Hereward House School is an independent preparatory day school for boys aged 4 to 13, founded in 1951 and located in a quiet residential street in Hampstead, North London. What sets this single-form entry school apart is its non-selective admissions philosophy combined with an exceptional track record of senior school placements: the most popular destination is City of London School, with 60% of leavers progressing to Westminster School, UCS, City of London, and St Paul's School alone. The school serves approximately 175 boys across ten classes, offering a broad curriculum enriched by near-universal instrumental music tuition, competitive sports programmes at prestigious local venues, and an emphasis on developing confident, considerate young men prepared for the rigours of senior school entrance. Termly fees range from £6,915 to £7,170 (plus VAT from January 2025), inclusive of lunch and books. Under the leadership of Headmaster Pascal Evans since 2014, Hereward House achieved full compliance and excellent ratings across all areas in its most recent ISI inspection (April 2023).
Founded in 1951 by Lionel and Mary Brewester with just six pupils on Belsize Avenue, Hereward House relocated to its current site at 14 Strathray Gardens in the 1960s and has grown into a well-established fixture of the Hampstead educational landscape. The school is a member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) and operates as a standalone preparatory school, not tied to any one senior school, which affords families considerable flexibility in choosing onward destinations.
The ethos centres on providing a warm, welcoming, and safe atmosphere in which every boy can thrive. Education is described as lively, stimulating, and intellectually demanding, yet the school places equal weight on the development of character. The aim is to cultivate boys who are kind, considerate, and confident, with strong empathy and compassion alongside academic excellence. This dual focus on intellectual rigour and personal values reflects the belief that solid foundations in both areas are essential for success in senior schools and beyond.
Because the school is small — usually single‑form entry, with Reception doubled roughly every eight years — it’s described as an intimate setting where staff get to know each boy well. This intimacy enables a personalised approach to learning and pastoral care, and it is central to the school's identity. The distinctive white and blue striped tie and fleur-de-lis embroidered blazer mark out Hereward House boys in the local area, reinforcing a sense of pride and community.
Hereward House delivers a varied and interesting curriculum designed to provide a firm foundation for Common Entrance, scholarship examinations, and the 11+ and 13+ entrance processes of leading senior schools. The school is academically non-selective at entry, yet consistently achieves strong outcomes at exit. According to the April 2023 ISI inspection, pupils make strong progress across subjects, achieve above average in senior school entrance exams, and show excellent performance in maths and reading, exceeding national averages. The inspection found the quality of education provided to be fully compliant, with effective teaching that supports learning for all abilities.
From the early years, boys benefit from specialist teaching in sport, music, languages, and art. From Year 5 onwards, all subjects are taught by specialists. The curriculum is broad, encompassing English, mathematics, science, history, geography, religious studies, languages (including French and Latin), art, drama, music, and physical education. Nearly every boy learns a musical instrument, and music is taught as a discrete curricular subject alongside art and drama.
The school recognises that preparation for senior school entrance is highly competitive, particularly for the 11+ pre-tests now used by Westminster, St Paul's, and UCS, which are administered electronically and are notoriously demanding. Hereward House takes pride in its ability to guide boys through these processes, tailoring support to each pupil's strengths and aspirations. Between 15% and 20% of leavers win academic awards or scholarships, a notable achievement for a non-selective school.
Support for pupils with special educational needs is effective, with the ISI noting that SEND pupils make strong progress. The school's mixed-ability intake and small class sizes allow for differentiated teaching and close attention to individual needs, ensuring that boys of all abilities are challenged and supported appropriately.
The school occupies a converted residential building on a leafy street in Hampstead, close to Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road. On-site facilities include a state-of-the-art gym, outdoor play areas, music and art rooms, a science laboratory, and a library. These spaces, while compact, are well-equipped and effectively utilised to support a rich curricular and extracurricular programme.
Sports are a cornerstone of student life at Hereward House. Every week, boys have two Games sessions delivered by specialist coaches, plus an on-site PE lesson integrated into the academic timetable. Football is the focus during the Michaelmas and Lent terms, with matches played against local schools including Highgate, UCS, and City of London. Cricket dominates the summer term. The school makes excellent use of external facilities: football is played weekly on the astroturf at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, while both cricket and football are played at Hampstead Heath Extension and Brondesbury Cricket Club, where the school has sole use of the facilities on Fridays. Cross-country running is also a feature, with training on Hampstead Heath in preparation for inter-school meets, including Hereward House's own annual cross-country event, which attracts schools from across London.
Representative teams compete from Year 3, and the inter-house system—comprising four houses—adds an element of friendly rivalry and school spirit, with boys competing for inter-house glory in football and cricket as well as in academic and other pursuits.
Beyond sport, the school offers a wide range of clubs and activities. Drama, chess, and art are all part of the extracurricular offering, and residential trips provide opportunities for adventure and bonding. The school also organises regular outings to complement the curriculum, with an annual charge of £100 covering most excursions and events.
Hereward House draws pupils primarily from the Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage, and St John's Wood areas, with boys typically joining at age 4 from a variety of pre-preparatory schools and nurseries in North West London.
While the school does not publish a detailed breakdown of feeder institutions, families from the surrounding neighbourhoods commonly select Hereward House as a non-selective preparatory option that offers strong pastoral care, a broad curriculum, and proven success in securing places at competitive senior schools. The school's reputation and location make it a popular choice among local families seeking an intimate, supportive environment that does not require passing an entrance assessment at age 4.
The main point of entry is into Transition (Reception), which starts in the September following a boy's fourth birthday. Hereward House is non-selective at this stage: offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of registration, with priority given to siblings. There is no entrance examination or formal assessment for Reception entry; instead, the admissions process centres on a lengthy family interview with the headmaster, designed to assess the fit between the family's values and the school's ethos.
