University College School, Hampstead

UCS is one of the top academic schools in London – but it is far more than that. UCS is genuinely distinctive. At UCS, academic success is just one part of an outstanding all-round education.

We treat every pupil as an individual. We know them all well. We respect them all. We draw out their individual talents and we rejoice in their personal achievements and their individual contributions. Education at UCS is lively and varied; creative and imaginative.

True to the aims of our founders, we encourage intellectual curiosity and we foster a real sense of communal endeavour. More than just a place of study, UCS is an inclusive, tolerant, positive and friendly community. It is stimulating and demanding; cheerful and open-minded.

Our mission at UCS is simple: to enable them to become the very best versions of themselves.

We provide a best-in-class education and outstanding pastoral care, supported by a liberal ethos that forms the bedrock of our school. For us, liberal scholarship means intellectual curiosity, creativity, breadth of study and independence of mind, as a basis for academic excellence. This equips our pupils with something we call ‘a foundation for life’ – qualities young people need in order to go into the world and live out their full potential.

We instil in our pupils four key learning values – the four Rs of resourcefulness, responsibility, relationships and resilience – which infuse our lively and imaginative classroom teaching. Our pupils are happy, engaged and always look forward to coming to school.

While UCS is boldly academic, we also aspire to be the kindest, most pupil-centric school possible. We have an overarching commitment to personalised pastoral care and to nurturing positive, open and professional relationships between staff and pupils. This takes place within a safe and supportive environment that promotes self-awareness, understanding of others and respect for every member of the community.

Our caring, dedicated and intellectually strong staff work hard to develop confidence, maturity and self-esteem – and we believe that our approach not only brings excellent results but helps to create well-balanced and assured school leavers.

We offer the fullest range of opportunities for personal development and group endeavour, including Drama, the arts, Music, Sport, culture and, of course, academic subjects. These are the forums in which we draw out individual talent, rejoice in personal achievement and foster communal endeavour.

We teach the importance of well-being, the value of commitment and the joy of achievement. We believe happiness lies at the root of a pupil’s success – and that, in order for a young person to develop fully, they must be happy within themselves. Our pastoral provision recognises the individual and equally the fact no pupil is an island.We are a place of study but also of self-discovery and self-expression. As such, we encourage every pupil to reach their potential using a subject-based curriculum that is supplemented by flourishing academic enrichment and complemented by an extensive co-curricular provision. The pupil’s part is to discover and maximise their skills, passions and abilities.

The Pre-Prep
Address: 36 College Crescent, Hampstead, London, NW3 5LF
Tel: 020 7722 4433

The Junior Branch
Address: 11 Holly Hill, Hampstead, London, NW3 6QN
Tel: 020 7435 3068