Northwood College


Northwood College for Girls is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18. The school was founded in 1870 and is located today in Northwood, London, England.

History

Northwood College for Girls is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18 and located in Northwood, London, England.
The school was originally located in Regent Square in 1870, although little is known about this era. In 1878 the school moved to Endsleigh Gardens in Eaton Square, and its Headmistress was Miss Buchan-Smith. At this time the school had between 20-30 boarders and a few day girls and boys in the nursery. Although the priorities of education in the later nineteenth differed to the ambitions that exist today, there were some similarities, with Miss Buchan-Smith wanting her girls to be well educated with interests beyond the classroom.
In 1892 the school moved out of central London to Northwood, where a railway station had opened five years earlier helping make Northwood, about 25 minutes from central London, more desirable. Many of the area's roads were named after the Carew landowner family, including Maxwell Road. Development of the area aimed to attract affluent residents, with houses selling in Maxwell Road for £750 to £1,300, making it one of the wealthiest in the neighbourhood.
In 1893 the School reopened in Northwood with 20 boarders and 2 day girls; The Briary was also acquired for little boys. Over the next 15 years further land was acquired which included the playing fields. In 1899 the school built a gymnasium, which was also used as an Assembly Hall. Whilst in 1907 with more accommodation needed the Briary boys moved to Duck Hill and their building was extended and became a Junior School House. In 1911 the Dining Hall was built and the founder of the School, Miss Buchan-Smith Retired.
Miss Hay became Headmistress, but only for two years, and in 1913 Miss Agnes White became Headmistress, remaining in this post for 17 years. Miss White oversaw a period of growth in the School, with pupil numbers increasing from 71 students in 1914 to 147 students in 1922. There was also a shift with the number of day girls exceeding the number of boarders.
Miss White was succeeded by Miss Potts, who was Headmistress from 1930-38. But the next stage of growth for the school was overseen by Miss Worger, who was Headmistress for 28 years. Miss Worger aimed to increase student numbers to 500, and to enable this to happen 10 new classrooms were needed immediately, as well as a new hall, science labs and art and craft rooms. The building of the Manor started in 1962; this meant the school was able to accommodate 400 students by 1963.
The Upper School building was originally constructed in 1979 as the Junior School, only changing its function in 1996. The pavilion that contains the Textiles and Home economic rooms are also a recent addition being constructed in 1999.
A sports hall and pool were developed in 1991, on the site of an outdoor pool built in 1949. The original gymnasium is now the Centenary Library. Music and performing arts facilities moved from Wray Lodge to a purpose-built performing arts centre in
2005, and in 2009 an Early Years Centre was opened. In 2009, Miss Pain became Headmistress and in 2014, the school merged with Heathfield School, Pinner and simultaneously became a member of the Girls' Day School Trust, with the name 'Northwood College GDST'.
Miss Pain retired in 2018 and the then Head of Junior School, Mrs Hubble, became Headmistress. In 2019, the refurbished Centenary Library was opened and the Swimming Pool renovated as part of a £1.8m project in modernisation of the Sports Centre. Mrs Hubble has now unveiled plans for a new Science and Sixth Form building.

Head Mistresses

1878 – 1911 Miss Buchan Smith
1911 – 1913 Miss Hay
1913 – 1930 Miss White
1930 – 1938 Miss Potts
1938 – 1966 Miss Worger
1967 - 1986 Miss Hillyer-Cole
1986 – 1991 Mrs Dalton
1991 - 2002 Mrs Mayou
2002 - 2008 Mrs Mercer
2009 – 2018 Miss Pain
2018 Mrs Hubble

