Our education consultant, Sarah OshunWilliams, recently visited Brighton College Prep Kensington to find out more about the school’s all-rounded, top education in the heart of Central London. Read our consultant’s comprehensive review.
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- Head Mrs Lois Gaffney
- Gender Co-educational
- Age 2-13 years
- Day/Boarding Day
- Location 10 – 13 Prince’s Gardens, London, SW7 1ND
- Fees Contact us
The School
Brighton College Prep Kensington (BCPK) is an impressive and innovative school with high expectations and even higher standards. As the name suggests, the school is located in the heart of Kensington and is within walking distance to a number of local attractions, which has been expanded upon below. BCPK is a Cognita Group school, meaning that it has international links thanks to its global network of schools, teachers and education professionals.
Location & Facilities
Located on a nice residential street in Kensington by the stunning Prince’s Gardens, BCPK is a stone’s throw away from various educational attractions, such as the V&A, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.
The school is also a 5-to-10 minute walk away from Hyde Park, where the children are sometimes taken for Physical Education and Forest School. When they don’t want to leave the school, though, they are fortunate to have 2-acres of green space behind the school, known as their ‘Secret Garden’. They utilise this space for, again, PE and outdoor learning but also for concerts and performances for parents, which was taking place on the day we visited.
The school consists of four beautiful Grade II listed Victorian townhouses, with many original features. The townhouses are owned by Imperial College London which has forged a link between the two educational institutions, and this has only been strengthened by the children having access to the Imperial College Sports Centre next door. This facility is also used for PE, namely swimming and water polo, thanks to the indoor pool within.
Their summer renovations will also see the additions of a senior grade Science Lab, an Art Studio space and an extra library. The school is also very proud of their Music Room due to its abundance of equipment, as well as its domed ceiling, provides great acoustics.
Academics
Whilst there is a certain scholastic threshold children have to meet upon admission to the school, they also take pride in the exploration and refinement of holistic, creative and technological skills. The school is exceedingly proud of their Makerspace, a classroom specifically designed to facilitate an all-rounded approach to education.
The Makerspace contains two 3D printers which the children can use from Year 3 and there is even an area for the children to take apart and put back together various devices and pieces of technology – even through glue-gunning & metal wielding.
The art curriculum has been completely redesigned by the head of the department to incorporate even more creative learning. With the help from specialist music tutors from the Royal College of Music, the school ensures that the children are only being taught by the very best. In fact, the school delivers a robust training and development programme for the teachers so that the pupils are being taught the ‘Brighton Way’.
School Ethos
The school puts a strong emphasis on three pillars: Confidence, curiosity & kindness. They are passionate about their pupils being individuals with the self-confidence to make their own decisions on things and step out of their comfort zone for any opportunities that come their way. They want the children to be comfortable being themselves, not the “second version of someone else”, no matter how quirky or unique they may be.
Kindness is also an integral part of their ethos, they even promote that ‘kindness is the currency at Brighton College’. They aim to instil kindness in the children towards all things; towards themselves, towards each other, towards the environment and towards society itself. The hope is that this kindness will then be extended to those who were not fortunate or privileged enough to be able to attend a school like BCPK.
The school also stresses the importance of children having access to nature and the outdoors, as it allows them the space to run, grow and be free. From every window you looked out of, there was always lots of greenery which is unique for Central London and good for those who may not have a garden at home.
Entry Requirements
The school likes to meet every candidate and entrance is subject to testing at every stage.
For the younger years, the school administer age-appropriate focus tests, and candidates must have a certain level of English or they may have to undergo an intensive English language course through Cognita.
As they get older, the entrance exams include an English element, a Maths element and both verbal/non-verbal reasoning. Whilst the school is quite academically selective, they stress that so long as they pass a threshold, they will also be considering the candidate’s personality, social skills and characteristics. Prospective candidates are also required to attend interviews and provide references before admission.
Our Takeaway
Brighton College Prep Kensington is a very impressive school that provides many sought-after amenities. The extensive outside space, the Makerspace, the partnership with Imperial College and the central location are all very unique features aimed at developing an all-rounded student.
The pupils themselves seem very content and the original features of the townhouses were a sight to behold, especially with the abundance of natural light. It has the traditional feel of an independent school with some contemporary twists.
For children and families looking for an academically rigorous environment with plenty of outdoor activities in the heart of London, Brighton College Prep Kensington is a serious contender.
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