WHAT? WHERE?

Founded in 1872, The Mall School is one of Twickenham’s long-established Prep schools, taking co-ed pupils from 6 months to 11 years old. The original house was lost to fire in the Sixties and replaced with a series of smart, modern, cohesive brick buildings for the Prep, along with a separate Nursery a couple of minutes’ walk down the road. The school is small in terms of physical acreage, with a roll call of 135 pupils, and average class sizes of around 15, so there’s plenty of attention and support for the children.

Historically a boys’ school, The Mall is now gradually moving to co-education, with girls joining Reception from 2023, and currently in all year groups up to Y4, with the transition expected to be complete by 2028. Numbers should naturally grow as this rolls out, with classes planned to be capped at a maximum of 20.

The 11+ is a strong calling card for The Mall and though the school is non-selective at Reception, pupils joining in later year groups attend either a Taster Day or a Discovery Day, where their learning is informally assessed to ensure the school is the right fit.

FACILITIES

SPORT

There aren’t many Preps in London that can boast of their own swimming pool, so full marks to The Mall which makes great use of its 20m indoor heated pool. No surprise that swimming is the school’s standout sport, with pupils regularly competing at borough level competitions. All pupils from Reception to Y6 have weekly swimming classes – a godsend for parents sweltering through leisure centre lessons.

There’s also a modern sports hall used for PE and indoor sports, while outdoor play areas double as sports pitches. For larger field sports, pupils in Y3-Y6 travel twice weekly to Sunbury Cricket Club, where the school has exclusive access to pitches for fixtures and training.

Reflecting the school’s boys’ prep heritage, football, rugby and cricket remain core sports though, with the move to co-education, hockey and netball have been introduced, with both mixed and single-sex teams across all sports. Away from competitive sport, pupils are encouraged to participate in everything from gymnastics and parkour to ping pong.

CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS

Arty kids are well-catered for here, with a natty Creative and Performing Arts Centre that houses a large art studio, DT workshop (for Y3 onwards, including laser cutter, milling machine and 3D printer) and a 150-seat theatre for concerts and shows.

Art is clearly valued with pupils’ work lining the corridors and classrooms, giving the school a bright and creative feel. From Y4 onwards, children work in a dedicated studio and experiment with a range of materials including ceramics, firing their work in the school kiln. Is your child more musically inclined? Happy days my friend, because 75% of pupils learn an instrument, rising to over 90% in some year groups – for a Prep that’s unusually high and, given the current Head is a former director of music, concerts, rock bands and ensembles stay high on the creative agenda.

GENERAL FACILITIES

There’s a dedicated science lab here, plus a library that was completely refurbished a few years back, offering a quieter corner of the school, with Y6 pupils given the responsibility of acting as school librarians.

Outside, there are two main playgrounds on site – younger kids have climbing frames, play equipment and an AstroTurf trike track, while older pupils head to the larger playground with space for football, netball, basketball and a climbing wall.

LITTLIES

It’s quite the trend to have a Nursery attached to a Prep these days to encourage child retention, so no surprise to see The Mall Nursery opened in 2022, a short walk away from the main school. We were escorted down to the handsome Victorian building with large outdoor play area, by the Head, whose own son attends (always a good sign). It’s been a huge success, with around 100 little guests aged from six months to four years attending, and an atmosphere that’s warm and attentive.

The Nursery has access to the school’s facilities, including the swimming pool and theatre, a huge benefit for the littlies. Children are automatically offered a place in The Mall School’s Reception class and are carefully prepared for the transition to ‘big school’ with familiar routines and teachers.

ACADEMICS

The Mall has long had a reputation as academically ambitious (the school houses are named after Oxford University colleges for a reason!) and that reputation still holds. The 11+ preparation is taken seriously with Y4 onwards being taught in a more Senior-school style structure, moving between subject classrooms and being taught by specialist teachers. Subjects are largely traditional here – French and Latin are the only languages, for example. The school has a strong track record of pupils securing places at competitive senior and grammar schools, with 19 pupils awarded scholarships across academic, music, sport and drama disciplines in 2025, and most pupils receive multiple offers from their chosen schools.

