Great London Preps You Should Really Know About 2026

Knightsbridge School

Day school for boys and girls aged 3-16

Parents rave about Knightsbridge. It’s a IYKYK school – very international in its make-up, parents are drawn by the founder and principal, the ever-energetic Magoo Giles, who was once equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He is, as parents will attest, amazing with the kids.

Located between Sloane Square and Knightsbridge, KS as it is known, is a co-ed, non-selective all-through school around the corner from Harrods. It is housed in two large redbrick buildings that were once home to the Danish Embassy and has the high ceilings and grand staircases to prove it. It’s a small school, 400+ pupils in total across junior and senior schools. The senior school is a new addition; it opened as a result of parental demand with the first round of GCSE pupils receiving their results in summer 2023.

The school is no slouch academically, pupils go on to all the top London schools – Francis Holland Sloane Square is a particular favourite – and a smattering to boarding schools, but this is no hot house. Education is aimed at building happy all-rounders, indeed happiness is an important value in the school; Knightsbridge was an early-adopter of using Place2Be for mental health support and parents and pupils must sign up to the KS Code of Conduct – a set of 12 shared values reinforcing the importance of kindness and community created by Magoo to create an ‘ecosystem of happiness’ in the school.

The school makes the most of its urban location; there are not on-site sports facilities, instead pupils play sport at some leading London venues such as Imperial College’s Sports Centre or at Burton Court. The performing arts are particularly strong with a dedicated team putting on numerous high-quality productions throughout the year.

Academics and creativity are pursued with equal gusto. Students can explore various co-curricular pursuits through well-organised art, sport, music, drama and dance offerings. They have two well-equipped art studios, individual music booths and a large music room. They also have two school halls and pupils play sport off site at venues such as Westway Sports Centre, Linford Christie Stadium, Kensington Leisure Centre and Avondale Park.

The school monikers itself as a ‘Thinking School’, with the emphasis placed on developing children’s independent learning and critical thinking. 11+ pupils exit to many of London’s finest day schools including the Harrodian, Francis Holland (Regent’s Park), Highgate, Ibstock Place, South Hampstead High School, City of London and more. Students who stay on till 13+ join top day schools such as St Paul’s and King’s College Wimbledon, alongside leading boarding options like Wellington, Marlborough, St Edward’s Oxford, Bradfield, Harrow and Bedales.

Francis Holland Preparatory School

Day school for girls aged 4-11

They are getting something very right at Francis Holland Prep. It’s blooming and picking up awards along the way. Having recently settled into their current site further down the King’s Road, Francis Holland Preparatory School has established itself as an excellent all-girls prep choice. The new building offers lots of space, including an amazing library hub opened within the historic former Chelsea public library building, a specialist STEM facility, an extensive outdoor play area and a spacious hall with staging. This increase in space has also allowed the school to increase in size to two form entry – two classes per year group, instead of one.

Many pupils join one of the two Francis Holland senior schools in Sloane Square and Regents Park. But their 2026 cohort has also received offers from other top London schools such as Alleyn’s, Putney High School, Godolphin and Latymer, Latymer Upper, City of London School for Girls, Wimbledon High School and St Paul’s Girls’ School. Pupils will also be taking up places at top notch UK boarding schools including Wycombe Abbey, Downe House, St Swithin’s, Heathfield and Cheltenham Ladies College.

Maple Walk School

Day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 11

A hidden gem in north-west London, Maple Walk is part of New Model Schools, a group of not-for-profit London preps that combine knowledge-rich curricula with a forward-thinking ethos and innovative extra-curricular provision.

Maple Walk is a non-selective, co-ed prep. It’s a real ‘village school, serving the cool communities of Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise but parents are being drawn from as far as North Kensington, eschewing the more traditional Bassett House and Notting Hill Prep for Maple Walk’s nurturing, down-to-earth approach. Academics are on the up and pupils are exiting to top London senior schools including Francis Holland, Latymer Upper, Queen’s College, UCS, Dulwich College and St Paul’s Girls’ School.

Maple Walk makes the most of its community – sport lessons take place in the local park around the corner and creativity is embedded in the community; the school has partnered with Notting Hill artists to put on a summer carnival in the park. The children are also regular visitors to the old people’s home across the road from the school where they read and sing together. This is a school for families who don’t want their children in ivory towers but are ambitious for their children academically and believe community is fundamental to a great prep school experience.

There is a strong roster of creative (and cerebral activities) such as Chess and drama with LAMDA. Sport is played at Barn Elms which is only a coach ride away. St Philip’s also has a secure garden, with benches, quiet spaces, play areas and even table tennis tables, allowing space for boys to play and read.

St Philip’s boys are a familiar sight around the streets of South Kensington in their distinctive smart blue blazers. This is a school that takes great pride in itself. It’s no surprise perhaps that so many of its pupils go on to the country’s leading schools.

