At a glance
Curriculum and academics
North London Collegiate School, known as NLCS, is one of the most academically distinguished girls schools mapped on the London city hub. It was founded in 1850 by Frances Buss, a central figure in the history of girls education in England, and now educates girls from age 4 in the junior school to age 18 in the senior school. It became an IB World School in 2003, which puts it among the established London options listed on our London IB schools hub.
The academic offer is unusually broad at sixth form. Rather than running a single route, NLCS lets girls choose between A Levels, the Cambridge Pre-U and the IB Diploma, so a student can match the qualification to her strengths and university plans. Below that, girls work through GCSEs across a wide subject range. The school is highly selective and known for strong results and competitive university destinations, and it has been recognised in national guides for both its overall performance and its IB provision. The combination of an English academic tradition with the option of the international Diploma is what makes it of particular interest to relocating families who want flexibility at sixth form.
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North London Collegiate School fees
North London Collegiate School fees sit in the premium band of our London fees guide, in line with the leading London independent day schools. Fees rise with stage from the junior school through to the sixth form. The school publishes a current scale that changes year to year, so treat any figure you see elsewhere as a guide and confirm the exact amount directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or assessment charge, a deposit on acceptance, lunches, and the usual trips, uniform and activities. As a day school there are no boarding costs, but families relocating into the area should factor in the housing premium that comes with the most sought after north west London catchments. To set NLCS against other London options on cost and qualification, take our school finder quiz.
Admissions
The main entry points are at 4 into the junior school, 7, 11 into the senior school and 16 into the sixth form, with assessment and interview at each stage. Entry is highly competitive given the school's selectivity, so preparation and early registration matter. Sixth form entry also depends on a girl's chosen route, since A Levels, the Pre-U and the IB Diploma each suit different profiles.
Families relocating to London should contact the admissions office early to confirm the assessment process and timeline for the year group they need, and to understand availability, which is tightest at the 11 and 16 entry points. Occasional places at other ages depend on movement in the year group.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies the historic Canons estate at the western edge of Edgware near Canons Park in the London Borough of Harrow, a large green campus that is unusual for a London day school. The surrounding north west London suburbs are well established, family oriented and well connected by the Northern and Jubilee lines, which is why the school draws girls from across north and north west London.
The community is largely London based and academically ambitious, with a strong representation of professional and international families settled in the area. For how this part of north west London compares with other areas on schools, commute and cost, see the London city hub and the guide to IB schools in London.
North London Collegiate School reviews
GlobalSchoolGuide does not yet hold verified parent reviews for this school. We publish reviews only once they are submitted by named families and checked by our editorial team, so you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has attended, you can help other relocating parents by sharing an honest account through our school reviews hub.
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Frequently asked questions
How much are North London Collegiate School fees?
Fees sit in the premium band for London independent day schools and rise with stage from the junior school to the sixth form. The school publishes a current scale that changes year to year, so confirm exact figures with the school.
Is North London Collegiate School a good school?
It is one of the most academically selective girls schools in the country, an IB World School since 2003 with consistently strong results across A Levels, the Pre-U and the IB Diploma. We do not publish an invented rating.
Does NLCS offer the IB?
Yes. North London Collegiate has been an IB World School since 2003, and sixth formers can choose between A Levels, the Cambridge Pre-U and the IB Diploma rather than following a single sixth form route.
Is NLCS a girls school?
Yes. North London Collegiate School is an independent day school for girls, founded in 1850 by Frances Buss, a pioneer of girls education, on a campus at the western edge of Edgware near Canons Park.
When do North London Collegiate School applications open?
The main entry points are at 4, 7, 11 and 16, with assessment and interview. Entry is competitive, so relocating families should register early and contact admissions to confirm the process for the year group they need.
