The Cavendish School

The Cavendish School is a friendly, independent London prep school for girls aged 3 to 11. The school welcomes approximately 200 pupils from a rich mix of nationalities, cultures and faiths and enjoys charitable status.

Situated in Camden, near Regent’s Park, the School was founded in 1875 and moved from Cavendish Square to its current site in 1970. Our spacious, airy classrooms and gardens, including a dedicated early years setting and an astroturf court, were recently augmented by a state-of-the-art building to include new classrooms and a 200-seater multi-use auditorium. We have a purpose-built, well-equipped gym, and our own kiln on site. Our kitchens provide healthy and delicious lunches for girls and staff, who enjoy meals together.

Our inclusive ethos has created an exceptional, well-balanced and lively school, dedicated to making a positive difference in the community.

Within this nurturing environment where kindness, difference and respect are paramount, high standards are enabled and celebrated. All children are encouraged to achieve their maximum potential and work is always carefully calibrated to the individual child’s needs. This, combined with small class sizes, high adult-pupil ratios and committed and enthusiastic staff, enables personalised learning in a happy and productive atmosphere.

Central to the philosophy of The Cavendish School is the belief in providing girls with the best pastoral care combined with outstanding teaching. The school is not selective at entry but is academically ambitious for each and every pupil, and achieves remarkable results across the curriculum.

Our curriculum vision: 

The Cavendish School is a place ‘where girls dare’.

Through evidence-based pedagogy, and a rich curriculum, the girls become ‘spirited, versatile achievers.’

For our girls, the curriculum aims to provide:

• self-and community-empowerment;
• self-expression;
• and, a kaleidoscope of knowledge, skills and experiences.

These ensure that every girl develops her voice.

This is driven by high-quality literacy and oracy, and the principle that every lesson counts.

Great success has been achieved over recent years in preparing pupils for their next school and The Cavendish is dedicated to helping find the right senior school for each, with girls achieving offers (and music and academic scholarships) from a wide range of top state and independent senior schools at 11+, including; City of London School for Girls, Channing School, South Hampstead High School, Henrietta Barnet, Camden School for Girls, Francis Holland School, Godolphin & Latymer, Highgate School, North London Collegiate School, St Paul’s Girls’ School.

In its most recent Independent Schools Inspection in 2023, the School was judged ‘excellent’ in every category, ranging from the quality of the pupils’ learning to their moral, social and cultural development. The report noted that ‘children are extremely happy and confident in their work and play’, whilst praising the ‘excellent’ teaching and the ‘high-quality, well-qualified staff.’

Our Head Mrs Lombard believes that:

“Happy children are happy learners. Visitors to our School often comment on the evident delight and visible engagement of our pupils during their lessons and at play.”