Notting Hill Preparatory School

What Notting Hill Preparatory School does

Notting Hill Preparatory School (NHP) is an independent co-educational preparatory school located at 95 Lancaster Road in the Notting Hill area of London W11, serving boys and girls aged 4 to 13 across Reception through Year 8. Founded in 2003 and operating as a company registered in England and Wales (company number 04677024), the school employed approximately 45 staff. Its core educational offering is built around the Advanced Thinking School framework, based on Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats methodology, which NHP was the first primary-level school in England to have accredited by the University of Exeter's Cognitive Education Development Unit (March 2021, re-accredited March 2024). Class sizes are capped at 22 pupils, and the campus features nature-connected facilities including a woodland-style adventure playground, rooftop beehives, and resident hens.

The school runs a structured admissions process anchored by open mornings, small group tours, and Year 1+ academic assessment, with non-selective Reception entry and priority pathways for siblings and children from the co-located Acorn nursery. Its products include the Thinking School programme, 11+ and 13+ preparation (with documented leaver destinations at Westminster, Eton, St Paul's Girls, The Harrodian, Bradfield, Brighton College, and others), the NHP Bursary Foundation (fully funded, means-tested places for local state school children at Years 4 and 7), and the Radius community partnerships programme serving approximately seven local primary schools, supported by an annual Christmas partnership with Age UK and food donations to the Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank. The school also operates a teacher-training programme integrating generative AI and NLP concepts into the curriculum.

NHP generates revenue primarily through recurring tuition fees, supplemented by a one-time £100 registration fee; specific fee levels and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The school is part of the Dukes Education family of schools and educators, which provides priority entrance arrangements across its network. NHP has no subsidiaries, no recorded M&A activity, and no external funding rounds. The current Head is Mrs Maxine Shaw, appointed in September 2024. Recognition in 2025-2026 includes the NACE Challenge Award accreditation, Lux Life's Most Innovative Preparatory School 2026, and the Education Business Awards Best Place Space Award.

Name

Notting Hill Preparatory School

Legal name

Notting Hill Prep School

Website

https://nottinghillprep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Notting Hill Preparatory School is an independent co-educational preparatory school in Notting Hill, London, serving pupils aged 4 to 13 through a Thinking School methodology (de Bono's Six Thinking Hats), small capped classes, and an integrated bursary and Radius community partnerships programme. It operates within the Dukes Education family.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Independent preparatory education
• Primary school education
• Thinking school curriculum
• 11+ examination preparation
• Bursary access programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. School Tuition Fees: NHP generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to parents for educating children aged 4–13. The school also charges a registration fee of £100 as part of the admissions process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Notting Hill Preparatory School is an independent co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13, delivering a full curriculum from Reception through Year 8 built around its Advanced Thinking School framework (Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats). The school charges tuition fees plus a £100 registration fee, prepares pupils for 11+ and 13+ senior school entry, and runs the NHP Foundation bursary and Radius community partnership programmes.

Product overview

Notting Hill Preparatory School is an independent co-educational prep school for boys and girls aged 4-13, located in Notting Hill, London. The school offers a unified educational programme built around its Advanced Thinking School accreditation, integrating Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats methodology across all subjects. The core offering spans Early Years/Reception through to Year 8, with specialist teaching in areas including 'kung-fu maths' and hands-on science in superlabs. The school provides 11+ and 13+ examination preparation leading to senior school destinations including Westminster, Eton, and St Paul's Girls. Supplementary programmes include the NHP Bursary Foundation (means-tested bursaries for local state school children), the Radius community partnerships programme, and the Notting Hill Children's Community Choir. The school is part of the Dukes Education network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The NHP Foundation: A registered charity established to provide bursary places and administer community partnerships through the Radius programme.
• Radius
• NHCCC

