is a particular strength and the high standard of pupils’ work is clear for all to see in the high quality displays around the school. Pupils are taught by specialist language teachers throughout school even in the younger year groups.  Pupils of all ages enjoy an outstanding range of extra-curricular activities, for example in sports, dance, animated-computer drawing, fashion, engineering, drama, choir, chess, and many more. Pupils also have the opportunity to receive individual tuition in a musical instrument. Most children remain in the Harrodian school from 3-18 years old.

Girls’ School

11 – 18 years

£8,685 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE: 7-9 96%

A Level: A*-A 75%

Having visited a huge number of London Day Schools, LEH stands out as that unicorn school that you didn’t think existed.  It seems to offer everything; in the words of the Head ‘embarrassingly spectacular facilities;’ excellent academic results; a diverse collection of girls from different cultures and social strata’s and a single sex education which also has many of the benefits of a co-educational one. Hampton School for boys is in the next door building and the two Heads work closely together to ensure the girls and boys collaborate in musicals, choirs, charity initiates and careers services.  In addition to the strong academics, sport, art and music are exceptional.  The school has the benefit of being situated on a 23-acre plot which means there is more than enough space for the grass tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor courts, four lacrosse pitches and an enormous sports hall. A phenomenal product design lab was recently opened, in keeping with the Head’s strong emphasis on STEM.  At sixth form teaching takes place in many of the sixth form only areas where there are small classrooms with tutorial style teaching for up to 12 in a class.  For those with SEN, there is good support. 

Competition to get in is unsurprisingly steep, with 400 applicants at 11+ for approximately 70/80 places.  The other 35/40 places got to girls coming up from the Junior School.  It’s a 50/50 split with the new intake coming from state and private.  The entrance exam at 11+ consists of ISEB tests in Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. There is also an interview. Approx. 10 per cent leave after GCSE and post A levels, about 80 per cent to Russell Group universities.

Girls’ School

11 – 18 years

£9,000 – £10,000 per term depending upon age, excluding VAT

GCSE 7-9 99%

A Level A*-A 88.6%

Without a doubt, you will walk away impressed.  The St Paul’s brand is as well known internationally, as it is in London.  It is the place to go if you are really, really clever, and it is really, really hard to get into.  Located in Hammersmith, the school’s main Queen Anne building looks down regally on Brook Green.  Inside it is all mahogany panelling and the aura of academic success with a library straight out of Brideshead and an impressive hall.  Behind the original site, are a collection of modern buildings sitting happily amidst well-manicured lawns and gardens.  Sport, art, music offerings are exceptional, as to be expected, as are the facilities.  For those with neurodiversity there is a specialist team, but this is not the place to struggle.  The reason that the entrance process is so rigorous is to ensure that pupils who join can cope with the ferocious pace of learning.  The school is well aware of the academic pressure that rests on the shoulders of their girls, as well as the myriads of other concerns teenage girls have, and they support accordingly.  The smart new wellness centre is a testament to them putting money where their mouth is.  Pupils come from all over London and even further afield, it would be hard to turn a place if offered.  The admissions process involves an initial computerised test, followed by an examination and an interview, which is stimulus based and requires the children to have opinions and be able to back them up. The school is looking for resilient, academic children who can handle a fast-paced environment.  115 children join in Year 7, of which about 20 are from Bute House.  On exit, around a third of leavers obtain Oxbridge places.  For those looking to study abroad, there is a dedicated American university admissions programme of 3 staff and the school is a SAT testing centre.  The IB is not offered.  

Boys’ School

10 – 18 years

£7,885 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE: 7-9 91%

A Level: A*-A 78%

City of London School is situated on the banks of the River Thames, directly opposite the Tate Modern.  The school achieves stellar results and 90% of leavers go to Russell Group Universities. Approx. 20-25% win places to Oxbridge every year. Considering its location, City has a surprisingly large campus, and the space has been used cleverly so that the school has three astro-pitches, a swimming pool, 2 squash courts, a great hall and a theatre onsite.  Its position and standing mean that it can attract world renowned speakers such as Alistair Campbell, A.C. Grayling and the Israeli Ambassador.

A new joint junior school with City of London Girls was recently opened, and following its success the head has looked to forge closer ties with the girls, beyond the current mixed drama and music productions that have been happening for years.  Academically pressured, City is the right fit for a confident, resilient boy who does not require a more nurturing environment to thrive.  There are 4 main points of entry.

