WHAT? WHERE?

Notting Hill Prep (NHP) is a co-ed independent school for up to 440 pupils from 4-13 years in the heart of you-know-where. It’s fast become one of London’s educational power houses due to its progressive academic approach and refreshingly non-negotiable focus on children’s happiness – or as they put it, “the joy of childhood”. NHP was the first (and only for a while) prep school to be accredited as an Advanced Thinking School where pupils’ minds are nurtured by the principles of Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats, Art Costa-inspired Habits of Mind and dancing, yoga and mindfulness are all part of the school day.

Founded in 2003 by Jane Cameron, NHP occupies three sites, all a short walk from each other. The original Victorian villa is home to Reception to Y2; the Jane Cameron Building is opposite and there is a cool new build reserved for the oldest years just off Portobello Road.

It’s slap bang in the middle of the hustle and bustle of W11 life, although once inside things are very different. Notting Hill Prep (NHP) is in a soundproofed bubble with a state-of-the-art air-filtration system, resident hens, rooftop beehives, and a woodland style adventure playground. When you add in the small class sizes – capped at 22 – it all gets rather fabulous.

FACILITIES

CREATIVE & PERFOMING ARTS

Creativity is very much in Notting Hill Prep’s DNA. Music, a strength, is taught using the Kodaly Methodology involving lots of movement, games and songs that use body percussion to feel the beat and understand pitch. The lesson we watched was inclusive, fun and an effective way of learning music.

There are four separate choirs: Senior, Recital, Junior and Cubs, plus a brilliant community choir too that extends to six local primary schools, where enthusiasm trumps ability. Only the recital choir requires an audition. In fact, musical or not, all children are encouraged to learn an instrument and attend orchestra or one of the chamber groups.

The enormous art room offers opportunities to paint, draw or create pottery, sculpt and work with textiles – Drama is fully integrated into the timetable to unlock the children’s talents confidence, speech and emotion – and there are plenty of opportunities to perform from the nativity and school productions to the Autumn Poetry & Public Speaking Competition.

SPORT

If you’ve ambled around Notting Hill you won’t be surprised to read that space is limited! Onsite facilities include an all-weather pitch, and the school hall is used for badminton and gym but generally NHP pupils use the nearby facilities at Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, Kensington Leisure Centre, Linford Christie Stadium and Holland Park for swimming, football, hockey, rugby, netball, tennis and athletics.

Four hours of PE and games are timetabled each week and after school clubs are run by specialist teachers (martial arts, yoga, basketball and Chelsea FC coaches). Team games are introduced from Y1 and fixtures against local Prep schools begin in Y3.

There are plenty of extra-curricular clubs and parents are happy to supplement their child’s competitive desires with external coaching. For kids who don’t have a passion for PE, alternative activities are offered (chess, coding, cheerleading, robotics). Every child’s happiness is prioritised and there’s a lot to be said for that.

GENERAL

It’s cosy and homely in Early Years with a sweet library for the youngest pupils. The older kids have access to two science labs, and there’s a general outdoorsy vibe with the chickens and bees on site and the (optional) Adventure Society will see kids horse riding in Dorset, caving in the Peak District or developing bushcraft skills in Somerset.

ACADEMICS

Impressive and creative. Underpinning the curriculum are De Bono’s thinking hats: blue for organisation and planning; green for creative thinking; red for feelings and instincts; yellow, benefits and values; black, risk assessment; and white for information gathering. These metacognitive tools encourage the kids to learn problem solving and critical thinking from a young age. Add the school’s four values – wonder, challenge, self-knowledge and community – into the mix and you get a teaching style that encourages pupils to deep dive into topics, consider wider implications and ask lots of questions.

Philosophy, Computing, Languages, Art, Music and Sport are all taught by specialist teachers from Reception and Y8s do an ISEB Project Qualification. The school is non-selective with streaming only in maths and is doing very well on it – Y6 leavers head off to the likes of Godolphin and Latymer, the Francis Hollands and Harrodian while many Y8 leavers go onto prestigious Senior schools like Wellington College, St Paul’s, Westminster, Bradfield College, and Winchester.

