How to Get Into North London Collegiate School (NLCS) — Admissions Guide
Contents
What is North London Collegiate School (NLCS) and where is it?
Is the NLCS Prestigious? Rankings & Exam Results
How to best prepare your daughter for 4+ entry to NLCS
What does 7+ entry to the NLCS involve?
The NLCS 11+ Exam, Past Papers, and Admissions Procedure
16+ entry to North London Collegiate School
What is North London Collegiate School (NLCS) and where is it?
NLCS is an independent girls’ school on Canons Drive, Edgware, North London.
It was founded in 1850 by Frances Mary Buss.
The school was initially opened at Buss’s home in Camden.
She advocated for girls to be educated to empower them.
The school moved to the Canon’s estate in 1940.
The Fleming Report, on Public Schools, in 1944, described NLCS as the model for girls’ schools throughout the country and worldwide.
There are around 1,100 plus pupils.
The school prides itself on producing independent, resilient thinkers who recognise and strive for excellence. They do so within a supportive school environment that values the contribution of individuals who are respectful and compassionate to one another.
NLCS has several international campuses, including NLCS Dubai, Jeju (South Korea), and Bangkok.
Who owns the NLCS?
No single individual owns the school.
In Dubai, NLCS’s real estate assets are owned by Amanat and the Sobha Group.
NLCS possesses several famous alumnae, including Anna Wintour and the Suffragette Dorothy Evans.
What are the NLCS Fees?
For 2025-2026, the termly fee for the Junior School is £8,540 and £9,917 for the Senior School.
See here for up-to-date details on NLCS fees.
Is the NLCS Prestigious? Rankings & Exam Results
NLCS is one of the leading independent girls’ schools in the UK and worldwide, having been at the forefront of excellent women’s education for centuries.
The 2024 Times Independent Schools Table placed NLCS 12th out of the top 400. In 2025, their position rose to 7th.
NLCS Global means it has an international reputation.
The school is favoured for its ambitious but supportive environment. It fosters bright girls with a lifelong love of learning who excel academically and beyond the classroom.
Its outstanding exam results contribute to its prestige as one of, if not the best, schools for girls in North London.
NLCS GCSE results
In 2024, 89.7% of grades were 9/8, with 71% of all grades being grade 9.
30 of their students, out of 114, obtained all 9s, and 70 received 8s to 9s across all their subjects.
NLCS IB results
Since 2004, NLC has offered the International Baccalaureate and traditional A-Levels.
In 2025, students received an average of 42.96 points out of 45, placing them in the top-performing IB institutions within the UK and worldwide.
One student even achieved a perfect score, something only 0.3% of IB students achieve.
NLCS A-Level results.
In 2024, 85% of grades were A*- A, and 47.2% were A*.
In 2024, 19 students secured Oxbridge places.
To learn more about NLCS exam results and university destinations, read here.
Alongside exam success, the school boasts incredible extra-curriculars as part of its holistic approach:
NLCS offers over 15 sports, including Netball, Lacrosse, Swimming, and even Pilates. They possess state-of-the-art facilities, including a gym, cricket nets, and a pool.
There are also numerous music and drama opportunities, including staged performances, Edinburgh Fringe productions, and over 500 instrumental lessons taught weekly.
There is a dedicated ‘Ideas Hub’ for curiosity, creativity, and innovation through art, engineering, and learning, helping prepare girls for the 21st-century world.
To best understand whether NLCS is the school for your daughter, attend an open day. Learn more about upcoming open events here.
To learn more about NLC admissions, to view key dates, or to register, please see here.
How to best prepare your daughter for 4+ entry to NLCS
There are approximately 40 places each year for 4+ entry.
Registration typically occurs between May and October of the year before entry.
There are two assessment stages, typically occurring in January, with offers made that month.
1st stage: A play activity session.
This is about an hour.
There are around 12-16 children per group.
Activities vary but include pre-school tasks, such as colouring.
This stage tests school readiness.
2nd stage: A group activity and then a one-to-one session with a teacher.
Not all children are invited back, so the groups are smaller.
The one-to-one activity could be a puzzle or a game.
Children must:
Have a curiosity for learning.
Be willing to have a go at something new.
Listen and follow simple instructions.
So, how should you prepare?
Many skills NLCS looks for at 4+ can’t strictly be taught. Instead, they’re nurtured over an extended period, through play.
These skills include language development, social interaction, and motor skills.
At U2 tuition, we have experienced 4+ tutors who have years of experience in helping children develop these skills.
They also understand the NLCS 4+ specific assessment procedure, and will gently familiarise your daughter with what to expect on the day.
We assist you in incorporating much of this into their home life, practising skills and instructions they may receive on the day in a safe space to ensure they’re confident and at ease.
Check out our 4+ Assessment Day article to learn more about what to expect on the day and how we can support you.
Book a complimentary NLCS 4+ consultation to learn more about our support.
What does 7+ entry to the NLCS involve?
Only 8-10 places are available at 7+, as most students continue from year 2.
Registration again occurs from May to October, the year before entry.
First stage assessments are in November, second stage assessments are in December, and offers tend to be made by January.
First stage assessments
Preliminary written tests in literacy and numeracy.
Candidates must:
Write an imaginative story.
Demonstrate comprehension.
Read and answer questions in sentences.
Add, subtract, multiply and divide to solve word problems.
