Open Days
Welcome to Notting Hill Prep – your local Prep in the heart of Notting Hill
NHP is a welcoming and nurturing school, where children aged 4 to 13 are encouraged to question and explore as they embark on a journey to becoming lifelong learners.
Academic excellence combined with the joy of childhood defines NHP.
As an advanced accredited Thinking School, we take pride in fostering essential life skills alongside academic achievements through our learning Habits and core values. Our pupils leave with a problem-solving mindset and a comprehensive toolkit, equipping them to face future challenges with confidence, resourcefulness, resilience, and independence.
We warmly invite you to visit us and discover more about our wonderful school and its caring community.
Upcoming Open Mornings:
Notting Hill Prep Open Morning – Friday, 11th October 2024 – reserve your spot here: Eventbrite
Notting Hill Prep Open Morning – Friday, 8th November 2024 – reserve your spot here: Eventbrite
Notting Hill Prep Open Morning – Monday, 2nd December 2024 – reserve your spot here: Eventbrite
In the meantime, please do take a look at our FAQs below and view our virtual tour:
If you have any questions please do get in touch with our Head of Admissions, Rhonda Qually at admissions@nottinghillprep.com.
FAQs
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. Click here to read more about the ballot and how to apply.
What are the entry requirements for Notting Hill Prep?
NHP is non-selective at Reception, meaning that there is no assessment for entry at this point. Places are awarded via a ballot in May, 16 months ahead of the September start.
Those who have not been successful will still have the option of remaining on our waiting list which is sorted in registration date order, should a space arise at any time thereafter.
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. Most children will be assessed in the Spring term for entry the following September. The assessment procedure will comprise papers in English and Mathematics; problem solving and verbal and non-verbal reasoning activities; and an interview.
Do you accept applications mid-year?
Yes, if we have a space available, we are happy to accommodate mid-year applicants. Please click here to read all about the admissions process for occasional places.
Do you have a sibling policy?
Yes. Siblings are given priority of a place shortly before the ballot is drawn.
My child is currently at the Acorn Nursery, am I guaranteed a place at NHP?
Yes. All Acorn children are automatically 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.
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. 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 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. Click here to read about more about our ethos and values.
Describe Notting Hill Prep in three words…
Creative, buzzy and happy.