Alleyn’s Regent’s Park, in Gloucester Avenue, opened its doors to students from Reception onwards on Thursday, September 4.
The school is led by headteacher Tom Le Tissier, who believes north London is the “perfect spot” for a prep school focused on creating “social contributors and change-makers”.
Tom Le Tissier meets a new pupil (Image: Andrew Tivers) Mr Le Tissier said: “From the top of Primrose Hill, I can see all of London and the great minds it holds and inspires.
“I look at London Zoo, with which we have a proactive partnership that goes beyond visits but is woven into our curriculum for all ages to blend technological innovation with ethics and responsibility – such as using drones to monitor populations of endangered species in remote areas.
“I see the tech entrepreneurs’ headquarters and the City with whom we collaborate and, in that moment above the fray, I am reminded of the importance of connection and contemplation.
“Alleyn’s Regent’s Park is perfectly situated at these crossroads of inspiration and influence.”
The school features state-of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces, all of which incorporate child-centred design.
Mr Le Tissier said: “In preparing our pupils for the highly selective schools where they will continue their educations, we need to recognise the pressure the 11+ and 13+ systems put on children of that age, which is why we are uniquely proactive in not just pastoral care but in promoting mental fitness.
“We have created spaces here like The Well, unlike any other school I’ve seen, that allow pupils to get above the fray, to explore, to think, to find joy and fun as well as to achieve academically.
“It’s not enough for children to know how to use technology; they must understand how to engage with it responsibly.”
Each pupil at Alleyn’s Regent’s Park is welcomed with the Alleyn’s cornflower ceremony.
This tradition, based on the favourite flower of the school’s founder, Jacobean actor Edward Alleyn, marks the beginning of pupils’ journeys within the Alleyn’s family and tasks them with preserving their flowers for the years to come until they leave Alleyn’s.
“We are all embarking on a journey together and this ceremony connects us to each other, to the first Alleyn’s school in Dulwich, the other Alleyn’s schools in the group and to Edward Alleyn himself – because connection is very important, now more than ever.”
The head at Alleyn’s School, Jane Lunnon, expressed her delight at the new opening, adding: “We are so thrilled to open Alleyn’s Regent’s Park, our first Alleyn’s school north of the river.
“It has been a pleasure to see this very special school start to take shape over the past months, both in terms of its educational approach and the carefully designed new learning spaces.”
