About us Northwood College is an academic school for girls aged three to 18 in north-west London. We focus on raising young women who know their own minds and are creative and flexible thinkers, as well as being able to achieve outstanding exam results.
We are academically selective, but not narrowly exclusive. We value girls for more than simple academic performance, because our unique approach to advanced thinking skills means that we can develop, stretch and challenge every single one of them. We think that makes for a more interesting and vibrant school community - and it's what makes Northwood College special.
Thinking skills Our approach to thinking skills is another one of our defining characteristics. It sets Northwood College apart, and gives our girls an edge in the way they approach any task or challenge. Our Thinking Skills Programme is led by C J Simister, who has taught at Northwood College for many years and is a renowned expert, author and consultant on cognitive development. Through the programme, we ensure our girls start to understand and develop the way they think from the day they join nursery through to the end of the sixth form. Over the years, they build up their reasoning skills, improve their creativity and acquire strategies for tackling complex problems and decisions. It gives them a life skill that will be as useful at university and in the workplace as it is at school.
Curriculum and results All National Curriculum subjects are taught, plus Latin, classics and drama. In addition, girls in Year 7 study two modern foreign languages, chosen from French, German and Spanish.
Our girls achieve outstanding results: for the past six years the A level pass rate has been 100%, with nearly 80% at A & B grades in 2009. At GCSE our pass rate was 98.1% and more than three quarters of our girls achieved more than five A or A* grades. In recent years, Northwood College girls have achieved top five marks nationally in English Literature (AQA) and Drama (AQA) and top ten marks nationally in IGCSE Mathematics, English Literature (AQA), Biology and Physics (Edexcel).
Pupil wellbeing It is a central tenet of Northwood College that girls achieve their best when they are happy. We look after the whole person in school life, helping girls stay healthy in body and mind, and develop a strong sense of self-esteem and responsibility towards others and the world around them. So for example, we have well-developed buddying and peer mentoring schemes to make sure girls feel cared-for and look out for each other.
We were also recently awarded Healthy Schools status by our local Borough. Our catering department serves delicious, nutritious food that the girls love - and that helps them develop good eating habits. We also take care of the environment, recycling much of our waste, using recycled products and keeping our carbon footprint as low as we can.
Grounds and facilities All sections of the college from nursery to junior school to senior school and sixth form, share the same 14-acre site. It's a beautiful green environment with many specialist facilities, including nine science labs, five IT rooms, three art studios, food technology and design technology rooms, a large sports hall, all weather surface, fitness suite, 25-metre indoor swimming pool and a fantastic Performing Arts Centre, comprising a recital room, drama studio, numerous practice and classrooms, a music technology suite, with the latest Apple Mac computers and a professional recording studio. The girls love it.
Our spectacular library, one of the learning hubs of the college, also deserves a special mention. Occupying the school's original vaulted gymnasium, the Centenary Library has more than 11,000 books and a wealth of other resources. Our passionate, full-time Chartered Librarian runs book clubs, arranges talks by well-known authors and inspires the girls with a love of reading.
Early Years Centre The youngest Northwood College pupils (nursery and reception) have their own brand new Early Years Centre within the college grounds. Everything in the centre is designed with young children in mind, including low level windows so they can see out, a covered verandah for outside learning, a sensory garden and an adventure playground.
Entry requirements and scholarships Entry to the college is by examination and interview, except for nursery, which uses a play-based assessment. At 11+ we use the North London Girls' Schools Consortium exam and offer academic scholarships to the highest performing girls in this exam. Girls also do an online test and group activity. We also offer Art, Music and Sport Scholarships at 11+ to girls with particular talent in these fields. Entry to the sixth form is by GCSE results, interview and online test. There are also a number of means-tested bursaries available, up to full fees, for girls at 11+ and 16+.
Transport links
The college is a few minutes walk from Northwood tube station (Metropolitan line) and close to several bus routes. An extensive series of school coaches cover areas including Edgware, Stanmore, Kenton, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Chorleywood, Kenton, Harrow, Borehamwood, Radlett, Bushey, Greenford, Uxbridge, Hillingdon and South Ruislip.
See for yourself
We enjoy showing parents and girls around Northwood College. On a tour you can explore our lovely site and above all, you can experience the atmosphere and see for yourself how our girls and teachers work together.