Established in 1989 by Michael Loveridge and his family, Devonshire House Preparatory School occupies four Victorian houses in leafy Hampstead, offering an unusually long academic runway for families seeking an all-through independent education from age 2 to 13. Under the leadership of Henry Keighley-Elstub since September 2022, this co-educational day school blends academic rigour with a nurturing, values-driven environment designed to prepare children for London's most competitive senior schools. With around 640 pupils on roll and a robust track record placing students at Westminster, St Paul's, UCS, Highgate, and City of London School, Devonshire House appeals to Hampstead families seeking a prep school that combines consistent academic stretch with pastoral warmth. Fees for 2025–26 range from £9,674 per term for Reception to £10,389 for Years 1–8, inclusive of lunches and scheduled trips.
Devonshire House describes its mission as fostering "individual growth within an inclusive community", guided by four core values: Growth (reaching high), Wonder (finding inspiration), Courage (learning fearlessly), and Belonging (caring and coming together). The headteacher articulates the school's distinctive positioning as offering "academic rigour and a happy, balanced, nurturing childhood" where children "fly academically precisely because they are known and loved as an individual through bespoke relationships". This philosophy underpins a culture that prizes both scholastic achievement and personal wellbeing, ensuring pupils feel secure as they prepare for the demands of selective secondary entry.
Founded just over three decades ago, the school has grown steadily from its origins as a family-run prep to become part of the Dukes Education network in March 2022. This affiliation brings additional resources and guaranteed progression pathways to Dukes senior schools—such as Hampstead Fine Arts College and London Park School, Mayfair—while preserving the school's independent character and focus on preparing children for a broad spectrum of North London day schools and boarding destinations.
The atmosphere is described as creative and happy, with a strong emphasis on extracurricular breadth alongside academic ambition. Parents value the school's ability to balance stretch with support, enabling children to thrive across the curriculum while developing loyalty, initiative, and enthusiasm. The school's location in four large Victorian houses gives each phase its own identity, and pupils benefit from a campus that feels both intimate and well resourced.
As an independent school not subject to statutory Key Stage 2 or GCSE testing, Devonshire House does not publish national league table data. However, the school's reputation rests firmly on its track record of senior school placements and scholarship success. The curriculum follows the National Curriculum and ISEB Common Entrance syllabuses, supplemented by French, Mandarin, Latin, and a robust PSHEE programme. There is a keen focus on STEM, creative arts, languages, and the humanities, with pupils routinely sitting competitive entrance exams for London's most selective schools.
The school's most recent ISI inspection in March 2024 highlighted the broad and balanced curriculum, enriched by extracurricular activities, educational visits, and guest speakers. Inspectors noted that the majority of pupils successfully progress to selective senior schools, and that the governing board provides robust oversight. The 2017 ISI report rated the Nursery School (ages 2–4) as outstanding in all categories, and praised preparation for secondary transfer as outstanding. The 2019 Regulatory Compliance Inspection confirmed the school met all standards.
Devonshire House achieves strong outcomes for pupils of varying abilities. The school states that 10–20% of pupils win awards and scholarships each year. Over the past five years, about half of boys have secured places at Westminster, UCS, St Paul's, Highgate, or City of London School. Girls, who leave at 11+, commonly progress to Channing, Francis Holland (Regent's Park), South Hampstead High, North London Collegiate, and City of London School for Girls. Boys, who continue to Year 8 for 13+ entry, also gain places at Merchant Taylors', Wetherby Senior, and Mill Hill. The school emphasises preparing children not just for exam success but for thriving in the ethos and curriculum of their chosen senior school.
Class sizes are kept small, with an average of 14 pupils and three or four classes per year group to Year 6, dropping to two classes from Year 7 onwards. This structure allows for differentiated teaching and pastoral care tailored to each pupil's needs. Full-time English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available for pupils requiring it.
Devonshire House spreads its provision across several age-specific sites in Hampstead, giving pupils access to extensive specialist facilities despite its urban setting. The campus includes a garden, mud kitchen, three full-size Astro courts, three Astro playgrounds, two art rooms, two science labs, multiple music practice rooms, three multipurpose halls, two libraries, and two technology suites. Outdoor learning is embedded through the school's Forest School programme, and pupils also benefit from sports sessions at Lords cricket ground and the Saracens training facility, as well as running club sessions on Hampstead Heath.