SEND

Around 23 pupils are currently on the SEND support register, with two holding an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The Deputy Head serves as SENDCo, overseeing a range of support from small-group interventions in areas such as phonics, spelling and handwriting to targeted one-to-one sessions where needed. A school mentor also supports pupils with emotional regulation and social interaction. Small class sizes allow teachers to differentiate learning effectively within the classroom, and provision is reviewed regularly with parents.

PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral care at The Mall is centred around form tutors and strong staff relationships with pupils. The Head speaks openly in assemblies about differences and challenges – including his own experience of having a stammer – and emphasises that ‘bad’ behaviour is often a cry for help rather than something to punish. New pupils are paired with buddies to help them settle in quickly. Pupils also have a voice through the School Council, where class representatives raise issues ranging from playground equipment to lunch menus.

THE HEAD

Sam Gosden joined The Mall in Sept 2024 after serving as Head of Dolphin School in Clapham. Before moving into headship, Gosden spent much of his career as a Director of Music, later adding IT strategy to his remit – an unusual pairing that reflects his broader approach to school life. Music remains a passion, and he occasionally joins pupils on stage during concerts, hopping between instruments from double bass to saxophone.

Focused on guiding The Mall through its next chapter of becoming fully co-educational, he sees it as an opportunity to create a more forward-thinking environment while staying true to the school’s traditions. The ultimate endorsement? Gosden’s own middle son is currently in Y4 and his youngest will join next year which should give confidence to other parents considering the school.

QUIRKS

How about the Prosecco and Ping Pong evenings for parents and staff? Now that’s the kind of PTA event we can definitely get behind.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Well, hello. Working parents will absolutely love the wrap-around care here. The core opening hours from 7.30am – 6.30pm are impressive in themselves but The Mall also offers early starts from 7am and extended pick up at 7pm. Even better, you don’t need to book in advance, which means no frantic last-minute logistics when a meeting runs out (or the classic “No, you pick them up” stand-off at home). Around 60% of the clubs are free, covering everything from sport and drama to more future-facing pursuits like drones and 3D printing, alongside aspirational staples such as Mandarin and debate.

ISI REPORT

The inspectors rocked up in 2017, 2022 and 2025 so it’s a school that is well documented if you get excited by ISI reports (I mean, don’t we all?). The school’s latest  ISI inspection (March 2025) praised the warm relationships between staff and pupils and highlighted the well-planned curriculum. Under the current ISI framework schools no longer receive single-word judgements, but the report confirms that The Mall meets all required standards.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobiles are firmly handed in at the door here and returned at the end of the day.

TRANSPORT

The school is well located for families in south-west London, with several nearby train stations and bus routes serving Twickenham and the surrounding areas. The school also runs a morning minibus service which takes children to the school from Kingston, Brentford/Osterley, Isleworth, Richmond, Sunbury and Chiswick.

FEES

Fees for Reception to Y2 are £6,295 (inc lunch), and for those in Y3-Y6 it’s £7,072 so it’s good-value for this area.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Strong 11+ and senior school results are a given here, but the school is also seen as a good all-rounder, with parents praising the friendly supportive atmosphere and sense of local community.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Families seeking a traditional Prep with strong academic ambition, exciting extra-curricular offering and a clear pathway to competitive senior schools. The addition of the nursery and co-ed provision makes it a convenient option for larger families.

NOT FOR: The pace of learning is fast here, so if your child prefers life on the inside lane, it might not be the perfect fit.

DARE TO DISAGREE? Be my guest! The school offers regular open mornings and private tours for prospective families. Get in touch to find out more.

The Mall School. Nursery: 84 Hampton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5QS

Reception to Year 6: 185 Hampton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5NQ. Tel: 020 8977 2523. reception@themallschool.org.uk

The Mall School, Twickenham

You may also like