Notting Hill Prep was founded in 2003 under Headmistress, Jane Cameron, 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.

Starting a school from scratch allowed NHP to reap the best ideas from education, past and present. We retain a progressive spirit underpinned by traditional values such as morality and diligence.

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

Our aim is to educate children in the truest sense of the word – ‘to light a fire, not simply fill the bucket’. 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.

At the heart of an NHP education are four key values:

We are curious. We know that a question is almost always the first stage in both the learning process and in finding our voice and so we encourage them. We inspire debate and seek intellectual growth. We find joy in imagination, passion, adventure and original thought and we nurture those qualities in our pupils.

We are ambitious. We believe that a child’s school years should be a time when they feel safe to challenge and be challenged. When children do not fear failure, they are ready to express their own views, test out new ideas and take risks. At NHP, we celebrate being out of our comfort zone both personally and academically. We see making mistakes, and learning from them, as the path to deeper learning.

We think about ourselves. We encourage our pupils to be aware of what they think and feel in certain situations. Observing our own actions and reactions is the first step towards being more conscious of how we learn, how we behave and who we are. Increased self-knowledge is a key part of future success and growing into the person you would like to be.

We think about others. We take time to observe and consider the lives and needs of the people around us. We are part of many different communities: cultural, social, local, national and international. Appreciating the diversity and complexity of other people deepens our ability to empathise. We advocate that whilst you are forging your own path you have a responsibility to look after and respect others along the way.