Ursuline Preparatory School

Ursuline Preparatory School is a non-selective independent preparatory school for girls aged 3–11 and boys up to age 4 in Wimbledon, London. It has close links with Sacred Heart Church and its brother school Donhead, the preparatory feeder school of Wimbledon College.^[1]

It is an affiliate member of the Girls' Schools Association and a member of the IAPS and ISA. In December 2012, The Sunday Times listed it as one of the top 100 prep schools in the country.^[2]

History

Ursuline Convent School was founded by the Ursuline Sisters who had come to London from Brescia, Italy. They came to Wimbledon and established a convent in 1892 and a small school the following year. By 1944, the school had outgrown its premises and it was necessary for the younger children to move out. The Sisters bought a new property at 18 The Downs and a separate school was set up for the younger age groups. The original school became Ursuline High School, now a voluntary aided school.^[3]

In 1970, in line with the Merton LEA's recently implemented three-tier system, the prep school opened its doors to pupils of 12 and 13 years of age. A coeducational nursery school was added in 1997. The school administration decided against admitting boys into all other years. Instead, most boys will transfer to Wimbledon College's affiliated prep school Donhead, Ursuline Prep's sister school, after age 4.^[4]

Houses

There are four houses, each named after a Catholic saint. On the respective saint's feast days, house members may wear their house colours to school. Saint Angela used to be one of the houses, represented by the colour yellow, however as the founder of the school she is now honored by the whole school on her feast day; St Catherine is now one of the houses. ^[5]

References

External links

• School Website
• Profile on ISC website
• Ursuline Preparatory School Wimbledon Trust 2008 Charity Commission Report