At 10+ there are 40 places on offer and candidates will sit papers in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning.  At 11+ there are 80 place and candidates will sit papers in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal Reasoning. 13+ there are up to 30 places and candidates will sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test and at 16+ there are 15 places and candidates will sit subject-based tests.  

Girls’ School

4 – 18 years

£8,190 – £9,075 per term depending upon age, excluding VAT

GCSE: 8-9 42%

A Level Results: 60%

Situated in two old houses, the school of 500 has a homely feel and caters for girls with a range of abilities. This is not an academic hot house. Onsite facilities are a little cramped, meaning music, art and sports provisions are less dazzling than similar offerings, and there is no outside space. 

However, the school is well-placed to take advantage of what Central London has to offer and the Natural History Museum and Science Museum are just down the road. Around a quarter of pupils need some form of SEN support, mainly dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism. Assessment is through the 11+ London Consortium and involves a 70-minute cognitive ability test, a Head teacher’s reference and a 1:1 15 minute interview.  

There are about 300 applicants for 60 available places in the Senior School every year, with an additional 20 girls also coming from the Junior School.  Most children go onto study at Russell Group Universities and about 20% each year will take their SATs to join an American University.  The school has a SAT consultant to assist in the entrance process.

Girls’ School

4 – 18 years

£7,465 – £8,514 per term depending upon age, excluding VAT

GCSE: 96% achieved grades 7-9

A Level: 83% A*-A

North London Collegiate excels academically. The school offers both A Levels and the International Baccalaureate. The Head is very keen on the IB model, believing that an education which is a mixture of arts and science will give NLC pupils the skills they need for the modern workplace.  She is currently trying to create links with businesses which will assist the girls with their future careers.  NLC pupils come from a vast array of different cultures and the school has a very international feel about it. 

It has opened sister schools in Dubai and South Korea, and  recently two more in Singapore and Bangkok.  NLC pupils will have the opportunity to visit and go on exchanges with these overseas branches.  The school is highly selective academically.  At 11+ there approx. 65/70 places on offer with over 500 applicants. 

The other 46 places are offered to girls from the Junior School.  The entrance exam consists of maths and English papers written in-house and is followed by a 1:1 interview.  A child’s Head’s report from her current school is extremely important and NLC is not looking for a specific model of pupil, they want ‘quirky, teachable girls’ with a range of different interests and talents.

Co-educational school

10 – 18 years

£8,263 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE: 89% 7-9

A Level Results:  64.9% A*/A grades.

Emmanuel School is a ten-minute walk from Clapham Junction. The majority of classrooms are located in an impressive 19th century building surrounded by 12 acres of green space.  Consequently, the school is able to provide a very strong offering in sports and the arts. The Head is warm and approachable and places a strong emphasis on the mental health of his students.

Unusually for London, Emanuel has its own chapel and two chaplains who provide spiritual and emotional support for the community.  The school is not in the top tier of London schools academically; however, it has dramatically improved its results in recent years and does offer a well-rounded education with lots of extracurricular activities in an unusually lovely setting for inner London.  There are entry points at 10+ (48 places), 11+ (96 places), 13+ (6-8 places) and 16+ (30 places.)  At 11+ children will sit a Maths and English exam and have an interview. 

Post A Levels, the majority head to a Russell Group university, a few to the US and significant amount to LAMDA, RADA, Royal College of Music and the Royal Drawing School.  Surely a result of the excellent performing arts department which recently won Independent School of the Year in this department. Families tend to be relatively local and grounded, however as its popularity is soaring, so has its catchment area, which now reaches further into central London.  

Boys’ School, Co-educational at Sixth Form

7 – 18 years

£7,940-£10,483 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE: 90.7% 8-9
A Level Results:  87% A*/A grades.

King’s College School Wimbledon is currently the boys’ school of choice amongst parents in Southwest London. Excellent results, impressive facilities and a glittering alumni make it understandably desirable. The school offers both A Levels and the IB and has the added bonus of being co-educational at sixth form so that by the time the boys leave for university they are used to interacting with girls in an academic setting.

About a quarter of pupils will gain a place at Oxbridge every year and the rest will go on to Russell Group universities or, as is increasingly popular, American Universities. Only the brightest will gain admission, although the Head Master says that they are above all looking for kind boys who will make the most of the opportunities on offer. Admission is at 7+, 8+, 11+ (60 boys, approx. 50/50 prep school/primary school) and 13+ (40 boys). At 11+ the assessment includes tests in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning, followed by an interview.

