North London Collegiate School is one of the highest achieving schools in the country.
Our expertise in providing a challenging, stimulating, broad education for able girls is evidenced by our long track record of excellent results and our success in equipping them to pursue further study in the best and most selective universities in the world.
Our team of professional teachers inspire their students with a love of their subjects and a spirit of scholarship which goes beyond the syllabus. They enable all students to recognise excellence and realise that it is attainable. Our teachers ensure that every member of the School feels valued, supported and is encouraged to embrace new challenges confidently and respond to setbacks in a resilient and determined manner.
THE CURRICULUM
Middle School Year 7- 9
In Years 7, 8 and 9, the curriculum encompasses the National Curriculum. All pupils in Year 7 study a wide range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Technology, French, Latin, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Drama, Art & Design, Computing, PE and PSHE.
In Year 8 and Year 9, pupils continue with all these subjects, with Biology, Chemistry and Physics being taught as separate sciences (building upon the general Science course followed in Year 7). Pupils also choose to study any two of the following modern languages in Year 8 and Year 9: French, Spanish, German, Mandarin.
Upper School – Year 10-11
Once in Year 10, pupils start working towards their GCSE Examinations. GCSE courses are selected in Year 9. All pupils take the following subjects as compulsory courses in Years 10 & 11:
- English Language (IGCSE)
- English Literature (IGCSE)
- Mathematics (IGCSE)
- Biology (IGCSE)*
- Chemistry (IGCSE)*
- Physics (IGCSE)*
- A Modern Language
*Students may choose to take two Sciences in order to take an extra humanity or language.
- Art
- Classical Greek
- Computer Science
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- French
- Geography
- German
- History
- Italian
- Latin
- Mandarin
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Spanish
In addition to their academic studies, we encourage all students to become involved in the extra-curricular life of the Upper School, looking even further ahead to their university choices and possible future careers. There is a huge amount on offer, from sports to music, engineering to debating and drama. There are also lots of chances
to be creative and write for school newsletters and magazines, or participate in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. In Year 11, new opportunities include joining the Student Advisory Council and The Green Team, our environmental committee, all supported by a dedicated pastoral team.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS & MATHEMATICS
At NLCS we pride ourselves on the depth of knowledge our students gain through their enthusiastic engagement with their subjects. In a rapidly changing world, being able to evaluate information based on a wider understanding will allow our students to make sense of the vast amounts of data they will consistently encounter.
A rigorous understanding of fundamental concepts is one important element of this approach – the other is an ability to learn through experience. Throughout our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) education, we encourage students to take risks and become resilient by approaching projects independently, enabling them to develop new skills.
