Bassett House School vs Orchard House School

	B Bassett House School London, United Kingdom	O Orchard House School London, United Kingdom
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year £12,843 - 28,611	Fees / year £12,369 - 31,110
Age range	Age range 2 - 11 years	Age range 3 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Montessori Curriculum, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 153	Pupils 398
Typical class size	Typical class size 16	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1947	Opened 1993
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Bassett House School is located in Notting Hill, London. The address is 60 Bassett Road, London W10 6JP. It is an independent, co-educational prep school for girls and boys.	Location Priory House, Priory Avenue, London W4 1TX. The school is in Chiswick, West London. It serves families across West London and beyond.
Stages	Stages Nursery (Ages 2–4) and Prep (Ages 4–11)	Stages Ages 3 to 11; Nursery through Year 6.
School type	School type Independent, co-educational prep school	School type Co-educational prep school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Pupils come from more than 21 countries, contributing to a diverse international community.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Pastoral care with personal Pupil Plans for each pupil and a worry box; buddy system for newcomers; older pupils mentor younger pupils.	Additional learning support Tailored English as an Additional Language (EAL) support from Reception upwards; 1-4 sessions per week; bespoke one-to-one or group EAL sessions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation England	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Registration fee (non-refundable): Nursery School £125; Reception – Year 6 £150, payable on application. - Acceptance deposit: £3,000 payable at acceptance (paid via the online acceptance form). The deposit is retained if an accepted place is later cancelled or the child does not take up the place. The deposit is returned when a pupil leaves the school, subject to the school having received a full term's written notice and payment of all sums due; further detail on timing and conditions for return is set out in the school's admissions terms. One term's fees (at the current academic year rate) is payable on or before a child's first day at the school. Tuition fees (termly) and equivalent annual amounts - Nursery (termly / annual): - Mornings only (5 mornings each week): £4,281 per term — £12,843 per year (3 terms). - Five full days: £8,562 per term — £25,686 per year (3 terms). - Optional afternoon attendance (regular through the term): £856 per term — £2,568 per year (3 terms) if taken each term. - Occasional afternoon attendance (ad-hoc): £86 per afternoon (charged per session). - Prep School (termly / annual): - Lower School (Reception – Year 2): £9,234 per term — £27,702 per year (3 terms). - Upper School (Year 3 – Year 6): £9,537 per term — £28,611 per year (3 terms). - All fees quoted are inclusive of applicable taxes (including VAT) or levies where relevant. Nursery and school fees include a fresh hot lunch and fresh fruit prepared on the premises, except for Nursery children attending mornings only. Music, SEN and external club costs are set by independent providers and may be subject to VAT. Wraparound care and optional tuition / clubs - Wraparound care (Nursery 3+ only and Reception and above): - Morning session (from 07:45): £9.00 per session. - Afternoon session (up to 18:00): £22.50 per session. - Afternoon session (following after-school clubs): £9.00 per session. - Optional clubs and tuition (indicative starting prices): - Pre-school and after-school clubs: from £160 (per term). - Instrument lessons (10 sessions, 30 minutes): from £304.50 (per block). - SEN tuition (30 minutes per session): from £56.50 per session. Sibling discounts - Two children enrolled: 10% discount on tuition fees of the younger child (automatically deducted from the termly invoice). - Three or more children enrolled: 5% discount applies to the youngest (third) child and 5% to subsequent children (automatically deducted from the termly invoice). Eligibility requires children to be full fee–paying pupils and to meet standard admission criteria. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed termly. The school requires a term's written notice for the intended removal of a pupil; failure to give the required notice affects the return of the deposit and may require payment of the following term's fees. One term's fees (at the current academic year rate) is payable on or before the pupil's first day at the school. The deposit is refundable on leaving only if the school has received the required notice and all sums due have been paid; if the accepted place is cancelled before the child takes up the place, the deposit and any fees paid will be retained. Refunds and cancellations - The acceptance deposit (£3,000) will not be refunded if a child does not take up an accepted place. If a pupil leaves the school, the deposit will be returned no later than two weeks after the end of the pupil's last term provided one term's written notice was given on or before the first day of the pupil's last term and all sums due to the school have been paid. If such notice is not given, the deposit will not be returned unless the