Devonshire House Preparatory School vs Knightbridge School

	D Devonshire House Preparatory School London, United Kingdom	K Knightbridge School London, United Kingdom
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year £12,738 - 35,619	Fees / year £26,820 - 34,950
Age range	Age range 2 - 13 years	Age range 3 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 506	Pupils 432
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1989	Opened 2006
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 2 Arkwright Road, London NW3 6AE. Located in Hampstead, North London, with access to public transport and local amenities. Serves families across North London.	Location The school is based at 67 Pont Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 0BD. It is in central London. The campus is near major cultural venues, with frequent visits to The Royal Academy of Arts, The V&A and Tate Britain, and The National History Museum and The Science Museum within about five minutes of Pont Street.
Stages	Stages Nursery, Pre-prep, Prep	Stages The school operates from Early Years (age 3) through Senior School and GCSEs (age 16).
School type	School type Co-educational	School type Independent co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Around 30% of children are from overseas, from over 50 countries.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support SEND team with in-house SEND provision, including one-to-one learning development sessions and social and emotional support; liaises with local authorities, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists; inclusive and flexible approach to meet a range of needs.	Additional learning support The school provides on-site Place2Be counselling and a mindfulness program to support student wellbeing.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Affiliation with the United States Embassy	Country affiliation United Kingdom.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Non-denominational	Religious affiliation Broadly Christian ethos; assemblies are non-denominational and cater for pupils of any faith or no faith.
School day structure	School day structure Wraparound care runs daily from 8am to 6pm for all children; includes Nursery After-School Care and Prep-School After-School Care; School Bus service available.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Zeelo-powered school bus service with routes from Maida Vale, St John's Wood and South Hampstead, and from Queen's Park, West Hampstead and Finchley Road.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - A non-returnable registration fee is payable on application: GBP 145 for Nursery applications; GBP 174 (inclusive of 20% VAT) for Reception and above. Deposits - A deposit is payable on acceptance of an offered place: Nursery Acorns deposit GBP 3,000; Nursery Oaks through to Year 8 deposit GBP 4,000. The deposit is refunded following a child's last term at the school, subject to the school's Terms and Conditions (and provided outstanding sums are settled and notice requirements are met). Tuition fees (termly and annual) - The figures below are the termly charges for the 2026–2027 academic year. Termly amount followed by the equivalent annual amount (three terms) is shown for each entry stage. - Nursery Acorns (08:30–12:00, morning sessions): GBP 4,246 per term — GBP 12,738 per year. (No VAT). - Nursery Acorns (08:30–15:00, full day): GBP 7,454 per term — GBP 22,362 per year. (No VAT). - Nursery Oaks (0830–15:00): GBP 8,974 per term — GBP 26,922 per year. (No VAT). - Reception: GBP 10,051 per term — GBP 30,153 per year. (Inclusive of VAT). - Year 1 to Year 8: GBP 10,794 per term — GBP 32,382 per year. (Inclusive of VAT). - Fees for international sponsored students (termly / annual): Reception GBP 11,056 per term — GBP 33,168 per year; Year 1–Year 8 GBP 11,873 per term — GBP 35,619 per year. (Inclusive of VAT). Extra-subject charges (termly) - Ballet (Nursery Oaks): GBP 300 per term. - Ballet (Reception to Year 6): GBP 360 per term. - Yoga (Nursery Oaks): GBP 300 per term. - Yoga (Reception to Year 6): GBP 360 per term. - Chess: GBP 396 per term. - Judo: GBP 318 per term. - Music and Voice: GBP 468 per term. - LAMDA: GBP 450 per term. What the tuition fees include - Tuition, specialist teaching (arts, French, STEM, Games), school lunches (except Nursery Acorns part-time sessions), scheduled termly educational trips (except Nursery Acorns part‑time), general exercise books and stationery, pastoral care and use of school facilities including Forest School. VAT status is indicated where applicable. Other costs and optional extras - Optional extras are billed separately: uniform, wraparound care (before and after school), after-school clubs, school bus service, residential trips and certain optional activities. After-School Care is provided until 18:00 and is charged separately to tuition. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed and payable termly, strictly in advance, and must be paid as cleared funds before the start of the term to which they relate. The first term's fees for September entry are due in full by the end of the Spring Term preceding that September entry. A full term's written notice, or fees in lieu, is required if a pupil is withdrawn; notice must expire at the end of a term. Late payment may incur an additional charge (GBP 100) and interest. Payment methods and options - Available payment methods include the school's direct debit arrangement and the school's international payment platform. Tax-Free Childcare is accepted for nursery fee payments. The school may refuse a payment if it is not satisfied as to the identity of the payer or the source of funds. Agreements with third parties to pay fees do not release parents from liability. Boarding - The school does not offer boarding; there are no boarding fees. Refunds and cancellations - The registration fee is non‑returnable. The acceptance deposit is refundable following a pupil's last term at the school, subject to the Terms and Conditions and provided all outstanding sums are settled and required notice has been given. If a pupil is expelled, there is no refund of the Acceptance Deposit or of fees for the current or past terms. If parents terminate with less than the required notice, a term's fees in lieu may be payable.	