St Helen's School A GSG School

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All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Interim Headmistress

Since September 2023, Tracy Pollard (interim headmistress). An experienced leader with a strong collaborative style, she has worked in education for more than 30 years and believes that each learner deserves the best possible education to fulfil their potential. Her career started at William Hulme’s Grammar School in Manchester, where she became a pastoral specialist. Promotion to deputy head saw her move to Alderley Edge School for Girls, where she was responsible for school improvement and pupil attainment. Latterly, she was headmistress at Abbey Gate College near Chester. She is a governor at two independent schools, The Grange School Hartford in Cheshire, and Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire. Passionate about the outdoors, she spends as much time as possible in the Lake District, walking and cycling. In her spare time she enjoys reading and watching live theatre and dance.

From September 2024, Bridget Ward, currently head of Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School in Liverpool. She has worked in both girls’ and co-ed schools, including two years as deputy head at Woldingham School in Surrey and three years as director of academic administration and compliance at Queen’s Gate School, London.

Since September 2022, the head of the prep school is Rebecca Workman. Before joining St Helen’s, she taught and led two schools in Oxfordshire, where she grew up. After teaching at the International School of Monaco she became a deputy head, acting head and then co-head at a school in Hertfordshire. She spent six years as head teacher at Eastbury Farm Primary School. Outside school she is a qualified dance teacher and a keen runner. She lives in Hertfordshire with her fiancé and their daughter.

Entrance

At 3+ and 4+ by observation and interview. Part of the London 11+ Consortium for 11+ entry - now a single cognitive ability test, plus interview, for which around 460 apply (around half each from state and independent sector) for approximately 100 places (sometimes more if it’s a bulge year). Prep school girls (who make up half the senior intake) have to sit the exam too but vast majority walk it – the few who school feels ‘won’t be happy in seniors’ are warned in year 4 and it’s confirmed by year 5. Occasional places available throughout the school, so always worth asking. Interview and reference from current school required. Up to eight join at sixth form – applicants need seven 6s at GCSE, with 7s in the subjects relevant to their A level (6s pass muster for some subjects, eg business studies, geography and psychology).

Exit

A small number leave after the prep and up to a quarter after GCSEs, mostly to local state schools. Eighty per cent of sixth formers to Russell Group universities. Edinburgh, Durham, Manchester, Warwick, St Andrews and all the big London unis all popular. Two to Oxbridge in 2023, and ten medics. Broad church of subjects, including architecture, business, chemistry and design.

Latest results

In 2023, 84 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 65 per cent A*/A at A level (87 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 85 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 76 per cent A*/A at A level (45 per cent A*-B).

Teaching and learning

Not top of the highly competitive north London academic tree, but no slouch. ‘We are more interested in value added and in the girls being happy than pure results,’ says the school, though all agree academics are on a steep upward trajectory, with more stretch, exploration, academic risk taking and critiquing both in prep and senior. ‘I have noticed a huge difference between my older and younger daughter in terms of academic rigour,’ was a typical parent comment. Lessons meticulously planned and executed, with everything crisper as they get older, but without – insist the girls – undue pressure. No stone unturned, it seems, from current focus on refining English language teaching (although there’s no EAL support needed here, many of the girls don’t speak English at home) through to ensuring art is more cross-curricular. Though not without its fair share of pushy parents (more of that later), some chose St Helen’s precisely because they don’t want to be breathing down their daughter’s neck – ‘I wanted a school that would do the pushing for me, so that my relationship with my daughter wasn’t ruined, and that’s exactly what I’ve got,’ said one happy customer.

The nursery, Little Gables, and key stage 1, Gables, are in converted houses on site, each with own playground. Vibe is cosy and play based, though we noticed utter dedication to learning even among these tinies, whether colouring in pictures for Diwali or practising their (impressive) handwriting. Lots of outdoor learning, as evidenced by racks of freshy muddied wellies. Year 3 to 6 move into the all-singing, all-dancing, purpose-built prep school. Fabulous, colourful, well-stocked library is at the heart, backed up by mini-libraries outside each classroom – never have we been given such long and detailed descriptions of the intricacies of library life by young students (‘attitude to reading is sharper than ever,’ said parent). ‘What makes a good website?’ was the dilemma of the day for year 5s in their computer class (the rows of computers are in the lovely library), while year 2s looked an absolute picture doing their pirouettes in their little pink cardigans in the main hall. Neater sums we’ve rarely seen among year 3s, while year 6s were far too busy trying to get their teacher’s attention with hands up to her punchy questions to notice us at all. ‘Lessons always seem imaginative and fun – my daughter is constantly coming out telling me what she’s done,’ said parent.