fees for the following term are paid in lieu of notice. Cancellation of an accepted place after acceptance will result in retention of deposit and any fees already paid. Boarding - Bassett House is a preparatory day school for children aged 2–11; no boarding provision or boarding fees apply. Uniform and other compulsory items - School uniform items (many crested items) must be purchased from the school's approved supplier, Sogans (orders online or in-store). The uniform list is specified by the school; prices for uniform items are set by the supplier and are not listed here. Personalisation and certain listed items are required to be purchased from the supplier. Government schemes and concessions - For children under five on 1 September, 1 January or 1 April, a Local Authority Grant (Minimum Funding Entitlement / Nursery Education Grant) may be applied to up to 15 hours' early years provision; parents who take the grant pay the difference between contracted hours and the grant where relevant. The school participates in childcare voucher schemes and accepts most companies' childcare vouchers and payments under the government's tax-free childcare scheme. Participation in the Local Authority Grant scheme is subject to change. Fee payment methods (as stated by the school) - The acceptance deposit is paid via the school's online acceptance form at the time of acceptance. The school accepts most companies' childcare vouchers and the government's tax-free childcare scheme for applicable payments. Specific merchant/payment methods (e.g., direct debit, bank transfer, credit card) are not itemised here; payment via the school's online form is required for acceptance deposits.	Fee details Application & acceptance fees - Registration fee: GBP 120 for general applications; GBP 100 for Nursery applications. This registration fee is non‑refundable. - Acceptance deposit: GBP 3,000 payable when a place is accepted. The deposit is retained if a place is not taken up after acceptance. The deposit is returned when the pupil leaves the school provided all sums due (including any fees in lieu of notice where required) have been paid and the school's notice requirements have been met. When a place is accepted the deposit may be paid via a secure Stripe payment link or directly into the school's bank account. Tuition fees (termly; three terms per academic year) — 2026/27 academic year - Nursery (charged by session; minimum 5 sessions per week). Termly fees (from September 2026): - 5 sessions per week: GBP 4,123 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 12,369). - 6 sessions per week: GBP 4,940 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 14,820). - 7 sessions per week: GBP 5,764 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 17,292). - 8 sessions per week: GBP 6,587 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 19,761). - 9 sessions per week: GBP 7,411 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 22,233). - 10 sessions per week: GBP 8,234 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 24,702). - One‑off additional Nursery session rate: GBP 82. Nursery fees are VAT‑exempt. - Reception, Years 1 and 2: GBP 9,229 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 27,687). Fees for these year groups are quoted inclusive of VAT. - Years 3, 4, 5 and 6: GBP 9,427 per term (annual equivalent: GBP 28,281). Fees for these year groups are quoted inclusive of VAT. - Fees for sponsored (child student visa) pupils (2026/27, payable per term): Reception/Years 1 & 2 GBP 10,152; Years 3–6 GBP 10,370 (annual equivalents: GBP 30,456 and GBP 31,110 respectively). These sponsored‑student fees are charged per term and are VAT‑inclusive. What the fees include / VAT - Reception through to Year 6 fees include a hot cooked lunch and most daytime excursions (residential trips are excluded). Nursery lunchtime inclusion depends on the pattern of attendance. Reception–Year 6 fees are VAT‑inclusive; Nursery fees are VAT‑exempt under early years rules. Wraparound care, clubs and optional charges - Wraparound care (sessional charges, 2026 session information): Morning session (7:30–8:30) GBP 10 per session; Afternoon session (3:30–6:00) GBP 19 per session; afternoon sessions booked half‑termly in advance GBP 16 per session. (Wraparound session prices published with reference to 2025 rates and 2026 fees noted as TBC where listed; the school publishes the current sessions and booking options). - Clubs and pre/post‑school activity charges from GBP 150 per activity (per the 2026/27 fees summary). Individual peripatetic music lessons (ten lessons of 30 minutes) start from GBP 320. Charges for clubs and music lessons are additional to tuition and are billed separately. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are charged termly with three terms in each academic year (Autumn/September, Spring/January and Summer/April). Parents receive termly invoices. - One term's fees (at the new academic year rate) are payable in advance on or before 1 March in the year of entry for a September start. Parents who accept an offer after 1 March prior to commencement, or who join mid‑year, are required to pay the first term's fees at acceptance alongside the deposit. A full term's notice in writing is required to withdraw a pupil; in the absence of such notice fees in lieu of notice are payable. For sponsored pupils, the first term's fees are payable on acceptance and subsequent termly fees must be paid before the first day of each term. - The school increases fees at the start of each academic year; new rates are communicated to parents in advance of their coming into effect. