Devonshire House Preparatory School

Devonshire House was established in 1989 by Michael Loveridge with his family.[2] Mrs Stephanie Piper was appointed as the headmistress in September 2011 and was previously headmistress of King's House School, Richmond.

One of the school's buildings, 69 Fitzjohn's Avenue, was previously the premises of the Queen's House School, an independent day school for girls aged between 9 and 18 established in 1947.[3] The house at 4 Arkwright Road was the former residence of Francis William Topham (1808–1877), a painter and one of Charles Dickens' illustrators.[4]

The school is divided into four age groups. From age 2½, pupils are taught at the Oak Tree Nursery in Arkwright Road which is rated outstanding or good in all categories in its 2010 OFSTED report.[5] Pre-reception and Reception pupils are taught at 4 Arkwright Road. At 5+, pupils move to the Junior School which is based at 69 Fitzjohn's Avenue. Finally the pupils move at 8+ into the Senior School based at 2 and 6 Arkwright Road.[6] Boys leave at 13+ and girls generally leave the school at age 11+ although they can stay until 13+. The school is noted for the preparation and quality of food.[7][8]

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. [9][10] The school has intervened and collaborates with the Transport4schools school bus project.[11][12][13]

Devonshire House has raised funds for various charities throughout the past year including over £4,500 for the Haiti earthquake Appeal.[14] Over the past few years funds have been raised for the Royal Free Hospital,[15][16] Great Ormond Street Hospital, Aplastic Anaemia Trust, The Anaphylaxis Campaign, the Lowes Syndrome Trust,[17] and Hopes and Homes for Children.[14] Since 2008 the school has also supported the Gwalior Children's Hospital Charity in India, targeting £10,000 over two years.[18] This relationship with the Children's Hospital has been renewed in 2010. Other notable fundraising has included £4,500[19] for the victims of the Asian tsunami[20] and pupils recording music with singer Beverley Craven at AIR Studios in Hampstead.

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 Westminster School, University College School, St Paul's School, Highgate School or City of London School. Over the same period about half the girls have transferred to either St Paul's Girls' School, South Hampstead High School, North London Collegiate School, Francis Holland School or the City of London School for Girls. Pupils also progress to boarding schools such as Wycombe Abbey, Winchester College and Eton College. According to the 2007 ISI report, "preparation for the transfer to secondary schools is outstanding".[1] Over the past five years one in eight senior school offers received have been either a scholarship or an exhibition.[14]

• www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk