Private School First Venue to Launch at Olympia Site
Wetherby Pembridge welcomed students for the new term
Entrance area to the new school. Picture: Ben Moore
September 5, 2025
The first new venue has been launched as part of the £1.3 billion redevelopment of the Olympia site on Hammersmith Road.
Wetherby Pembridge, a new private co-educational senior school, opened its doors to students from years 7 to 9 on Wednesday (September 3).
Nick Page, Founding Headmaster at Wetherby Pembridge, said the school is “delighted” to welcome its first cohort of students.
The redevelopment of the Olympia in West Kensington is intended to transform the iconic site into a new cultural and hospitality hub.
Approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in 2019, once complete it will include a 4,000-capacity music arena and a 1,575-seat Olympia Theatre, plus a wide range of bars, restaurants, workspace, hotels and more.
While details are still being confirmed, the new venues are to continue opening next year, celebrating the Olympia’s 140th anniversary.
The redevelopment will conclude with the unveiling of the theatre, the largest new purpose-built theatre in London in 50 years, in early 2027.
The launch of Wetherby Pembridge however marks a significant moment for the revamp, with it being the first of the new venues to get up and running.
Part of the Inspired global education group, Wetherby Pembridge’s website states students “benefit from shared best practices and meaningful global connectivity with 121 of the world’s best schools across six continents”.
Nadim Nsouli, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive of Inspired Education, said: “As an Inspired school, Wetherby Pembridge is built on the renowned academic foundations of the Wetherby and Pembridge Hall schools.”
Mr Nsouli added that with its doors opening on Wednesday, “Wetherby Pembridge is the latest demonstration of our commitment to providing the very best holistic education, prioritising academics first and foremost, but with unparalleled access to co-curricular facilities and higher education pathways”.
Annual tuition fees for the school are set at £33,500.
Mr Page said, “From our future-ready classrooms and labs, to our professional standard theatre and world-class sporting facilities, we have created an environment of academic excellence where we can identify and nurture students’ full potential and enable them to flourish and succeed in whichever field they choose.”
The Olympia was purchased by investment firms Yoo Capital, which is also behind the Shepherd’s Bush Market scheme, and Deutsche Finance International in 2017 for £296 million.
Frank Roccogrande, Co-Founder at Deutsche Finance International, investment advisors to Olympia, said, “Wetherby Pembridge will be the first of Olympia’s new venues to open its doors, and we couldn’t be prouder. Since its opening in 1886, Olympia has always been a stage, be it for artists, businesses, or even athletes. For this reason, supporting the next generation of talent was a key element of the vision behind the transformation of this heritage destination, and what better way to do that than with a school?
“Wetherby Pembridge will provide fantastic opportunities for students in the local community and further afield, and we are delighted to start welcoming them from this week.”
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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