University College School
UCS Hampstead is a leading London day school that combines the highest standards of academic achievement and pastoral care with outstanding facilities for all-round education with a distinctive liberal ethos.
Founded to promote the Benthamite principles of liberal scholarship and education, UCS believes intellectual curiosity, breadth of study and independence of mind combine to achieve academic excellence.
Selecting children with no regard to race or creed, UCS fosters in them a sense of community alongside a tolerance of and a respect for the individual. It is a place of study, but also of selfdiscovery and self-expression; a school that places equal value on learning with others as on learning from others.
Mark Beard Headmaster of UCS Foundation
Welcome to Pre-Prep
UCS Pre-Prep is a small, nurturing school that forms part of the larger UCS Foundation which educates boys from 4-16 with a coeducational Sixth Form. We aim to provide our pupils with a happy and enriched learning environment as they begin their School journey. Intellectual curiosity and independence of mind are developed, self-discovery and self-expression are fostered, and learning co-operatively and collaboratively is highly valued.
We aim to give each child the opportunity to develop at their own pace, whilst at the same time thoroughly preparing them for their next stage of learning. At the end of Year Two most of our pupils progress to the Junior Branch to continue their UCS journey.
Dr Zoe Dunn Headmistress
Pre-Prep
“If you are keen on a trajectory through one of London’s best schools, this is where you start...”
Good Schools Guide
The curriculum reflects the ethos of the wider Foundation: intellectual curiosity is nurtured, independence of mind is encouraged, and every child is supported in discovering and expressing their individuality. Our well-qualified staff combines high expectations with imagination and warmth, ensuring learning is both purposeful and joyful.
Teaching takes place through a carefully balanced mix of structured lessons and planned indoor and outdoor play. A high staff-to-pupil ratio, together with Specialist Teachers in Art, Drama, Dance, Music, PE and French, ensures that each boy receives focused attention and expert guidance. Our specially designed Creative Arts and Sciences Studio is where the children enjoy
Food Technology, Art and Design, and Science, including planting and growing in our greenhouse and garden.
From age four, pupils follow an enriched Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, with a strong emphasis on Literacy, Numeracy and personal development. In Key Stage One, boys study National Curriculum subjects within a creative framework that blends Arts and Sciences, encouraging deep thinking and meaningful connections.
Flexible grouping supports progress in core skills and by Year 2, attainment typically exceeds national expectations, with boys well prepared for the next stage of their education.
Curriculum
“Staff instil a joy of learning and give pupils the confidence to be ambitious in just how far they can develop their skills and knowledge.”
Independent Schools
Inspectorate Report 2024
Co-Curricular
Co-curricular life is rich, varied, and integral to every boy’s development. Alongside the academic curriculum, pupils enjoy weekly swimming at the Sir Roger Bannister Sports Centre, dance and gymnastics in the Pre-Prep gymnasium, outdoor learning and Forest School sessions at the UCS Senior School allotment, and regular Physical Education on the Foundation’s extensive sports grounds. Play sits proudly alongside skill-building, ensuring boys develop confidence, coordination and a lifelong enjoyment of being active.
Creativity and curiosity are nurtured through a broad programme of experiences within and beyond the classroom. Visiting artists, authors and members of the local
community enrich learning, while Key Stage One pupils can take individual music lessons in piano and violin. Performance is central to school life, with two annual productions in the Lund Theatre, an evening music recital, and participation in Foundation events, including the Remembrance Service and Carol Concert.
Before and after school, a vibrant clubs’ programme offers something for everyone — from Taekwondo, Gymnastics and Fencing to Art, Coding, Yoga and Choir. Educational visits across London, including trips to Camden Arts Centre and Hampstead Heath, further broaden horizons, ensuring learning is active, imaginative and deeply connected to the wider world.
“Children’s physical health and emotional wellbeing are interwoven into the curriculum..”
