Profile: Located towards the end of Fulham Road in Parsons Green, Kensington Prep School is one of the top girls’ prep schools in London. It is the only prep school in the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), a leading association of 26 girls’ independent schools in England. Change is afoot from September 2025, as the current Headmistress Mrs Hulme-McKibbin is moving to Portugal. GDST Trustees have appointed Mrs Rachel Floyd, currently Deputy Head of Francis Holland Girls’ School, Sloane Square, to join Kensington Prep School effective from the 1st September 2025.
The school is serious about developing critical thinking and flexibility, teaching girls thinking skills and philosophy from Year 1. Extracurricular opportunities include French and Spanish, as well as a wide array of musical instruments, singing and plenty of sports. The outdoor space of the school is impressive for a London school, giving the girls ample space to run around, climb and play during break time. Design technology and entrepreneurial projects are also taken seriously in line with the GDST’s mission to prepare girls for life in the 21st century. Music is particular strong at this school, where almost every girl joins the Choir and the Orchestra and plays at least one instrument. There used to be less emphasis on sports in the past, although this is changing now. Netball is especially strong, but gymnastics, cross country running a wide range of other opportunities are available.
Admissions: 4+ admission to Kensington Prep School is via 4+ assessment. Girls can be registered at any moment up to one year prior to their entry to Reception class (i.e. at the latest September 2026 for Sep 2027 entry). Assessments take place at the beginning of the Spring Term in January of the year of entry and appointment times are sent out at the end of October. About 250 girls are assessed each year for the 44 available Reception places. in addition to that, there is a small 7+ intake and some occasional places, but the main intake takes place at 4+. During the assessment, a small group of girls spend time with a teacher and can choose from several activities. Afterwards, they will also spend some one-on-one time with another member of staff for further activities. The school does not require the children to come with any knowledge and is looking for curiosity and problem-solving skills (think simple jigsaws, pattern recognition, lego blocks and the like). They do ask not to send children who don’t speak English to the assessment, understandably!
As the student population has become more international and transient over the years, there usually are a few occasional places higher up in the school. Candidates will be assessed in Maths, English and Reasoning for these.
Exit Results: While it varies from year to year, the most common secondary school destinations are St Paul’s Girls’ School, Godolphin & Latymer School and Wimbledon High School. Around half the cohort if not more moves to one of those three in most years. Other popular destination schools are Latymer Upper School, Putney High School and Francis Holland Sloane Square. Full details are published here.
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Further resources:
- My Kensington Prep school visit and interview with previous Headmistress Mrs Prudence Lynch (back in the day!)
- Kensington Prep school website www.kensingtonprep.gdst.net
- Kensington Prep admissions policy