Notting Hill Prep or NHP, is an independent prep school in West London. We follow a ‘Thinking School’ Philosophy, combining traditional subjects with cognitive skills at all levels, to set children up for their academic future and beyond.
Notting Hill Prep was always intended to be a place where academic excellence never came before the joy of childhood. Instead, they work in tandem with both being treated as a priority for every child.
That belief is what motivates the following information on this page: our definition of a ‘Thinking School’, how metacognition looks day to day and the qualities we teach our pupils to enrich their understanding of their own learning. Habits we hope will exceed their time with us and continue to benefit them through their education and beyond.
What Is a Thinking School?
The term ‘Thinking School’ refers to an educational institution recognised and accredited by the University of Exeter for their work in the inclusion of cognitive learning strategies in their curriculum.
At Notting Hill Prep, we teach pupils to think critically, approach obstacles positively and learn habits that will remain with them for life. These principles are not treated as an add on or a bonus, they are a core part of school life and present in every lesson at NHP.
We have held Thinking School status for more than a decade and became the first prep school in England to become an Advanced Thinking School in 2021. An honour we were reaccredited with in 2024. The process is externally assessed and demands a school demonstrates an institution wide, consistent commitment to the approach, across all year groups and subjects.
This means all teachers and students share a universal learning language of thinking strategies.
- Thinking Maps — Visual tools, improving pupil’s organisation and structure of their thoughts.
- De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats — A foundation for confronting a problem using six distinct thought processes, facts, feelings, caution, optimism, creativity, and overall process.
- Philosophy for Children (P4C) — Intentional and structured exploration of important questions. This helps children to build their dialogue skills and confidence.
- NHP Habits and Values — Though taught to be utilised when working, these habits extend far beyond the classroom. Tools such as working collaboratively and addressing problems can set children up for life.
As this framework is applied throughout the whole school, a child who learns these habits in reception will have them fully consolidated and at their disposal by the time they leave NHP.
Read more about our Thinking School approach.
What Is a Cognitive Curriculum?
Notting Hill Prep’s ‘cognitive curriculum’ is a combination of traditional academic learning and intentional teaching of thinking skills. Thought processes are viewed as a part of what we learn, helping pupils to truly understand what it is they’re taking in and become more adaptable learners.
This is evident in multiple aspects of our pupils’ development:
- Metacognition. Children at NHP are encouraged to consider their own thinking as they work. Noting when something doesn’t go as they expected and adjusting their process and pushing on.
- Independent learning. Right from the start of their journey at Notting Hill Prep, children are given opportunities to approach tasks however they individually feel is appropriate. Building their confidence to tackle obstacles and figure things out on their own.
- Reflection and resilience. Errors are treated as normal parts of a learning process rather than something to be feared. We want students to think ‘what have I learned for next time’ in place of ‘this is wrong’.
- Collaborative problem solving. Philosophy for Children teaches pupils to not only work together, but to reason collaboratively. Listening to and evaluating group ideas, not just waiting for their turn to speak.
- Creative thinking. We aim to let children be themselves, creating ideas and concepts from their imagination instead of refining or recreating existing ones. This skill is both important and useful, and given purposeful space in our lessons.
The NHP Habits
These refer to a set of behaviours and mindsets that students are encouraged to use throughout their school career. Academically, socially and in all parts of life, families often tell us this becomes a useful part of a household’s communication structure.
The NHP Habits include:
- Curiosity — asking questions as the starting point for learning, not as a distraction from it.
- Resilience — persisting through difficulty and treating setbacks as part of the process.
- Empathy — considering the feelings and needs of others, particularly in group work and everyday school life.
- Collaboration — working effectively and generously with others towards a shared goal.
- Independence — taking ownership of one’s own learning and decisions.
- Reflection — thinking back over what worked, what didn’t, and why.
These habits are nurtured by teachers in all aspects of school life, deliberately named and drawn on to resolve social disagreements as well as academic problems. The goal is for this kind of language to become almost subconscious, it’s not uncommon to hear a young child at NHP praise a friend for their ‘perseverance’ or someone reflecting on what they’d do differently next time.
Cognitive Learning at NHP: From Classroom to Everyday Life
Our approach is not confined to lessons or subjects, it is woven into school life and community:
- In the classroom, thought processes are closely tied to how subjects are taught, concepts like the ‘thinking hats’ or ‘thinking maps’ are go-to techniques to participate in lesson activities.
- In pastoral care, the same principles are used to guide students through social challenges. From disagreements with other children to dealing with stress and anxiety. Metacognition gives them a consistent language they use to work through all kinds of problems.
- In enrichment and trips, pupils are taught these tools are applicable beyond the classroom with residential trips and extracurricular clubs. This helps to build their traits of confidence and collaboration.
We think consistency is essential, with everyone following the same framework across the whole school. This is what allows the habits to genuinely become natural and lasting. Something they can use for the rest of their lives.
School at a Glance
| School Information | Details |
| School Type | Independent Co-educational Prep School |
| Location | Notting Hill, London |
| Age Range | 4–13 (Reception to Year 8) |
| Educational Framework | Thinking School |
| Accrediting Body | University of Exeter (Cognitive Education Development Unit) |
| Core Focus | Cognitive Curriculum & Independent Thinking |
| Class Sizes | Capped at 22 pupils |
| Founded | 2003 |
Why Families Choose NHP
When assessing which prep school is the perfect fit for your child, it’s about more than just academic results. The reasons people site when they explain choosing NHP go far beyond exam performance.
- Resilience — Pupils who welcome attempting challenging tasks, accepting failure as part of progress not something to avoid.
- Confidence — To form and express their own opinions, as well as be themselves even in new or difficult situations.
- Creativity — Space and freedom to generate and explore their own original ideas.
- Independent thinking — Students who can structure their own approach to work, without needing instruction.
- Emotional intelligence — Acknowledgement of one’s own emotions as well as those of others.
- Academic preparation — Tailored towards 11+ and 13+ exams and proper preparation.
Browse where NHP students go on to study on our Leavers’ Destinations page.
