Thomas's Kensington is an independent preparatory school situated in the heart of Kensington, just moments from Kensington Gardens and London's great museums. Founded in 1981, the school has built a reputation as a feeder to some of the UK's most prestigious senior schools including Eton, Westminster, Harrow, Godolphin & Latymer, and St Paul's. Rooted in kindness, curiosity, and ambition, the school offers a values-driven education that inspires children aged 4 to 11 to be confident, creative, and compassionate. With approximately 400 pupils, the school retains the warmth and intimacy of a smaller setting while benefiting from the shared expertise and resources of the Thomas's family of schools. Following a major investment, the school opened a new site in September 2025 featuring expansive sports and arts facilities including a sports hall, theatre, music pods, art and pottery studios, and landscaped wellbeing gardens.
The school operates across two sites in Kensington: the preparatory school at 17-19 Cottesmore Gardens and the lower school at 39-41 Victoria Road (formerly Lady Eden's), both within a few minutes' walk. Reception to Year 2 pupils are taught at the lower school, while Years 3 to 6 are based at the preparatory school. School hours vary by year group, opening at 8:15 AM with registration at 8:30 AM, and dismissal between 3:25 PM (Reception) and 4:00 PM (Years 5-6). An extensive co-curricular programme offers clubs that can extend the school day to 5:00 PM.
Thomas's Kensington traces its origins to 1971, when Joanna Thomas, an actress and mother of three, founded the Ranelagh Kindergarten in a Pimlico church hall. The success of the kindergarten inspired Joanna and her husband David, a former Gurkha Regiment officer, to establish their first preparatory school in 1977. After selling the family home and moving into a two-bedroom basement flat, they opened the first Thomas's prep school in Cadogan Gardens with eleven pupils and two teachers. Demand grew rapidly, leading to the founding of Thomas's Kensington in 1981 in two Victorian buildings in Cottesmore Gardens, just south of Kensington Gardens.
The school's ethos centres on kindness, curiosity, and ambition. Leadership emphasises that children thrive when they are happy, nurtured, known, and valued. Community forms the foundation of the school's approach, with a strong focus on wellbeing and pastoral care. The school describes its mission as a "four-dimensional" curriculum focused on knowledge, skills, character, and self-understanding, encouraging pupils to think deeply, explore boldly, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Art, music, and drama are taught as discrete subjects to all pupils, with dance taught up to Year 2. All pupils learn an instrument in class, and two-thirds take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. The school offers three choirs, an orchestra, and one or two instrument ensembles, with each pupil offered over five different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Since September 2025, the school has been led by Alex Matthews, who brings a wealth of experience from previous headships at Blackheath Prep and senior deputy positions at Dulwich College Junior School and St Paul's Juniors. He holds an MA in Education from the University of Chichester. The school's most recent ISI inspection took place in June 2025, with previous Ofsted reports in 2020 and 2017 confirming "Outstanding" ratings across all categories including effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for pupils.
Thomas's Kensington offers a broad and ambitious curriculum designed to connect learning to real-world contexts. Core subjects include literacy, numeracy, science, computing, languages, physical education, and outdoor learning, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and enquiry-based learning. Art, music, and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils, with specialist teaching and dedicated facilities supporting each discipline. The curriculum is enriched by community engagement and outdoor learning, encouraging pupils to develop resilience, curiosity, and a sense of social responsibility.
As an independent school, Thomas's Kensington does not publish state examination results such as Key Stage 2 SATs. However, the school's success is reflected in the destinations of its Year 6 leavers, who progress to leading London day schools and prestigious boarding schools. The majority of pupils gain entry to schools including Godolphin & Latymer, St Paul's, Francis Holland, King's College School, City of London, Alleyn's School, and Dulwich, with a smaller number moving to boarding schools such as Downe House, Eton College, Wycombe Abbey, Harrow, Brighton College, Marlborough, Radley, and Westminster. Pupils transferring from Thomas's Kensington at age 11 can automatically move to other Thomas's schools at the 11+ stage, including Thomas's Battersea or Thomas's Clapham for the 13+ entry.
A full-time SENCo works with teachers to identify and support pupils with SEND. Alongside in-house support, the school works with the Dyslexia Centre, which can provide therapists for a range of needs. Parents seeking detailed information about specific learning differences and the extent of SEN support available are encouraged to contact the school directly.
Thomas's Kensington's new site, opened in September 2025, represents a significant investment in the school's facilities and offers exceptional resources for sport, arts, and academic learning. The expansive sports hall and dance studio provide space for physical education, competitive teams, and movement activities from Reception onwards. Competitive teams in major sports are offered from Year 3. The purpose-built theatre supports drama productions and assemblies, while dedicated music pods allow for individual practice and group rehearsals. Art and pottery studios equipped with specialist resources enable pupils to explore a wide range of materials and techniques.
The new site also features landscaped wellbeing gardens designed to support outdoor learning and mental health, an innovative technology and library centre that encourages research and digital literacy, and specialist facilities for early years pupils including an outdoor play area. The school's earlier acquisition of the Prue Leith School of Cookery buildings in St Albans Grove allowed the creation of additional purpose-built facilities including a theatre, gym, and dining room.
Beyond the academic timetable, Thomas's Kensington offers an extensive co-curricular programme with over five different creative and performing arts clubs, as well as clubs for sport, outdoor learning, and other interests. Clubs extend the school day to 5:00 PM. The school's location in the heart of Kensington provides easy access to Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, and London's great museums, which enrich the curriculum and support field trips and outdoor learning opportunities.
Thomas's Kensington is also a mainstream school with provision for pupils who require additional support. The school employs a full-time Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who works closely with teaching staff to identify pupils with special educational needs and develop tailored support strategies. The SENCo collaborates with parents, teachers, and external specialists to ensure that each child receives appropriate interventions and accommodations.
This partnership allows the school to access specialist expertise and therapeutic interventions for pupils with specific learning differences.
Parents seeking detailed information about the full range of conditions supported, the extent of support available for social, emotional, or sensory needs, and the school's approach to pupils with more complex needs are encouraged to contact the school directly.
Thomas's Kensington is a selective independent school with the main entry point at Reception (4+). The school also welcomes applications for 'Occasional Places' in Years 1 to 6, subject to availability. Admissions are managed by the school directly, and parents are encouraged to contact Amy Boyer at aboyer@thomas-s.co.uk or 020 7937 0583 for more information. The school is currently in the middle of the Reception 2026 process, and the Main List for this cohort may be closed. Parents are requested to contact the school before registering for Reception 2026.
As an independent school, Thomas's Kensington does not have a formal catchment area or distance-based admissions criteria. Selection is based on assessment and interview, with the school seeking pupils who will thrive in its academic and community-focused environment. Given the school's reputation as a feeder to prestigious senior schools, competition for places is considerable.
Pupils transferring from Thomas's Kensington at age 11 can automatically move to other Thomas's schools (Thomas's Battersea or Thomas's Clapham) for the 13+ stage, providing continuity and access to the wider Thomas's network. Many pupils from Kensington and Fulham choose to transfer to Battersea and Clapham at 11+ to prepare for 13+ entry to top London day schools and boarding schools.
Thomas's Kensington is a selective independent preparatory school with a strong heritage, a values-driven ethos, and a track record of securing places at leading senior schools. Its new site, opened in September 2025, provides exceptional facilities including a sports hall, theatre, music pods, art studios, and wellbeing gardens, creating an environment that supports academic excellence, creativity, and personal development. The school's intimate scale of around 400 pupils allows for individualised attention and a strong sense of community, while membership of the Thomas's family provides access to shared resources and expertise.
For families seeking a preparatory education that balances academic rigour with pastoral care, arts, sport, and outdoor learning, Thomas's Kensington offers a well-established option in the heart of Kensington. The school's commitment to kindness, curiosity, and ambition creates a nurturing environment in which confident, creative, and compassionate pupils are prepared for the next stage of their education. However, parents should be aware that fees are substantial (ranging from £10,883 to £11,545 per term including VAT and lunches), and competition for places is considerable given the school's reputation and its success in securing 11+ and 13+ destinations. Parents considering Thomas's Kensington should visit the school, meet the headteacher and staff, and assess whether the school's ethos and approach align with their child's needs and learning style.
Thomas's Kensington is a well-regarded independent preparatory school with a strong reputation for academic excellence, pastoral care, and securing places at leading senior schools including Eton, Westminster, Godolphin & Latymer, and St Paul's. The school received "Outstanding" ratings in all categories in its 2017 Ofsted inspection, and has since undergone ISI inspections in 2024 and 2025. Its new site, opened in September 2025, provides exceptional facilities for sport, arts, and learning. Parents seeking a selective preparatory education in central London often consider Thomas's Kensington for its values-driven ethos, extensive co-curricular programme, and strong track record of Year 6 destinations.
The main entry point to Thomas's Kensington is Reception (4+), though the school also welcomes applications for 'Occasional Places' in Years 1 to 6, subject to availability. Admissions are managed by the school directly. Parents should contact Amy Boyer at aboyer@thomas-s.co.uk or 020 7937 0583 for information about the admissions process, registration deadlines, and assessment arrangements. The school is currently in the middle of the Reception 2026 process, and the Main List for this cohort may be closed. Parents are requested to contact the school before registering for Reception 2026. As a selective independent school, admission is based on assessment and interview.
Fees at Thomas's Kensington for the 2025/26 academic year range from £10,883 per term for Reception to £11,545 per term for Year 6. These fees include VAT and lunches. Parents should contact the school directly for information about registration fees, deposits, and any available bursaries or scholarships.
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