The extracurricular programme is broad and varied. Each pupil participates in five to ten different activities or hobby clubs, ranging from coding, chess, and art, to quizzes and STEM clubs. In recent years the school has enjoyed national tournament success in chess. The school runs three choirs, an orchestra, and several instrumental ensembles, and offers LAMDA, ballet, judo, MTech, and yoga as optional extras. Sports include hockey, netball, football, touch rugby, rounders, and athletics, with matches against other schools and progression routes to sports scholarships. The annual Sports Day is a competitive highlight, with pupils developing loyalty to their house teams.
Wraparound care runs from 8:00am to 5:30pm, and the school offers extensive holiday clubs for children aged 3–13, featuring more than 50 activities including archery, go-karting, multi-sports, and inflatable obstacle courses. This flexibility supports working families and ensures pupils remain engaged and active throughout the year.
The school holds Eco-School status and appoints student environmental ambassadors, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and pupil leadership. Pupils are encouraged to take initiative, contribute to their community, and develop qualities of perseverance, cooperation, leadership, and sportsmanship through both the academic curriculum and the co-curricular programme.
Devonshire House admits pupils at multiple entry points: 2.5+ (Oak Tree Nursery), 4+ (Reception), and occasionally at 10+, 11+, or 12+ if space permits. Due to the need to prepare pupils for senior school entry, the school would only admit girls into Year 6 or boys into Year 8 in exceptional circumstances. Boys applying for Year 7 must be prepared to reach the necessary standard in French before they start.
The first entry point is the Oak Tree Nursery, where children must be nappy-free on entry. Children born between September and March enter in September; those born between April and August enter in January. Children from the nursery are automatically accepted into the main prep school. Entry into Reception (4+) is by assessment, typically held in January or February before September entry. Children are seen in a group wherever possible, and the school assesses potential rather than current attainment, taking detailed notes on each child's approach and results.
For Years 1–3, pupils undergo age-appropriate assessments involving written, numeracy, and reading tests. For upper school entry (Years 4 and above), children spend a morning at the school completing assessments in maths, English, and possibly verbal reasoning. The school encourages prospective families to attend open mornings; the next confirmed event is in January 2026. Registration fees are £145 for Nursery and £174 for Reception onwards, with a deposit of £3,000 (Nursery Acorns) or £4,000 (Nursery Oaks–Year 8), refundable after the child's final term.
Devonshire House serves a primarily local catchment in Hampstead, Belsize Park, and surrounding areas of North London. The school does not operate catchment distance restrictions, and admission is based on assessment performance and fit with the school's ethos. Given the competitive nature of the senior schools to which pupils progress, families are typically selective and education-focused, and the school attracts applicants seeking both academic stretch and strong pastoral support.
The school participates in government Early Years Funding schemes, offering 15–30 hours of free entitlement weekly for eligible 2–4-year-olds. Academic and music scholarships are available, though bursary information is not prominently advertised. Families should contact the admissions office directly to discuss financial support options.
Devonshire House Preparatory School offers a compelling proposition for North London families seeking a well-established, values-led prep school with a proven track record at London's most selective senior schools. Its distinctive feature is the long academic journey from age 2 to 13 (11 for girls), giving children stability, familiarity, and the benefit of being "known and loved" within a small, supportive community. The school balances academic rigour with creative breadth and pastoral care, enabling pupils to flourish across the curriculum while building resilience and character.
The ISI inspection record and senior school destination data speak to consistent academic standards, with half of boys progressing to Westminster, UCS, St Paul's, Highgate, or City of London, and strong pathways for girls to Channing, Francis Holland, South Hampstead High, and North London Collegiate. Scholarship success rates of 10–20% annually are respectable and reflect the school's ability to develop high-achieving pupils. Leadership under Henry Keighley-Elstub, with his track record at Pembridge Hall and Wetherby Prep, brings dynamism and ambition, and the Dukes Education affiliation adds strategic stability and additional progression options.
Facilities are impressive for an urban setting, with dedicated science labs, art rooms, libraries, music spaces, and multiple outdoor sports courts, complemented by use of external venues such as Lords and Hampstead Heath. The Forest School programme and Eco-School status signal a commitment to outdoor learning and sustainability. Extracurricular provision is genuinely broad, from national-level chess to LAMDA and choir, ensuring pupils develop talents beyond the classroom.
