The Cavendish School brings together nearly 150 years of heritage in girls' education with a contemporary "Where Girls Dare" ethos that celebrates confidence and intellectual curiosity. Founded in 1875 by Cornelia Connelly and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, this independent Catholic day school relocated from Cavendish Square to its current Camden Town home in 1970, where it now operates as a charitable trust. Serving girls aged 3 to 11, the school combines a broad curriculum aligned with the National Curriculum – enriched with French, Mandarin, and Latin – with a nurturing environment that produced exceptional 2025 11+ results: every girl secured her first-choice senior school. Located at 31 Inverness Street in the heart of Camden, the school holds Green Flag Eco-Schools status and was rated excellent across all categories in its 2023 ISI inspection. With around 200 pupils, two-form entry, and a non-selective admissions policy based on registration date, The Cavendish School offers competitive fees (£6,450 per term in 2024-25) that include lunch, books, materials, and educational visits, with means-tested bursaries available.
The school's modern tagline – "Where Girls Dare" – honours Cornelia Connelly's founding mission to "meet the wants of the age," a principle established when the school opened in Cavendish Square in 1875. After 95 years in central London, the school moved to Camden in 1970 and transitioned from religious governance to a charitable trust structure, maintaining its Catholic character while broadening access. Today, the community prioritises "fun, kindness and laughter" within a framework that encourages girls to take intellectual risks and flourish as resilient learners. Staff are described as genuinely caring and deeply invested in each pupil's individual development, fostering an atmosphere where small class sizes (averaging 14 pupils) enable strong pastoral relationships. The school's ownership of its premises – unusual for an independent prep school in central London – allows it to direct resources toward educational provision rather than property costs, contributing to its value proposition for families.
The curriculum follows the National Curriculum structure but extends beyond it with reasoning, PSHE, and a language programme that introduces French from early years, Mandarin in the middle school, and Latin in upper years. The 2023 ISI inspection praised the school's ability to develop "resilient, curious, open-minded learners who engage enthusiastically with the joy of learning," and specifically highlighted mathematics teaching, noting that "well-planned and ambitious investigations support pupils in developing a strong understanding of numeracy." Inspectors also commended the breadth of extracurricular opportunities – from pottery and circus skills to Arabic and music technology – that allow talents to develop to advanced levels. All pupils learn an instrument in class, and around half take individual lessons from Year 3; the school supports three choirs, two orchestras, and several instrumental ensembles. Drama and dance form part of the core co-curriculum, with regular opportunities for performance.
The school does not publish SATs data as an independent institution, but 11+ outcomes tell a compelling story. In 2025, all leavers secured offers from their first-choice schools, with over 130 offers received across independent and state sectors, including multiple scholarships to institutions such as South Hampstead High School and Kensington Park School. The 25 girls in the 2021 cohort collectively received 66 offers, including 12 scholarships and awards. Most girls transition to selective independent or high-performing state schools including Camden School for Girls, Channing School, City of London School for Girls, Francis Holland (Regent's Park), Highgate School, Queen's College, and South Hampstead High School. Occasional leavers gain places at North London Collegiate School, St Paul's Girls' School, and prestigious boarding schools including Sevenoaks, as well as international schools. The school emphasises balanced preparation over intensive test cramming, encouraging girls to maintain extracurricular commitments throughout the admissions process, which staff believe contributes to the "natural enthusiasm, social awareness and good humour" interviewers consistently observe.
The school occupies spacious modern facilities on Inverness Street, a short walk from Camden Town tube station. Ownership of the premises has enabled targeted investment in teaching spaces and resources. Wraparound care extends from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm, with flexible collection times particularly valued by working families. Pupils benefit from 5 to 10 different extracurricular academic or hobby clubs, regular educational trips for all year groups, and residential trips from Year 4. The school holds Green Flag Eco-Schools status, reflecting its environmental education programme. Holiday clubs operate during all school breaks, offering activities ranging from music, art, and drama to sport, language enrichment, individual tennis coaching, and Friday forest school sessions.
The school explicitly notes that it is not a feeder for any particular senior school, instead preparing girls for a wide range of destinations suited to individual strengths and family preferences. Recent leavers have transitioned to both selective independent and state schools across north London and beyond. The most consistent destinations over the past five years have been Channing School, Highgate School, South Hampstead High School, and Francis Holland School (Regent's Park), each receiving between 5% and 10% of leavers annually. Camden School for Girls – one of the highest-performing state comprehensives in England – also regularly receives Cavendish leavers. In the 2025 cycle, notable multiple offers included Channing (11), Francis Holland (10), and Queen's College (8), with scholarship successes spanning academic, music, and all-rounder awards. A minority of families opt for boarding schools, international schools (including Melbourne and Singapore), or specialist music and drama schools.
