The Gower School, Private Day School

• Location: Islington, London,
• Year of foundation: 2000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

The Gower School — is an independent day school for children aged 4 to 11.

The school operates for 35 academic weeks a year, sometimes this period is extended to 48 weeks due to the additional education program.

The Gower School offers students an extensive academic program that meets all the requirements of the preparatory stage and the national education system, and even exceeds them in some areas.

Classes usually take the form of projects: first, children study the basic topics, and then delve into the questions that interest them. All lessons are practice-oriented, so girls and boys learn by actively interacting with their environment.

Throughout the year, regular seminars, public events, traditional meetings and individual consultations are held for parents (upon request or necessity).

The Gower School operates in two divisions.

Nursery (3 months–5 years, approximately 150 children):

• Les Nounours — from 3 months,
• Les Petits Lapins — from 11 months,
• Les Petites Souris — 2–3.5 years,
• Les Petits Poussins — 2.5–3.5 years,
• Les Papillons — 3–5 years (preparatory group).

Primary school (4–11 years, approximately 160 children):

• Foundation Stage/Reception — 4–5 years,
• Lower school (Years 1–2) — 5–7 years: three mixed-age groups Les Étoiles de Mer, Les Baleines and Les Requins (approximately 20 pupils in each),
• Upper school (Years 3–6) — 7–11 years: Les Aigles Impériaux (Year 3), Les Aigles Royaux (Year 4), Les Rennes (Year 5), Les Flamants (Year 6).

The Montessori curriculum covers:

• Practical life,
• Sensory education,
• Language and literacy,
• Mathematics,
• Natural sciences,
• Geography,
• History,
• Music,
• Physical education,
• Visual arts.

French is taught from the age of 2.5 years, and computer science and programming are taught weekly across all Years 1–6. PSHEE (personal, social, health and economic education) and citizenship are a separate weekly lesson in each year group. The 11+ Senior School Preparation programme in Year 6 includes preparation for entrance examinations, interviews and auditions for London secondary schools.

The school consistently receives top ratings from regulatory bodies: ISI awarded "Outstanding" or "Excellent" grades across all criteria in 2014, reconfirming them in November 2022. The ISI inspection in December 2025 once again noted high educational quality, effective leadership, and robust child protection. The nursery received an "Outstanding" rating in all categories following an Ofsted inspection in March 2025.

School and pupil achievements:

• National public speaking champion among pupils in March 2026,
• ISA Art Competition: works reached the national final in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The school consistently placed in several categories,
• Prize wins in City of London School for Girls and SATIPS Art Show fine art competitions,
• Wins in creative writing competitions with pupils' works published,
• Transport for London STARS (Sustainable Travel) Gold Award in June 2022 and December 2018.
• Ranks in the top 10% of London schools for sustainable travel standards,
• "Best Teaching and Learning Environment (Independent School)" award in 2011, received for the school building extension,
• Finalist for the "Green School of the Year" award from the Independent Schools Association in 2014,
• Tatler magazine named the school one of the best nurseries in England; Nursery World highlighted its high-quality, individualised Montessori practice,
• The school raises over £10,000 for charity annually.

• The school was founded in 2000 and is fully independent — not affiliated with any network or private capital, which allows it to always put children's interests first,
• The only nursery in North London using Tiny Talk UK sign language for infants from six months,
• A high proportion of bilingual children speaking French and English,
• In the nursery team, one staff member has worked for more than 16 years, 47 staff members for more than 3 years, 30 for more than 5 years, 8 for more than 10 years. Low staff turnover is one of the school's key features,
• Guinea pigs live in the school's gardens — the pupils' pets,
• The school uses reusable cotton nappies for all infants in the nursery — an environmental policy that also encourages earlier toilet training,
• Every year the school raises more than £10,000 for charity and actively involves children in the life of the local community,
• One of the few schools in central London offering a full Forest School programme for all children from the age of two,
• 98% of parents recommend the school.

Children are fed on the territory of The Gower School campus: a team of dedicated chefs from Holroyd Howe prepares meals on site – this is an award-winning catering company specializing in serving independent schools. Chefs pay special attention to the freshness of products, care for the environment and social responsibility, sourcing the best ingredients from trusted local farms: for example, eggs are purchased from certified RSPCA Freedom Farm Assured farms, 90% of fruits and vegetables are purchased not abroad, but from British producers.

The school menu is updated every 3 weeks, and sometimes even more often, especially when holidays or special events are approaching. If students have dietary needs, such as lactose intolerance and a dairy-free diet, gluten-free diets, and allergies, the cooks will take them into account during food preparation.

