Hurlingham School

Hurlingham School is a family-owned independent co-educational prep in Putney, taking children from age 2 through to Year 6 (up to age 11). Founded in 1947, it operates across two nearby sites, a prep site close to Wandsworth Park and a separate nursery site acquired in 2017.

Leadership is clearly structured, with the Headmaster listed as Mr Simon Gould.

Families typically come here for two reasons. First, a non-selective intake and a carefully planned curriculum that builds strong literacy and numeracy early. Second, purposeful preparation for senior school entry at 11+, backed by published destination outcomes and scholarship awards.

Daily routines are explicit and organised, with a structured school day and clear supervision patterns from early drop-off through to late collection options. This matters in a prep environment because a predictable rhythm tends to reduce friction for younger children and gives parents a workable window around the working day.

Hurlingham’s latest inspection evidence points to a school that takes governance, safeguarding and parental communication seriously. The March 2025 ISI inspection reported that all relevant Standards were met across leadership and management, quality of education, wellbeing, and safeguarding.

Culture-wise, the school positions itself as academically ambitious while remaining accessible to families who want a non-selective start. That is an important distinction in this part of south west London, where several local pathways become selective at 11+ or 13+. Hurlingham’s model is to keep entry straightforward at Reception, then build up the habits and skills needed for competitive senior school assessment later.

Nursery provision is not an add-on. The inspection record and the school’s own published material emphasise early years as a core strength, with the school highlighting a Significant Strength judgement for Early Years within the ISI framework.

The most useful, verifiable proxy for outcomes here is senior school transfer. Hurlingham publishes a detailed 11+ outcomes sheet for 2024, including offers, scholarship types, and acceptances across a wide range of London day schools and UK boarding options. For parents, this is often the most relevant evidence because it reflects how well the curriculum, teaching, and preparation translate into external selection processes.

Curriculum design and lesson planning are described in a way that will feel familiar to parents who like clarity. Planning is set out through medium-term schemes, with short-term planning in English and mathematics written weekly or daily, including adaptation and assessment approaches.

Inspection evidence supports a broad and balanced curriculum delivered effectively, including early years teaching shaped around children’s needs and interests and a carefully planned approach to English and mathematics from an early stage. The practical implication is that the school is aiming for depth in core skills early, which is typically what underpins confident writing, fluent reading, and the reasoning needed later for 11+ style assessments.

Support for pupils with additional needs is referenced within inspection evidence as well-managed and appropriately resourced, including targeted support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. That is worth noting for families who want a mainstream prep but still need structured learning support rather than informal adjustments.

Hurlingham’s published “Future Schools” outcomes for 2024 show both breadth and selectivity. On the London day school side, the list includes offers to schools such as Ibstock Place, Kew House, Emanuel, Putney High, Latymer, and Lady Eleanor Holles. On the boarding side, it includes offers to schools such as Bradfield, Charterhouse, Wellington College and St John’s Leatherhead.

What makes this data helpful is that it goes beyond marketing statements and into the specifics parents usually ask about. Scholarship categories listed for 2024 include academic, drama, music, art, and subject awards (for example a computer science award is listed). The implication for families is that the school is not only targeting entry, it is also developing profile areas that senior schools reward in scholarship processes.

Hurlingham is explicit that it is co-educational and non-selective, with places offered in order of registration and sibling priority applied. There is no entrance exam or interview for Nursery entry, and none for Reception entry.

For Reception (September entry after a child’s fourth birthday), the school’s admissions policy states that offers are made in July of the year preceding entry, with the worked example: July 2025 for September 2026 entry. That timeline is useful because it is earlier than many parents expect, and it rewards early registration and early visits.

The registration fee is stated as £75, and acceptance involves a deposit equivalent to one term’s fees payable in two instalments, beginning with a £2,000 acceptance fee.

Nursery entry operates similarly on a visit then registration basis, with session patterns set at registration and places offered subject to availability, again prioritised by registration order and siblings.

For families weighing affordability, the school confirms means-tested bursaries, described as limited for new joiners with priority noted for certain year groups, and with most support reserved for existing pupils facing hardship.

The inspection evidence points to a proactive approach to managing risk, including online safety, and to leaders liaising with external agencies where appropriate, particularly around safeguarding. Safeguarding Standards are explicitly reported as met.

A practical, day-to-day wellbeing signal is behaviour consistency. The inspection’s recommended next steps include ensuring consistent implementation of the behaviour policy to reduce low-level misbehaviour. For parents, this usually translates into a school that is largely orderly but still working on consistency, particularly where “minor” disruption can affect learning time in a primary setting.

The most reliable picture of wider life comes from inspection detail. The March 2025 ISI report notes participation in clubs spanning chess, karate, hockey, ballet, choir, gardening and art. These are concrete examples, and the breadth suggests that the school is building both confidence and competence outside the core academic programme, which in prep schools often supports senior school references and scholarship narratives.

For early years, the nursery fees page also lists weekly enrichment sessions including Yoga, Music and Mindfulness, Gymnastics, Forest School and Gardening for all classes. That combination tends to suit families who want structured, skills-based experiences in the week rather than a purely free-play model.

The school day is published with staged dismissal times by year group. As a headline, school opens at 8.15am, with early morning supervision from 7.45am. End-of-day timings vary, ranging from 3.00pm in Reception through to 4.00pm in Year 6, with clubs running up to 5.00pm and Tea Club options extending later.

Wraparound care is clearly priced, with early morning supervision from 7.45am at £6 per session, and an extended afternoon option enabling collection at 6.00pm at £5 per session.

Cost-wise, school fees for 2025-26 are published per term and are inclusive of VAT. Lunch is compulsory and charged separately at £360 per term. Trips are charged at cost.

Transport and drop-off are also addressed. The school day page notes that a car park is used for drop-off and pick-up, with staff accompanying children into and out of the car, and that parents should not park or leave their car on site during these times.

• Early registration really matters. Places are offered in registration order with sibling priority, and the school’s published timelines for Reception offers (July in the year before entry) mean procrastination can be costly.

• Fees are not the full cost picture. Termly tuition fees are published, but lunch is compulsory and billed separately, with trips invoiced at cost. Families should budget for these alongside uniform and activities.

• Behaviour consistency is a current improvement point. The latest inspection recommends greater consistency in behaviour policy implementation to reduce low-level disruption, something to explore on a tour if your child is easily distracted.

• Early years funding comes with conditions. The nursery participates in government funding options, but also describes additional services and items outside funded hours, and notes families may be able to opt out of some extras. Clarify what is included for your child’s pattern of attendance.

Hurlingham School suits families who want a non-selective start from nursery or Reception, then a structured run-up to competitive senior school entry at 11+. The strongest evidence sits in two places: a recent ISI inspection where all Standards were met, and a detailed, school-published record of 2024 11+ destinations and scholarships.

It is likely to appeal most to parents who value clear routines, defined wraparound options, and a prep environment that takes transfer outcomes seriously. The main trade-off is cost, both fees and extras, and the fact that admission is shaped heavily by early registration rather than later academic selection.