• The Academy School is close knit, ambitious and child aware, and aims to give each pupil a rounded education and the confidence to reach their own maximum potential.

• Will suit families seeking a small London prep where children are known well and where senior-school preparation is taken seriously without losing warmth.

Admissions at The Academy School are warm, personal and should appeal to families seeking a small Hampstead prep with a family feel and strong preparation for senior-school entry. The school should suit parents who value a stand-alone prep that is not trying to be huge, but that clearly takes each child’s next step seriously.

At prep level the bigger story is strong exit preparation rather than a flashy internal awards culture. Families should ask directly about any current support or scholarships, but the school’s appeal is much more about careful teaching and successful senior-school transition.

The overall picture is unusually reassuring for a small London prep because Ofsted described the school as Outstanding and highlighted a close, diverse community where learning is constant and fun. Public inspection material also points to strong 11+ and 13+ outcomes, which gives the school a more confident profile than its modest size might suggest.

Assessment at The Academy School is structured, purposeful and clearly tied to strong 11+, 13+ and Common Entrance preparation, with regular attention to mathematics, English and the wider habits of scholarship. Parents should expect a school that tracks progress closely while keeping a lively, family-like atmosphere.