For families who value small class sizes (averaging 14), a nurturing yet stretching environment, and preparation for both academic excellence and personal growth, Devonshire House is a strong contender. The school suits children who will thrive with consistent expectations, individualised attention, and a long prep school journey, and it particularly appeals to those targeting London's most competitive day schools at 11+ or 13+. Fees are in line with North London prep school norms, and the wraparound care and holiday clubs offer practical flexibility for working parents.
Prospective families should attend an open morning to gauge the school's culture and ensure it aligns with their child's needs and their senior school ambitions. While the school does not publish granular academic data, its destination schools and scholarship record provide strong evidence of consistently high standards.
Devonshire House is widely regarded as a strong independent prep school in Hampstead with a proven track record placing pupils at London's most selective senior schools. The most recent ISI inspection in 2024 highlighted the school's broad curriculum, robust governance, and success in enabling the majority of pupils to progress to selective entry schools. The Nursery was rated outstanding in all categories in 2017, and the school meets all regulatory standards. With 10–20% of pupils winning scholarships annually and strong pathways to Westminster, UCS, St Paul's, Highgate, and City of London School, the school delivers consistent academic outcomes. Parents value the combination of academic rigour, small class sizes, and pastoral warmth, underpinned by four core values: Growth, Wonder, Courage, and Belonging.
Applications to Devonshire House are made directly to the school. The main entry points are 2.5+ (Oak Tree Nursery), 4+ (Reception), and occasionally 10+, 11+, or 12+ if space permits. Children from the nursery are automatically accepted into the main school. For Reception entry (4+), assessments are typically held in January or February before September entry, with children assessed in groups wherever possible. For older year groups, pupils complete written, numeracy, and reading tests. Registration fees are £145 (Nursery) or £174 (Reception onwards), with deposits of £3,000–£4,000. Prospective families are encouraged to attend an open morning; the next event is scheduled for January 2026. Contact the admissions office at 020 7435 1916 or admissions@dhprep.co.uk for further details and to arrange a visit.
For the 2025–26 academic year, termly fees are £9,674 for Reception and £10,389 for Years 1–8, inclusive of VAT, lunches, and scheduled trips. Nursery fees vary by age and attendance pattern: Acorns (2–3 years) range from £4,087 (mornings) to £8,174 (extended full day), while Oaks (3–4 years) cost £8,637 per term. Registration fees are £145 (Nursery) or £174 (Reception onwards), with deposits of £3,000 (Acorns) or £4,000 (Oaks–Year 8), refunded after the child's final term. Optional extras such as ballet, chess, instrumental lessons, judo, MTech, LAMDA, and yoga range from £255–£450 per term. The school participates in government Early Years Funding schemes offering 15–30 hours of free entitlement weekly for eligible 2–4-year-olds. A full term's notice or fees in lieu is required for withdrawal.
Devonshire House has a strong track record placing pupils at London's most selective senior schools. Over the past five years, about half of boys have progressed to Westminster, UCS, St Paul's, Highgate, or City of London School. Girls, who leave at 11+, commonly secure places at Channing, Francis Holland (Regent's Park), South Hampstead High, North London Collegiate, and City of London School for Girls. Boys, who continue to Year 8 for 13+ entry, also gain places at Merchant Taylors', Wetherby Senior, and Mill Hill. The school reports that 10–20% of pupils win awards and scholarships annually. As part of Dukes Education, guaranteed progression to Dukes senior schools such as Hampstead Fine Arts College and London Park School is available, subject to availability and fit with school ethos, without the need to sit traditional entrance exams.
Devonshire House offers a broad extracurricular programme, with each pupil participating in five to ten different activities or clubs. Options include coding, chess, art, quizzes, STEM clubs, LAMDA, ballet, judo, MTech, and yoga (the latter as optional extras). The school runs three choirs, an orchestra, and several instrumental ensembles. Sports provision is extensive, including hockey, netball, football, touch rugby, rounders, and athletics, with matches against other schools and sessions at Lords cricket ground, the Saracens training facility, and Hampstead Heath. The school has enjoyed national tournament success in chess in recent years. An annual Sports Day includes competitive athletics, and pupils develop loyalty to their house teams. Wraparound care runs from 8:00am to 5:30pm, and holiday clubs for ages 3–13 offer more than 50 activities including archery, go-karting, multi-sports, and inflatable obstacle courses.
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