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Donhead Preparatory School[1]

Independent · ages 3–11

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Headline results

No headline results are published for this school in the latest two years.

Results

No published data for this school.

Ofsted

No published data for this school.

Competition to get in

Admissions

Sibling priority
priority is given to siblings of current pupils 2026-10-14[2]
Sibling priority
Pupils with a sibling at Donhead (past or present) 2026-10-14[3]
Sibling policy
The priority in the allocation of places, in all Year groups, is given as follows: Category 1: Pupils with a sibling at Donhead (past or present) 2026-10-14[3]

Character & practicalities

Type
Other independent school[1]
Ages
3–11[1]
Boys / girls
Mixed[1]
Faith
Roman Catholic[1]
Admissions
Non-selective[1]
Sixth form
No[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
340[1]
Local authority
Merton[1]
Website
www.donhead.org.uk[1]
District
Merton[4]
Postcode
SW19 4NP[1]
URN
102687[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
305 2024/25[5]
SEN support
10.8% 2024/25[5]
EHC plan
2.6% 2024/25[5]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
0% 2024/25[5]

Practicalities

Admissions contact
The school provides contact information for admissions, including a phone number and email address. 2026-10-14[2]
SEND provision
43 Entry Sept 2025[6]

Routes to senior schools

No preferential route at 11+
pupils sit each senior school's own competitive 11+/13+ assessments We view every child as an individual and take a bespoke approach to preparing them for their 11+ assessments and scholarship applications. 2026-10-14[7]

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
Pupils make good progress from their starting points and are successful in gaining places at senior schools, the majority of which have selective entry requirements.[6]
Warmth
Pupils exhibit good manners towards visitors, holding doors open and greeting guests in a friendly manner. the encouraging and constructive relationships between them and staff[6]
Pastoral care
School leaders ensure pupils’ wellbeing is effectively promoted through the highly individualised understanding of and response to their emotional needs. therapy led by specialist staff and access to the school’s therapy dogs[6]
Behaviour
Pupils are well behaved both in lessons and in less structured times such as during breaks between lessons.[6]
Learning support
the support provided in lessons for pupils who have SEND does not consistently match the guidance that leaders provide following assessment of their needs[6]
Enrichment
an extensive extra-curricular programme of clubs, performances, sports fixtures, visits, visitors and themed events[6]
Pupil voice
experience democracy first-hand through elections to the school council and eco-council Pupils contribute towards the formulation of class codes of conduct.[6]
Independence
Pupils often undertake activities that extend their thinking and stimulate them to learn for themselves.[6]
Collaboration
Staff are effective in teaching pupils how to work and play harmoniously together and to accept differences in others.[6]
Structure
Leaders and staff apply suitable rewards and sanctions consistently and fairly and motivate pupils to make positive choices in the way they behave. Staff are rigorous in recording instances of inappropriate behaviour.[6]
Diversity
‘Multi-cultural week’ and visits to different religions’ places of worship further enhance pupils’ appreciation of diversity. The school has identified English as an additional language (EAL) for 16 pupils.[6]
Sport
Well-qualified staff skilfully enable pupils to develop their individual and team skills in sports such as rugby, netball, football and cricket.[6]
Performing arts
Pupils are motivated by the opportunities they have to participate in concerts, perform in shows and exhibit in art exhibitions[6]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. donhead.org.uk: donhead.org.uk — Admissions. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (3)
    priority is given to Catholic families and siblings of current pupils (p. 1)
    Tel: +44 (0)20 8946 7000 (p. 1)
    Email: receptionist@donhead.org.uk (p. 1)
  3. donhead.org.uk: donhead.org.uk — Admissions Policy (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    Category 1: Pupils with a sibling at Donhead (past or present) (p. 1)
    The priority in the allocation of places, in all Year groups, is given as follows: Category 1: Pupils with a sibling at Donhead (past or present) (p. 1)
  4. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  5. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  6. donhead.org.uk: donhead.org.uk — 95370 Donhead Preparatory School ROU Report (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (19)
    The school has identified 43 pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Eight pupils in the school have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. (p. 16)
    Well-qualified staff skilfully enable pupils to develop their individual and team skills in sports such as rugby, netball, football and cricket (p. 10)
    Pupils exhibit good manners towards visitors, holding doors open and greeting guests in a friendly manner (p. 3)
    the encouraging and constructive relationships between them and staff (p. 10)
    Pupils make good progress from their starting points and are successful in gaining places at senior schools, the majority of which have selective entry requirements (p. 8)
    School leaders ensure pupils' wellbeing is effectively promoted through the highly individualised understanding of and response to their emotional needs (p. 6)
    therapy led by specialist staff and access to the school's therapy dogs (p. 11)
    Pupils are well behaved both in lessons and in less structured times such as during breaks between lessons (p. 10)
    'Multi-cultural week' and visits to different religions' places of worship further enhance pupils' appreciation of diversity (p. 12)
    The school has identified English as an additional language (EAL) for 16 pupils (p. 16)
    Leaders and staff apply suitable rewards and sanctions consistently and fairly and motivate pupils to make positive choices in the way they behave (p. 10)
    Staff are rigorous in recording instances of inappropriate behaviour (p. 10)
    an extensive extra-curricular programme of clubs, performances, sports fixtures, visits, visitors and themed events (p. 3)
    experience democracy first-hand through elections to the school council and eco-council (p. 12)
    Pupils contribute towards the formulation of class codes of conduct (p. 12)
    Pupils often undertake activities that extend their thinking and stimulate them to learn for themselves (p. 8)
    Staff are effective in teaching pupils how to work and play harmoniously together and to accept differences in others (p. 12)
    Pupils are motivated by the opportunities they have to participate in concerts, perform in shows and exhibit in art exhibitions (p. 9)
    the support provided in lessons for pupils who have SEND does not consistently match the guidance that leaders provide following assessment of their needs (p. 8)
  7. donhead.org.uk: donhead.org.uk — Leavers destinations. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quote
    We view every child as an individual and take a bespoke approach to preparing them for their 11+ assessments and scholarship applications (p. 1)