Admissions

Entry into Reception

Notting Hill Prep School is non-selective at Reception, meaning that there is no assessment for entry at this point.

Places for Reception entry is allocated in registration date order, but birthdays are considered to ensure an even mix of age. Those who are registered early will be offered a place and will have the first option of remaining on our waiting list, in registration date order, should a space arise thereafter.

Siblings and children who wish to join us from The Acorn, are automatically offered places once they have registered at NHP, if they are available. If you would like to enquire regarding available spaces at The Acorn, please contact The Acorn Nursery at admin@theacornnursery.co.uk .

A child entering in Reception will join one of up to three parallel classes of mixed age range.

The Dukes Village

Notting Hill Prep is part of the Dukes Education family of schools and educators, united by a common purpose: to give children the foundations for an extraordinary life. We create clusters of nurseries and schools in village locations to offer families an all-through education journey within their local area.

Dukes Education is committed to a smooth transition from nursery to prep school. With a focus on nurturing each child’s potential, we ensure that early years learning seamlessly flows into their prep school journey. Families from Little Dukes nurseries benefit from a guaranteed entry policy, meaning that when children are ready for Reception, their place in a Dukes prep school is assured—subject to availability and the child’s ability to thrive within the school’s ethos and curriculum.

Starting with a Little Dukes nursery provides a strong foundation and continuity as children grow. This guaranteed progression allows families to plan confidently, knowing their child can flourish in a familiar, supportive environment that celebrates their individuality.

Occasional Places

Occasional place lists for all other year groups are kept in the eventuality a place becomes available.

Pupils entering Year 1 and above are assessed to gauge the child’s academic abilities and ensure that the school’s educational facilities meet their needs. The assessment procedure will comprise of papers in English and Mathematics; problem solving and verbal and non-verbal reasoning activities; an ideally, an interview with a Head of school.

Pending a successful assessment an offer will be made for entry into the relevant year group and parents will be informed of the results no later than two weeks after the last assessment date.

Efforts will be made to balance the number of boys and girls in each class.

To register your child at Notting Hill Prep, please submit a registration form via our website.

Registration Form

Bursary Places

The NHP Bursary Foundation was established in 2009 with the aim of making an NHP education available to a broad cross-section of local children.

Each year we offer a minimum of two fully funded places to children joining into Year 7 from state schools in our neighbourhood.

These bursary places are academically selective and means-tested and cover not only fees, but trips, enrichment activities and incidentals. The current means-tested threshold is up to £45, 000 maximum family income.

Bursary pupils spend two years at NHP before transitioning to senior school in Year 9. Past bursary students have gone on to attain scholarships and fully funded places at senior schools such as Charterhouse, Rugby School, St. Edward’s School, Westminster, City of London and The Harrodian.

11+ (Year 7) applicants will write assessments in January. The top achievers will be invited to a second round in January which will involve spending a morning at NHP. Up to three 11+ bursaries are awarded. All finalists will receive a home visit from the Head of Admissions & Marketing and the Head of the Foundation.

8+ (Year 4) applicants will write assessments in January. The top achievers will be invited to a second round in January which will involve spending a morning at NHP. One 8+ bursary is awarded annually. All finalists will receive a home visit from the Head of Admissions & Marketing and the Head of the Foundation.

Deadline to apply for a bursary is the November of the preceding year. (e.g. to join in September 2028, applications need to be submitted by November 2027) Submissions are via the online enquiry form, or email Rhonda.

For all admissions enquiries, please contact the Head of Admissions & Marketing, Rhonda Qually, admissions@nottinghillprep.com.

Message Rhonda via WhatsApp

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After you register your child, we would like to contact you occasionally with School updates, as we believe this will help you make an informed choice about whether our school is the right school for your child(ren).
Please tick here to consent to us contacting you in this way. We will never sell your data to third parties. If you later change your mind, you can tell us by emailing the school office.

Yes, please do send me occasional updates.

No, I'm not interested in hearing occasionally from the school.

How early do I need to register my child in order to get a place at Notting Hill Prep?

Although there is no formal deadline for registration, we recommend you apply as early as possible. Places for Reception entry is allocated in registration date order, but birthdays are considered to ensure an even mix of age. Those who are registered early will be offered a place and will have the first option of remaining on our waiting list, in registration date order, should a space arise thereafter.

What are the entry requirements for Notting Hill Prep?

NHP is non-selective at Reception, meaning that there is no assessment for entry at Reception.

Pending a successful assessment an offer will be made for entry into the relevant year group and parents will be informed of the results no later than two weeks after the last assessment date.

Do you accept applications mid-year?

Yes, if we have a space available, we are happy to accommodate mid-year applicants.

Do you have a sibling policy?

Yes. Siblings are given priority of a place.

My child is currently at the Acorn Nursery, am I guaranteed a place at NHP?

Yes. All Acorn children are offered a place for Reception entry, on the condition that they have been at the nursery for the maximum period of time that they are able to attend, based on their date of birth. Acorn families are required to complete an online registration form via our website.

Does my child get priority entrance into other Dukes Education Schools?

Yes. Our pupils will move onto the school that best suits their attainment and aptitude whether at 11+ or 13+. We prepare them for the school that is right for them, and our experienced teachers will help support your child at every step of the way.

It may be that another Dukes school is suitable for your child. If so, we are happy to advise and recommend them, and one of the benefits of being part of the Dukes Education family is that we can offer priority entrance to your child.

Priority access means that a pupil at one of Dukes’ schools enjoys preferential entry to another, but it is not a guarantee of acceptance. Each school has its own admissions criteria, and an assessment process for entry, and every pupil needs to meet the minimum criteria. A child that meets the eligibility criteria to join another Dukes school moves straight to the front of the queue. This can take a good deal of uncertainty and stress out of the 11+ and 13+ process.

If pupils prefer to continue on to a Dukes senior school, we may be able to confirm acceptance during Year 5, subject to meeting the entrance criteria. Explore all the Dukes senior schools here.

What is a Thinking School?

NHP has been a Thinking School since 2014 and achieved accreditation as an Advanced Thinking School by the Cognitive Education Development Unit of the University of Exeter in March 2021 and we were reaccredited in March 2024. We were the first Advanced Thinking School within the primary school category in England and to this day are still only one of two schools within this category.

A Thinking School is one in which teachers and pupils have a deep understanding of how to learn and think effectively. This approach lies at the heart of all teaching and learning at NHP. Click here to read more about this.

What makes NHP special?

NHP was founded with the vision of creating a local co-ed prep school, grounded in a strong partnership between school and parents. NHP began with two important school rules, that still dominate today; every child should have the right to come to school each day feeling safe and happy.

The bedrock of an NHP education is the belief in academic excellence and the innate joy of childhood and a commitment to protect both these core principles, despite the highly pressurised times in which we live.

Driven by our Thinking School approach, and supported by dynamic and inspiring teachers, we strive to develop a passion for learning and a strong sense of self that will carry our pupils through their school years and beyond. Click here to read about more about our ethos and values.