Products and services

• Thinking School Programme A metacognitive educational approach based on Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats methodology, embedded across the curriculum to develop pupils' critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning skills from ages 4–13. Accredited as an Advanced Thinking School by the University of Exeter's Cognitive Education Development Unit.
• Early Years & Reception Education Non-selective early years education for children aged 4–5, focusing on nurturing curiosity, independence, and foundational learning skills through play-based and thinking-focused approaches. Parallel Reception classes mix age ranges to ensure even distribution.
• 11+ and 13+ Examination Preparation Comprehensive preparation programme for 11+ and 13+ assessments, equipping pupils with problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and academic knowledge to secure places at leading senior schools including Westminster, Eton, St Paul's Girls, The Harrodian, Bradfield, Brighton College, Charterhouse, Rugby School, St. Edward's, City of London, and Francis Holland. Scholarship success across academic, music, drama, and sporting disciplines.
• NHP Bursary Foundation Charitable bursary programme offering a minimum of two fully funded places per year to children joining Year 7 from local state schools, covering fees, trips, enrichment activities and incidentals. Up to three 11+ bursaries and one 8+ bursary are awarded annually. The means-tested threshold for bursary eligibility is up to £45,000 maximum family income.
• Radius Community Partnerships Community partnership programme under the NHP Foundation channeling the school's financial and human resources to enhance educational and developmental journeys of local primary school-aged children through events, initiatives, and project funding. Partners include Thomas Jones, Colville, Avondale Park, St Francis of Assisi, Oxford Gardens, St Charles RC, and other local primaries.
• Notting Hill Children's Community Choir (NHCCC) Weekly choir bringing together over 300 children from 7 local primary schools to sing together as part of the NHP Foundation's Radius initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong senior school placement outcomes including Westminster, Eton, St Paul's Girls, The Harrodian, Bradfield, Brighton College, Charterhouse, Rugby School, St. Edward's School, City of London, Francis Holland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dukes EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHP is part of the Dukes Education family of schools and educators, united by a common purpose to give children foundations for an extraordinary life. Dukes Education creates clusters of nurseries and schools in village locations to offer families an all-through education journey. NHP benefits from priority entrance arrangements with other Dukes senior schools and guaranteed entry for children from Dukes' Little Dukes nurseries.
• The Acorn NurserycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Acorn Nursery serves as a dedicated pipeline for NHP admissions. All children attending The Acorn are automatically offered a place for Reception entry at NHP, provided they have been at the nursery for the maximum period based on their date of birth. The Acorn is co-located with NHP and managed in coordination with the school.
• Imperial College LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientists from Imperial College London deliver workshops to local primary school pupils through the Radius programme. Notably, Scott delivered the 'From the Moon to Mars' workshop at Colville Primary school, engaging over 100 pupils (Y3–6) in an interactive space exploration session.
• Local Primary Schools (Radius Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadius is NHP Foundation's community partnerships programme working with approximately 7 local primary schools (Thomas Jones, Colville, Avondale Park, St Francis of Assisi, Oxford Gardens, St Charles RC, and others). Initiatives include STEM workshops, author visits, maths competitions, sports coaching, the Notting Hill Children's Community Choir (NHCCC), and termly 'paired back lunch' donations to the K&C Foodbank.
• UKSA (UK Sailing Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHP runs its Easter sailing trip at the UKSA centre on the Isle of Wight, where pupils gain experience sailing dinghies and keelboats, learning water safety and sailing skills.
• Oundle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOundle School partnered with Imperial College London to present the 'From the Moon to Mars' STEM workshop delivered to NHP partner schools.
• Age UKminorOthersNHP hosts an annual Christmas Tea Party for 30 guests from Age UK, featuring pantomime performances by Year 3 pupils and instrumental soloists, fostering intergenerational connections within the local community.
• Kensington & Chelsea FoodbankminorOthersNHP makes regular food donations to the K&C Foodbank through its Harvest Festival and termly 'paired back lunch' initiative, where cost savings are donated. 215kg of food was donated at one Harvest Festival alone.
• Grow2Know CICminorOthersNHP alumnus Tayshan Hayden-Smith (2008–2010) founded Grow2Know CIC, a non-profit offering individuals and communities opportunities to connect and learn through nature. He returned to NHP to introduce the charity to current pupils through assemblies.
• University of Exeter (Cognitive Education Development Unit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Exeter's Cognitive Education Development Unit granted NHP Advanced Thinking School accreditation (March 2021) and re-accredited the school in March 2024. This accreditation is unique — NHP was the first Advanced Thinking School within the primary school category in England.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wetherby Prep School: Wetherby Prep is a London independent preparatory school for boys ages 7-13, serving affluent West London families with strong academic positioning and senior school placement outcomes. It is directly comparable to NHP as a premium London prep school competing for the same aspirational family demographic.
• Bute House School: Bute House is a London independent girls' prep school in Hammersmith serving ages 4-11. It is comparable to NHP as a West London premium prep school with strong academic positioning and senior school placement outcomes.
• Knightsbridge School: Knightsbridge School is a London independent co-ed prep school in the heart of central London, serving ages 4-13. It is directly comparable to NHP in co-ed structure, age range, central London premium catchment, and 11+/13+ exam preparation focus.
• Sussex House School: Sussex House is a London independent boys' prep school (ages 7-13) in Chelsea with strong academic outcomes and senior school placements. It is directly comparable to NHP in scale, central London premium positioning, and the 11+/13+ prep focus.
• Thomas's London Day Schools: Thomas's operates a group of independent co-ed prep schools in Battersea, Clapham, Fulham, and Kensington. The schools are directly comparable to NHP as affluent London co-ed prep schools within the same Notting Hill-adjacent catchment.
• Hill House International School: Hill House is a London independent co-ed day school serving ages 3-18, with a primary focus on junior years in central London. It is directly comparable to NHP as a co-ed London prep with a similar central location and premium family demographic.
• Pembridge Hall School: Pembridge Hall is a London independent prep school in Notting Hill serving ages 4-13, with strong senior school placement outcomes. It is a direct geographic peer operating in the same Notting Hill catchment as NHP.
• The Harrodian School: The Harrodian School is an independent co-ed day school in Barnes, London, covering ages 4-18 with a strong prep school. It is directly comparable to NHP as a co-ed London prep with premium positioning and strong senior school placement outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Cheam School: Cheam School is an independent co-ed prep school (ages 3-13) in Hampshire, part of the Dukes Education family. It is directly comparable to NHP as a Dukes-network peer sharing methodology, bursary programmes, and cross-school pipeline arrangements.
• Notting Hill and Ealing High School: Notting Hill and Ealing High School (GDST) is an independent girls' day school in West London covering ages 4-18. It is comparable to NHP as a West London premium independent school with a similar catchment and senior school placement outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/notting-hill-prep-school-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Notting Hill Preparatory School