Gardener Schools Group Ltd

Gardener Schools Group (GSG) is a family company which was founded by experienced former state-school teachers nearly 30 years ago. From a small Saturday school, Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School was established, and this was followed by another preparatory school and two other senior schools.

Today, the Group comprises four independent, co-educational schools in London that currently educate around 1,300 children aged 4 -18 years: Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School, which opened in 1991; Kew Green Preparatory School which opened in 2004; Kew House Senior School which opened in 2013; and Maida Vale School which opened in 2020.  Pupil numbers across the Group will grow to 1900 over the next few years.

Each school follows an educational approach based on excellence and innovation while establishing strong family communities at each location.

Group ethos

GSG’s approach to education is founded on clear a clear ethos that was established when their first school opened. They hold a strong belief that talent must be nurtured to allow every pupil to reach their maximum potential. It is a holistic approach that enables each child’s intellectual, moral, spiritual, physical and emotional development.

The curriculum engenders confidence and self-esteem, leading to intellectual risk taking and a love of learning. The values of each of the four schools are Respect, Compassion, Tolerance and Community responsibility.

The Group also believes that parents have a great role to play in school and an “open door policy” is encouraged so that each school becomes a hub for the community it serves, not just for the pupils but also for the parents and staff.

GSG’s approach helps pupils achieve excellent academic results and produces well-rounded, happy, thoughtful and considerate students. The Group strives to be innovative and dynamic by encouraging individual thought and self-motivation in all areas of study and exploration.

Group management team

GSG is still a family company. Alongside co-founder and Chair, Maria Gardener, her son Theo Brehony is now Managing Director. Michael Herington is a Director and Company Secretary and has been working with the Gardener family for the last 20 years.  Jessen Chen, having been at Grant Thornton for 18 years, joined as Director of Operations in March 2015.

Gardener Schools Group Ltd owns and manages Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School and Kew Green Preparatory School. KHS Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of GSG Ltd as is Maida Vale School Ltd.

The Board of Directors comprises:

• Maria Gardener – Co-Founder and Chair
• Theo Brehony – Managing Director
• Michael Herington – Director and Company Secretary
• Jessen Chen – Director of Operations