North London Collegiate School

Focus 

Ambition and excellence

Day fees 2024/25

$29,300–$34,000 (incl. VAT)

Pupils 

1,100

Ages

4–18

Spear’s Review

On the northern edge of greater London in 30 acres of grounds is North London Collegiate School (NLCS), a provider of top-quality education to the daughters of British and international families.

Founded in 1850 by Frances Buss, one of the first graduates of Queen’s College London and also founder of Camden School for Girls, NLCS has always been a pioneering centre of women’s education. The independence and confidence instilled in a Collegiate girl is a reflection of its history. NLCS continues to make strides with continually exceptional academic results, and a new school building, the IDEAS Hub, is set to open in spring 2025. This building will house innovation, design, engineering, arts and sciences subjects and will continue to lead from the front.

Students are also challenged outside the classroom, and girls have the opportunity to take on leadership roles, embark on trips or join a variety of clubs, sports and societies.

Academics

97 per cent of GCSE results are grades 7–9.

85 per cent of results at A-Level are A* or A.

Average IB score is 41.0.

University and college destinations

NLCS girls frequently progress to the top universities and institutions around the world. In 2024, nearly one-fifth of the cohort went to Oxford or Cambridge, and 2 per cent went to Ivy League schools.

Head teacher

Headmistress Vicky Bingham joined NLCS in 2023 as the school’s 10th headmistress. Prior to arriving at NLCS, she led South Hampstead High School for more than six years. She also has served as deputy head (academic) at Guildford High School and head of classics at St Catherine’s School, Bramley. She has a classics degree from Oxford and a PGCE from Cambridge.

Admissions

The admissions process varies by age of entry, but each girl, regardless of her age, is required to undertake at least one assessment, sometimes two, and older girls attend an interview with a faculty member. 

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 45 minutes

Location

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