Explore, learn and grow

Not far from the centre of London is a prep school which strives to get the very best from each of its pupils and from all that a great city has to offer…

There are no schools in London with the kind of acreage that Radley or Bryanston can boast, though there are schools, such as Westminster, where the value of the floor space covered by a wastepaper basket could buy you a croft in the Highlands. There are few schools in Central London where you can hear no traffic noise, but London Schools have potentially easy access to world-class exhibitions, theatres, museums and concerts. The school run is a nightmare in every significant conurbation and not just in Kensington. Finally, a retrospective glance at the Independent School scene reveals that preparatory schools, regarded by many as the cradles of the crucial formative educational years, are nothing like as numerous as they were. Once, Eastbourne alone boasted over a hundred such schools, now the threat of global warming is not a new one to preparatory schools half of whose catchment area is the sea. And yet in London, prep schools are thriving and new ones are regularly established. Fulham Prep School is a recent addition to the London Prep School scene and as such it represents some of the most up-to-date thinking in this sector and we felt that a brief description of the school as it sees itself would give parents an idea of the opportunities and characteristics of the contemporary Central London Prep school.

Founded in September 1996 by the current Principal Mrs Jane Emmett, the school has grown from a roll of 12 children and two teachers in a church hall into a Prep and Pre-Prep of more than 500 students and over 70 members of staff spread over two campuses. Mrs Emmett believes that a happy child will excel and the children of Fulham Prep love going to school.

The school works to the philosophy that every child is good at something, and, with the right encouragement, the many creative opportunities the school provides will spark in each child what may turn out to be a lifetime of interest. While the school does place great importance upon the academic development of its students, it also looks for something else from and in each child. Learning skills for life is about more than reading and writing, and opportunities to learn non-academic skills through art, music, sport and drama are equally important parts of the school’s curriculum. All children are invited to participate in the school’s annual fun run and swimming gala, the choirs, the orchestra, the musical productions and assembly performances.

The school seeks to produce children who are environmentally aware, both in an ecological sense and in terms of their social surroundings. Funds raised from initiatives designed by the children themselves are donated to an annually nominated charity and unneeded library books are sent to less well resourced schools in Europe and as far away as South Africa. Every year the Harvest Festival brings an opportunity to raise awareness of the poverty in the world surrounding the children, as they donate food to a local charity and learn to appreciate what they have.

The happiness of every student is of the greatest importance to each member of the school’s staff. Freedom from pressure to achieve perfection means that the children are confident enough to try their hand at anything as they are not afraid of making mistakes. They are invited to set their sights higher than they ever dreamed.

The opportunities and broad curriculum available to the students are the outcome of a balanced, happy learning environment. The children may undertake additional studies such as karate, ballet, chess, jewellery making, salsa dancing, Mandarin and fencing through clubs that run regularly during lunch times and after school.

A central London location means that Fulham Prep has countless educational opportunities right on its doorstep. The school uses its geographical position to ensure that each student experiences the wonderful exhibitions, productions, events and historic features that London has to offer. Excursions to gardens, museums, historical sites and farms are a regular occurrence for Pre-Prep classes, while the preparatory school make additional sporting, cultural, scientific and geographical trips to locations such as Devon, Cornwall and France.

The school has an active Parents’ Association which provides support both for the school and for other parents. The events the Association holds throughout the year and the funds that are raised encourage a united, friendly atmosphere for the school’s extended family.

Schools depend on the successful triangle of relationships between parents, pupils and staff. This is as true in London as out of it. The Independent sector offers, above all, choice. Some parents seek to place their children outside London in one of the many excellent boarding schools that are within easy access. Some would prefer to keep their children at home but seek a school that will broaden their horizons. Some seek a cosmopolitan mix of pupils and, perhaps, a central location. Others will look to the suburbs and the milieu of Greater London. It is up to the Independent sector to enhance these options and schools like Fulham Prep play a valuable part in this diversity.

Jane Emmett is Principal of Fulham Prep School.