Age range. 4–11.
Number of pupils. 480.
Fees per term (2025–2026). £7,525–£8,655.
Affiliations. IAPS, HMC (Senior School).
An ambitious and inclusive London prep school offering exceptional breadth, depth and opportunity.
Forest Preparatory School is part of Forest School (HMC) and shares its 50-acre site at the edge of Epping Forest, on the East London/Essex border. The School’s aim is to provide an education of the highest quality, nurturing each child’s academic, physical and creative potential within a happy and purposeful community.
At Forest Prep, children are encouraged to be their true, authentic selves, confident in who they are, curious about the world around them, and motivated to make a positive difference.
Pupils are taught in small, co-educational classes and, at age 11, move seamlessly into the Senior Section of Forest School (see separate entry in the HMC section). Entry is selective, with assessments at 4+ and 7+. With a staff-to-pupil ratio of approximately 1:7, teaching is highly personalised, ensuring that every child is known, supported and challenged.
The Lower Prep (EYFS–Year 2) comprises four forms of 16 pupils in each year group, taught primarily by form teachers supported by qualified teaching assistants and specialist staff. The Upper Prep (Years 3–6) has three forms of 24 pupils per year group. Specialist teaching begins in Reception, with lessons in Computing, Music, Drama, Swimming, Forest Schools and PE/Games, and broadens to include Art, Dance, Engineering, Science and Modern Foreign Languages as pupils progress through the School.
Academic excellence, sport, and music are recognised strengths of Forest Prep. The main sports are football, cricket, netball and hockey, with pupils also excelling in athletics, swimming and cross-country.
The musical life of the School is particularly vibrant. Through the Gloucester Programme, every pupil in Years 3 to 6 receives four years of free instrumental tuition. Forest Prep has multiple choirs, an orchestra and several chamber groups, and pupils perform regularly in concerts and services both in School and at prestigious venues such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Great St Bartholomew’s Church. Assemblies, chapel services and School competitions provide further opportunities for public speaking and performance. Forest Prep is also home to the Chorister Programme, which identifies talented young singers and provides them with group and individual vocal training, music theory sessions, and high-quality performance opportunities.
A wide range of clubs and enrichment activities take place before school, at lunchtime, and after school. Breakfast Club begins at 7.30 am, and After-School Care runs until 6.00 pm daily. Forest School also operates an extensive bus service across London and Essex.
Charitable status: Forest School, London is a Registered Charity (No. 312677). Its charitable objective is the advancement of education.