Co-educational School

7 – 18 years

£7,940-£10,483 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE Results: 53% 7-9 

This is a small, non-selective co-educational school (150 pupils) from 7-18 years, its sixth-form opened in September 2023. Classes are generally a maximum of 15-18 pupils and have a majority of boys (roughly two thirds currently). The school is well-known for its very high standard of pastoral care and excellent provision for children with additional needs. Extra helps take the form of 1:1 lessons during the second language slot and TA assistance if needed for specific lessons (this is at no extra cost).

The building is light and welcoming and has good facilities including an onsite playground, indoor basket-ball court, art studio, science rooms, music rooms, drama studio, humanities classrooms and dining room (with food freshly prepared on site). A 15-minute walk away there is an additional 9 acre site with pitches and further teaching space in the newly renovated pavilion. Behaviour is excellent and the school’s focus on each child feeling known and valued seems to have resulted in a very calm and happy environment. The headmaster is extremely experienced and genuinely passionate about education beyond results. Assessment involves a reference and report, as well as a meeting with the headmaster which can be done remotely. 

Co-educational School

11 – 18 years

£8,985 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE Results: 53% 7-9 

A Level Results: 37% A*/A grades.

Kew House belongs to the Gardener Schools Group and is relatively new to the London secondary scene, opening in September 2013. In recent years, it has become a popular destination with parents relieved that there is a good secondary school option that is not academically selective in the Kew area. Don’t be put off by its position. It is right beside a main road and surrounded by high rise buildings. Nevertheless, once you are through the gates the former office buildings have been transformed to create a very attractive environment, particularly the sixth form centre, which looks like an offshoot of Soho House.

The school has an experienced SEN department (along with therapy dog) for the approx. 20 percent of pupils that have dyslexia, and children can access this department at any time they feel the need.  Extra support can also be provided in lessons. One quirk of the school is that lessons last 90 minutes long. This is to decrease the amount of time children spend moving from lesson to lesson, and to promote a calm and quiet atmosphere in the school. 90 places available at 11+ for four classes with approx. 30 per cent from state primary schools. Children going on to a good range of universities (40% to Russel Group universities).   

Co-educational School

11 – 18 years

£8,180 per term, excluding VAT

GCSE Results: 47% 7-9 

This is a co-educational school (164 pupils) for 11-16 year olds in Wandsworth. It is a mainstream school with excellent provision for pupils with SpLD (around 30 percent). There are personalised learning targets for every child in each subject, the school has multiple learning support assistants and one-to-one lessons are on offer. In addition to this, all staff have received in-house training on dyslexia-friendly practices, and many have specialist SpLD qualifications, meaning that the classroom is differentiated to allow every child to succeed.

Innovative new building near Clapham Junction with science labs, art design and technology and textiles studios, computer science room, drama studio, library etc. The school has small classes and excellent pastoral cares.  It began offering A levels in September 2023.

There is a buzz around this school- Thomas’s senior school is due to open this coming September 2025. The school will offer both an 11+ (80 places) and 13+ entrance point (44 places) with a smaller intake into Year 10 (14+) of 15 places.

There will be 100 in a year group and 630 students in the whole school. Class sizes promise to be around 20 in the younger years and smaller in the sixth form. Recent attendance of the open day revealed Thomas’ plans to offer a freedom and choice on the traditional senior school curriculum. It is committed to taking students with a range of abilities and a ‘diversity of excellence’. This is namely evident in a new approach to the constrictions of traditional GCSE qualifications and also an innovative year 14 policy offering students opportunities for internships, philanthropy, careers advice and support getting into the working world. Thomas’s want to focus on providing ‘purposeful learning’ opportunities for careers.

The new headmaster, Will le Fleming, has recently been working in a girl’s school outside of London (The Abbey) and made clear the school’s commitment to a new focus and developing a ‘breadth of curriculum and excellence’. 

The building was, up to recently, an American University and remains an attractive grade-listed building. At the point of our visit building work was still very much in progress with plans available to prospective parents. The building itself is elegant and imposing and will be able to offer a wealth of space and facilities in a quiet area of Richmond. On-site sports facilities are surprisingly limited with a netball court and some room for a potential running track and the promise of a dance studio and indoor multiuse sports hall. The majority of grass sports will be taking place at Duke’s Meadow in Chiswick and some, in nearby Richmond Park (biking, riding etc). 