Fee details Application / Registration fee - A non‑refundable registration fee of GBP 240 is payable when the registration form is submitted. Tuition fees (termly amounts for September 2026 – August 2027 academic year) - Nursery: GBP 8,940 per term. - Reception: GBP 10,390 per term. - Prep Juniors (Years 1–3): GBP 10,390 per term. - Prep Seniors (Years 4–6): GBP 10,999 per term. - Upper Seniors (Years 7–8): GBP 11,145 per term. - Upper Seniors (Years 9–11): GBP 11,650 per term. - School lunches: GBP 948 per term. - Insurance: GBP 19 per term. - These termly figures are the published tuition amounts; additional items listed below are charged as extras where applicable. All fees and charges shown are inclusive of VAT. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is shown and charged on a termly basis for the 2026/27 year (fees quoted are per term). - A full term's notice is required when withdrawing a pupil; the deposit is handled in line with that notice requirement. - Specific invoicing dates, instalment options, and accepted payment methods are not published on the school's publicly available fees and admissions pages. For contractual notice and deposit conditions see the school's admissions/parent contract details. Deposit and acceptance - A deposit of GBP 3,000 is payable when a place is accepted. - The deposit is refundable when a pupil leaves provided a full term's notice has been given and all outstanding bills have been settled. - The school's admissions documents also describe the deposit/acceptance requirements and the requirement for a term's notice in relation to refunds and final account settlement. Boarding fees - Knightsbridge School operates as a day school for ages 3–16; no boarding provision or boarding fees apply. Other costs and extras - Items specifically identified as extras (charged in addition to the termly tuition) include: school lunches (listed above), residential trips, clubs, music lessons, drama lessons, any external examination fees, and additional learning support. Day trips/school trips (non‑residential) are included in the tuition where specified. - Uniform: uniform is required. New uniform is supplied through Perry Uniform; a full uniform list and supplier details are provided to families on registration and in the school's uniform guide. Prices for uniform items are set by the supplier and are not included in the termly tuition figures above. Second‑hand uniform options are available via the school's second‑hand supplier. Refund information - The registration fee is non‑refundable. - The acceptance deposit (GBP 3,000) is refundable on leaving provided a full term's written notice is given and all accounts are settled; the deposit may be applied to the final balance as required by the school's contract. - Other refunds (for example, refunds for cancelled trips or lessons) are handled according to the school's contractual terms and the specific activity provider's terms; no general refundable‑in‑full policy for tuition was published on the public fees pages. Fee payment options - The school's public fees and admissions pages do not publish the list of accepted payment methods or detailed invoicing/payment instructions. Parents should allow for standard methods commonly used by UK independent schools (for example, bank transfer/BACS, card payment or Direct Debit) but no specific payment options or provider details are published in the school's public fee materials. Contractual paperwork and the accounts office include the school's formal payment instructions.
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 Devonshire House offers a full co-educational prep curriculum for pupils aged 2–13. In the Early Years, the EYFS framework guides a play-based, scaffolded approach that balances child-initiated learning with adult-directed teaching and focuses on the three prime areas: communication and language development, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development, taught through literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world, and expressive arts and design. French is generously timetabled from Nursery, with language learning extended across age groups. From Year 4, the curriculum is delivered by specialist teachers, with a strong emphasis on reading and writing and a study-skills programme to prepare pupils for exams later on. Read Write Inc. is used from Nursery through Year 2 to support phonics and early reading. The STEM and Arts programmes span science, IT and the arts, with science taught as a single subject through Year 6 and then split into Biology, Chemistry and Physics from Year 7, and with specialist teaching in the arts (visual arts, music and drama) and opportunities such as music scholarships and Art Scholars to support talented artists.	Curriculum details Junior Curriculum covers English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities (History, Geography, Perspectives). Languages: all pupils study a language (French or Spanish) with year 4 options broadened to Italian or Mandarin; specialist teaching in Art and Computing; a wide range of trips and an extensive Performing Arts programme; and a broad co-curricular enrichment offering. Senior Curriculum includes English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science, French, a second Modern Foreign Language (Latin), History, Geography, Computing, Art, Performing Arts, PE & Games, and Perspectives. Enrichment in Years 7–9 previews GCSE/A‑Level options, and the school provides a Duke of Edinburgh Award, guest speaker talks, museum/theatre visits, and extensive sixth form and university tours/open days to support post‑16 progression.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Lower School outcomes show strong progress in phonics and reading: in Reception, 30% of pupils are six months ahead in phonics; 60% exceed age-related expectations in reading; over 80% are above the expected level in mathematics. In Year 1, more than 60% are above expected levels in phonics; 25% achieve Greater Depth in reading; nearly 50% in spelling; and over 40% in mathematics.	Exam results GCSE Results 2026: 26% of grades were 7–9; 91% were 4–9.