Demand is substantial. The school advises that parents register their son before he is 18 months old to secure a place. A non-refundable registration fee of £100 is payable. Registered families are invited to visit during the calendar year preceding their son's prospective year of entry; during the visit, parents tour the school and meet the headmaster to discuss the school's educational philosophy and approach.
Occasional places do arise in Year 1 and above, usually due to families relocating or changing circumstances. For these occasional vacancies, the admissions process includes a tour and interview with the headmaster, a taster day spent within the existing class, references from the child's current school, and, if appropriate, a standardised assessment. The school looks for boys who would be happy at Hereward House and who would benefit from its mixed-ability, nurturing environment.
Because Hereward House is a standalone preparatory school, families have complete freedom to choose their preferred senior school at 11+ or 13+. The vast majority of boys leave at 13+, with about 80% progressing to senior schools at this point. Approximately 70% go on to London day schools, while 30% choose boarding schools.
Hereward House School offers an appealing proposition for families in North West London seeking a non-selective, boys-only preparatory education with a strong track record of senior school success. Its intimacy, warm pastoral environment, and commitment to developing well-rounded, confident boys set it apart from larger, more impersonal institutions. The fact that the school consistently secures places at some of the most competitive senior schools in London—Westminster, St Paul's, City of London, and UCS—despite taking a non-selective intake, speaks volumes about the quality of teaching, the effectiveness of the academic programme, and the care invested in each boy's development.
The single-form entry structure means that year groups are small and staff-pupil relationships are strong. Boys who thrive here tend to be those who benefit from close attention, individualised support, and a nurturing environment that balances high academic expectations with genuine care for character and well-being. The school's location in Hampstead, its access to excellent external sports facilities, and its rich extracurricular offering add further appeal.
For parents, the early registration requirement is a practical necessity given the school's popularity, and the admissions process—focused on family values and fit rather than academic selection—reflects the school's ethos of inclusivity and holistic development. Fees are competitive for the independent sector in London, and the inclusive nature of the charges (covering lunch and books, with only a modest annual excursion fee and optional extras for clubs and trips) provides good transparency.
Hereward House is well suited to families who value a traditional, intimate preparatory school experience, who appreciate the non-selective entry model, and who are committed to supporting their son through the demanding senior school entrance process. It is less suited to those seeking a highly competitive, results-at-all-costs environment, or to families who prefer a co-educational or larger school setting. Overall, Hereward House delivers on its promise: a happy, challenging environment where boys are prepared not only to succeed academically but to become thoughtful, considerate young men ready for the next stage of their educational journey.
Hereward House School is a well-regarded independent preparatory school for boys aged 4 to 13 in Hampstead, London. Its most recent ISI inspection (April 2023) found the school fully compliant and excellent in all areas, with pupils making strong progress, achieving above average in senior school entrance exams, and excelling in maths and reading. The school's non-selective admissions policy combined with an exceptional track record of senior school placements—including 60% of leavers progressing to Westminster, UCS, City of London, and St Paul's—demonstrates the effectiveness of its teaching and pastoral care. It offers a warm, nurturing environment, a broad curriculum, near-universal instrumental music tuition, and strong sports provision. Hereward House is a good choice for families seeking a small, supportive boys' prep school with proven senior school success.
The main point of entry is into Transition (Reception) for boys starting in the September following their fourth birthday. Due to high demand, the school advises registering your son before he is 18 months old. Admissions are non-selective and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with sibling priority. A non-refundable registration fee of £100 is required. Registered families are invited to visit during the calendar year before entry for a tour and meeting with the headmaster. For occasional places in Year 1 and above, contact the school office to check availability; if a space exists, you will be invited for a tour, interview, and your son may be asked to complete an assessment and spend a taster day at the school. Offers are based on family interviews and references from current schools, not on entrance exams.
As of January 2025, termly fees are £6,915 (£8,298 including VAT) for Years Transition, 1, 2, and 3, and £7,170 (£8,604 including VAT) for Years 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Fees are inclusive of lunch and books. There is an annual charge of £100 to cover school excursions and events. Clubs, residential trips, and some other school activities are charged as extras. A term's written notice is required to withdraw your child. A non-refundable registration fee of £100 is payable when you register.
Hereward House has an outstanding senior school record, with 60% of leavers progressing to Westminster School, UCS, City of London School, and St Paul's School. The most popular destination overall is City of London School. Other common destinations include Eton College, Dulwich College, Highgate School, Mill Hill School, Winchester College, and Radley College. Approximately 80% of boys leave at 13+, with around 70% going to London day schools and 30% choosing boarding schools. Between 15% and 20% of leavers win academic awards or scholarships. Hereward House is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school, so families have complete freedom to choose their preferred destination.
Hereward House School distinguishes itself through its non-selective admissions policy at age 4, combined with exceptional senior school outcomes. Unlike academically selective prep schools, Hereward House offers places on a first-come, first-served basis (with sibling priority), focusing on family interviews rather than entrance tests. The school is single-form entry for most years, creating an intimate environment with around 175 boys in total, which allows for personalised attention and strong staff-pupil relationships. It is a boys-only school, whereas some local competitors are co-educational. Nearly every boy learns a musical instrument, and the school makes extensive use of high-quality external sports facilities at Hampstead Heath, Brondesbury Cricket Club, and Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre. Hereward House is not part of a federation or linked to a particular senior school, offering families maximum flexibility. Its distinctive uniform, featuring a white and blue striped tie and fleur-de-lis blazer, sets it apart visually from other local prep schools.
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