North London Collegiate School

• Location: Edgware, Greater London, England,
• Age of students: from 4 to 18 years old,
• Type of education: segregated, girls' school,
• Language of instruction: English.

North London Collegiate School is the country's first day school for girls. Located in Edgware, it consists of junior and high schools.

North London Collegiate School considers academic rigor to be an important principle. Here, each girl will be inspired and developed in every lesson to reach her full potential. The school offers specialised tuition from an early age, as well as a dual college pathway, which increases the appeal to UK and international students. NLCS is building a community of confident and resilient girls who are actively involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities and have extensive access to STEAM services.

Frances Mary Buss founded the school in her family home in Camden Town.

The educational program at NLCS is based on the national education system in England and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for students up to 16 years old. After passing the final exams, students choose between the A-Level program or the IB Diploma course in the Sixth Form. In Years 7, 8 and 9, students follow the National Curriculum. They begin working toward GCSE examinations in Year 10, having chosen their subjects in Year 9.

The school offers students academic support throughout the years. The curriculum at NLCS is highly responsible and includes the study of English and Mathematics + three science subjects before taking the GCSE exam; The program includes History, Geography, Social Studies, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Physical Education, and Computer Science (starting in Grade 7).

A three-year research program runs from Year 7 through Year 9. Students learn to assess source reliability and bias, develop critical thinking skills, cite sources, and discuss the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Each form class has at least two form tutors. Every Year 7 student has a Year 8 buddy. The school has two part-time school counselors. Individual counseling and weekly drop-in sessions are available.

The educational process at North London Collegiate School is organized in the following departments (departments):

• Fine Arts,
• Mathematics
• English language
• Modern Languages,
• Computer Engineering and ICT,
• Drama
• Economics
• Engineering, Design & Technology,
• Geography
• History, Government and Politics,
• Music
• Physical Education and Sports,
• Religious Studies and Philosophy,
• Science.

NLCS was named The Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026.

Students regularly win national awards in the Young Enterprise entrepreneurship program, Science Olympiads, and university essay competitions.

Schools associated with NLCS operate in several countries: South Korea, Jeju Island, Dubai, Vietnam, and Singapore. All of them operate in the format of day schools and boarding schools, offering their students a British curriculum, and are active members of the Association of Schools for Girls.

North London Collegiate School is listed in The Schools Index as one of the top 150 private schools in the world, voted as one of the top 30 high schools in the UK, NLCS Jeju is recognised as one of the top 15 schools in China and Southeast Asia.

The Canons estate was purchased in 1929, and the school completed its move there in May 1940. NLCS celebrates Founder’s Day every year.

Headmistress Sophie Bryant became the first woman in England to be awarded a Doctorate of Science.

In 2026, graduates went on to the following universities.

United Kingdom:

• Oxford — 15 graduates,
• UCL — 10 graduates,
• Cambridge — 9 graduates,
• Imperial — 9 graduates,
• Warwick — 8 graduates,
• Birmingham — 7 graduates,
• QMUL — 6 graduates,
• KCL — 5 graduates,
• Bristol — 4 graduates,
• Manchester — 3 graduates.

United States:

• MIT — 1 graduate,
• U Chicago — 1 graduate.

Other countries:

• Bocconi, Italy — 1 graduate,
• Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland — 1 graduate.

North London Collegiate School is a prestigious institution that offers full-time education. Although accommodation services are not provided at the school, staff will be able to provide information assistance to all applicants for places.

Girls will enjoy a delicious and varied school lunch every day: the gastronomic assortment includes a variety of hot and cold dishes to satisfy all dietary needs. Here, every student will find something to their liking, regardless of their food preferences or diet.

Senior School students can bring a packed lunch.

NLCS successfully combines academic focus and extracurricular activities, with more than 40 different after-school clubs offering a variety of activities, including sports, art, debating clubs, and robotics. There are sports teams in the following sports: netball, lacrosse, swimming, cross-country, badminton, gymnastics, dance, athletics, tennis and fencing. The school also offers classes for those who prefer non-competitive sports: Zumba, Pilates, kickboxing, self-defense and even lifeguard service.

The school provides ample opportunities for the development of the arts, there is a Center for the Performing Arts and two art galleries. NLCS actively supports the creative aspirations of girls, so every junior high school student participates in at least one performance every year. There are music lessons twice a week, and in the lower grades, there is a weekly choral singing lesson. Pupils can show their talents off the school campus at events such as the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Nearly 100 clubs meet each week at lunchtime or after school, and many are organized by students.

Students publish nearly 40 journals a year. They can take part in Model United Nations and debates. Upper School students can participate in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. The Performing Arts Centre hosts over 50 productions and concerts each year.

The school offers over 30 overseas trips and runs more than 60 day trips each year, including field trips and visits to theaters, galleries, and concert halls. Cultural exchanges are available with partner schools in Jeju, Dubai, Singapore, and Thailand.

