A warm welcome to Blackheath Prep, a happy and thriving co-educational prep school for children aged 3 to 11. We are located in an idyllic setting on the edge of the heath close to Blackheath Village and our five-acre site offers superb specialist facilities, large playgrounds, forest school areas and extensive playing fields.

Alex Matthews – Video

At Blackheath Prep, we seek to offer an education without boundaries and strive to ensure that every child shines and reaches their full potential. We unlock confidence, excitement, fresh thinking and a sense of fun and adventure in the full belief there are no limits to what each child can achieve.

We are committed to achieving academic excellence within an ethos of strong pastoral care and supported by a rich and varied co-curricular programme. We aim to help children develop the courage to believe in themselves, to take risks, to try new things, to be bold, brave, resilient and tenacious. We encourage everyone to learn from mistakes and rise to challenges.

Community is at the heart of our school. We believe strongly that children thrive when they are happy and nurtured and so it is no surprise that visitors comment on our warm atmosphere and our culture of kindness.

It is a great privilege and responsibility to be involved in educating and shaping the lives of young people.

Our teachers work hard to ensure that life for the children within our care is stimulating, exciting and joyful. We aim to spark children’s natural curiosity for the world, leading them to discover, to wonder and to dare to go further. And we aim to give children the freedom to grow, to explore and to exceed their own expectations and ours. Each year our Year 6 pupils achieve outstanding results in their senior school transfers, moving on to the leading schools in London and Kent. Read more about our leavers’ results here.

It is a great privilege and responsibility to be involved in educating and shaping the lives of young people. At Blackheath Prep, we take our role very seriously. If you are considering the school, I hope this website will give you a flavour of our ethos and what we stand for.

Regular open mornings are held throughout the term and I encourage you to visit us and experience our warm welcome at first hand. Thank you for your interest in our school and I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Alex Matthews
HEAD

About

Alex Matthews studied Geography at the University of Oxford, where he also held a Music Award. After completing a PGCE and MA in Education, with specialisms in Primary Education and English, at the University of Chichester, Alex began his career in maintained schools before transferring to the independent sector. Alex has held deputy headships in two outstanding London schools, first as Deputy Head Co-Curricular at Dulwich College, London, and then as Deputy Head Pastoral at St Paul’s Juniors, the prep school to St Paul’s School, London. In both positions, he developed value-centred curricula, seeking to place pupil wellbeing and pastoral care at the heart of the two establishments. Alex Matthews joined Blackheath Prep as Head in 2020 and brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to Blackheath Prep, as well as energy and vision.  

An enthusiastic exponent of the arts and an able musician, Alex enjoys choral and instrumental concerts. Alex is also a keen runner and has completed the London Marathon, as well as several half-marathons. Alex also enjoys walking and can be spotted regularly on the Heath walking his whippet, Magnus, who is the school’s therapy dog.