Orchard House’s sister school, Bassett House School in North Kensington, was founded in 1947 by Sylvia Rentoul, with just six pupils. In those days, there was a more regimented approach to education and the prevailing belief that ‘children should be seen but not heard.’
Sylvia passionately believed children should be encouraged to express themselves, and teaching should be both supportive and challenging, but above all, must take into account the individual needs of each child. Sylvia’s sons set up Orchard House School on its Newton Grove site in 1993 and expanded the school in 2010 by purpose re-building 2 Rupert Road to house the Early Years. Sylvia’s visionary philosophy not only endures but flourishes at Orchard House School to this day.
In February 2020, Orchard House, together with Bassett House and Prospect House, became part of Dukes Education.
In early 2021 Dukes Education, founded and led by our Chairman Aatif Hassan, acquired Chiswick & Bedford Park Prep School – a wonderful school just around the corner from Orchard House. As sister schools we share much in common; chiefly our commitment to a strong moral ethos and the expectation of outstanding learning and care. During academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 the schools collaborated closely with Kit Thompson, former Head at Orchard House and Henrietta Adams, Head of CBPPS, co-leading the schools and ensuring fruitful and positive experiences for both sets of pupils.
A Leading Light
In 2023 the Nurseries of OHS and CBPPS came together and in September 2024, the schools merged to form a new school under the Orchard House name. Our new school benefits from a full cosmetic refurbishment of our main school buildings Rupert Road (Early Years), Priory Avenue (Key Stage 1), and Newton Grove (Key Stage 2) as well as the addition of new specialist teaching space in the form of a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Ary and Maths (STEAM) Centre, additional spaces for Music and Drama, a fuller timetable of enrichment and clubs, and expert subject teaching. This seven-figure investment from Dukes puts Orchard House School squarely on the map as one of London’s premier preparatory schools.
As a thriving three-form entry school, all of our children benefit from a full-time teaching assistant and specialist teaching staff across the curriculum, ensuring academic excellence alongside outstanding pastoral care. We continue to work with the school community to come up with meaningful ways to honour the heritage of Chiswick & Bedford Park School.