Setting is underplayed here, both in prep and senior – ‘We were finding that even bottom sets were getting 9s, so what’s the point?’ Languages strong - French from year 1; then in year 7, girls choose two out of four languages (French, German, Spanish and Mandarin), as well as learning Latin. Italian and Japanese also available at GCSE. Class sizes capped at 22, but are often smaller; 14 at A level – a computer science class had just one student.

Most girls take 10 GCSEs (11 for the super-smart), frequently including a practical subject such as art or drama. No weak spots, but maths, sciences (most take triple) and languages (everyone takes one, unless they have an SEN ‘that makes it cruel to put them through the pain’) do particularly well. In sixth form, around half start with four A levels, with most dropping one along the way. Economics and Spanish top the graphs on results day. English popular. EPQ for all. High hopes from the forthcoming new STEM building and new head of physics to buck the national trend, not that they are coming from too feeble a starting point - Heath Robinson Club is already popular and there’s a big interest in engineering.

Enrichment is a given, with lateral thinking embedded into these girls’ psyches. Our year 9 guides were doing independent study projects on how social media affects society and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps not the place for girls likely to feel crushed under the pressure of testing – they can be like buses, it seems, with one year 10 girl telling us how she had seven in the next week alone. Homework favours the flip learning model – preparing, thinking and exploring for the lesson rather than more of what you’ve just learned in the last one. First-class careers advice and university application support.

Learning support and SEN

Not masses of SEN, as you might expect, but the SENCo and assistant support students with eg dyslexia and dyspraxia, as well as more general problems relating to processing and sequencing. Mostly takes place in the classroom. Annual screening from years 3 to 11 to make sure nothing is missed. Learning support department also on hand to help with other barriers to learning, such as anxiety. Mixed reviews from parents, though, with one reporting that ‘provision can be a bit hit and miss’.

The arts and extracurricular

Extracurricular is a key reason parents pick the school and indeed why girls feel tunnel-visioned bookworms should probably stay clear – ‘The opportunities outside the classroom would simply be wasted on them.’ Every girl we met belonged to, or had set up, clubs and societies – the extended lunchbreak meaning nothing is rushed. Diary writing, debating, African Caribbean Society – you name it, it probably exists. CCF in collaboration with Merchant Taylors’. DofE and Young Enterprise also popular. Visits from profs, writers and theatre companies. Particular successes in debating, maths and physics Olympiads, technology competitions. Lots of trips – Galapagos, Venice, Lake Tahoe, Ypres, Berlin, British Museum, galleries.

There’s a big buzz around music, largely thanks to new director of music and whizzy new music centre which includes striking recital hall and Mac suite (great to hear our guides raving about Logic Pro and GarageBand software – girls here are expected to recognise eg Beethoven’s fifth symphony, but it’s not all about classical repertoire, with music tech acknowledged as having value too). Numerous orchestras, choirs and bands, again with some teaming up with Merchant Taylors’. Around 250 girls do individual music lessons.

‘What she does with the girls is magical,’ we were told about drama. Sheer immersion of year 10 girls in their paired role play was certainly impressive. Currently only one drama studio, but soon to be three. Big performances (musical or play, it alternates each year, again with Merchant Taylors'). The venue – the old school hall – lets the side down a bit, but a new professional performing arts space with proper orchestra space is high on the wish list. ‘House arts’ is a huge deal for the girls, whereby sixth formers write and direct a play that years 9-11 star in – ‘It’s a highlight of the year,’ said student.

The two big (and one smaller, for sixth form only) art studios were sadly empty when we visited, but what a treat to see the GCSE work all laid out. ‘Mastery’ is the buzzword of the head of art – ‘it’s all about tailoring the curriculum to meet their needs’ – evidenced by mixture of mediums, themes and styles. ‘Even through lockdown, they had imaginative art lessons,’ raved parent. Exhibition space coming soon, says school. DT well taught.

Sport

Don’t be fooled by St Helen’s close proximity to Northwood town centre. So vast are the playing fields, floodlit courts and pitches extending in all directions that you soon realise that most of this end of Northwood is St Helen's. Tremendous sports complex includes large indoor pool, dance studio, mammoth sports hall with climbing wall and viewing gallery. O2-esque dome with hot air pumped in from around October onwards means girls no longer have to shiver at the thought of winter play, while the floodlit Astros were in full use (mostly hockey) during our visit. Lacrosse, netball, tennis, athletics, dance, football and many others also on offer, with hockey, badminton, rugby and cross country bagging St Helen’s girls the most wins, often at county level. More niche offerings, eg kickboxing and yoga, available for sixth formers, who also get to swim or use fitness suite in their free periods (‘great perk,’ said one). 'Could be better at including those who don’t make the first team in the extracurricular,’ thought parent.