House system

Northwood College has four houses. They are all named after features from the school's history, and Heathfield:
Highly specialist, professional and dedicated teachers support each pupil and encourage her to take responsibility for and pride in her work. Small classes ensure that academic progress is closely monitored and the teaching is adjusted to suit the ability and learning needs of the individual, whether this means providing additional learning support or through offering additional GCSEs, such as Statistics and Astronomy, to the ‘High Flyer’ students.
The Year 7 – 9 Curriculum is academically rigorous and is based largely around subject specialisms. The girls study Mathematics, English, Spanish, one additional Foreign Language, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Art, Technology, Computer Science, Drama, Music and Physical Education. Library Education, Health Education, Current Affairs and Careers Guidance courses are also applied.
In Years 10 and 11, the curriculum is built on a firm academic base, choosing IGCSEs where appropriate to ensure stability, rigour and progression to specialist A Levels.
Pupils study the core subjects: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Spanish, at least one additional Modern Foreign Language and either Physics, Chemistry and Biology as separate GCSE subjects or a double GCSE in Core and Additional Science. Pupils choose three of the following optional subjects: Art and Design, Classical Civilisation, Drama, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Latin, Mandarin, Music, Physical Education, Religion, Philosophy and Ethics and Textiles. Careers Advice is provided to the girls and they follow a detailed course in study skills. Specialist lectures cover life skills, personal and professional development, and PSHE.

Most recent review from Good Schools Guide said

‘Delightful Bluebelle House is home to early years girls – designed with a wonderful playground, outdoor explorer area, masses of IT and spacious, airy and inspiring classrooms where girls learn Spanish via action songs, yoga and ballet from age 3. Three reception classes of up to 20 girls also enjoy this space with life skills such as resilience already high on the educational agenda. Lessons we observed were engaging and interactive and girls highly articulate. Years 1 and 2 in Vincent House, with junior school housing years 3 to 6 – both immaculate, modern houses, with every available space proudly adorned with colourful art and meticulous handwritten work. Thinking skills – pioneered by the whole school from nursery through to year 13 – taken very seriously by all with pupils able to explain the purpose of De Bono thinking hats with enthusiasm and clarity. All girls screened for SEN in year 4 and supported in small groups either within or outside the classroom. Around 30 girls receive EAL help.’
‘Girls formally taught Thinking Skills from nursery upwards with a full-time cognitive development director to ensure consistency of message and integration across all parts of the curriculum. Even the youngest in the school evangelise the benefits of eg looking at problem solving from different perspectives – ‘teachers don't spoon feed us’ and ‘we’re taught how to learn from our mistakes’.
‘University application process universally praised by parents and girls. Dedicated full time careers and UCAS advisor delivers ‘loads of one-to-one advice,’ say parents, plus programme to provide every opportunity for girls to build CV. Teachers described by all as ‘really supportive’, offering extra classes in preparation for eg medical exams. Visiting advisors are frequent fixtures, eg mock university interviews with admissions staff from Imperial College or staff at nearby Merchant Taylors’ and endless internship opportunities both through school portal and GDST – one sixth former we lunched with was spending her summer interning at Nomura thanks to the
latter, with another looking forward to her work experience in Beijing via the same route.’
‘Stand out facility is the 25m pool – with everyone swimming all year round and weekly lessons for years 7 to 9. Sports hall has a new climbing wall used both in PE lessons and by clubs. Gym also attractive and well equipped, apparently well used at lunch times by older girls. PE and games compulsory to year 11. Tons of extracurricular sports on offer to suit all tastes – hockey, karate, basketball – you name it.’
‘Performing arts centre looks newer than it is and includes an excellent drama studio, recital hall with a sprung floor plus well kitted out music tech room and a plethora of instruments from steel drums up. Plenty of opportunities for budding thespians to throw themselves into productions, most recently Narnia for the lower school, and although there's no space for such performances to take place in a grand theatre, the assembly hall does the job. Parents describe music as ‘absolutely fantastic’ – for all tastes and levels – from a 50 strong orchestra that plays ‘everything’ from classical to pop, to jazz bands and chamber choir. There's hours of fun to be had leafing through the booklet detailing all the extracurricular activities on offer with something for everyone – from the active to the cerebral.’
Something for everyone, with all major sports represented, ballet, martial arts, masses of opportunities for musicians to do their thing and everything else from outdoor explorers and gardening to newspaper club. ‘Really extraordinary’ major stage production each year – recently The Wizard of Oz – with the whole of year 6 participating and many behind the scenes roles up for grabs for lower year groups. Super catering, with lunches freshly prepared on site and all girls from reception up eating together in dining room.
Junior school in three purpose built buildings on same site and a handy hop, skip and jump from senior school – handy when girls reach year 6 and start to take a few lessons with their soon-to-be secondary teachers.