North London Collegiate School is a IB school in Edgware, United Kingdom. Founded in 1850. It serves 1,102 students for students aged 4–18. Annual tuition ranges from $32,537 to $37,784 USD.
Location & getting here
Nearest airports
Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.
| Airport | Distance | Drive from school | International note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 20 km | ~36 min | LHR — gateway for Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai |
| London City | 27 km | ~45 min | — |
| Luton | 29 km | ~48 min | LTN — European and budget carriers |
NanaSays Scorecard
Key Details
Scholarships Available
Music Scholarships at 11+ and 16+ for outstanding musical promise; Handel Music Scholarship provides 10–20% fee remission. Sophie Bryant Scholarship for Year 7 or Year 12 entrants includes mentoring, enrichment, and usually fee remission; open to external and some internal applicants. Sports Scholarships at 11+ and 16+ for high-level athletes include mentorship, strength and conditioning, NLCS kit, nutritional support, and usually fee remission.
Academic Performance
ISI Inspection Report
The inspection confirms that the school meets all independent school standards across leadership and management, quality of education, pupils' physical and mental health, social and economic education, and safeguarding. Key strengths include effective leadership, well-designed curriculum, good pupil progress with consistently high examination attainment, effective pastoral support, and strong safeguarding culture.
Key facts
Fees & the true cost of attendance
Published fees · inclusive of VAT
| Phase | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Junior School | £8,540 | £25,620 |
| Senior School | £9,917 | £29,751 |
Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)
| Item | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coach fare (return) | Per year | £2,937 |
| Coach fare (single) | Per year | £2,329 |
| Lunches (Lower and Senior School) | Per year | £1,215 |
| Lunches (First School) | Per year | £1,029 |
Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.
Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.
Merit-based scholarships (4 types)
ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.
About
North London Collegiate School is a private, day school for girls located in Edgware, Middlesex, United Kingdom. The school has been an IB World School since 2003 and offers English language instruction. Students are registered for a range of IB Diploma Programme subjects spanning mathematics, sciences, languages, humanities, and the arts.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
What Makes This School Different
Academic Results
Admissions
| Entry point | Assessment | Assessment date | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ (Year 7) | Written papers in English and Maths (1 hour 15 minutes each) plus interview with verbal questioning in both subjects | December | November |
| 16+ (Sixth Form) | Not detailed in available content | — | — |
How to apply
- Complete online registration
- Request confidential references from primary school
- Sit entrance examination (English and Maths written papers on paper, not computer)
- Attend 30-minute interview with experienced staff, including verbal Maths and English questioning
- Receive offer by email
- Accept place with deposit of half one term's fees
What you'll need to submit
- Online registration form
- Supporting documents for music/sports scholarships (if applying)
- Bursary application form (if requesting means-tested support)
Open events
- School visit events held throughout the year
- Offer holders' event after offers notified
Scholarships: Music (Handel), Sports, Sophie Bryant, and Organ Exhibition scholarships available at 11+; Handel Music and Sports Scholarships available at 16+
Entry assessment fee £150 (UK applicants) or £200 (overseas applicants, non-refundable); entrance exam uses written papers not computer-based; no verbal or non-verbal reasoning tests; sample papers available for English and Maths
Why Families Choose
NLCS is the second highest performing IB school in the world and top in the UK (2025 average score 42.94). It offers both A Levels and IB Diploma in the Sixth Form with Cambridge Pre-U also available. The 30-acre campus includes a Performing Arts Centre, Drawing School, CAD/3D printing, and a 38,000-volume library. Six modern languages are taught with exchanges and a Polyglot Society. The Sophie Bryant Scholarship provides mentoring and enrichment for exceptional academic students.
Fees & Financials
| Grade / Year | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Junior School | GBP 25,620~$ 32,430 |
| Senior School | GBP 29,751~$ 37,659 |
Conversions to USD use exchange rates as of April 2026.
Original currency: £25,620 - 29,751. Application fee: $191.
Admissions Process
- 1Entry points at 4+, 7+, 11+, and 16+. Registrations for 2026 entry are closed. School in Action mornings can be booked to visit. Occasional places may be available in other year groups. Scholarships and bursaries are available including music, sports, and the Sophie Bryant Scholarship.
Admissions Details
School Day
Junior School: First School (Reception–Year 2) arrives 8.30–8.45am, registration 8.50am, lessons finish 3.20pm; Lower School (Years 3–6) arrives after 8.15am, registration 8.40am, lessons finish 3.25pm, after-school clubs 3.30–4.00pm. Senior School: nine 35-minute lessons; arrivals 8.15–8.35am; Period 1 8.40–9.15; Period 2 9.15–9.50; Form time/assembly 9.50–10.25.
Student Life
The school is organized through a house system with inter-house competitions.
Pupils wear school uniform until the end of Year 11. Sixth Formers are not required to wear uniform.
Thomas Franks provides healthy, balanced meals with three-week rotating menus and accommodation for dietary needs and allergens. Breakfast is available in the dining room from 07:30 to 08:15, and a supervised packed tea is offered after school for Junior School pupils.
Facilities & Programmes
Wellbeing & Safety
NLCS runs a school-wide Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy. The team includes a Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, School Nurse, part-time Health Care Professional and two part-time Counsellors. The Medical Centre and Cedar Space host wellbeing spaces and activities. The PSHE programme supports pupils to develop resilience, healthy relationships and to manage issues such as online safety and body image. Tooled Up Education provides resources to families to support wellbeing at home.
NLCS has a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy central to all activities. All staff are trained to identify and respond to concerns. Designated safeguarding leads are in place. The policy covers identification and reporting of abuse, early help, confidential record-keeping, at least annual staff training, and annual review by the Governing Body via the Pastoral, Safeguarding and Compliance Committee.
Student Demographics
School Background
private
Second highest performing IB school in the world (2025)Best performing IB school in the UK (2025)