North London Collegiate School


North London Collegiate School is an independent educational institution with a day school for girls in England. Founded in Camden Town, it is now located in Edgware, in the London Borough of Harrow. Two sister schools were opened - one in South Korea, on Jeju Island, and one in Dubai, both are coeducational day and boarding schools offering the British curriculum. It is a member of the Girls' Schools Association.

History

The North London Collegiate School was founded by Frances Buss, a pioneer in girls' education. It is generally recognised as the first girls' school in the United Kingdom to offer girls the same educational opportunities as boys, and Miss Buss was the first person to use the term 'Headmistress'.
The small school opened in 1850 at No.46 Camden Street, London.
Buss believed in the importance of home life and it remained a day school. In 1929, the school bought Canons, a modest villa built by William Hallett Esq, on the site of a palatial residence originally built in the early 18th century by the Duke of Chandos, and relocated to the property in 1940.
Lucinda Elizabeth Shaw, mother to George Bernard Shaw was a director of music at the school, followed in 1908 by Lilian Manson, J.B. Manson's wife. Her ambitious revival of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in 1910 gained coverage in The Times.
The school introduced a house system in 2014, with the houses being named after noted past pupils. The houses have colours, and each house has two house captains amongst the pupils, and a staff head of house.
Today the school caters to girls from ages 4 to 18. It comprises a Junior School and Senior School. Former pupils are known as ONLs, short for Old North Londoners. The uniform of North London Collegiate School is light blue and dark brown in colour, however uniform is not compulsory in sixth form.
The co-ed boarding North London Collegiate School Jeju opened in Seogwipo, South Korea in 2011.

Curriculum

North London Collegiate is one of the most academically successful schools in England, having been placed in the top two in the Daily Telegraph exam league tables every year for over a decade. It has been an International Baccalaureate World School since October 2003. Girls may choose to take the traditional A Levels or the Pre-U or the IB curriculum.
The girls are also encouraged to participate in non-academic pursuits. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is available similarly to all independent schools. They may also take part in activities such as World Challenge Expeditions, Young Enterprise, Model United Nations and various community service projects.

Headmistresses

Notable former staff