Pembridge Hall is one of the best known girls' prep schools among families exploring the international schools in London, occupying a cluster of houses on Pembridge Square in Notting Hill. It educates girls from age 4 in Reception through to age 11, when they sit competitive assessments for entry to London's selective senior schools. The school is non selective at the point of entry, which sets it apart from many central London preps, and it is owned by the Inspired Education group. For globally mobile families settling in west London, it is a familiar name on any shortlist of single sex preparatory schools.
Pembridge Hall at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British prep curriculum; preparation for 11 plus transfer |
|---|---|
| Stages | Age 4 to 11 (girls) |
| Founded | Not published; long established in Notting Hill |
| Accreditation | Independent school inspected by ISI; part of Inspired Education |
| Type | Non selective independent day school for girls |
| Fee band | Premium central London prep |
| Campus area | Pembridge Square, Notting Hill, west London |
Curriculum and academics
Pembridge Hall follows the British curriculum for the primary years, building from the Early Years Foundation Stage in Reception through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Teaching is broad and ambitious, with strong literacy and numeracy underpinning a wide enrichment programme that takes in art, music, drama, sport, languages and the use of the school's specialist facilities. As a girls' only environment, the school sets out to give every pupil the confidence to lead, perform and compete without the dynamics of a mixed classroom.
The academic purpose of a Notting Hill prep is preparation for 11 plus, and Pembridge Hall is geared to that point of transfer. In the final years, pupils are prepared for the entrance assessments and interviews used by London's most selective senior schools, both single sex and mixed. Because it is non selective at entry, the school's reputation rests on how far it moves a broad intake, and its leavers regularly secure places at well regarded senior destinations across the capital.
Comparing Pembridge Hall with other London preps?
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Pembridge Hall fees
Pembridge Hall fees sit in the premium band of the London school fees market for central London prep schools. The January 2025 introduction of 20 per cent VAT on private school fees lifted headline prep tuition across Notting Hill and Kensington into the twenties of thousands of pounds a year, and Pembridge Hall is in that bracket. The school publishes its current termly fees, which is the figure to budget from, as it reviews them each year.
Beyond tuition, families should plan for a registration fee charged when a daughter is added to the list, a deposit to secure a place once an offer is made, and the usual extras for lunches, school trips, clubs and uniform. There is no boarding, so costs are day school only. To bring tuition and the additional items into one annual figure before you commit, use our fee calculator, and confirm the current published fees with the school's admissions office.
Admissions
The principal entry point to Pembridge Hall is into Reception at age 4. Because the school is non selective, places are allocated without an entrance examination, but demand is high and registration is the critical step. Families are encouraged to register early, often in the first months of a daughter's life, and places are offered in date order from the waiting list subject to the school's process.
Occasional places may arise in other year groups when a family relocates away, and these are handled separately, sometimes with an informal assessment to confirm a child can access the year group. International families arriving mid year should contact the admissions office directly to ask about availability, the documentation required and the timetable. The school can advise on the realistic prospect of a place for a given age and term.
Location and who goes there
Pembridge Hall stands on Pembridge Square in Notting Hill, a short walk from Notting Hill Gate station and the green space of Kensington Gardens. The setting is residential west London, and the school draws its pupils largely from the surrounding Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the neighbouring parts of Westminster, areas with a long established international community of diplomatic, finance and creative families.
Because it is a single sex day prep rather than an international school in the expatriate sense, its families are a mix of British and globally mobile households who want a place in the London independent system. Notting Hill and Holland Park are among the most sought after addresses for relocating families, and the London city hub sets out how this part of west London compares with the other neighbourhoods where expatriate families cluster.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community. If you have experience of Pembridge Hall, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Pembridge Hall fees?
Pembridge Hall sits in the premium band for London girls' prep schools, with headline tuition in the twenties of thousands of pounds a year after the January 2025 VAT change. The school publishes current termly fees, which is the figure to use. Budget also for registration, a deposit and the usual extras for lunches, trips and clubs.
What does Pembridge Hall teach?
It teaches the British prep curriculum to girls aged 4 to 11, preparing them for entry to selective London senior schools at 11 plus. The school is non selective at entry but prepares pupils for competitive transfer assessments.
Is Pembridge Hall a good school?
It is a long established Notting Hill girls' prep with a strong record of moving pupils on to leading London senior schools. We do not assign a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its curriculum and entry rather than score it.
When do Pembridge Hall applications open?
The main entry point is into Reception at age 4, and registration opens well ahead of the assessment, often shortly after a daughter is born. Families should register early and confirm the current timetable with the admissions office.
Is Pembridge Hall a girls' school?
Yes. Pembridge Hall is a non selective independent day school for girls aged 4 to 11 in Notting Hill. Pupils move on to a range of London girls' and co educational senior schools at 11 plus.
