The White House Prep School is a leading Independent Co-Educational Day School of over thirty-five years standing and for good reason. Children come to us from the age of three (starting in Pre Reception or Reception) and leave at the end of Year 6 at the age of eleven. Classes are small, averaging 16 in a class, and children enjoy the ambience of a beautiful Thomas Cubitt designed Victorian villa in Clapham, situated five minutes from Clapham Common and Balham and in the midst of a vibrant community.
Founded by Mary McCahery, she and her whole family are involved in the School and Day Nurseries and this enthuses a real family feel reflected in the number of siblings within the school and the close relationship we have with all our families. Our ethos is focused on bringing out the very best in each and every child. To do this we keep the classes small and personal where every child is known and recognised for who they are; we make sure from the beginning of their time with us every child feels valued and cared for with a special part to play in the everyday life of the school.
We believe there is more to education than academics and that academics benefit hugely from genuine breadth of experience, consequently our academics are excellent. We aim to stimulate and encourage in a very positive manner, recognising and appreciating the effort as much as the result, embracing fully that mistakes are an integral experience of learning. This contributes significantly to the genuine love of learning experienced by our children and their excitement in their everyday experiences. Reading is the bedrock of everything we do and so is creative thinking and writing. However, we are forward thinking and innovative having introduced “Enterprise” as well as “Choice” each of which provides a real diversity of experience for the children. We major in public speaking and performances making it possible for as many children as possible have this opportunity – every child performs in our major celebrations such as our School Play, Nativity and Harvest Festival and musical recitals are plentiful. The children gain so much confidence from these experiences which makes them hungry for more.
We start from the view also that our children arrive with us with so many talents, perceptions and abilities and our mission is to take these as far as we are able. Children are nurtured for who they are and surrounded by excellent pastoral support which epitomises respect for self and others with good manners and courtesy. We want our children to enjoy being children and we encourage gentleness, kindness and humility. As adults who aim for happiness and fulfilment in our personal and professional lives so much rests on those so called “soft skills” and we provide every opportunity for those to be developed in a manner that will enrich the lives of our children through out their time with us, through their future schools and in their transition to adulthood.
We are very proud of The White House pupils who leave us at the age of eleven for a variety of prestigious London Day Schools; they stand out from their peers. Confident without arrogance, self-assured but not pushy, with a strong moral compass and unbounded enthusiasm, and with an extraordinary proclivity for learning. The White House is a special place which brings our pupils back for visits years after they have left. The children we educate are our best advertisement.
I am incredibly proud to be Headmaster of this extraordinary and high achieving school which still believes in an all-round education of the whole person as well as their intellect. We would love to meet you. Please come and visit us so we can share with you the excellence of our teaching, the poise and happiness of our pupils, and the facilities we offer. We are eager to meet your children and don’t be surprised to find your son or daughter caught up in an activity half way through the tour, or reluctant to leave at the end. Come and see us, ask us questions (after all we encourage inquisitiveness and curiosity); as soon as you come through the gates you will understand why the White House is such a special school.
Tony Lewis
Headmaster