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. Orchard House operates as a day Nursery and Prep school for children aged 3–11. No boarding fees apply. Other costs to budget for - School uniform: a full uniform is required and official items are obtainable from the appointed supplier (School Blazer or named suppliers listed on the uniform pages). Uniform costs are separate and charged by the supplier. Second‑hand uniform sales are organised by the parent community at intervals. - Residential trips, external outings requiring fees, specialist peripatetic lessons beyond the school's basic provision, some clubs and some equipment or examination costs are charged in addition to tuition. Music lessons and clubs are charged separately as noted above. Refunds and deposit handling - The registration fee is non‑refundable. The GBP 3,000 acceptance deposit is retained if the accepted place is not taken up. The acceptance deposit is refundable when the pupil leaves the school provided the parent has given the required written notice, all outstanding sums have been paid and any fees in lieu of notice have been settled; the deposit will be returned following the pupil's final term (the school's terms provide for the deposit to be returned no later than two weeks after the end of the child's last term, subject to the stated conditions). Fee payment options - Deposit payments may be made via a secure Stripe payment link or by direct bank transfer to the school account. The school accepts most companies' childcare voucher schemes and also accepts payments under the government tax‑free childcare scheme. A monthly payment scheme is available for spreading payments; details are arranged with the Finance Team. These payment routes allow card payments where processed via Stripe and standard bank transfers where paid into the school account. Sibling discounts and bursaries - Sibling discount: 10% discount on the tuition fees of the younger child when two children from the same family are enrolled. For three or more children, a 5% discount applies to the third child and to subsequent children; discounts are deducted automatically from the termly invoice. - Means‑tested bursaries are available from the Orchard House School Educational Trust (OHSET); bursaries may cover up to 100% of fees and may also assist with uniform, trips and other essentials. Application timelines and eligibility guidance are published by the school and OHSET. If you need a plain listing of the exact per‑term and annual figures above (for database entry), use the termly amounts listed and calculate the annual equivalents by multiplying each termly figure by three. The figures above reflect the school's published 2026/27 fee schedule and associated terms and conditions.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Bassett House School offers a rich and bespoke curriculum across the school, delivered by specialist teachers and designed to flexibly achieve excellent outcomes. The curriculum draws on best practices from international curricula to maintain flexibility while upholding high standards. English, Phonics, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Religious Education, PSHE, Computing, French and Latin are taught, with Computing classrooms equipped with iMacs and interactive whiteboards, and iPads, MacBook Air laptops and Chromebooks available for class use. French is taught with immersion and enrichment activities, including trips and a Form 6 week at a French château where staff speak only French; Latin enriches English vocabulary and supports cross‑curricular links. Bassett House is co-educational for ages 2-11, and pupils benefit from a co-educational environment; Year groups 1–6 have Curriculum Overview documents for Autumn 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026, and the school is part of the Dukes Education family.	Curriculum details The Learning Orchard curriculum blends Powerful Knowledge, Holistic Learning, Leadership and World Readiness to build curious, adaptable learners who are prepared for senior school and beyond. It offers specialist teaching from Year 1 across Art, Computing, Dance, Design & Technology, Drama, French, Music, PE, PSHE and Science, with STEAM projects and coding introduced in the Innovation Hub. Reading Explorer (KS1) and Reading Scholar (KS2) place reading at the centre of progress, developing vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension. Termly assessments in English, Maths, Science and Reasoning from Year 1 feed into individual targets and allow staff to tailor the curriculum to each pupil, with results shared with parents. In Year 6, the Senior Schools & 11+ programme prepares pupils for senior school entry, and the most recent cohort achieved 150 offers and 42 scholarships across 27 leading day and boarding schools, with priority entry to Dukes senior schools as part of the Dukes Education family. A high staff-to-pupil ratio and small classes support personalised attention.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small classes and a high staff-to-pupil ratio support personalised attention.
