Fulham School (富勒姆学校) is a co-educational independent school in Fulham, West London, that takes children from age 2 to 13. Although the institution in this guide is listed as Fulham School, its website and day-to-day operations run under the name Fulham Prep School, covering a Nursery, a Pre-Prep and a Prep division across two nearby campuses. For international families weighing a London private education, this guide sets out what the school offers at each age, how entry works, what the 2026-27 fees are, and the practical steps to apply. Every fact below was taken from the school’s official website (fulhamprep.co.uk) on 5 August 2026, and the school’s own published figures should be treated as its self-description rather than an independent benchmark.
About Fulham School: a West London day school for ages 2 to 13
Fulham School describes itself as a co-educational independent school located in West London, founded in 1996 by Jane Emmett and grown from a single class to around 700 pupils over more than 25 years. It is a member of the Inspired Education Group, which its website describes as a network of over 120 premium schools worldwide. The school’s public brand is Fulham Prep School, a name it adopted after merging its predecessor institutions, Fulham Pre-Preparatory and Fulham Preparatory, and later adding Fulham Nursery.
The school operates across two West London campuses. Palace Gardens (47A Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ) houses the Nursery and the Pre-Prep for children aged 2 to 7, and sits a short walk from the River Thames. Queens Gardens (200 Greyhound Road, London W14 9SD) houses the Prep School for Years 3 to 8, with a Reception class also based there. Families should note that a November 2024 announcement confirmed a strategic shift: Fulham School is concentrating on its strengths as a Pre-Prep and Prep school, aligning its curriculum with the Inspired schools Wetherby and Pembridge Hall, and will no longer take new GCSE students at its former Chesilton Road site. In practical terms, most children now attend until Year 8 (around age 13) and move on to a senior school from there.
Programmes by age: Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep
Fulham School structures its education in three stages that children move through sequentially.
The Nursery welcomes children from age 2 to 4 at the Pre-Prep campus on Fulham High Street. It follows an early years approach combining the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework with Inspired’s own early learning model. The school supports the UK government’s 15-hour universal early education entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds, and helps eligible families apply for the 30-hour working-parents entitlement. Nursery children typically arrive at 8:30 am and finish at 3:30 pm, with optional paid extras including a Breakfast Club from 7:30 am, an Early Bird session from 8:00 am, a Night Owl session from 3:30 pm to 5:45 pm, and holiday clubs.
The Pre-Prep covers the Nursery through Year 2, for children aged roughly 2 to 7. In Years 1 and 2 the English National Curriculum provides the framework, with strong emphasis on reading, writing and numeracy, supplemented by outdoor and explorative learning. All children learn French from enrolment. Pupils transfer automatically to the Prep division at the end of Year 2, without exams or assessments.
The Prep division spans Years 3 to 8, roughly ages 7 to 13. The website describes Years 3 and 4 as a smooth transition from the Pre-Prep years, and Years 5 to 8 as a period of academic rigour that builds toward the Common Entrance examinations and other 11+ and 13+ entrance tests. Formal exam preparation begins in Year 5, and the school reports that its leavers move on to competitive senior day and boarding schools at 11+ or 13+. The school also describes strong, well-established relationships with leading senior schools and proactive support for parents through the school-selection process.
Entry points, assessments and how places are offered
Fulham School has defined entry points rather than a single intake. The main entry point is Reception, where children are admitted in the autumn term of the school year after they turn 4. There are additional intakes at ages 7, 8 and 11, corresponding to school Years 3, 4 and 7, plus occasional places in other years as they arise. Children already attending the Nursery move automatically to Reception, and Pre-Prep pupils move automatically to the Prep.
The Pre-Prep is non-selective: offers are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. For the 7+, 8+ and 11+ entry points and for occasional places, children are invited for a taster day, an online assessment and an interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. There are no assessments for Nursery or Reception applicants. Places are then offered based on the child’s individual suitability for the school environment. Siblings of current pupils receive priority, subject to availability.