• NLCS ranks first among independent girls’ schools in the UK,
• NLCS ranks second worldwide for IB Diploma results,
• Interdisciplinary learning includes independent projects and hands-on assignments,
• Academic partnerships include symposia, workshops, and debates with Eton College, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Harrow School, and Merchant Taylors’ School,
• The alumnae community supports students through career events, conferences, mentoring, and professional networking.

North London Collegiate School, located on the western outskirts of Edgware, is one of London's leading schools. It is close to Canons Park and is easily accessible by car, via Canons Drive from Edgware's High Street, and by public transport – the nearest Stanmore and Canons Park tube stations are just a short walk away.

NLCS is housed on a vast and beautiful 30-acre grounds, with the campus surrounded by green trees and shrubs. Immediately upon arrival, you can feel the unique atmosphere of a rural school, although it is in close proximity to the capital's metro! In the center of the campus is an 18th-century country house, which is surrounded by modern buildings and sports facilities: this is really impressive, creating a special educational environment.

The junior school is on campus and has its own separate facilities, including its own science labs, ICT technology, a playground and a library. Sixth Form students have their own facilities, including a common room, library, and classrooms.

Lacrosse fields, Astroturf and netball courts are available on site. In addition, students can visit the private Canons sports centre, which has a swimming pool, climbing wall, dance studios, gym and tennis courts.

For those interested in art, NLCS offers a special Drawing School with equipment for photography, computer-aided design, printmaking, textile design, welding, ceramics, and other materials.

The swimming pool is 25 meters long and uses UV water treatment. The McLauchlan Library holds over 38,000 resources. The Anderson Reading Room is exclusively for Sixth Form students. Digital collections include JSTOR, Gale in Context, Oxford Online, Britannica, Cambridge Companions, PressReader, NewsBank, and the ePlatform collection, which is available around the clock.

The academic year at North London Collegiate School lasts about 10 months and is divided into three trimesters: autumn, spring and summer. The school year starts in September and ends in June. To ensure sufficient time for rest and recovery, there are holidays between trimesters.

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Visa fee,
• Migration and flights,
• Transfer,
• Residence,
• School Bus,
• Nutrition,
• Personal Accident Insurance,
• Medical insurance,
• Individual lessons in music, ballet, LAMDA,
• Additional lessons with a tutor,
• Extended working hours,
• Educational materials and stationery, excluding the items included in tuition,
• Uniforms and sports uniforms,
• Excursions and activities,
• Personal expenses.

Textbooks, stationery and State exams are included in tuition.

A nonrefundable entry assessment fee applies to overseas applicants. An acceptance deposit of half of one term’s tuition is required when a place is accepted. It is returned when the student finishes her education at the school.

Payment can be made in full on the first day of each term or in ten monthly installments. The total is the same for both options, with no surcharge for monthly payments.

When deciding to enroll in North London Collegiate School, a girl and her parents should take the following steps:

• Visit the school on the Open Day,
• Pay the registration fee,
• All applicants who register for admission will be invited to NLCS to complete the first stage of assessment. The assessment lasts approximately one hour + girls take part in a number of activities aimed at assessing their readiness for school,
• Some candidates will be re-invited to take the second stage of certification. Girls entering junior school will be invited to a trial school day. Older girls will be invited for an interview,
• After evaluation, successful candidates receive offers.

At introductory events, families can tour the school and meet staff and students.

In total, about 1000 girls from 4 to 18 years old study at NLCS.

NLCS is one of the leading schools not only nationally but also globally: it is ranked first in the UK in the IB Diploma Programme, and the GPA of its female graduates always remains at the highest level, never dropping below 40 points (out of a possible 45).

The well-deserved success of NLCS students leads to the opportunity to enter the best universities – not only in the UK, but also abroad. Girls receive invitations to study at prestigious institutions: Oxford and Cambridge universities, Ivy League universities and equivalent ones - Columbia University, Princeton, Stanford and the University of California at Los Angeles.

In 2026, the average IB Diploma score was 43.22 points. Three students achieved the maximum score of 45, and two-thirds of the cohort scored at least 43. At A-Level, 51.5% of grades were A*, and 83.6% were A*–A.

In the 2026 GCSE and IGCSE examinations, 81.2% of grades were 9, 95.0% were 9–8, and 98.9% were 9–7.

NLCS is a selective school: all applicants are tested before being offered a place. Girls over the age of 11 take an entrance exam consisting of written papers in English and mathematics, and may be invited for an additional interview.

International girls must have a good command of English, have an overall IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent.

The main entry points are at ages 4, 7, 11 and 16. Admission to other year groups is possible when occasional places are available. Selection considers academic potential, intellectual curiosity, character, and readiness to contribute to school life.

Since its founding in 1850, North London Collegiate School has been providing financial support to girls who promise to succeed in school, show strong potential, but whose families cannot afford the tuition. NLCS offers scholarships to female students entering high school at ages 11 and 16. The scholarship can cover any part of the cost of tuition (up to 100% of the fee), lunches, transportation for bus users (50% discount on travel), uniform subsidies, compulsory study equipment, exam fees, and mandatory travel for those who are eligible. Currently, 78 NLCS students receive financial support in the form of scholarships.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision