Age range. 2–7.
Number in school. 300 boys and girls.
Fees per term (from January 2025). £2,940–£7,374 (£7,704 incl. lunch). Fees inclusive of VAT.
Herne Hill School is the largest independent Pre-School and Pre-Prep in the UK focusing exclusively on 2–7 year olds, i.e. the period research has shown to be the most important educational years in a person’s life. Children join Kindergarten in the academic year they become 3 years old, with an option to join early for half-day play sessions the term after the child has become 2 years old. Kindergarten is by far the greatest entry point, followed by Pre-Reception and Reception. There are usually only chance vacancies for Years 1 and 2.
The school is well known as an oasis of happy learning and as the ideal setting for young children to acquire the key values and cognitive, physical, social, emotional and self-regulatory skills they will require to lead happy, successful and balanced lives. At 7+, the children graduate to move on to a number of local independent and state schools, ‘ready to shine with that special Herne Hill sparkle’, as one of the heads of the receiving schools has described his Herne Hill School intake.
By focusing on Early Years education, Herne Hill School has developed strong expertise in making the critical transition from Nursery to School seamless. Children joining the Kindergarten can avoid the disruption of a 4+ change and enjoy continuity of care for up to five years in what are arguably their most important educationally-formative years. Children joining in Reception benefit from the smooth progression from a play-based learning approach to more structured lessons.
‘Love • Care • Excellence’ encapsulates the school philosophy that love, nurture and a caring environment foster the children’s self-confidence, sense of achievement and happiness, thereby stimulating their curiosity and desire to learn. The school’s atmosphere lives this philosophy. It is a caring, friendly and stimulating place, and at the same time there is an air of achievement, respect and discipline.
The curriculum is finely balanced to develop all skills and interests of ‘the whole child’ and take account of each child’s individual needs as well as the requirements of the 7+ entry tests – and to make learning fun! It is also designed to develop the skills of independent learning and to sustain the children’s innate joy of learning. Music, drama, gym, dancing and French are emphasised and taught by specialists.
The last ISI inspection delivered a strong endorsement of the school’s ethos, staff, curriculum, modus operandi and infrastructure by giving the highest possible rating of ‘excellent’ on the two overarching domains of quality of education, the pupils’ academic and other achievements and the pupils’ personal development. The full report can be found on the school’s website. The school holds two open mornings a year, typically on a Saturday in March and September. Prospective parents may also see the school ‘in action’ by joining one of the regular tours held during school hours. The school’s website contains relevant information about life at the school, its curriculum, the destination of its leavers and some useful links.