Hereward House School

Day schools for boys aged 4 to 13 

Another great all-boys prep you should know about is Hereward House School, tucked away in the residential streets near Swiss Cottage. Like St Philip’s, Hereward House is a small school, with around 175 boys in 10 classes.  

Hereward House boasts excellent 11+ and 13+ results, feeding on to Westminster, St Paul’s, City of London, Highgate, amongst many other prominent schools in and around London. Most of their boys stay on up until the end of year 8.  

Hereward Houses’ location, not too far from central London, means the boys have many fantastic opportunities to visit London’s leading theatres, museums and galleries. From year 5 onwards, boys further take part in a weeklong residential trip where they participate in multiple sports and activities. Chess is also offered on the curriculum in years 1 and 2.  

The headmaster, Pascal Evans has been there for over a decade. He knows every boy and strives to help get the best out of each individual, with online sessions throughout the summer holidays to prep for key exams. Mr Evans is keen to spend an hour with each boy that is keen to join the school, much preferring to play games and talk together over online or written assessments. 

Connaught House School

Day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 11

Connaught House is a family-owned school and a great co-ed London prep option. With Hyde Park at the end of their road, alongside other excellent nearby facilities, Connaught House makes the most of using London as their classroom. Lots of the families attending the school live close by and many of the children scoot or walk to school, supporting the strong community and family feel.  

What they lack in space they make up for in character. The Good Schools Guide states how it is: “ ‘A hidden gem of a school’…‘a culture of its own’: parents love the calm, creative, un-pressured atmosphere. Teachers ‘care from the bottom of their heart’, nurturing, steering and working together to create a unique experience in central London.” This review is evident in that the children all want to share their work with the headteacher, Mrs Hampton, when she comes in.  

The class sizes are usually 10-12 children, ensuring that all the teaching staff know every child really well. The pastoral care is second to none with clear information about progress and next steps.  

Connaught House is academically non-selective; however, they hold huge value in their destination results. Students go on to top senior schools, in and around London with over 70% of their year 6 cohort in 2026 receiving offers with music, art or academic scholarships. 

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 

Day and boarding school for boys aged 4 to 13

Situated next door to Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral Choir School, is an academically selective, leading Catholic prep, catering for around 270 boys. Boarding places are exclusively held for 21 choristers, with entry at Year 4.

Music is at the heart of school life; choristers sing at world-class level. Day boys also take part in music-making. Beyond music, sport and extra-curricular activities play a crucial role in day-to-day school life, with a great array of clubs on offer. The school also has two large playgrounds, where boys can play football and compete in various team tournaments.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School follows the idea of a ‘liberal education’, encouraging critical thinking and enlarging understanding. Their 13+ leavers go on to leading independent schools in and around London; in 2025 nine boys progressed to Eton, including one King’s Scholar and another received a Music Exhibition.

The school’s approach is rooted in offering a demanding and classical education. Consequently, screen usage is limited, relying on teaching to be based off books. This fosters strong handwriting skills and encourages spoken discussion, step-by-step problem solving, mental calculation and memorisation.

 

The prep school has a great setting of their own, with further access to the resources of the senior school (the senior school is only a two-minute walk away). Resources at the senior school include an art and DT suite, alongside a gym that houses a range of equipment, allowing girls to participate in a diverse range of clubs such as karate, indoor rowing, fencing and yoga.

With one form entry, class sizes are relatively small, effectively preparing girls for their transition to senior school. Whilst successfully preparing girls for 11+ entrance into top London schools, most Queen’s Gate girls stay on to the senior school (years 7 to 13), with automatic entry.

Southbank International School Kensington 

Boys and girls aged 2-11

Southbank International School Kensington is located a short walk away from Notting Hill Gate tube station, housed within a pair of beautifully adjoined Victorian Villas. Owned by the Cognita group, the school is an excellent prep option for families seeking an education beyond the British curriculum. Students follow the International Baccalaureate Primary Year Programme (PYP) up until age 11, before they go on to their Westminster campus, where they study the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes (ages 11-18).

The PYP is a student-centered, inquiry-based curriculum that encourages transdisciplinary learning across subjects. It is very different from the more knowledge-led British curriculum and focuses more on coursework than final term exams. Champions of the IB say that the curriculum fosters a global outlook and real-world skills, better preparing pupils meaning boys and girls at Southbank are well prepared to tackle the ever-changing and diverse working world when they complete their school years.

There is no uniform at the Kensington campus, the informal atmosphere nurtures students’ curiosity and creativity. The school also has a strong track record of catering to all abilities and good SEND provision. The Kensington campus further boasts high-quality facilities; a music room with digital recording equipment and instruments, a room for robotics and filming, a well-equipped art room, a well-supplied library and a garden which features a sandpit, climbing frame, and a range of educational paraphernalia.

Please note that their Hampstead campus is also an excellent prep option to have on your radar.

 

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