Admissions information covered Thomas’ sibling’s approach which will not guarantee a place but will take into account a sibling application. The deadline to register is October with assessments booked for November 2025. The assessments for entrance will focus on ‘knowledge’ (student’s academic level achieved in previous school), ‘skills assessments’ (problem solving within a 1-hour session) and interview.  Thomas will offer boarding facilities for around 50 pupils with option for boarding for working week or even flexi board for the occasional evening when needed (£85 a night).

SEN support will be built into the classroom first and foremost with all teachers committed to building diversity in the classroom. There will also be a substantial SEN team in place to offer 1:1 support when necessary. Children will have top option of taking the shuttle bus from Richmond station as the school is an 20 minute walk asway. 

Language provision will offer French, Spanish, German and Mandarin from year 7.

Girls’ School

11 – 18 years

£31,320 to £53,010 pre VAT, per year

IB: 36 points average

Marymount fills a gap in the London school’s scene that you didn’t realise was there, until you see it. The seven-acre site is closeted in a private housing estate, on a leafy residential road in Kingston, and is the only all-girls, Catholic (although welcomes all faiths), day and boarding school in the UK to offer the IB.

Entrance is not the knives-out experience of the 11+, and while prospective candidates are assessed in English, maths, reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, selection is more about the school being the right place for the child.

This gentler approach is reflected in the atmosphere of the school as a whole, which in conjunction with its relatively small size (around 300 pupils), cosy mix of period and modern buildings, and green space, gives the impression that it is a place for girls to breathe, relax and enjoy their adolescence, sheltered from many of the pressures that are often found in larger schools.

That is not to say the girls don’t do well academically. There are no GCSEs to study for, however working towards the IB starts in earnest in Year 7. Classes are small, not more than 10/11, so there is nowhere to hide, and there is a strong focus on essay writing and critical thinking.

SEN support is done exceptionally well here, as well as input for gifted and talented children. Music, art and sport are strong considering the smaller size and there is a fantastic gym for volleyball and badminton. Note here, the sports tend to be more American than English.

Boarding (mainly for overseas girls) can be weekly, flexi or full and girls sleep in a friendly and clean-looking boarding house. Children arrive at any age. Around 25–30 start in Year 7 and by sixth form there are up to 60 in a year.

As expected, the make-up of the school is incredibly international, from approx. 55 different countries, and while many families live in neighbouring Wimbledon or Kew, they are mainly long-term expat residents.

As with most of the international schools in London, it is expensive with fees ranging from £31,320 to £53,010 pre-VAT, depending on the day or boarding option you take, but it is one of the nicest international schools in the city.

Extremely well-known internationally and thought of as the ‘pearl’ of AEFE’s (the Agency for Teaching of French Education Abroad) overseas schools, the Lycee is situated in South Kensington on a large campus that houses almost three and a half thousand pupils. The primary school section offers a French programme, with reinforced teaching of English of 3 or 4 hours per week, depending on the class level of the student. Class sizes are much larger than in British fee-paying prep schools of around 30 pupils and there is less of a focus on the extracurricular.  As in France, there is a big emphasis on handwriting and grammar in these early years of schooling and a strong emphasis on discipline, with children expected to become resilient in their learning.   

The secondary school is made up of three sections; the Plurilingual Section, the International Section and the British Section.  The International Section has a much stronger focus on the English language and culture, than the Plurilingual Section, and is intended for students with a very good level of English.  It is also thought to be more stretching than the plurilingual programme.  At 16, pupils sit the Brevet, the French version of GCSEs, and two thirds usually achieve the top mark. Then at sixth form students study for the French Baccalaureate and the International Baccalaureate.  The British section is made up of 220 pupils who study for GCSE’s and A Levels with lessons taught in English.  French, as to be expected, forms a compulsory part of the curriculum.  Post exams students tend to go to either Russell Group universities or French universities (around a third).  A few go to Oxbridge, universities in the US or Europe.

Fees in the Lycee are subsidised by the French government and therefore a lot more affordable than British public schools from approx. £8,000 in the primary schools to £17,000 in the senior schools, depending on programme chosen.

