WELCOME TO
CLARENCE HOUSE

Welcome to Clarence House Preparatory School – a small, ambitious and nurturing school for girls aged 7–11, and a proud member of the Jack and Jill Family of Schools.
 
Clarence House opened in 2016 to complete the primary journey for our pupils, allowing girls to remain with us through to the end of Year 6. Since then, our girls have continued to secure places at many of London’s most academically selective Senior Schools, and—at the time of writing—independently verified outcomes in maths, English and science place us among the highest‑performing schools in the UK.
 
Our approach is simple: we combine the academic rigour you would expect from an excellent independent school with the most effective, research‑informed innovations from leading schools worldwide.
A significant proportion of our provision will feel familiar to parents who know high‑performing prep schools. We maintain a strong focus on English, maths and reasoning in preparation for both independent and grammar school 11+ examinations. Alongside this, girls enjoy a rich curriculum in sport, music, art and drama.
However, Clarence House is distinctive in several important ways.
 
A specialist‑teacher model
One of the defining features of our school is that girls are taught almost entirely by subject specialists. These are teachers who possess deep knowledge of their discipline—and who, quite genuinely, believe that their subject is the most important part of the curriculum.
This passion matters. It raises expectations, deepens understanding and supports girls in becoming increasingly expert in each subject themselves. It is a model more commonly found at secondary level, and one which our pupils benefit from enormously.
 
An intentionally small school
Our size is another strength. A small school allows us to know every pupil—her strengths, her interests, her challenges and her potential. Because of this, every girl takes part. Every girl is in the football team. Every girl has a meaningful role in the school play. Every girl performs at our Afternoons of Poetry, Music and Dance, presents her work at our Exhibition of Beautiful Work and delivers a five‑minute Grit Presentation to her parents. No one is overlooked; everyone is supported and stretched.
 
A dedicated STEM focus
We are proud to be a STEM school, with our own science laboratory and makerspace where girls explore, investigate and create. Here, they have the freedom to question, experiment and discover a genuine love of science and engineering.
 
Teaching girls how to learn
Perhaps the most important difference is our commitment to teaching pupils how to learn. From their first day, girls are introduced to cognitive science—the science of learning itself. We are the only prep school in London to place retrieval practice at the heart of our teaching and homework.
We are also unique in providing families with precise detail about what each girl needs to know and remember. During your visit, you will receive one of our Knowledge Books, which clearly illustrate the clarity and rigour underpinning our curriculum—and help to explain why our pupils go on to achieve so highly in Senior School.
 
If you would like to experience Clarence House for yourself, I warmly encourage you to arrange a visit. We would be delighted to show you our school and to introduce you to our remarkable pupils.
 
– Miss Cara Ventham, Headteacher
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After Clarence House... 

Our curriculum is meticulously designed to help prepare the girls for 11+ examinations from the very start of their journey with us. Our dedicated teachers focus on fostering a love for learning and developing critical thinking skills, ensuring that each student is both challenged and supported in her academic pursuits. Through a well-rounded approach that includes core subjects, retrieval practice, creative arts, and extracurricular activities, we aim to cultivate confident and capable young ladies. Our commitment to small class sizes enables personalised attention, allowing teachers to identify and nurture each girl's unique strengths and talents. With this foundation, our students are not only equipped to excel in exams but also prepared to thrive in their future educational endeavors and beyond.

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HISTORY

"The only way to educate young children properly is
within a homely atmosphere, so I am going to start my
own school here and now." Molly Papirnik, Founder, 1951

1951
Molly Papirnik founded Jack & Jill School in the dining room of her home on Nightingale Road with one boy and one girl, offering traditional education in the home from home environment that she felt to be of paramount importance. This is Nightingale House in Hampton where Reception to Year Two are based.
1953
Mrs Papirnik initially managed everything single handed, but extra assistance was required. She appointed her first teacher, Elsie, who remained with her for 30 years. Molly continued collecting and dropping off pupils in her car each day for many years. She also cooked for up to 50 girls in her kitchen at Nightingale House for 25 years. Both initiatives precursors to our current minibus and hot lunch provision.
1961
Continued rapid growth in numbers meant that Mrs Papirnik could no longer accommodate all in her home at Nightingale House. Therefore, the Nursery children moved to a series of rented hall areas within a few local places of worship until 1992 when they were able to move to a dedicated specialist space at First Cross Road, Twickenham.
1991
The school celebrated its 40th anniversary. Karen Papirnik was appointed the School's Principal and the celebratory cake was wheeled in by Cara Ventham, aged 4 years and a Reception pupil at the time. She is now the Deputy Principal and works with her mother, Karen Papirnik, to develop the school into its 8th decade.
July 1992
Jack & Jill School in Twickenham opened for the Nursery classes initially in the exterior outdoor portacabin classrooms whilst the neglected main building was adapted and refurbished for quality early years provision.
2001
The school's 50th anniversary was celebrated by many former pupils and teachers together with Mrs Papirnik at her home in Nightingale House. Mrs Papirnik became ill shortly after and passed away in November. She dedicated 50 years of energy and 'grit' to her beloved school and reluctantly left this in the care of future generations of the Papirnik family.
2008
Cara Ventham, daughter of Karen Papirnik, completed her university education and joined the Jack & Jill School as a full time member of staff.
Sept 2016
Clarence House Preparatory School (C.H.P.S.) opens. Nick Hitchen, Headteacher of Clarence House Preparatory School, joins. Jack & Jill School becomes the Jack & Jill Family of Schools, in recognition that there are now three schools in the group.
2019
The first cohort of Clarence House Preparatory School pupils receive excellent 11+ results, including scholarship offers from prestigious Senior Schools.
Apr 2024
The Papirnik family welcomes their next generation, Cara's daughter, Mollie, named after the school's founder and her Great Great Grandmother, Molly Papirnik.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Our research-based teaching techniques and small classes are the ideal learning environment for all children. The students’ achievements both in and out of the classroom are testament to this.

Ofsted 'Outstanding' 4 times in a row:

November 2014
September 2017
February 2020
October 2024

50%

of pupils awarded an academic scholarship at 11+ in 2024

90%

of pupils received at least three 11+ offers in 2024.

Pupils in Year 6 reading at ‘greater depth’:

National Average 29%
C.H.P.S. 93%

Class size averages:

State Schools: 25-30
Other Independent
Schools: 15-25
Jack & Jill School: 10-18

Clarence House

One of the few remaining family-owned-and-run schools in the country.

“Clarence House provides such amazing opportunities for [my daughter], from lessons that dig deep, exploring the greater depth of the subject, through to incredible sporting opportunities. [She] still talks with so much pride about the day she was made captain of the football team.” Year 3 parent, May 2024

Nursery parent

Family of Schools Minibus Service

Our school transport offering is in keeping with our founder, Molly Papirnik’s, dedication to her students’ education – she spent many years collecting and dropping off pupils in her car, which she nicknamed Mildred, at the beginning and end of the school day. Today, our service is far more refined! We offer a comprehensive and flexible transport network through a fleet of minibuses operated by the Family of Schools.

There are two options when booking minibus transport for your child – our inter-school routes and our external routes:

External Routes:

Parents can book for transport to and from school on any of our external routes serving Hounslow/Isleworth, East Sheen/Richmond and Kingston/New Malden. The fee for our minibus service is covered under all breakfast club and after school club bookings.

All children – including those in our nursery – can use this service and are accompanied on their journey by qualified minibus escorts employed by the school. Return routes operate to all locations with staggered pick up times so that the older pupils can access the full range of after school clubs and complete their homework prior to leaving for home.

Minibus Routes PDF

Inter-School Routes:

There is no charge for our inter-school minibus service which operates everyday between the three schools. This is a great option for siblings attending school across the different sites or students who live closer to one of the schools they are not attending. Parents can drop the children to their closest site and the Inter-school bus will take them the rest of the journey to school.

Minibus Routes PDF