• Thomas's Kensington is warm, thriving and community minded and aims to combine strong values and academic excellence with the intimacy of a smaller prep.

• Will suit families wanting a west London prep that feels close knit and warm but still benefits from the wider Thomas's network.

Admissions at Thomas's Kensington are polished but still warmly personal, and should appeal to families wanting a smaller-feeling west London prep within the wider Thomas's family. It should suit parents who like the resources and reputation of the group but also want a close-knit environment where children are genuinely known.

Scholarships are not the main story here. Families choose Kensington for its atmosphere, Thomas's values and confident prep-school foundations rather rather than for awards.

The overall picture is warm, thriving and intentionally intimate, with the school stressing that it combines the wider Thomas's resources with the feel of a smaller community. Parents should still visit because the key question is whether that smaller, close-knit atmosphere feels right for their child.

Assessment at Thomas's Kensington is close, purposeful and clearly communicated, with secure tracking of the basics alongside strong encouragement in the arts, sport and wider school life. Families should expect a prep that keeps standards high without feeling joyless.