Attached to the Lycee are the three primary schools Marie d’Orliac, Ecole de Wix and Ecole d’Andre Malraux.  Attendance guarantees priority for a senior school place at the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle.  Fees remain the same as the South Kensington branch, however there is also the option of applying through the local authority borough and obtaining a non-fee-paying place, which is like winning the Southwest London schooling jackpot.  While they are all housed in spacious buildings, expect the feel to be a lot more like a very well run state school than a London prep school.

Of all the French schools in London, L’Ecole de Battersea feels the most like a really good English primary or prep school and is very convincing in its mission to take the best of both the French and English systems.  It was opened in 2005 and was accredited with ‘Ecole Homologuee’ status from the French Ministry of Education two years later.  There are approx. 265 pupils taught in an attractive building in Battersea with a nice playground. In the Pre Prep (3-6 years), children are taught in English and French by two different teachers.

Of all the French schools in London, L’Ecole de Battersea feels the most like a really good English primary or prep school and is very convincing in its mission to take the best of both the French and English systems. It was opened in 2005 and was accredited with ‘Ecole Homologuee’ status from the French Ministry of Education two years later.

There are approx. 265 pupils taught in an attractive building in Battersea with a nice playground. In the Pre Prep (3–6 years), children are taught in English and French by two different teachers. The two systems have very different approaches to learning to read and write, and the school has adapted the French curriculum’s oral approach in Reception and Year 1 to take into account that the English start phonics much earlier.

From Year 2 onwards, pupils have between 7–10 hours of English teaching a week and the school also provides an English Preparatory Course to pupils who want to switch to the English system at the end of Year 6. This programme consolidates students' understanding of maths in the English curriculum (the French curriculum teaches topics such as fractions much later) and teaches them the skills they need for the English part of the 11+.

It is an impressive offering from a French school, as the majority of others assume that any child joining them will be staying in the French system until 18 and provide no formal assistance for the 11+. In addition to this, L’Ecole de Battersea is exceptional amongst its peers in the amount of art, dance, music and sport that it offers its students. Walls are also covered in photos of exciting day trips taken around London and the written work that they inspired.

Joining involves sending in an application and being added to the waiting list, which operates on a priority system of siblings, pupils from L’Ecole des Petits (a sister school in Fulham which runs from 3–6), siblings of former pupils, and children of former pupils. Following this, all new children are listed by registration dates.

In terms of leavers’ destinations, those following the French system will have priority to enter AEFE secondary schools anywhere in the world, but most pupils go to Lycée Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington, Lycée Winston Churchill in Wembley or the Collège Français Bilingue de Londres. Those taking the 11+ go on to an impressive array of names such as St Paul’s, King’s Wimbledon, City of London, Godolphin & Latymer and Latymer Upper.

In 2024, fees were £5,625 per term excluding VAT, which is more expensive than the subsidised French schools nearby such as Marie d’Orliac and Ecole de Wix.

Joining involves sending in an application and being added to the waiting list which operates on a priority system of siblings, pupils from L’Ecole des Petits (a sister school in Fulham which runs from 3-6), siblings of former pupils, children of former pupils.  Following this all new children are listed by registration dates.  In terms of leavers’ destinations, those following the French system will have priority to enter AEFE secondary schools anywhere in the world but most pupils go to Lycee Charles de Gaulle in South Kensininton, Lycee Winston Churchill in Wembley or the College Francais Bilingue de Londres.  Those taking the 11+ go onto an impressive array of names such as St Paul’s, King’s Wimbledon, City of London, Godolphin & Latymer and Latymer Upper.

In 2024, fees were £5625 per term excluding VAT which is more expensive than the subsidised French schools nearby such as Marie d’Orliac and Ecole de Wix.

This is a relatively new bilingual school and takes children from 3–18 years. The school is the sister school to its namesake, a Parisian institution which is the top-ranked secondary school in France, L’Ecole Jeannine Manuel in Paris. L’Ecole Jeannine Manuel opened in September 2017 and offers a choice of the international French Baccalaureate and the IB.

It is different from other French and international schools as they use the French curriculum in French and Maths and then the best of all systems for the remaining subjects. It is based in three townhouses on Bedford Square, a short walk from Russell Square and the British Museum.

Parents who choose Jeannine Manuel tend to do so for the superior language skills that the children develop. Not only do pupils come out bilingual but they will have an excellent grasp of at least one other language, as well. Year 4 pupils learn Mandarin, which they can then change for Latin in Year 7. In Year 8 they select a further language, which is either Spanish or German.

