The school was originally founded in 1880, moving in 1939 to its current premises in a residential area of south Liverpool. It occupies a former Victorian merchant’s house which has four floors and extensive outdoor space. Originally, it was the junior department of The Belvedere School, providing for girls aged from three to 11 years. In September 2006, it separated from this school, becoming the Hamlets Preparatory School; in September 2010, ownership transferred to new proprietors and it was renamed The Belvedere Preparatory School. Boys began to be admitted to the nursery and reception classes in 2010 and the school is becoming fully co-educational as these year groups move up the age range. The school receives the nursery funding grant for all of the 31 children aged under five years in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Currently, there are 109 pupils on roll; none of them has a statement of special educational needs. The school provides an independent education for pupils of a wide ethnic, social and religious mix who come from a large area of Merseyside. The school aims for its pupils ‘to receive a robust, challenging and inspiring 21 st century education, preparing them for life and making the primary schooling years filled with rich and memorable experiences’ and to achieve high academic standards. The educational provision was last inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in February 2005 when it was the junior department of The Belvedere School. Provision for care in the after-school club was last inspected on 4 May 2006.