Private Prep Schools near Hampstead and Cricklewood

[ig20]

hello all, please help us as we're a young family relocating to London soon and don't understand the schooling systems yet! looking for the best private prep schools (CO-ED only) in and around Hampstead/Cricklewood for 2.5 and 5 year olds.

Would these schools accept our applications without a proof of residential address while we are put up in company accommodation/ service apartment?

thanks very much for the guidance.

Are you absolutely committed to co-ed? A number of the leading private primaries in the Hampstead area are single sex.

If you are really focused on co-ed, we’ve had friends with very positive experience of Southbank. Beyond that, the co-ed offerings get a bit dicey.

private schools don't care about your address proof, etc.

not many great options for private co-ed in the area but look at Northbridge house and Devonshire house.

Thank you @HampsteadAcademic , this is very helpful. If we were to consider single sex schools for the kids, which ones would you recommend in the area?

There’s Trevor Roberts in NW3 and Highgate School in Highgate (though the latter is not a prep, it’s all-through). Both are co-ed and selective / with assessments.

Non-selectives include Saint Cristina’s and Heathside.

Boys or girls?

Both actually, we have a 5 year old boy and 2.5 year old girl! Thank you so much

Focusing on Hampstead proper, the first question you have to answer is whether you want a school that will go all the way through A-levels and therefore avoid the 11/13+ process or if you want to focus on a prep school which then might unlock a wider range of choices for your children when they are pre-teens?

If you want schools that go all the way through you would be looking at South Hampstead High School for Girls and UCS for boys. Both are good schools (#34 and #52 in the country based on A-level results), however, this is a part of the world in which there are parents for whom the sun rises and sets on Westminster, Saint Paul's Girls, Eton etc. and those two would not be seen as “good enough.”

The other main option is to focus on prep schools.

For boys, you have

The Hall: Selective and high-pressure/competitive environment (posts on this site refer to it as “fierce”).Lots of boys to St. Paul’s, Westminster and Eton.

St. Anthony’s: Catholic/faith-friendly, non-selective, but academic. Good pastoral care. Top boys to Highgate, Westminster, Eton, and City of London but student body has a broader range of abilities so lots to UCS and Merchant Taylors too.

Hereward House: Don’t know much about this school, except that sports provision may not be the best. Leavers profile similar to St. Anthony’s: City of London, UCS, Highgate, Westminster.

Girls (I only have boys, but based on experiences of friends)

St. Christopher’s: High-achieving, academically selective school. Top girls to City of London Girls, Highgate, Godolphin and Latymer as well as South Hampstead.

St. Mary’s: Catholic/faith-friendly, non-selective. I know people who have their daughters there and are very happy. The school is friendly and suits both quiet and boisterous girls. Destination results not at the same level as St. Christoher’s across the board if that sort of thing matters, but keep in mind the role that academic selectivity and a culture of tutoring play in generating results.

good overview, but just my two cents about Hall School for boys and St Christopeher's for girls, they are not as selective as they used to be (falling birth rates, COVID exodus etc etc so these schools were impacted too) so the exit results may be different from what we see now for their current graduates. occasional places often come up in these schools so it is worth checking with the school admin and going on the waiting list even if you missed the official application deadlines.

Some other co-ed schools which are worth considering:
Hamstead Hill and Mulberry House, both heavily geared towards 7+ prep so may not suit all kids
Devonshire House and Northbridge House, I had a child going through DH and we were happy with it, small classes, nice teachers, there werent as much teachers movement as in some other schools ( we are in the midst of a country-wide teaching crisis now) and generally good exit results given that it's not a selective school and quite a few expatriate families are joining in in the final years and sitting exam without extra tutoring some other families went through.

Highgate School is also a co-ed all through but exceptionally hard to get into.

I would generally avoid very small Hamstead preps, as many of them struggle financially and may not last long or will be taken over by the larger groups anyway. Also, many of those have very limited outdoor space and facilities. Id also recommend getting an educational consultant to understand some basics of the north London private school bubble:)

For girls all-through schools, there’s also North London Collegiate which is not near Hampstead, but they have an extensive bus route from Reception which pick up and drop the girls from all over London.

This is so helpful - thanks very much.

Your OP makes it sound as though you're looking for places ASAP. Your 2.5 year old isn't old enough for a prep school or pre-prep yet. You need to find a nursery for her. Hampstead Hill, Mulberry House, Clowns Nursery and Northbridge House might suit. Hampstead Hill, Mulberry House and Northbridge House are all co-ed and also have pre-preps which could be suitable for your 5 year old boy if you really want to keep them together for now.

You might also look at Broadhurst School for your 2.5 year old if you're willing to send your DC to different schools.

Well noted, thank you.

Ivy house is co-Ed and in a lovely setting.
king Alfred’s although difficult to get in and a particular type of liberal atmosphere.
so many to choose from , but given the amount I’m sure there are definitely some that have space!!

Our younger son did the nursery at Ivy House three years ago and it was amazing. The Headmaster, Donal, is fantastic and really sets the tone for the school. I’m not sure if she is still there, but the head of the nursery, Ms. Catriona, was magical. We were amazed at how our younger son developed both academically and socially under her tutelage. Our elder son had gone through a well regarded "academic" nursery in the area that prepped kids for the 7+ and I don't think his intellectual exposure was comparable, let alone taking place in such a nurturing environment.

@HampsteadAcademic - is it ok if I DM you about Ivy House nursery please?

Happy to answer any questions I can.

Thank you so very much! We’re considering the recommendations shared on this thread.

given how helpful you all have been, I am taking the liberty of asking a different but related question. From a rental perspective, we find cricklewood and Willesden green to be a lot more affordable than Hampstead. Is there a reason we should avoid crickledwood ? Being close to a Thameslink station is a must for us ! Any recommendations for family neighbourhoods that are very close / walkable to hampstead but slightly more affordable?

Unfortunately you get what you pay for. Highgate? Crouch End (then trains from Finsbury Park?)

How about West Hampstead?

Brilliant location with 3 train/tube lines, family friendly, and safe with a village feel. Walkable to Hampstead if that’s a must (closer than Willesden Green or Cricklewood). West Hampstead also has thameslink.

Cricklewood and Willesden Green are quite different to Hampstead itself although they are being gentrified slowly.

I agree with the suggestion of West Hampstead. It has excellent transport links (buses, tube and the Thameslink) and easier to walk to Hampstead. There are also a lot of local children activities

I lived in West Hampstead for years and much prefer it to Hampstead.

Mulberry house could be a good option for your younger child but they used to have very long waiting lists. (I’m talking 10+ years ago though).

you could look at Queen’s Park as well, it’s not on Thameslink but good tube links.

for a girl look at St. Margaret's on Kidderpore avenue though I would ask searching questions about their plans for the future leadership team as head was lovely and very influential and has sadly recently had a stroke and prob not coming back

Hi - can I dm you about Ivy House please? Would like to move my don from a faith nursery. Thanks.