Ethos and heritage

Founded at the end of the 19th century with a vision of education for the whole child, which it still holds dear. A spacious school in trim and imaginative grounds. Rolling renovation programme means you’re never far from a hard hat, with the modern, glass-fronted reception area setting the tone for the professional, business-like environment. Even the prep school building – now a good few years old – feels fresh, complete with solar panels and green roof building. There’s a stand-out building pretty much every way you turn, including aforementioned music building and STEM centre, plus super sixth form centre. Inevitably, some parts are more tired eg the art and drama building and ditto for the warren-like corridors and classrooms in the older part of the building. Lovely, spacious zoned library, but shame it’s tucked away on the third floor, though there are entrances either end. Musty-smelling chapel, once used for boarders’ services, is now available for independent prayer.

Happy atmosphere, no bells between lessons and bright uniform (dark green up to 16, but – good news for girls’ street cred - no longer with boaters and gloves). Good food too – ‘The mac and cheese is to die for,’ chirped a prep girl, and our fish and chips wasn’t half bad either. Social media feeds could do with updating, reckoned parent - school says it’s ‘on it’.

Old girls’ network is huge and devoted. Alumnae include Patricia Hodge, a great supporter, Vanessa Lawrence (United Nations), Lady Lowry, Luisa Baldini, Penny Marshall, Paula Nickolds (MD John Lewis) and Maria Djurkovic.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

Behaviour exemplary. Down to high expectations (‘they expect a lot of the girls,’ thought parent) and clear boundaries rather than long lists of rules. Most go through whole school life without a detention. Inner London problems kept at bay - certainly no drugs, although the occasional larger misdemeanour is dealt with via temporary exclusion. All done sensitively and with clean slate promised afterwards - you're allowed to slip here. Good staff–student relationships help. ‘They really do care,’ said student, while parents told us school ‘knows your daughter individually’. Girls told us they’d have no qualms going to their teacher if something was concerning them, while houses keep vertical friendships alive and well. Counsellor available, and we noticed a healthy awareness of issues like self-harm and eating disorders. ‘Couldn’t have been more understanding at a traumatic time for our family,’ said one parent.

Tellingly, perhaps, when we asked some year 10s about drama, they assumed we meant friendship fallouts. Caused a few chuckles all round, of course, but also led to more serious discussion around unpleasantness between girls, which girls say does happen although ‘less as you get older’. Several parents brought up the subject of bullying, though more to make the point that school deals with it well (though one felt school ‘could work harder to promote a sisterhood’).

An inclusive school. Lots of talk of Black Lives Matter, including at prep stage – one little girl beamed with pride over their display board of Michelle Obama, and we also spotted a noticeboard in prep about an equality group, highlighting Tom Daley, Caitlyn Jenner, Ellen DeGeneres as role models for minority groups (though sadly our guides weren’t actually sure what the equality group was or anyone who belonged to it). In seniors, there’s a society for every religion and ethnicity represented within the school, plus LGBTQ+.

Pupils and parents

Families come from far and wide, especially in seniors, some travelling up to 50 minutes. Radius swoops out along the Met line and coach routes - latter cover Beaconsfield, Elstree, Barnet, Amersham, Ealing, Hemel Hempstead and points between. Lots of dual income (grateful for the extensive wraparound care options); masses of doctors. Don’t get too excited about cosying up for coffees with new-found parent friends, though – we were surprised to hear St Helen’s parents characterised as ‘pushy’, among other unflattering epithets: ‘The parents argued so much about who would be chair of the PTA that the PTA itself nearly dissolved,’ reported one (great fodder for a sitcom, we thought). Girls are chatty, strong-minded and personable – genuinely good company. Many stay the course – now from 3 to 18. A culturally diverse school, with Indian children making up around three-quarters of nursery and reception, dropping slightly in prep and to 40 per cent in seniors.

Money matters

Currently supporting 76 girls on means-tested bursaries (just under half of these on 100 per cent bursaries). Hardship fund also available, plus range of scholarships.

The last word

May not soar the peak of the league tables, but plenty of ambition - academic and otherwise - with a superb extracurricular offering to boot. Staff have put the foot on the gas for just about every area of the school, with girls and parents we spoke to ready for the ride.

Special Education Needs

Who came from where