A prep school, short for preparatory school, is an independent, fee-paying school that educates children from around 4 to 11 (or 13) and prepares them for the move to senior school.
The Lyceum School is a modern, co-ed prep school in East London for children aged 4 to 11. Through our own independent curriculum, we instil vital learning and developmental skills that will stay with our pupils through life, giving them the tools to achieve their dreams
Why Choose a Preparatory School?
Families choose a preparatory school for the educational experience it offers, not just the destination at the end. Prep schools aim to combine academic ambition with pastoral care, enrichment, and individual support, so that children are known, challenged, and happy.
| Feature | How The Lyceum School Delivers This |
| Personalised Learning | Small class sizes and one class per year group help every child reach their full potential. |
| Broad Curriculum | A topic-based curriculum integrated with the National Curriculum develops academic achievement alongside creativity and critical thinking. |
| Specialist Teaching | Subject specialists in Music, Spanish, Art, PE, STEAM, Latin and Drama inspire confidence and a love of learning. |
| Pastoral Care | A nurturing environment built on Kindness, Confidence, Creativity and Community, with wellbeing at its heart. |
| Enrichment Opportunities | Sport, music, languages, drama and a wide range of clubs extend learning beyond the classroom. |
| Preparation for Senior School | Careful 11+ preparation, with 93% of pupils receiving offers from their first-choice senior schools in 2025 – 2026. |
How Is a Prep School Different from a Primary School?
Both prep schools and state primary schools teach children of a similar age, but they are funded and run differently. Parents often ask, “is an independent school a private school?” In the UK, the two terms mean the same thing. Confusingly, “public school” traditionally refers to a small group of long-established fee-paying schools, so the difference between public and private schools in the UK is mostly historical rather than semantic.
| Independent prep school | State primary school | |
| Funding | Funded by school fees | Funded by the government, free to attend |
| Curriculum | Free to shape its own curriculum; many, like The Lyceum, use the National Curriculum as a framework | Local authority-maintained schools must follow the National Curriculum |
| Class sizes | Usually small, allowing more individual attention | Infant classes can have up to 30 pupils |
| Specialist teaching | Specialist teachers often lead subjects such as music, languages and sport from an early age | Varies by school |
| Admissions | Set by each school; may be selective or non-selective | Set by the local authority, usually based on distance and siblings |
| Senior school | Prepares pupils for 7+, 11+ or 13+ entrance exams to independent and grammar schools | Pupils usually move to a local secondary school at 11 |
| Inspection | Inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for ISC member schools | Inspected by Ofsted |
So, do private schools follow the National Curriculum? They are not required to, but many use it as a foundation and then go further. At The Lyceum School, our topic-based curriculum is integrated with the National Curriculum, giving children the best of both.
Benefits of Attending a Prep School
Every prep school is different, but the best share benefits that help children flourish. Here is how they look at The Lyceum School.
- Academic excellence: English and Maths are taught every morning, with a strong focus on handwriting, spelling and times tables.
- Personalised learning: With one class per year group, teachers know each child’s strengths and next steps, supported by ongoing assessment.
- Confidence and resilience: Our PSHE and mindfulness programme gives children the tools to understand and manage their emotions.
- Creativity: Art, Drama and our STEAM Studio, The Owlery, encourage children to experiment, design and solve problems.
- Leadership: Eco-Champions in every year group, a house system and Year 6 responsibilities help children lead with confidence.
- Pastoral care: Small classes mean staff form strong relationships with pupils and notice quickly when a child needs support.
- Extracurricular opportunities: Clubs from chess to fencing, choirs, a Big Band and Orchestra, and residential trips from Year 3.
- Preparation for senior school: Pupils are prepared for 11+ entry to leading London day schools while keeping a broad, balanced education.
The Lyceum School Approach
Founded in 1997, our curriculum is topic-based, so children explore a theme through English, History, Geography, Science and Art at the same time. With our great central location at 65 Worship Street in Shoreditch, London becomes our classroom, with a wealth of museums, theatres and parks just at our doorstep.
Specialist teachers bring subjects to life. Children learn Music and Spanish from Reception, begin Latin in Year 6 and design, code and build in our STEAM Studio. Our 13 visiting music teachers mean children can learn almost any instrument in school.
We are a non-selective, inclusive community that welcomes admissions from families of all faiths and backgrounds, and equality, diversity and inclusion run through our curriculum. Strong pastoral care and our four pillars of Kindness, Confidence, Creativity and Community shape daily life.
Preparing Children for Senior School
Most London day schools take pupils at 11+, so a London preparatory school like The Lyceum School often educates children up to Year 6. Preparation begins long before the exams, as we build strong foundations in English and Maths and build the habit of reading widely and often – instilling confidence to tackle unfamiliar problems.
In Years 5 and 6, focused 11+ preparation at our City of London school runs alongside sport, music, and drama, so our pupils can pursue both academic and passion-based success. Personal development matters just as much. Residential trips, such as a Year 6 visit to Spain, build responsibility in school and help children become independent, resilient, and ready for the move to senior school.
Our leavers regularly receive offers from top senior schools like Highgate, UCS or City of London School. In 2025 – 2026, our 16 leavers received 47 offers from 24 schools, including 13 scholarships.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prep Schools
What age do children attend a prep school?
Most prep schools take children from age 4 (Reception) to 11 or 13. Many have pre-prep for ages 4 to 7 and a prep department for ages 7 to 11 or 13. In London, where most senior day schools admit pupils at 11+, many prep schools end at Year 6. The Lyceum welcomes children from 4 to 11, from Reception through to Year 6.
What is the difference between a prep school and a pre-prep?
A pre-prep is the first stage of a preparatory school, usually covering Reception to Year 2 (ages 4 to 7). The prep stage follows, typically from Year 3. Some schools run these as separate schools, while others, like The Lyceum, educate children from Reception to Year 6 in one school so they enjoy a continuous journey with the same community.
Are all prep schools selective?
No. Some prep schools assess children for entry, while others are non-selective. The Lyceum is a non-selective prep school in the City of London at Reception entry, where admission follows an informal observation. Children joining in Years 2 to 6 take a short Maths and English assessment so we can ensure they can access the curriculum at the right level.
How does The Lyceum School prepare children for senior school?
We combine strong English and Maths teaching with a broad, topic-based curriculum and focused 11+ preparation in Years 5 and 6. Small classes allow teachers to target support, while our wellbeing programme builds resilience. In 2025 – 2026, 93% of our pupils received offers from their first-choice senior schools, including City of London School, Highgate and UCS.
Can I visit The Lyceum School before applying?
Yes, and we encourage it. At our Open Mornings, you can hear from our Headmaster, Mike Stanley, meet teachers, tour the school and talk to current pupils. The next Open Morning is on Wednesday 30 September 2026. If the dates do not suit, our Admissions team can arrange a private tour at a time that works for you.
How do I apply to The Lyceum School?
Start by registering through our online application form. You will then meet the Headmaster, and your child will spend time in class so we can get to know them. Children joining Years 2 to 6 also take a short assessment. Once we offer a place, a deposit secures it. Our Admissions page explains each step.
Visit Us
If you are exploring independent primary schools in London, we would love to welcome you to The Lyceum School. Book an Open Morning, arrange a private tour or contact our Admissions team.
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The Lyceum School, 65 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DU
Telephone: 020 7247 1588 | Email: registrar@lyceumschool.co.uk