Know your 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 times tables.
Understand shapes, time, and money at a basic level.
Interpret tables and charts.
Second stage assessments
Some students are invited back for a day at the school.
They’re taught as a class and get an idea of what life will be like.
Past papers
No answers or solutions are provided.
Consider using one of our Oxbridge-educated 7+ tutors to receive personalised feedback and broader 7+ exam and interview support.
At U2 Tuition, we have almost a decade of experience preparing students for 7+ exams. Learn more about our dedicated 7+ support here.
The NLCS 11+ Exam, Past Papers, and Admissions Procedure
There are around 70-75 places a year at 11+ entry.
Registration occurs between May and November, the year before entry.
Typically, the process involves an entrance exam (December) and interviews (January), and then offers are made in February.
What to expect from the 11+ entrance exam?
There are written papers in both English and Maths
These are held at the school.
Interviews
A select number of students are invited back for a friendly, informal interview.
They are an opportunity for staff to get to know the girls better before they make offers.
Are there NLCS 11+ past papers available?
The NLCS website offers a small sample of Maths and English 11+ papers. A comprehension extract accompanies the English one.
These are to help familiarise applicants with what to expect.
However, they do not provide any answer guides or mark schemes.
At U2 Tuition, our expert 11+ tutors can bridge this gap. Our tutors:
Use these mock resources, but supplement with similar top-tier schools’ past papers and bespoke resources tailored to the NLC exam style.
Offer in-depth feedback on every paper taken and sessions tailored to exam technique and time management.
Consolidate KS2 curriculum knowledge whilst also developing advanced comprehension and problem-solving skills, enabling students to answer top band questions, which sets them apart from other applicants.
Provide a personalised approach so that students aren’t simply familiar with the test but can fully excel under exam conditions.
We also provide interview support to help your daughter improve her ability to articulate herself and her confidence in answering unfamiliar questions.
Check out our 10 and 11+ Interview Questions Pack and 11+ page for more details.
16+ entry to North London Collegiate School
Around 20 students are welcomed into the Sixth Form each year, joining those moving up from NLC year 11.
Registration is open between May and October, the year before entry.
The entrance exams are around the beginning of November, with interviews at the end of the month.
Offers are made in December.
Entrance Exam:
Students who wish to take A-Levels must sit three or four one-hour papers on their prospective subjects.
There are three papers on the higher-level subject choices for IB students.
16+ school entry is generally incredibly competitive as students apply for a minimal number of places. To give your daughter the best chance at obtaining a place, use one of our 16+ tutors.
Our tutors are all Oxbridge-educated; some have also attended NLCS and appreciate the ethos and what the school looks for.
We can provide multiple tutors for the exams to ensure that each paper receives dedicated, expert tutoring.
Our tutors curate bespoke plans, tailored to your daughter’s needs, identifying and improving weaknesses and consistently enhancing strengths.
Whether choosing the right school for 16+ entry, acing the entrance exams, or excelling at the interview, we can provide support every step of the way.
Consider our 16+ Interview Questions Pack for further preparation help.
How Hard is it to get into the NLCS?
NLCS is a selective, over-subscribed school, making admissions competitive.
Successful and worthwhile preparation needs to be long-term, rather than just last-minute.
They look for students who demonstrate academic potential, curiosity, ambition, and readiness to face challenges and embrace new opportunities.
These skills are best fostered over a long period, so they come across naturally rather than through rehearsed answers.
Every student is valued for their individuality; there is no set mould they need to conform to.
Ensuring familiarity with what to expect during the assessments enables them to relax, be who they are, and perform at their best.
Scholarships are equally, if not more, competitive.
At 11+ and 16+, both sports and music are available.
The sports scholarship involves a trial, while the music scholarship involves an audition.
From September 2025, a new Sophie Bryant Scholarship will be offered at 11+ and 16+ for girls with a deep love of learning and achievement beyond the classroom.
Given the competitive nature of admissions, why not boost your chances with one of U2 Tuition’s Oxbridge-educated tutors? We’ve got experienced tutors across the entry points who can help your daughter succeed.
How U2 Tuition Can Help You Succeed at NLCS Admissions
Specialist Tutors for Every NLCS Entry Stage
Whether your daughter’s going for the 4+ or 16+, our tutors have years of experience at each level, specifically with the NLC system.
Oxbridge-Educated Tutors with Unique NLCS Insight
Our team is academically exceptional and made up of Oxbridge graduates.
They have first-hand experience of NLCS, from attending or applying to helping students with successful applications.
Our knowledge is invaluable in helping prepare students for success.
Bespoke Preparation Plans Tailored to Your Daughter
After an initial diagnostic session, we create a tailored preparation plan, unique to your daughter’s needs.
Our preparation programme includes content consolidation, past paper practice, detailed feedback, mock interviews, and critical thinking development.
For 4+ applicants, we provide dedicated learning through play support.
Supporting Your Whole Family Through the Process
We appreciate that the NLCS admissions process can feel daunting. That’s why our tutors offer guidance to parents, as well as students.
We help you understand the logistics of test day, what to expect, and how best to support your daughter’s mindset.
Familiarity is key to confidence.
Flexible Tutoring Options: Online, In-Person, or Hybrid
We understand that needs vary, so we offer online, in-person, and hybrid tutoring to fit your requirements.