Choosing Between London Prep Schools
If you’ve been endlessly browsing through school prospectuses trying to find one with something different to say. Although they all make similar claims, they all mean it. While they can provide some general information, we have some advice for you on how to more efficiently research your options.
Here is a practical framework you can use when comparing prep schools. Letting you know what you should be thinking about and what questions are worth asking at open days. We will also explain to you how these things work at Notting Hill Prep, to give you a side-by-side comparison.
What Actually Matters When Comparing Schools
There are many more important things to look at than marketing materials when deciding between schools:
- Ethos and values — Not just the claims they make about the mission of the school, but whether its visible in how staff and pupils behave, as well as in how the school is run.
- Academic approach — How their curriculum works, language that tells you how they teach it not what is taught.
- Pastoral care — How pupils are looked after day to day and not just in a crisis.
- Class sizes — Though not in all cases, smaller classes generally signify more individual attention per student.
- Senior school destinations — Where past pupils went on to study and if that matches your child’s ambitions.
- Co-ed or single-sex — Whether this is a genuine choice and makes a difference in day-to-day school life and isn’t just a demographic detail.
- Location and commute — A good school with a long and exhausting commute can drain you and your child.
- Fees and extras — Make sure you have an idea of the full picture, uniform, lunches, clubs etc and not just the base fees.
- Inspection reports — An objective opinion from a neutral body is often enlightening when held against what a school says about themselves.
Questions Worth Asking at Every School You Visit
These can be used at any prep school (mot just NHP) to give you an idea of how it works:
- How do they support children not at the top of a class academically?
- How would the school handle a usually successful student finding themself in the middle of the pack?
- What does a typical week actually look like for a child in [relevant year group]?
- How often does the school communicate with parents and what channels do they use?
- An honest answer to “what would you improve about this school if you could”?
- Can I speak to a current parent? It’s important you try to source one yourself rather than someone selected by the school.
How Notting Hill Prep Approaches Each of These
Ethos and values. Notting Hill Prep was founded in 2003 on the principle that academic excellence and the joy of childhood should go hand in hand. Achieving the same goal not pulling in two different directions. In practice, this manifests in every lesson, every day, through our approach we’ve adopted as an Advanced Accredited Thinking School.
Academic approach. NHP has held Thinking school status, since we became the first school in England to achieve the accolade in 2014. Our advanced status followed in 2021, and we were even reaccredited in 2024. This title is only awarded to schools who show excellent work and commitment to applying cognitive thinking strategies into everyday school life.
Pastoral care. Pastoral support is built around the same shared language used in the classroom – the NHP Habits of curiosity, resilience, empathy, collaboration, independence and reflection are used by staff to navigate everyday social challenges, not just formal wellbeing check-ins. Pastoral support is built around the same universal cognitive language we teach in the classroom. the NHP Habits of curiosity, resilience, empathy, collaboration, independence and reflection are used by staff in both everyday social challenges and while checking in on a child’s wellbeing in a more formal capacity.
Class sizes. Notting Hill Prep classes are capped at 22.
Senior school destinations. In 2025, NHP Year 6 pupils secured an 83% success rate across senior school applications, going on to a wide range of leading London day schools and UK boarding schools at 11+ and 13+. See the full list on our Leavers’ Destinations page.
Co-ed or single-sex. NHP is co-educational, for all children 4 to 13. Read more about the co-educational approach.
Location and commute. NHP is based at 95 Lancaster Road, in the heart of Notting Hill, West London.
Fees and extras. NHP’s admissions team can talk you through current fees and what’s included directly — this is worth asking any school plainly and early, rather than piecing it together later.
Inspection reports. NHP’s most recent ISI inspection reports are published and available to read in full. View our ISI reports.
Notting Hill Prep at a Glance
| School Type | Independent co-educational prep school |
| Location | Notting Hill, West London |
| Age Range | 4–13 (Reception to Year 8) |
| Class Sizes | Capped at 22 |
| Gender Model | Co-educational |
| Educational Framework | Advanced accredited Thinking School |
| 2025 Senior School Offer Rate | 83% |
See It For Yourself
The most useful comparison you can make isn’t between two prospectuses, it’s between how two schools actually feel when you’re standing in them. Visiting is the best way to judge fit, for NHP or any school on your list.