While, unsurprisingly, the school is excellent at offering additional language support, they do not have a specialist SEN department but say they can make provisions for neurodiverse children. Nevertheless, this may not be the best school for a dyslexic child anyway, with the multiple language learning. This is also not a school packed to the brim with extracurricular activities, neither does it have the impressive facilities that you would see at some of the top offerings in the English system. With an already packed timetable of language lessons, the head says there just isn’t time. However, that is not to say that the school doesn’t offer some lunchtime and after-school clubs, and music, art, drama and sport are part of the weekly timetable, with nearby facilities used such as Coram’s Fields and local gyms.

Teaching-wise, the primary section of the school adheres to the French national curriculum but with an English language and literature programme. Children switch from French to English every day up to Year 4/CE2, and from then on, daily. In the secondary section, the teaching is bilingual for everyone except those on the international track. Classes are small, with an average of around 17 pupils at the primary level.

Admissions is down to whether the family will be a good fit, and non-French speakers are welcome at any point, up until Year 7. A few leave in each year group, every year, due to the international nature of the student body, and there is more movement at the end of Year 11 when some pupils select different sixth forms. Of the 25 or so that stay, approx. 50 percent go on to Russell Group universities, and some carry on higher education in France, Canada and the US. In 2024, students achieved an excellent IB score of 39.3.

One final note: as there is no subsidisation from the French government, fees are much higher here (£23,970 per year in 2024, pre-VAT) than in other French schools in London.

GCSEs 2024 55% 7-9

A Level: 78.3% A*-B

Non selective – no assessment Some 190 places in year 7, with 150 foundation (Christian) places, 21 designated as world faith places and 19 music places. Music scholar places-Regular church attendance 4 years prior is important.

This is a popular and well-regarded Church of England state secondary school, located in Acton. The school building is an attractive red brick period build with a number of additional modern buildings as well as substantial playing fields and courts. Twyford makes up one of 4 state secondaries under the ‘Twyford Trust’.  The school has two learning and inclusion bases and a highly qualified team meaning they can accommodate 90 students with a EHC plan and a further 89 students with additional needs. The ARC building offers children with an ADHD diagnosis a calm and quiet area to use when needed. Learning mentors work closely with students and their families to create a positive relationship which will allow them to support and equip all students to reach their potential.  Emphasis is put on early intervention with a focus on developing high-level literacy and numeracy skills. The school employs a highly disciplined approach focused on work presentation, concentration, presentation of work and silence in the corridors between lessons which some parent may find overwhelming. The uniform requirements are some of the most detailed and specific we have seen!

Ultimately this attention to detail allows the school to focus on the teaching and children make very impressive progress and achieve highly.  53% of students are achieving top GCSE marks in English and 40% in maths thanks to the solid focus on embedding key skills. Languages are commonly acknowledged as being a real strength. All year 7 s are given a chance to experience Spanish, French and German and the top two sets are able to study Latin in Year seven. Numerous exchanges and visits happen during years 7-10 to Normandy, Madrid and Berlin.  The school’s Christian ethos is embedded in all they do but particularly evident in the pastoral curriculum.  The school’s program seeks to use stories within the Christian religion to explore their own moral frameworks and develop their owns spiritual understanding and development. Each student is given their tutor group under supervision of form tutor allowing for close monitoring of progress, difficulties and giving parents a first point of contact. Targets are set each September by parents, child and tutor covering both academic and personal development. B tech and vocational subjects available further up the school, B Tech award for enterprise is offered as a GCSE subjectl6

Music and art, were in our opinion, second to none. Some of the most impressive fine art drawing and a range of graphics, textiles, printing on show, all of the highest quality. Music talent a plenty and the school’s love and specialism in music is felt strongly, all year 7 and 8  pupils have specialised weekly singing class and the music department has 4 well equipped classrooms complete with  computer and keyboards, recording studio, six practice rooms and two sound-proofed rehearsal pods. Performances in Royal Albert Hall Southwark Cathedral and extensive performance opportunities and competitions. 

Extra-curricular opportunities are very good, particularly in music with clarinet choir, cello ensemble, guitar ensemble, music tech club, string orchestra, Twyford Philamonic, concert and music scholar workshop being some of the clubs on offer. Sport provision good but maybe not given the same focus but a fair selection of clubs in the form of table tennis, badmington fencing, football coaching from Brentford FC, Handball, multi-sports, rowing and rugby. Other highlights include, coding, horrible histories, eco team, puzzle club, science club, national theatre connections.