Independent Schools
Inspectorate Report 2024
We believe that children thrive when they feel happy, secure, and valued — and that learning should be joyful. By creating a nurturing, supportive environment, we build self-confidence, cultivate self-esteem and develop the emotional resilience that helps boys see mistakes as opportunities for growth. This foundation enables every child to fulfil their potential while developing a genuine love of school, alongside excellent behaviour and strong academic progress.
With a high teacher–pupil ratio, each boy is known and understood. Our experienced,
approachable staff work closely together to ensure personalised attention and flexible learning groups. We see ourselves as partners with families in helping every child flourish.
Social and emotional learning is woven into daily life. Through carefully designed programmes and our muchloved dinosaur learning characters, boys explore our core values of Endeavour, Resilience, Intellectual Curiosity, Collaboration and Courtesy. In doing so they learn to understand their emotions, care for others and treat everyone with kindness and respect.
Pastoral Care
PARENT PERSPECTIVES
“UCS
provides a unique environment to both nourish and challenge the boys to be their best versions of themselves. The UCS boys are all well-rounded, smart, articulate and caring.”
Year 2 Parent
“The range of subjects is vast and enriching.”
Year 1 Parent
“The balance between great academic teaching and understanding of each child as a unique individual with different needs and strengths is what makes a UCS education distinctive. Reception Parent
Spectacular Spaces
The iconic Great Hall represents the physical heart and soul of UCS
From reception, all boys swim in the 25-meter pool and use the wider facilities weekly at UCS Active.
All Pre-Prep boys enjoy weekly sessions in the allotment at the UCS Senior School.
The Pre-Prep winter and end of term drama performances take place in The Lund, our purpose built theatre at the Senior School.
All pupils in the Pre-Prep benefit from access to the wider UCS facilities, with weekly visits to the Senior School and Playing fields, enabling them to benefit from resources across the school. Beautiful buildings and grounds contribute to making UCS the inspiring place that it is. The school benefits
from a stunning blend of classic and contemporary architecture which reflects both UCS’s long proud tradition and its forward-thinking philosophy. The buildings are not only lovely to look at; they are also designed to support pupils’ potential both in and beyond the classroom.
UCS playing Fields span 27 acres of playing surface, alongside a new sports pavilion.
At the end of Year 2, Pre-Prep boys make a seamless transition to the UCS Junior Branch – one of London’s leading academic prep schools. Here, we provide a rich and ambitious curriculum which encourages intellectual curiosity, nurtures individual talents and fosters a strong sense of shared endeavour.
There is a big emphasis on sport and the creative arts here. Our co-curricular provision is extensive and children enjoy a wide range of after-school clubs and activities. We want our boys to be happy and thrive in a friendly, caring and respectful environment, developing resilience and independence.
The Junior Branch
The Future Vision for UCS
As it enters its third century, UCS will continue to embody the forward-looking spirit that has always defined it, while also being equipped with the facilities to realise this vision well beyond 2030.
By the time UCS celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2030, it will stand as a truly venerable institution –the product of two centuries of educational excellence – yet one that remains firmly focused on the future.
This confidence in the future is underpinned by a transformational major capital project recently approved for the Senior School site at Frognal and expected to be completed by 2030. The project rests on two central principles: the importance of investing in pupil wellbeing, and the vital role of the performing arts in a well-rounded education.
Lower School pupils will benefit from the creation of a dedicated Lower School hub, providing Years 7 and 8 with their own spaces and resources. This welcoming environment will help younger pupils find their feet, feel at home, and develop a strong sense of
belonging from the very start of their UCS journey.
Pupil wellbeing will be further enhanced through the establishment of a bespoke Wellbeing Centre, offering access to counselling, nursing and GP care within a calm, supportive setting.
At the same time, the school’s already vibrant performing arts provision will be significantly expanded. New facilities for Music and Drama will include a purpose-built music auditorium, a drama studio, and a café – spaces designed to inspire creativity, collaboration and performance.
Together, these developments will ensure that UCS remains a place where tradition and innovation stand side by side – a school ready to meet the needs and aspirations of generations to come.
