This guide answers the questions international families ask most about Brighton College Prep School Kensington: which programmes exist, what the entry requirements are, how fees are charged, and how the application, visa and settlement process fits together. Every fact below comes from the school’s official website, brightoncollegeprepkensington.co.uk, as accessed on 5 August 2026; where the school has not published a figure, the guide says so rather than inventing one.
About Brighton College Prep School Kensington
Brighton College Prep School Kensington is an independent, co-educational day school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13, located in the heart of Kensington, London. The school is part of the award-winning Brighton College family of schools, and its parent company is Cognita Schools Ltd, a global group of more than 100 schools. The campus occupies four Grade-II listed Victorian townhouses at 10-13 Prince’s Gardens, London SW7 1ND, with a science lab, two art studios, a music room and a Makerspace featuring green-screen technology and 3D printing. Behind the buildings lies a two-acre Secret Garden with an outdoor classroom and a Forest School programme. Landmarks such as the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and Hyde Park are a short walk away, which the school describes as using London as its classroom. The Headteacher is Mrs Lois Gaffney. The school’s own website states it was recognised as Best City Prep for Boys and Girls by The Week in 2026; that is the school’s self-statement.
Programs and Year Structure
Brighton College Prep School Kensington divides its education into three stages. The Nursery School comprises Pre-Nursery (2+) and Nursery (3+), following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum with specialist teaching from Prep School teachers: French and Spanish by the Languages department, PE by professional coaches and Music by Performing Arts specialists. The Prep school covers Reception to Year 6, with a curriculum spanning English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Art, Drama, Music and Physical Education. Mandarin is taught from Reception, and French runs from Nursery through to Year 8, when the school says pupils interact with native speakers. Years 7 and 8 form the Upper School, following a bespoke Brighton College curriculum that prepares pupils for senior school, including Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations at the end of Year 8. Study skills, reasoning, current affairs and literacy are built into the timetable from Year 5 onwards, and the SUPER Curriculum in Years 7 and 8 adds personal finances, online safety, public speaking and team building.
Entry Requirements and Assessments
Brighton College Prep School Kensington sets out clear entry points and age rules. Children may enter the Nursery from age 2; they typically join Pre-Nursery the September after turning two and Nursery the September they turn three, with occasional mid-year entry once they have turned two. The school recommends registering at least one year in advance, and Nursery entry does not guarantee entry at 4+. The main Prep intake is into Reception: children can enter from their fourth birthday, which must fall on or before 31 August prior to starting. Other year groups are filled as places become available. Assessment works in stages: Nursery applicants aged 2+ are invited to ‘stay and play’ sessions with their parents, with places limited and offered as 5 mornings, 5 afternoons or 5 full days; Prep applicants attend an assessment day and the family meets a member of the Senior Leadership Team; from Year 1 upwards the day includes standardised assessments in English, maths and reasoning. Reception entry is subject to passing the school’s Readiness Assessment. Offers follow shortly after assessment, and Prep places are normally offered at the end of January. The school’s own site reports that this year’s leavers received 93 offers from more than 40 schools, with 13 children offered places at Brighton College — a school self-claim.
International Students: Visas and Fees Policy
Brighton College Prep School Kensington applies the same fees to all pupils — British, EU and international — regardless of nationality or immigration status. The school defines ‘international pupils’ as children of nationalities other than UK or Irish who are subject to immigration control. For visa sponsorship, the school’s parent company Cognita Schools Ltd holds a licence to sponsor international students on Child Student visas. Families are asked to settle the academic year’s fees in full and pay a £600 administration fee for each Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) in advance of visa sponsorship. Parents of students aged 4 to 11 who wish to join their children in the UK may be supported under the Parent of a Child Student visa route; only one parent per family may apply, and they may not work or study on that route. The school also welcomes international students who are dependents of their parents’ visas, such as BN(O), Diplomatic, EUSS, Global Talent and Skilled Worker routes. If you are unsure whether a Child Student visa is needed, the school points to the ‘Check If You Need a UK Visa’ section of the Home Office website.
