Devonshire House preparatory school is a co-educational independent IAPS day school for children from 2 to 13 for girls and boys. The school is based in four large Victorian houses in Hampstead. The school currently has about 640 pupils.

History

Devonshire House was established in 1989 by Michael Loveridge with his family. Mrs Stephanie Piper was appointed as the headmistress in September 2011 and was previously headmistress of

King's House School King's House School is a private day preparatory school in Richmond, London. Founded in 1946, it has 450 pupils aged between 3 and 13.Boys 3–13. Girls 3–4. Present school The school is currently split into three parts: *King's House ...

, Richmond. One of the school's buildings, 69

Fitzjohns Avenue Fitzjohns Avenue is a street in Hampstead, England. Located in the London Borough of Camden it runs northwards from College Crescent (near to Swiss Cottage tube station on the Finchley Road) to join and become Heath Street in Hampstead Village ...

, was previously the premises of the Queen's House School, an independent day school for girls aged between 9 and 18 established in 1947. The house at 4 Arkwright Road was the former residence of

Francis William Topham Francis William Topham (15 April 1808 – 31 March 1877) was an English watercolourist and engraver. Life His early in life he was articled to an uncle who was a writing engraver. Around 1830 he came to London, and at first found employment in ...

(1808–1877), a painter and one of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

' illustrators.

Operation

The school is divided into four age groups. From age 2 to age 4, pupils are taught at the Nursery School at 6 and 4 Arkwright Road which is rated outstanding in all categories in its 2017 ISI report. At 4+, pupils move to the Lower School which is based at 69 Fitzjohns Avenue. Pupils move at 7+ into the Middle School based at 2 and 4 Arkwright Road. Finally, at 10+ (Year 6), pupils learn at the Upper School until they are 13 years of age. Pupils leave at 11+ or 13+. The school provides preparation for both exams. The school is noted for the excellence of its pastoral care and the preparation and quality of high quality food. Devonshire House is one of a large number of schools in the area (see list of schools in Hampstead) which has contributed to school-run traffic congestion in Hampstead. The school has intervened and collaborates with the Transport4schools school bus project.

Fundraising

Devonshire House has raised funds for two main charities over the past year, Rwanda Action and Mind. In addition over £15,000 was raised in the Big Sleepout in December 2020.

Alumni

After finishing at Devonshire House most pupils transfer to London day schools. Over the past five years about half the boys have gone to either

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, St Paul's School,

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. Over the same period about half the girls have transferred to either

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or the

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Channing School. Pupils also progress to boarding schools such as

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and

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. According to the 2017 ISI report, "preparation for the transfer to secondary schools is outstanding". Over the past five years one in eight senior school offers received have been either a

scholarship A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...

or an

exhibition An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibiti ...

References

External links

www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk
{{authority control 1989 establishments in England Educational institutions established in 1989 Private boys' schools in London Private co-educational schools in London Private schools in the London Borough of Camden Preparatory schools in London Schools in Hampstead