Brighton College Prep Kensington
Brighton College Prep Kensington is the latest addition to the prestigious Brighton College portfolio. Formally Prince’s Garden Prep, the planned transformation was announced last spring, resulting in a surge in applications and a promising future for the new Brighton College prep school in its place.
Our recent visit for the Educatus Explorer, highlighted the school’s distinctive features, including new management, smaller class sizes (capped at 16 students), unique assessment methods, and a commitment to prioritising the personal happiness of its students.
Launched in September 2023, the school caters to girls and boys aged 2 to 13 and is making waves in the heart of South Kensington's Museum District. Nestled amidst cultural treasures like the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, and Royal College of Music, it has everything on its doorstep to provide a unique educational experience.
The magnificent building boasts a two-acre garden for sports and play – an outdoor space that is completely unheard of in London. As well as access to Imperial College's swimming pool and sports facilities.
One of the intriguing aspects of Brighton College Prep Kensington is its unique approach to the entrance examination process. The assessment extends beyond traditional academic testing, with the school observing children's behaviours, choices, and interactions. Getting to know the children on a deeper level to ensure a well-rounded student body that aligns with the school's values that aim to celebrate individuality. With international families, they will aim to have some initial video call conversations with children before inviting them to in-person visits if appropriate.
Since its launch last September, the school has experienced a surge in interest from both local and international families which has led to the school recently announcing the mid-year expansion of classes in multiple year groups. Pupils numbers now surpass 270 with plans for further expansion in the upcoming academic year.
The newly appointed Head teacher of Brighton College Prep Kensington Mrs Lois Gaffney, previously deputy head at Brighton College Singapore, was eager to note that while there is no direct graduation path to Brighton College itself, the school uses the Brighton College curriculum including SUPER curriculum, Story of Our Land, and Pelican Pathways, and regularly mixes with pupils from across the Brighton College Family of Schools. The familiarity with Brighton College and those connections could indirectly contribute to the students' future educational journeys with a pupils gaining offers to the College.
As they are a new school, Brighton College Prep Kensington have not yet had a full inspection and are awaiting one. The school did undergo a small ISI inspection prior to opening and all standards were met. Brighton College Prep Kensington is also regularly inspected by Brighton College to ensure that the school meets the standards of a Brighton College education, with two visits already in the last year. All of this information is available on the school website here Brighton College Prep Kensington.
The Educatus Explorer finds Brighton College Prep Kensington to be a unique and promising addition to the educational scene in London, already showing that it will live up to its very prestigious name. The school's popularity is already clear, and the outdoor space and facilities for such a location are unmatched.