Because the school’s community is typically fully enrolled, applicants are placed on one of three lists depending on registration date, gender and birth date: the main list (guaranteed an offer), the reserve list (likely to be offered once main-list responses are processed) and the wait list (offered places in strict order as they become available). Main-list offers are made in January of the starting year, and reserve-list offers in February. Class sizes are capped at up to 20 pupils throughout the Pre-Prep and Prep.
Fees for 2026-27 and what they include
The fees published by Fulham School for the 2026-27 academic year are inclusive of VAT, which matters for international families comparing UK options. Per term: the Nursery costs £7,820 on the term-time pattern of 34 weeks, with a 39-week option at £7,820 plus £1,150 and a 48-week full-time option at £7,820 plus £3,220, with lunch included. Reception to Year 2 costs £8,230 per term with lunch at £365 per term, and Years 3 to 8 cost £9,180 per term with lunch at £410 per term.
Other published charges: a non-refundable registration fee of £150 per student; a deposit of £1,000 for the Nursery and £2,000 for Reception to Year 8, refunded at the end of the final term of attendance subject to at least one term’s notice; school transport at £510 per term one way or £725 per term return; and a 10% discount on fees for a younger sibling while the oldest child is still attending. Registration fees and deposits are reviewed annually. Fees are due on the first day of each term, except for Reception, which is billed during the summer before the start date, and the school reserves the right to charge interest on late payment. Clubs and some extracurricular activities, especially those with external professional coaching, may be charged at different rates. Full-time weekly and termly totals therefore depend on the child’s year group and the options chosen.
Application timeline and practical steps
For international families, the application process at Fulham School is straightforward to start but requires planning around the deadline. Applications are submitted through the Open Apply online system, and must be received by 31 October in the year before entry. For example, a child entering Reception in September 2027 would need an application submitted by 31 October 2026. The non-refundable registration fee of £150 is payable for each student.
After registration, where applicable the child is invited to take an online assessment and attend an interview with the Head of School or a member of the Senior Leadership Team; Nursery and Reception applicants skip the assessment step. Once the school concludes that the child is a good fit and any entry assessments are completed successfully, a place is awarded, with priority given to siblings of existing pupils. The school advises early registration because the community is typically fully enrolled, and it encourages families to enquire about current occasional places if they are seeking a mid-year start. Families should also bear in mind that as a day school, arrangements for accommodation and daily travel in London sit outside the school’s published scope, and the current admissions policy is the authoritative document for any specific question.
Frequently asked questions
What age range does Fulham School serve? Children from age 2 to 13, spanning the Nursery (2 to 4), Pre-Prep (Nursery to Year 2) and Prep (Years 3 to 8).
Is there a boarding option? The school’s website describes a day school model and publishes no boarding provision; international families should treat accommodation as a separate arrangement.
When is the application deadline? 31 October in the year before entry, with early registration advised.
Are there entrance tests? Nursery and Reception applicants have no assessments. For 7+, 8+ and 11+ entry, children complete a taster day, an online assessment and an interview with the Senior Leadership Team.
Does the school offer financial support? Yes, scholarships only: academic scholarships based in STEM, creative scholarships for artists, dramatists and musicians, and sports scholarships, with awards up to 100% of fees. The website is explicit that the school offers no bursaries. Scholarship assessment includes a CAT4 assessment, a short interview and observed lessons.
What happens after Year 8? Pupils leave at 11+ or 13+ for competitive senior day and boarding schools, and the school’s November 2024 announcement encourages Year 8 and below to apply to Wetherby Pembridge, the Inspired senior school that opened in Kensington in September 2025.
A note on timing and your next step
This guide reflects the official website of Fulham School as accessed on 5 August 2026; fees, deadlines and policies change, so the current website version is the authoritative source for the figures above. Every family’s circumstances differ, and the fit of a school depends on your child’s age, entry point and your own timeline. If you would like a careful assessment of whether this school suits your child’s profile, or help thinking through the application timeline, speak to our counsellors with your specific situation in hand — we can help you weigh the options and prepare the steps.