Fees and Deposits for 2026/27
Fees at Brighton College Prep School Kensington are published for the 2026/27 academic year (September 2026 to August 2027), charged per term across three terms with the annual fee split equally. Nursery fees: full-time Pre-Nursery and Nursery are £8,373 per term; Pre-Nursery on 5 mornings is £4,795 per term; on 5 afternoons it is £4,314 per term; all Nursery fees are exempt from VAT. Prep fees: Reception and Years 1-2 are £11,043 tuition plus a compulsory £450 lunch fee, a total of £11,493 per term; Years 3-4 total £12,212; Years 5-6 total £12,270; Years 7-8 total £12,939. Termly fees include VAT, which has applied to independent school fees in the UK since 1 January 2025; lunch fees are exempt. Offered pupils confirm their place with an acceptance form and a £3,000 deposit; international deposit arrangements are discussed with the admissions team, and the deposit is returned at the end of a pupil’s time at the school provided notice has been given, all fees settled and the Terms & Conditions met. These figures reflect the official website as of 5 August 2026 and may change; the current version of the school’s fee page is authoritative.
Application Process and Timelines
Brighton College Prep School Kensington publishes a four-step application process: get in touch, register, attend taster days and assessments, then receive an offer and welcome. Open Mornings are held each term and are the recommended first step, and an online registration form opens the formal application. For entry in September 2026, the school asks prospective families to get in touch with the admissions team directly. After registration, Nursery children join stay-and-play sessions with their parents and Prep children attend an assessment day; both stages include a family meeting with senior staff. Offers are sent shortly after assessment where a place is available, and Prep places are normally offered at the end of January, followed by an invitation to meet the child’s teacher before the start of term. The school’s calendar shows Michaelmas Term 2026 running 2 September to 11 December (half term 19-30 October), Hilary Term 2027 running 5 January to 24 March (half term 11-19 February), and Trinity Term 2027 running 12 April to 2 July (half term 31 May-4 June). Upcoming Open Mornings listed on the site are Reception on Thursday 24 September, Nursery on Thursday 1 October, and Pre-Prep and Prep on Thursday 8 October.
Campus, Transport and Daily Life
Brighton College Prep School Kensington is a 10-minute walk from both South Kensington and Knightsbridge tube stations, and Victoria Station is about 15 minutes away by public transport. A chaperoned bus service operates from Year 1 for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, dependent on demand. Sport is a mix of on-site and local facilities: pupils use the school hall and gardens, take weekly swimming lessons at the Ethos Centre at Imperial College from Year 3, and use Hyde Park fields and the Beit Sports Hall throughout the year. Beyond the classroom, the school runs a Forest School programme in the Secret Garden and a wide range of activities including debating, public speaking, cookery, dance, mindfulness, the school magazine and disco yoga. The school also describes community projects such as visiting local senior citizens and an eco-warriors project, alongside its ‘culture of kindness’ ethos, which includes wristbands handed out by the Head at the start of term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages does Brighton College Prep School Kensington take? The school’s website states ages 2 to 13, with Nursery from age 2 and the main Prep intake into Reception from the fourth birthday. Do international pupils pay more? No — the school states all pupils are charged the same fees regardless of nationality or immigration status. When should we register? The school recommends registering for Nursery at least one year in advance; Prep’s main entry point is Reception. Is there an assessment? Yes — Nursery uses stay-and-play sessions, Prep includes an assessment day with a family meeting, and from Year 1 the day includes standardised tests in English, maths and reasoning; Reception entry requires the Readiness Assessment. Does the school sponsor visas? The parent company Cognita Schools Ltd holds a Child Student visa sponsor licence; families pay the year’s fees in full plus a £600 administration fee per CAS before sponsorship. Will fees or dates change? Fees and term dates are reviewed annually; this guide reflects the official website as of 5 August 2026.
Summary
Brighton College Prep School Kensington is a well-documented option for international families seeking a central London prep education: a clear age 2 to 13 structure, three distinct programmes from Nursery to Year 8, published 2026/27 fees, a uniform fee policy for international pupils, and a transparent Child Student visa sponsorship process through its parent company. Entry points, assessment expectations and the January offer timeline are all set out on the school’s website. Because fees, dates and visa rules all move over time, families should verify current details against the official website before planning. If you would like help weighing your child’s age, year group, language background and family budget against what the school publishes, our advisers can walk you through the current information step by step.