A message from the Head

What sets Thames apart is a genuine commitment to each and every individual.

I believe that every child is a story waiting to be told, and at Thames we are small and bespoke enough to build a framework around every pupil. Whether they join us in Year 7 or later, we are dedicated to nurturing their unique gifts and helping them grow. When our students graduate they are equipped with strong qualifications, resilience, confidence and purpose.

Our strong staff retention, genuinely small classes and excellent pastoral care is underpinned by our founding ethos of compassion, respect and humility. In combination they enable young people to understand their inherent value and grow in confidence. Our long-standing phone-free day has also proven invaluable in supporting focus, mental health and interpersonal connection.

We prepare pupils for the fast changing world of technology and AI through a highly intentional approach to teaching traditional skills alongside technological understanding. This is because the timeless skills of critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, along with the ability to lead and be part of a team, will become ever more important. Without these essential skills the next generation will become dependent on technology rather than masters of it. The future will favour those who possess the emotional intelligence to embrace both traditional and technological aspects.

Being in such a central and easily accessible location, we can also provide our students with ample opportunity to understand and use the city that we live in. Our Arts Department and 3D design department flourish not only because of the excellent teaching staff, but also because of the connection that can be made between learning in the classroom and experiencing art and design in the many museums, galleries and open spaces in London. A vibrant sports programme makes excellent use of specialist indoor and outdoor sports facilities a few minutes walk away, and students are also able to travel easily to school fixtures across the city.

The curriculum is further enriched by a varied co-curricular programme of clubs, societies, camps and overseas trips, including our award-winning trip to rural Tanzania, ensuring pupils develop not only academically, but personally and socially too.

I am proud of what we have achieved in our first 25 years of existence, and I would like to personally invite you to come and view what we do here. We have grown from a small independent school with a mission to truly nurture children into new premises that provide a truly artisan education with a strong focus on pastoral care and growing every child to meet their full potential.

Stephen Holsgrove PhD
Head