Frequently Asked Questions

Kensington Wade is an award winning, immersive bilingual nursery and prep school in west London, educating children aged 3 to 11. It is the only school of its kind in the UK, a fully bilingual English Chinese independent school where children learn in both English and Mandarin throughout their time at the school.

Kensington Wade uses an immersive bilingual model, meaning children are taught in both English and Mandarin Chinese across the curriculum from nursery onwards. This is different from a school that offers Mandarin as an extra language lesson. At Kensington Wade, both languages are used as genuine languages of instruction, giving children a deep, natural fluency in both.

Yes. Kensington Wade is a fee paying independent prep school in London. As a private bilingual school, it offers a unique educational experience that combines the rigour of an excellent independent school curriculum with the lifelong advantage of bilingual fluency in English and Mandarin.

Kensington Wade is in west London. Full location and transport details are on the Location and Facilities page of the school website.

Kensington Wade is a place full of opportunities for young children to discover their talents. The school believes that children flourish when they feel inspired, challenged, and supported, and the bilingual environment is central to this, developing not just language skills but curiosity, confidence, cultural awareness, and a genuinely global mindset.

Yes. Kensington Wade is an award winning school and has been featured in the Good Schools Guide, which is a mark of its standing as one of the leading independent prep schools in London. The school has also achieved Eco School status, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and environmental education.

Kensington Wade is an English Chinese school, delivering the curriculum in both English and Mandarin Chinese. Children develop fluency in both languages simultaneously, giving them a significant academic and cultural advantage. The bilingual approach runs through every year group from nursery to Year 6.

Kensington Wade follows the English national curriculum, enhanced by its immersive bilingual model. Subjects include mathematics, English, science, history, geography, PE, music, the creative arts, and more, all taught across both English and Mandarin. The school also places a strong emphasis on wellbeing, pastoral care, and a rich co-curricular programme.

Yes. Kensington Wade has a bilingual nursery for children from age 3, which is the starting point for the immersive English Chinese experience. The nursery is designed to introduce children to both languages in a warm, playful, and nurturing environment, building strong foundations before they move into the prep school.

Every child at Kensington Wade has an individual learning plan. These are updated weekly and shared with the Headmaster. This allows teachers to track progress closely in both English and Chinese, and to adapt their approach for each pupil rather than teaching to the middle of the class.

Research shows that bilingualism increases intelligence, mental flexibility and creativity, alongside higher levels of empathy and social skill. An immersive bilingual education goes further still, deepening a child’s cultural understanding of both Britain and China, two countries that play an increasingly important role in each other’s futures. Mandarin is widely regarded as one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn as adults, so starting young gives Kensington Wade pupils a genuine, lasting advantage.

No. English and Chinese teachers plan lessons together, and the only thing that changes is the language of delivery. Roughly half the school day is taught in English and half in Chinese, so children develop the ability to move naturally between the two rather than learning the same content twice.

In the Early Years, Kensington Wade uses the Read, Write Inc. phonics programme alongside its own reading scheme and levelled books to teach children to read, write and spell. Each child’s attainment is assessed from their very first days at school, so progress can be tracked and targets set from the outset.

Kensington Wade teaches Chinese reading and writing using the Level Chinese reading scheme, a graded programme that tracks each child’s progress in the same structured way as their English reading development.

Kensington Wade uses the Shanghai approach to mathematics, also known as the Mastery Approach, which builds a deep understanding of core concepts. Lessons are planned so that each one builds on the last, whether it is delivered in English or Chinese.

No. No, it is quite the opposite. Through re-encoding across both languages, their English development is supercharged. English is a core part of the curriculum at Kensington Wade. Children develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills while also gaining the benefits of learning a second language through immersion.

Our pupils achieve top results in English and go on to secure places at the UK’s top senior schools

No. Many Kensington Wade families do not speak Chinese at home, and the school provides resources to help parents support their child’s learning regardless.

Families interested in a place at Kensington Wade are encouraged to visit the school and see the bilingual environment in action. You can enquire and arrange a visit through the Admissions section of the website. The admissions team is happy to talk through the process, entry points, and what to expect.

Kensington Wade is very popular with families who have connections to China or who want their children to develop strong Mandarin skills, but it also attracts families from many different backgrounds who see bilingualism in English and Mandarin as a major academic and life advantage. The school community is diverse and international in character.

Kensington Wade offers a full co-curricular programme including music, sport, and a wide range of clubs. The school also runs a holiday camp and has a strong parent community through the Friends of Kensington Wade. Details of current clubs and activities are on the School Life section of the website.

Kensington Wade is genuinely unique among London prep schools. No other independent school in the UK offers the same fully immersive English-Mandarin bilingual education from Nursery through to Year 6.

What makes Kensington Wade particularly distinctive is that its bilingual approach is matched by outstanding academic outcomes. Pupils consistently secure places at leading senior schools, with offers and scholarships from many of London’s most sought-after independent schools.

For families seeking a school that combines academic excellence, exceptional senior school preparation and true bilingual immersion, Kensington Wade offers an educational experience that other schools simply cannot.