A Hampstead prep school for academic ambition
without losing childhood.
At Hereward House, an independent boys’ preparatory school in Hampstead, we believe a boy’s prep school years should be full of purpose, joy, curiosity, and care. We prepare boys for London’s leading senior schools while keeping sight of what matters most: the child in front of us, the confidence he is building, and the person he is becoming.
Welcome to Hereward House School in Hampstead.
A warm welcome from our Headmaster, Pascal Evans.
Choosing a prep school or private school for your son is a deeply personal decision. You want to know that he will be stretched, encouraged, and prepared for the next stage. But you also want to know that he will be happy and understood. That the people teaching him will notice not only what he achieves, but how he is growing.
At Hereward House, that balance matters to us. It is why families looking for an independent boys’ school in North London often value the care, clarity, and individual attention of our small Hampstead community.
Since 1951, we have been a small, purposeful boys’ prep school built on close relationships. Our size is deliberate. With one form per year and around 170 boys, we offer the kind of small class environment and personalised education that helps us know each child properly: his strengths, his character, his friendships, his worries, and the moments when he needs either a little more challenge or a little more encouragement.
“We meet every family personally because we believe the best way to understand Hereward House is to experience it as it is: a warm, academically ambitious Hampstead prep school where boys are known, supported, and given space to become themselves.”
We would be delighted to welcome you for a visit, show you the boys in their classrooms, and give you a true feel for daily life at our independent prep school in Hampstead.
Pascal Evans
Headmaster, Hereward House School
A small Hampstead prep school where boys are known, not just taught.
In a larger school, a quiet boy can sometimes disappear into the rhythm of the day. A lively boy can be misunderstood before he is properly known. A capable boy can be pushed before he is ready. For parents comparing small class schools in London, this personal visibility can make all the difference.
Hereward House is different on purpose: a small, independent boys’ school in Hampstead where relationships shape daily school life.
As a small, single-form prep school of around 170 boys, we offer the kind of personal visibility that is increasingly rare. Our Headmaster knows every boy by name and every family personally. Our teachers know how each child learns, what gives him confidence, where he needs support, and when he is ready for more.
This matters because boys do their best learning when they feel secure. In an independent prep school with individual attention, they are more willing to take risks, ask questions, try again, build friendships, and grow into themselves.
At Hereward House, academic ambition and pastoral care are not separate promises. They are part of the same daily experience, from Reception through to senior school preparation.
Individual attention, every day
With one form per year, small class sizes, and a Headmaster who knows every boy, care is not a policy. It is part of daily school life.
Academic stretch with care
Boys are encouraged to think widely, work hard, and stay curious through a broad curriculum that gives this North London prep school its academic energy, including Debating, Mandarin, Careers, Chess, Music, Drama and Sport.
Prepared for leading senior schools
Our boys move on to leading London day and boarding schools with the confidence, character, and academic foundations to thrive.
Academic preparation for London’s leading senior schools, without pressure for pressure’s sake.
At Hereward House, we take senior school preparation seriously. Families comparing top prep schools in London often want strong outcomes, but also a school where boys stay confident and grounded. Our boys consistently move on to leading London day and boarding schools, including Westminster, St Paul’s, City of London, Highgate, UCS, Eton and Winchester.
At the same time, we believe the way boys reach those outcomes matters just as much as the outcomes themselves.
We do not believe in pressure for pressure’s sake. We want boys to work hard, think deeply, ask questions, take pride in their progress, and enjoy the richness of their prep school years.
Our curriculum is deliberately broad and intellectually ambitious. Boys are introduced to subjects and opportunities that stretch both confidence and curiosity, including Debating, Mandarin, Careers, Chess, Music, Drama and Sport. Alongside this, they receive careful guidance for senior school entry, with individual attention shaped around who they are, how they learn, and where they are most likely to thrive next.
The result is preparation with substance. Boys leave this Hampstead boys’ school academically ready, emotionally steady, and confident in the person they are becoming.
See verified 2024/25 leavers' destinations here
4+ and 7+ admissions at our Hampstead prep school.
Families come to Hereward House at different moments. Some are planning carefully for Reception or 4+ school admissions in London. Others are considering a move later in their son’s prep school journey. Wherever you are in the process, we would be very happy to talk with you.
Our Admissions team will guide you through availability, timings, and the next steps in a way that feels clear, personal, and unhurried.
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Our main point of entry is Transition, our Reception year. For families looking for a private school for 4 year olds or a reception private school in London, this is where boys begin their Hereward House journey in a warm, nurturing environment where they can settle, grow in confidence, and start to enjoy the rhythms of school life.
Families are welcome to register with us at any stage, although we generally recommend doing so around a year before 4+ entry, as availability within year groups can vary over time.
Registered families are invited for a personal tour and a meeting with our Headmaster in the calendar year before entry.
Register your interest
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A small number of places are available each year for boys joining at 7+. This can be a wonderful stage to join Hereward House, as boys move into the Middle School and begin to experience a wider range of specialist teaching, clubs, sport, and opportunities at a boys’ prep school in North London.
For parents considering a move at this point, we will talk carefully through your son’s current school experience, what you are looking for next, and whether Hereward House feels like the right fit.
Enquire about availability
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Because families sometimes relocate or circumstances change, occasional places do arise in other year groups. If you are looking for a mid-year move to an independent school in Hampstead or a prep school in North London, please get in touch. We take great care to ensure that boys joining mid-way through the school feel settled and welcomed from their very first day.
Speak to our admissions teamWhat families say about our Hampstead boys’ school.
As a family, we feel so fortunate to have found a warm, inclusive and engaging school and community for our boys in Hereward House. My boys have woken up happy to go to school every day, as the staff, teachers and students feel like close friends and family. Everyone prioritises kindness, with the right balance of hard work, traditional teaching and experiential real-world applications. I have loved every play, concert, exhibition, meeting, sports day, fair and second-hand sale. The small teacher-to-student ratio and academic approach are rigorous without being harsh and are unapologetically personalised. My boys are confident, engaged, and exceptionally well prepared for the demands of Westminster School, a transition the school and Mr Evans have facilitated so reassuringly.
— Hanaa, Parent of a Year 8 pupil
Hereward House is a wonderful school with a nurturing atmosphere and a strong sense of community. Our two sons have grown in confidence and maturity during their time there, and we have always felt supported as a family. The academic standards are high, but what stands out most is the school’s commitment to developing well‑rounded, kind and thoughtful young people. We’re so grateful for the dedicated staff who go the extra mile to ensure the boys get the support they need as individuals. It has been a steady, positive environment that has prepared them well for their next steps into senior school.
— Beth, Parent of a Year 5 pupil
The quality of teaching and academic progress has been to a very high standard.
We are so pleased with the results and know that our sons have a bright future from their time at Hereward House.
— Stacey, Parent of a 2025 leaver
Free Parent Guide
Making the confident choice — how to choose a prep school in London for your son.
Visible leadership and pastoral care
Academic stretch without pressure
The right questions to ask on a tour
Understanding the senior school pathway
The everyday signs a child will be happy there
Hereward House School · Hampstead, London
Download our guide to choosing a prep school in London.
Making the confident choice — how to choose a prep school in London for your son.
Choosing a prep school is rarely just a practical decision. It is emotional, personal, and often full of questions that are difficult to answer from a website alone. Many families begin with searches such as “private schools near me”, “good primary schools near me” or “best prep schools London”, but the real decision is about the environment where your son will feel known, stretched, and happy.
How do you know whether a school will stretch your son without overwhelming him?
What should you look for beyond results, facilities, and league-table reputation?
How can you tell whether a school will truly know him, not simply teach him?
Our free parent guide is designed to help you think through those questions with more clarity and confidence, whether you are looking at private schools in Hampstead, prep schools in London, or schools with small class sizes and individual attention.
Whether Hereward House is already on your shortlist or you are still exploring your options, we hope the guide gives you a calmer, clearer way to make the decision that feels right for your son.
Wondering whether this Hampstead private school could be right for your son?
Sometimes the next step is not a decision. It is simply a conversation.
If you would like to understand more about Hereward House, our approach, our entry points, or what life could feel like at a small independent prep school in Hampstead, we would be very happy to hear from you.
Request more information, and our Admissions team will guide you gently through the next steps. Whether you are ready to visit, still comparing boys’ schools in London, or just beginning your search for a prep school near Hampstead, we will help you find the information you need.