Academic ambition
without losing childhood.
At Hereward House, 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.
A warm welcome from our Headmaster, Pascal Evans.
Choosing a prep 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 that he will be 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.
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 are able to 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.
โWe 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 school where boys are known, supported, and given space to become themselves.โ
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 school.
Pascal Evans
Headmaster, Hereward House School
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.
Hereward House is different on purpose.
As a small, single-form 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. When they are happy and confident, 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.
Seen in the everyday
With one form per year and a Headmaster who knows every boy, care is not a policy. It is part of daily school life.
Stretched with care
Boys are encouraged to think widely, work hard, and stay curious through a broad curriculum that includes Debating, Mandarin, Careers, Chess, Music, Drama and Sport.
Prepared for what comes next
Our boys move on to leading senior schools with the confidence, character, and academic foundations to thrive.
Preparation that builds confidence, not pressure.
At Hereward House, we take senior school preparation seriously. Our boys consistently move on to leading London day and boarding schools, including Westminster, St Paulโs, 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 pressureโs 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 Hereward House academically ready, emotionally steady, and confident in the person they are becoming.
See verified 2024/25 leavers' destinations here
When to join us.
Families come to Hereward House at different moments. Some are planning carefully for Reception. 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. Boys join us in the September following their fourth birthday, beginning 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 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.
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, 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 our families say.
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.
โ 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 schoolโs commitment to developing wellโrounded, kind and thoughtful young people. Weโre 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.
โ 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.
โ Stacey, Parent of a 2025 leaver
Free Parent Guide
Making the confident choice โ how to choose a prep school 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 ยท Hampstead, London
Download our guide for parents.
Making the confident choice โ how to choose a prep school 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.
How do you know whether a school will stretch your son without overwhelming him?
What should you look for beyond results and facilities?
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 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 Hereward House 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 here could feel like for your son, 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 schools, or just beginning your search, we will help you find the information you need.