Donhead Preparatory School, London
Donhead Preparatory School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in March 2025.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Donhead Preparatory School in detail
Donhead Preparatory School in its own words
In its own words: "Donhead Preparatory School is an outstanding, non-selective, co ed school for children aged 3-11, where academic excellence sits alongside a deep commitment to character formation and personal growth."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is written just inside the main entrance of Donhead Prep School that this is a place where children are honoured, cared for and believed in. Every child in this school must be cherished for who they are, a child of God. This school seeks to take care of the person, first and foremost. 'Cura Personalis' in action."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am, from £2.00 per day.
Coming up: an admissions event on Monday 16 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Merton
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Donhead Preparatory School are Wimbledon Common Preparatory School (0.1 miles, selective); The Norwegian Kindergarten In London (0.2 miles, Good); Norwegian School in London (0.2 miles, Outstanding); and Hall School Wimbledon (0.2 miles).
Wimbledon Common Preparatory SchoolThe Norwegian Kindergarten In LondonNorwegian School in LondonHall School Wimbledon
Who goes there
In 2026, 49 pupils (16.7%) received SEN support and 8 (2.7%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Dundonald Road Tram Stop, about 1020 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Edge Hill, 210 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Donhead Preparatory School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 235 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Merton (354).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
11 March 2025
Non-Routine Inspection
3 May 2024
Regulatory Compliance
12 January 2022
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
27 June 2017
Focused Compliance Inspection
27 June 2017
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£18,468 to £19,278
depending on year group
| Full time Education Fee per term (*) | £18,468 a year |
| Years 1- 6 Education Fee per term | £19,278 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Merton - 4 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Donhead Preparatory School
Donhead Wins Prestigious 2026 David Clark Prize
1 Oct 2026
Donhead Prep Wins Best Use of Technology Award
25 Sep 2026
Donhead Prep School celebrates outstanding results in Bebras Challenge
27 Feb 2026
From Donhead Preparatory School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Donhead Preparatory School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 32
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 23 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Merton is 48.5 (the median across 74 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
86%
Available places
293 pupils
340 places
47 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Merton council
Places available
1,874
Applications
1,982
Got 1st preference
67.4%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Merton council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
49
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
19.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
293
Total Pupils
221
Boys
72
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Donhead Preparatory School
When was Donhead Preparatory School last inspected?
Donhead Preparatory School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in March 2025.
How many pupils go to Donhead Preparatory School?
Donhead Preparatory School has around 293 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Donhead Preparatory School?
Donhead Preparatory School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Donhead Preparatory School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 23 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Merton is 48.5 (the median across 74 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Donhead Preparatory School?
Donhead Preparatory School is at 33 Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4NP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)