Students of The Gower School spend their extracurricular time on or off campus. For example, the administration offers pupils daily or weekly formats such as:

• Sports: football, cricket, netball, swimming, tag rugby;
• Dance: ballet, contemporary choreography;
• Music: singing, solfeggio, learning to play musical instruments;
• Language clubs: French, Chinese;
• Drama club;
• Yoga;
• Cooking;
• Programming;
• Jewelry making;
• Decorative and applied arts.

Outside of campus, international students are sent on group excursions to local attractions and neighboring cities:

• the playground in Caledonian Park;
• Penn Road Gardens;
• John Barnes Library;
• Little Angel theatre;
• London Zoo;
• Calpeper and Camley Street Gardens;
• the London Symphony Orchestra at St Luke’s Church;
• Wigmore Hall;
• Science Museum;
• Natural History Museum.

Some excursions are held not only during the day but also in the evening: starting from the third grade, students can attend overnight stays at museums and other late exhibitions.

Starting in the fourth grade, girls and boys go on a two-day trip with accommodation from Bushcraft: they spend one night in a forest camp and participate in outdoor activities.

• The Gower School offers its students a high-quality and comprehensive curriculum. A strategy is selected for each age group. Education as a whole is aimed at the development of a person: his mind, body, heart and soul, children learn social and life skills that will be useful to them not only at school, but also beyond it.
• The principles and philosophy of Maria Montessori are at the core of the educational approach.
• All full-time educational staff are highly qualified methodologists, specialists in the age group and stage of development they work with. Each employee is kind, inspiring, and attentive. Coordination specialists focus on accounting for the educational needs and characteristics of children, finding and combining various learning styles. At the same time, teachers never do their tasks and exercises for children, but only help and guide them.
• Each student is assigned a personal tutor: his task is to take care of the ward and supervise him outside of school hours while he waits for his parents.

The infrastructure of the school is highly developed and includes:

• educational rooms;
• medical office;
• rest room;
• milk kitchen;
• staff room;
• laundry room;
• covered playgrounds where children can play;
• large garden space including climbing areas, active play areas, sand and water activities, two garden houses, a herb garden, and a bicycle path.

Montessori classes at The Gower School consist of:

• auditoriums equipped with Community Playthings furniture;
• various educational locations, including a reading corner, “Exploring the World” and other zones: for practical lessons, for sensory development, for language learning, for mathematics, for culture, art, music, geography and science.

• Two multifunctional halls used daily for meetings, school lunches, sports activities and games, class performances, music and dance lessons, yoga and extracurricular clubs;
• Pianos in classrooms for individual lessons, one of which is located in a specialized music classroom;
• Medical office;
• Library for readers of different ages;
• Computers, iPads and an interactive Clevertouch screen in each classroom, laptops;
• A special art studio.

The primary school academic year consists of semesters and includes 35 teaching weeks. The school day runs from 8:00 to 15:30 (Reception preparatory class — until 15:15); with the breakfast club and evening activities — 8:00–18:00. With the Holiday Fun Club holiday programme, it is available to children for 48 weeks a year.

The nursery operates year-round, 48 weeks, except for one week at Christmas, one at Easter, and two weeks in August. Hours: 8:00–18:00, with extended care until 18:30. The nursery is closed 5 days a year for staff training.

Upon enrolment, a registration fee and deposit are charged (separately for the nursery and primary school).

Categories of additional expenses:

• Evening clubs and activities,
• Holiday Fun Club,
• Private music lessons (piano, violin, guitar, vocals),
• Visits to museums, concerts and theatres (some excursions are included in the programme),
• On-Demand Childcare service,
• Extended care until 18:30.

Admission to The Gower School is possible at any time of the year. To enroll in kindergarten, parents need to confirm that the child is already 2 years old, and for enrollment in preparatory classes of primary school — at least five.

According to the Good Schools Guide, the school guides children towards entry into London's leading day schools. Examination pressure is deliberately deferred until the age when children are ready to make an informed choice of school. Children who begin their education in the nursery typically exceed national standards by the time they enter the preparatory class.

In the autumn term, each Year 6 pupil receives individual preparation for the 11+ entrance examinations: development of examination techniques, weekly interview practice, meetings with parents and invited guests. Pupils annually receive academic, music, sports, and drama scholarships to secondary schools.

• Age requirements: nursery — from 3 months, Reception preparatory class — children turning 5 in the current academic year,
• Registration form with a photo of the child and payment of the registration fee,
• For primary school: all registered children are invited to a group play assessment in October–November, selected candidates undergo an individual assessment in January, admission offers are sent at the end of January,
• When enrolling in middle school (during the academic year): a trial day in the classroom, the child's most recent school report,
• It is recommended to attend an open day before registering. The registration date is taken into account when allocating places.

Primary school graduates annually receive academic, music, sports and drama scholarships upon entry to London secondary schools.

The institution offers a 10% discount on nursery tuition, provided for the second and subsequent children from the same family.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision