North London Collegiate School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North London Collegiate School |
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| Address | |
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Canons Drive
, , HA8 7RJ
England
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| Information | |
| Type | Private day school for girls in London Private coeducational boarding school in South Korea |
| Motto | in spe laboramus |
| Established | 1850 |
| Founder | Frances Mary Buss |
| Local authority | Harrow |
| Chair of the Governors | Gabrielle Gower, OBE |
| Headmistress | Vicky Bingham |
| Gender | Girls (UK), girls and boys (South Korea) |
| Age | 4 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1,066 (2008) |
| Houses | Angus, Lindsay, Gibbons, Collet, Aitken |
| Colour(s) | Sky blue Brown |
| Alumnae | Old North Londoners (ONLs) |
North London Collegiate School (NLCS) is a private day school for girls in England. This means families pay for their children to attend. The main school is in Edgware, a part of London. It was first started in Camden Town.
NLCS is known for being one of the best schools in the United Kingdom. It often appears in the top 10 of school rankings for its excellent exam results.
The school also has partner schools in other countries, including South Korea, Dubai, Vietnam, and Singapore. These schools are for both boys and girls, and some students live at the school (boarding).
Contents
School History
NLCS was founded in 1850 by Frances Mary Buss. She was a true pioneer in education for girls. At the time, girls did not have the same chances to learn as boys. Miss Buss wanted to change that. She was the first person to be called a "Headmistress."
The school started small in a house in Camden, London. In 1940, it moved to a large property called Canons in Edgware. This is where the school is still located today.
NLCS now teaches girls from age 4 to 18. The school is split into a Junior School (ages 4-11) and a Senior School (ages 11-18). Students who have left the school are called Old North Londoners, or ONLs.
What Students Learn
NLCS is famous for its strong academic program. For many years, it has been ranked as one of the top schools in the country for exam results.
When students get to the final two years of school (called the sixth form), they have choices. They can study for traditional A Levels or for the International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB is a program recognized by universities all over the world.
But it's not all about studying. Students are encouraged to try other activities too. They can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which involves volunteering and outdoor adventures. They can also join clubs like Model United Nations, where they act as delegates from different countries.
Grading During the Pandemic
In 2021, regular exams were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, teachers gave students their final grades. This was called "teacher-assessed grades."
That year, 90% of A-level grades at NLCS were A*, the highest possible grade. In 2019, when students took normal exams, this number was 34%. Because of this big difference, an exam board looked into how the school decided on the grades.
A school spokesperson said that NLCS followed all the rules. However, a person who worked there felt that some decisions were not made with complete fairness. Other private schools were also looked at for similar reasons. The head of the exam regulator, Ofqual, confirmed that investigations were happening at some private schools.
Famous Former Students
Many students from NLCS have gone on to do amazing things. They are known as "alumnae." Here are a few of them:
- Rachel Weisz (actress, known for The Mummy films)
- Anna Wintour (editor of the famous fashion magazine Vogue)
- Anna Popplewell (actress, played Susan in The Chronicles of Narnia films)
- Esther Rantzen (TV presenter and founder of the charity ChildLine)
- Stevie Smith (famous poet)
- Marie Stopes (scientist who studied ancient plants)
- Lilian Lindsay (the first woman to become a dentist in the UK)
- Roma Agrawal (engineer who helped build The Shard in London)
- Eleanor Bron (actress and writer)
- Tanya Byron (psychologist and TV presenter)
- Noreena Hertz (economist and author)
- Judith Weir (composer)
School Leaders
The head of the school is called the Headmistress. Here is a list of the headmistresses since the school began:
- Frances Mary Buss (1850–1894)
- Sophie Bryant (1895–1918)
- Isabella Drummond (1918–1940)
- Eileen Harold (1941–1944)
- Dame Kitty Anderson (1945–1965)
- Madeline McLauchlan (1965–1985)
- Joan Clanchy (1986–1997)
- Bernice McCabe (1997–2017)
- Sarah Clark (2018–2022)
- Vicky Bingham (2023–present)
