North London Collegiate School, known as NLCS, has been at the forefront of girls’ education for more than 175 years. Here are five things to know.
1. It was founded by a trailblazer
Frances Mary Buss opened the school in April 1850 in her family home in Camden Town. She was a passionate campaigner for girls’ education and served as headmistress for 44 years. In 1871 she also founded Camden School for Girls, to extend her vision to families of more modest means. Her father, the artist R.W. Buss, illustrated Dickens’ novels, and his paintings still hang at the school today.
2. It’s set in a historic country estate
After moves around north London, the school bought the Canons estate in Edgware in 1929 and moved there fully by 1940. Girls now learn in and around an 18th-century mansion set in around 30 acres, with gardens once considered among the finest of the Edwardian era.
3. Sixth formers can take A-levels or the IB
NLCS offers both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form, and is known for outstanding results in both. At GCSE in 2025, 99.2% of grades were 9 to 7.
4. It’s about more than exams
The school talks about girls “finding their passion”, with extensive extracurricular activities, strong pastoral care and a focus on emotional intelligence and character alongside intellectual courage. Its mission is to help pupils become young women of influence and impact. NLCS also has sister schools in South Korea, Dubai, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan.
5. Girls can stay from 4 to 18
NLCS is a day school for girls aged 4 to 18, with a junior school on the same site. There are several entry points, with 11+ the most common route into the senior school, via assessments and an interview. Scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available.
Find out more
North London Collegiate School, Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware HA8 7RJ. Telephone 020 8952 0912. Visit nlcs.org.uk for admissions and open events.