Exam results	Exam results Our Year 6 pupils achieved outstanding 11+ outcomes, with offers from a wide range of London independent schools and several pupils receiving multiple offers, including a scholarship. Pupils have previously received offers from St Paul's Girls' School, City of London School for Girls, Francis Holland School Regent's Park, Alleyn's School Hampstead, Ibstock Place School, The Harrodian School, Emanuel School, University College School and Wetherby. In recent years, over 90% of our pupils have received offers at senior schools.	Exam results Senior Schools & 11+ programme equips pupils for senior school entry. The most recent Year 6 cohort received 150 offers and 42 scholarships across 27 leading day and boarding schools, with priority entry to Dukes Education senior schools.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Pupils progress to senior schools through the Senior Schools & 11+ programme, with strong 11+ outcomes and priority entry to Dukes Education senior schools.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Bassett House School publishes an Admissions Policy. A copy of the prospectus is available from the school office and can be sent on request. Tours of the school are conducted by the Headmistress. Open mornings or afternoons are held throughout the year to allow families to see the school in operation. To arrange a visit, contact the Admissions Department. 2. Bassett House School invites families to register their child. For Nursery and Reception, registrations are accepted from birth, allowing early interest to be noted. Registrations can be submitted after birth. The registrar handles registrations and inquiries as part of the admissions process. 3. After registration, the school will arrange either a personal tour or a virtual meeting with the Head. For younger children, the assessment focuses on the ability to integrate with the existing class rather than on academic achievement. The school is non-selective for entry to Preschool and Reception. Assessments are designed to support a good fit within the class. 4. When an offer of a place is made, acceptance is via an online form and a deposit of £3,000 is payable on entry to secure the place. The school provides instructions on how to accept the offer and complete the online steps. Offers are made in accordance with meeting the relevant entry requirements and providing the necessary information. 5. Before the first day, induction events are offered for Nursery or Reception to help children settle in. For Nursery and Reception, induction events provide time to meet the teacher. Children joining Year 1 to Year 6 attend a Taster Day to meet classmates and teachers and experience a day within the school. 6. The main entry points are Nursery (3+) and Reception (4+). The Preschool entry occurs after the child's third birthday. The school does not test very young children and is non-selective for Preschool and Reception. Priority is given to siblings of current pupils and to applicants from other Dukes Education institutions.	Admissions 1. Registration and waiting list. The school acknowledges receipt of the registration and the child's name is placed on the waiting list for the preferred year. Offers are made in Nursery in batches starting in early spring, with priority entry given to applicants connected to Orchard House or Dukes Education. After these batches, remaining places are offered in order of registration at the Head's discretion. If no places are available, registrants remain on the waiting list for future vacancies. 2. Nursery entry, deferrals, and occasional places. Nursery entry offers begin about 18 months before start and are issued in batches, with priority entry given to applicants connected to the school or Dukes Education. Deferrals to Reception are possible; deferral requests must be in writing and places are allocated on a deferral order. Occasional places in other year groups are dealt with on an individual basis and subject to assessment, including requests for latest school reports and may include an entrance assessment. 3. Priority entry and siblings. Priority entry is given to applicants with a connection to Orchard House, Chiswick & Bedford Park Prep School, or Dukes Education. Sibling priority exists: the younger child may be prioritized if registered at the same time as the older or within 3 months of birth. Where an older child has left the school, siblings yet to join will no longer enjoy priority status. 4. Accepting a place, deposits, and conditions. To accept an offer, parents complete the acceptance form and pay a £3,000 deposit; acceptance becomes confirmed when both are received. The deposit is non-refundable if the pupil does not join, and it is refundable within two weeks after the end of the last term if departure was notified and all fees have been paid. One term's fees are payable in advance for the upcoming academic year, by March 1st; if acceptance occurs after March 1st, first term's fees are due with the deposit. When finalising the offer, the school may request reports or references and will consider any special educational needs, EAL requirements, and the child's right to reside in the UK.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Bursaries are awarded and funded by Orchard House School Educational Trust (OHSET), a registered charity which works closely with, but independently of Orchard House School. Orchard House School does not offer scholarships based on academic, musical or sporting achievement.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Registration is acknowledged and the child's name is placed on the waiting list for the preferred year. When a place becomes available, offers are made in order of registration, with priority given to applicants with a school connection in Nursery. If no places are available, the child remains on the waiting list for future vacancies.
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