The Cavendish School operates a non-selective admissions policy, allocating places in order of registration date, with sibling priority where possible. The main entry point is 3+ into the Nursery, with some additional places typically available at 4+ and 5+. The school participates in the government's 15-hour universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds. As an independent school, admissions are managed directly rather than through the local authority. Prospective families are encouraged to contact the school office (020 7485 1958 or office@cavendish-school.co.uk) to arrange a visit and discuss registration. While the school draws many families from Camden Town and the immediate vicinity, a considerable proportion of pupils also come from Primrose Hill and Islington, attracted by the school's ethos and results. Given the first-come allocation system and the school's reputation for strong 11+ outcomes, early registration is advisable.
The Cavendish School offers a compelling proposition for families seeking a nurturing, non-selective independent girls' education in a central London location with demonstrably strong academic outcomes. Its 2025 11+ results – with every girl securing her first-choice school and multiple scholarships awarded – are particularly impressive for a school that does not select at entry. The combination of nearly 150 years of heritage, a values-driven "Where Girls Dare" ethos, excellent ISI inspection outcomes, and competitive fees (for London) makes it an attractive option for families who value pastoral care, small class sizes, and a broad enrichment programme alongside academic rigour. The school's ownership of its premises and charitable trust structure underpin its ability to deliver value while maintaining high standards. For parents prioritising a supportive environment where girls build confidence, curiosity, and resilience before transitioning to a diverse range of senior schools, The Cavendish School merits serious consideration. Early registration is essential given the date-based admissions system and consistent demand.
The Cavendish School is rated excellent across all categories by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, most recently in its 2023 educational quality inspection. The school's 2025 11+ results, in which every girl secured her first-choice senior school and the cohort received over 130 offers including multiple scholarships, demonstrate strong academic preparation. Inspectors highlighted the school's success in developing resilient, curious learners with excellent mathematical skills and social awareness. The combination of non-selective entry, small class sizes, a broad curriculum enriched with languages and the arts, and consistently strong outcomes at 11+ suggests the school adds significant value. Its Catholic ethos, "Where Girls Dare" philosophy, and emphasis on pastoral care create a nurturing environment that parents and inspectors consistently commend.
Applications are processed in order of registration date, with sibling priority where possible. The main entry point is 3+ into the Nursery, though some places are typically available at 4+ and 5+. To begin the admissions process, contact the school office by phone (020 7485 1958) or email (office@cavendish-school.co.uk) to arrange a visit and discuss registration. The school operates a non-selective admissions policy, so there are no entrance assessments for younger pupils, though girls entering later may be invited for an informal visit. As places are allocated based on registration date, early contact is advisable, particularly for Nursery entry. The school participates in the government's 15-hour universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds, and means-tested bursaries are available for eligible families who require financial assistance.
Fees for 2024-25 are £6,450 per term, which includes lunch, books, materials, and educational visits (excluding residential trips for Years 3-6). This represents one of the more competitive fee structures for independent schools in central London. The school's charitable trust status and ownership of its premises contribute to its ability to maintain fees at this level. Means-tested bursaries are available, with support ranging from partial fee reduction to up to 100% of tuition fees depending on financial, compassionate, or other pertinent circumstances. Families requiring financial assistance are encouraged to contact the school directly to discuss bursary provision. A registration fee and deposit are payable; specific amounts are detailed in the school's fee schedule, available by contacting the office. The school also participates in the statutory 15-hour free entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds in the Nursery, with flexible collection times available for full-time nursery pupils.
The school is not a feeder for any particular senior school and prides itself on preparing girls for a diverse range of destinations. The most consistent independent school destinations over the past five years have been Channing School, Highgate School, South Hampstead High School, and Francis Holland School (Regent's Park), each receiving between 5% and 10% of leavers annually. Other regular destinations include City of London School for Girls, Queen's College, and the highly selective state school Camden School for Girls. Some girls gain places at North London Collegiate School, St Paul's Girls' School, and prestigious boarding schools such as Sevenoaks, Headington, and St Martha's. Occasional leavers attend specialist music or drama schools, international schools (including in Melbourne and Singapore), or French and German schools. In 2025, the 25 leavers received over 130 offers collectively, with every girl securing her first-choice school and multiple scholarships awarded.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
