Advertisement
Select search type
No locations matching your search. Try schools.
Showing results for

No articles matching your search.
Photo of St Helen's School
Reviewed

St Helen's School

Independent school · Northwood, HA6 3AS
  • All through
  • Girls
  • Ages 3-18
  • From £18,858 pa
  • 1,133 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

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.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

Unlock to access

Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,133 ·
Sixth form numbers
158 ·
Religion
None
Fees
£18,858 - £26,616 pa
Local authority
London Borough of Hillingdon

Headteacher

Head

Bridget Ward

Since September 2024, Bridget Ward, previously 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


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

Open days
See website for details

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


Latest results

In 2024, 82 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 53 per cent A*/A at A level (83 per cent A*-B).

Average points score (2024)

School
45.56
LA avg.
31.53
Eng. avg.
35.69
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.


Teaching & 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

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • EPQ
  • GCSE
20
Average class sizes

Learning support & 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

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
10.7 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & 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


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


Ethos & 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,


Pastoral care, inclusivity & 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 -


Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

St Helen’s School has implemented a ‘Yondr’ mobile phone pouch for all students in Years 7 to 11. This initiative enables the school to ensure that St Helen’s is a phone-free space below Sixth Form and is part of the school’s overall strategic plan to further improve student wellbeing.

Updated Dec 2024

Pupils & 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

1,133
Number of pupils

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 expanded range of scholarships.

Fee information
£18,858 - £26,616 pa

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

What the school says

We believe in your daughter’s unique potential, creativity and ability, and this belief is central to everything we do. Our dedicated teaching staff are committed to helping each student become the best version of herself. While exceptional exam results are key, we also emphasise the importance of experiences beyond the classroom. With over 200 clubs and societies available, our co-curricular programme offers opportunities for your daughter to discover her passions and build lasting friendships. Our pastoral care ensures every student is supported, helping her build resilience, critical thinking, and fortitude for success in the 21st century.

Contact the school

Address

Eastbury Road
Northwood
HA6 3AS
Get directions

Have you considered?

School data & information St Helen's School Eastbury Road, Northwood, HA6 3AS
1,133 Pupil numbers
158 Sixth form numbers
20 Average class sizes

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

St Helen’s School has implemented a ‘Yondr’ mobile phone pouch for all students in Years 7 to 11. This initiative enables the school to ensure that St Helen’s is a phone-free space below Sixth Form and is part of the school’s overall strategic plan to further improve student wellbeing.

Updated Dec 2024
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by St Helen's School and is updated annually. See the review

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

GCSE-level results data is not reliably reported on for independent schools. We have chosen to show only the results achieved in individual subjects. Find out more

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 46 9
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 100 8
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 16 8
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 10 8
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 104 8
Latin GCSE (9-1) Full Course 22 8
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 60 8
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 104 8
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 104 8
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 19 9
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 18 8
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 43 8
Classical Civilisation GCSE (9-1) Full Course 8 7
Chinese GCSE (9-1) Full Course 7 9
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 99 8
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 100 8
Art & Design (Fine Art) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 16 8

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
39%
LA avg.
11%
Eng. avg.
20%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
45.56
LA avg.
31.53
Eng. avg.
35.69

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Religious Studies GCE A level 7 A
Psychology GCE A level 38 A
Physics GCE A level 21 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 11 A
Mathematics GCE A level 51 A
Logic / Philosophy GCE A level 16 A
History GCE A level 15 A
Government and Politics GCE A level 9 A
Geography GCE A level 18 A
English Literature GCE A level 20 A
Economics GCE A level 16 A*
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 12 A
Chemistry GCE A level 33 A
Biology GCE A level 38 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent feeder schools

SEN overview

St Helen's School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
10.7 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
Advertisement