SEND

An excellent SEND provision that normalises any intervention – there is absolutely no stigma here. The learning support team works both one-to-one and in small groups depending on the need and seems very well resourced. ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and those children experiencing some speech and language difficulties are well catered for.

PASTORAL CARE

Wellbeing, mental health and pastoral care are very much at the heart of NHP, underpinned by a nurturing family vibe that’s no doubt helped by the school’s compact size. There’s a dedicated wellbeing team, including in-house school counsellor. The pupils are taught mindfulness techniques, there are drop-in counselling sessions and journalling is a popular club. Any problems that may arise are nipped in the bud quickly. On a practical level pupils take mindfulness classes, yoga, PSHE focuses on understanding emotions staying healthy, and being community minded. Also, all pupils preparing for exams can take park in Thinking Skills and Study Skills workshops.

THE HEAD

A new head at Notting Hill Prep from Sept 2024 – and only the third in the school’s history. Maxine Shaw has a wealth of experience, having previously been Head at Danes Hill School in Surrey, she has also worked in both state and independent schools and has qualifications coming out of her ears – an Environmental Science degree, PGCE specialising in Primary Mathematics and Science, a PGDE from Brunel and has completed her NPQH. Impressive non?

Notting Hill Prep is a strong school, with progressive parents queuing up to get their kids, loving that it is a Thinking School with a metacognitive approach. Shaw is clear that every child has a right to an education which ensures they feel safe, happy, cared for and stretched to be the best they can be, academically and beyond the classroom.

Beyond her professional life she has three grown up children, is passionate cook, loves gardening and spending time with her partner Paul and her dog Freddie.

NHP has a talented leadership team, including the impressive Deputy Head (Academic) Nicola Swales, so the transition should be smooth.

QUIRKS

It’s location and interiors for starters. While the younger children are taught in the homely surroundings of a Victorian villa, the older children are in a stylish modern building behind Prêt à Manger (handy!). We loved the cool industrial vibe – all big windows, break out snugs and polished concrete floors. It’s seriously channelling some trendy-tech-start-up interiors.

Entry to Notting Hill Prep is like winning Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket – thankfully once you’re in siblings are automatically offered a place if there is one available. Like all the best London Preps, it is best to make a dash from the maternity ward to register.

INSPECTION REPORT

Notting Hill Preparatory School was last inspected in 2021, read the report her e.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones cannot be used during school hours.

TRANSPORT

Children arrive on foot or scooter; Ladbroke Grove Underground station is only a short walk away on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines. Running the school run gauntlet by car can be tricky due to a lack of parking.

FEES

£8,783 per term, so fairly standard for this part of town. There are transformative bursaries on offer in Y7 and Y8, as well as the Jane Cameron Bursary for Performing Arts, awarded in Y4. Since its inception in 2014, the Foundation has awarded 53 fully funded, means-tested places to pupils who have all of gone on to earn fully-funded places at Senior schools. Pretty impressive stuff.

WORD ON THE GROUND

There’s a lot of affection for this school. Many NHP parents work in the media, fashion, arts, tech and, yes, there are a fair few celebs knocking around. They love that it’s low key with progressive teaching, creativity and wellbeing ticking all the holistic boxes. There are positive murmurings about the strong community connection and air of giving back. One parent we spoke to said it was the antidote to a “pressured London scene”.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Those looking for a school that whole-heartedly embraces individuality. This is not a one size fits all education, but delivers modern teaching practices, creativity and a super-nurturing approach to produce super-happy, academically successful kids.

Not for: Super sporty children may not feel the competitive hum. It’s more about inclusivity than filling a cabinet with silverware.

See for yourself? Be my guest! Next Open Days scheduled are Fri 11 Oct, Fri 8 Nov, Mon 2 Dec which can be booked here.

Notting Hill Prep School, 95 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QQ . Tel 020 7221 0727

Notting Hill Prep School, Notting Hill

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