William and Kate to walk Prince George through playground gates when he starts school next week

Prince George in Poland in July.
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Francesca Gillett30 August 2017

Prince George will be walked through the playground gates by parents William and Kate when he starts school for the first time next week.

The future king starts at Thomas’s Battersea next Thursday, Kensington Palace has announced.

A guide for parents and pupils published last week described life at the £17,604-a-year school as “busy” and “slightly chaotic”, and said its children come from families who speak a mix of 19 different families.

“A big, busy, slightly chaotic school for cosmopolitan parents who want their children to have the best English education money can buy,” the guide said.

“That is what they want and, to a large degree, that is what they get".

Prince George with his family during a trip to Berlin in July.
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The assessment by The Good Schools Guide added: "Plenty of opportunities for pupils to excel but withdrawn types might find it all somewhat overwhelming."

Like George, new headmaster Simon O'Malley starts at the school in September. An Aberdeen University graduate, he has taught in Kenya and previously was headmaster of Wellesley House School in Kent, a post he held for 11 years.

The young family in Canada.
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The Good Schools Guide, which describes itself as offering "unbiased and candid school reviews" on its website, praised Mr O'Malley, describing him as "ambitious and enthusiastic; generated an energy and buzz about his previous school. Much-liked and respected by parents".

The school, a selective establishment, has 560 boys and girls aged from four to 13, with around 20 in each class. It is described in the guide as having great facilities from its science labs to gym.

When William and Kate arrive at the school with four-year-old George they will be met by Helen Haslem, head of lower school, who will escort them to George's reception classroom.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive in Berlin

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Thomas's, which runs a number of schools in London, says on its website: "In each school, we aim to offer the highest academic standards, set within a broad and rich curriculum, which inspires enjoyment, learning and achievement.

"We expect every member of the schools' communities to 'Be Kind'."

The Duchess has already said she is not sure George "has any idea what's going to hit him". He will be young for his year, having only turned four in the summer.

Art, ballet, drama, ICT, French, music and physical education are all taught by specialist teachers from a child's first day at the Lower School.

George's smart, new uniform - which must be bought from John Lewis - includes a £25 navy v-neck pullover, matching Bermuda-style school shorts, long red socks and black shoes.

Other items he will be taking with him include a red art smock, which costs from £30, and a sports kit including a swimming hat and a pair of black ballet shoes.

George's compulsory winter and summer uniform, plus sports and ballet kit, will have cost William and Kate more than £365, not including extras such as a winter hat and scarf.

Prince George - In pictures

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Morning snacks provided by the school for the Prince and his peers will include organic milk, freshly baked pain aux raisin and grissini wholewheat bread sticks.

For lunch, he will tuck into freshly cooked meals which, whenever possible, feature organic meat, vegetables and dairy - something George's grandfather the Prince of Wales, a passionate advocate of organic produce, will be glad to hear.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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