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Leavers progress to a wide range of senior schools; Devonshire House is part of the Dukes Education family and offers guaranteed entry to Dukes senior schools, with places at schools including University College School (UCS), Highgate, St Paul's, and Channing. Senior school destinations also include a broad list of well-known London and regional senior institutions such as South Hampstead High School, Merchant Taylors' School, Mill Hill, North London Collegiate School, Wetherby Senior School and others, as detailed in the Year 6 and Year 8 destinations materials.	Higher education progression Careers Week and university tours/open days support higher education progression; volunteering and work experience opportunities are embedded in the Senior years.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented The Arts programme supports talented pupils, including an Art Scholars group to develop portfolios for prospective schools and interview practice. Talented musicians may receive internal music scholarships in Year 3, with ambassadors representing the school in performances and events.	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. Visit Us. Open Mornings are offered to explore the Nursery and meet Upper School pupils; if you cannot attend, contact the Admissions Team to arrange a visit at your convenience. 2. Register Online. The online registration form must be completed and a non-refundable Registration Fee paid. The Registration Fee is £145 for Nursery applications and £174 (including VAT) for Reception and above. 3. Next Steps. After registration, the Admissions Team will be in touch to discuss the next steps for your child. 4. Entry Points & Requirements. The main points of entry are Acorns (2+), Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), and Year 7 (11+). 5. Joining Our Nursery (Acorns & Oaks). There are no taster sessions or assessments required to secure a place for Acorns. Offers for Acorns are made year-round for upcoming years; Oaks offers are extended one year in advance, and children in Nursery receive an automatic place in Reception. 6. Joining Reception (4+). There are no assessments required to secure a place in Reception; your child will be invited to taster events several times during the year preceding entry. Offers for Reception are made in the Spring Term preceding the proposed academic year of entry. 7. Joining at 7+ (Year 3). The admissions process includes a Taster event; offers for Year 3 are made in the Spring Term preceding entry. 8. Joining at 11+ (Year 7). A Taster Morning and an Assessment are conducted before offering a place; there is also an online Get to Know You session for Year 7/8 before an offer is made. 9. Visa Sponsorship & References. For families seeking visa sponsorship, an online interview with the child and accompanying adult is conducted before an offer. 10. Offers & Parental Commitment. Offers reflect a combination of merit and fit, and parental commitment to the School's ethos is an important factor. 11. Waiting List. If places for the following September are filled, applicants are kept on the waiting list for the relevant year group, and places may be offered to waiting-listed children if vacancies arise.	Admissions Step 1. Visiting and enquiry. Visiting Knightsbridge School is the typical starting point for the admissions journey. The admissions team can assist with inquiries by phone or email. The visit helps families experience the school's environment and understand its approach to learning. Step 2. Interviews and assessments. Entry is determined through an informal interview with the child and parents at the appropriate level. For prospective pupils entering Year 1 and above, a taster day within the relevant year group and an in-person assessment are arranged, together with a reference from the pupil's current school. Quest is used for assessments. This process assesses readiness and fit for the next phase. Step 3. Entry points and international admissions. Official entry points are Reception (4+), Year 7 (11+), and Year 9 (13+); enquiries for other year groups are welcome subject to availability. For overseas applicants, there is a dedicated international admissions process. Step 4. Registration and fees. A child's name is placed on the applicant list after completing and returning a registration form to the Admissions Office, accompanied by a non-refundable registration fee of £240. Admission is subject to the availability of a place and the pupil meeting entrance requirements. The registration fee is non-refundable. Step 5. Dukes Education and guaranteed entry. Knightsbridge School is part of the Dukes Education family. It offers guaranteed entry at key entry points—Nursery, Reception and Year 7—subject to space and the pupil's ability to thrive within the school's ethos and curriculum. Occasional places are available outside these points.
Scholarships	Scholarships Devonshire House offers academic and music scholarships to children entering Year 3, and the first year of the Upper School (Year 4). Scholarships are awarded based on results of scholarship examinations held in the Summer Term, and are open to external candidates. Bursaries are available to pupils who meet entry standards and who have the potential to contribute to the School community but require financial assistance with fees.	Scholarships Bursaries – The KSEF: Knightsbridge School offers bursaries to up to two Year 7 entrants per year, which can be valued up to 100%, funded through the Knightsbridge School Education Foundation (KSEF). Scholarships at Knightsbridge School are awarded in academics, performing arts and sport to students who have excelled in these areas. Assessments for scholarships take place after joining and are based on the pupil's performance in the relevant area. There is no monetary value attached to Scholarships, but scholars have access to an enhancement programme.
Waitlist	Waitlist If places for the following September are filled, applicants are kept on the waiting list for the relevant year group, and places may be offered to waiting-listed children if vacancies arise.	Waitlist —
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