WHAT? WHERE?

Tucked away on a residential road in North London’s desirable Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green High School (PGHS) is a selective school for girls aged 4 to 16 years. Founded in 1905 by Miss Alice Hum, a Quaker, the school opened with just 12 pupils and the motto ‘By Love Serve One Another’. Today the motto remains in daily use, but the school’s numbers have swelled to a healthy 208 and welcomes girls of all faiths. That small school vibe still very much in play but on a more sustainable footing.

The building, originally Avondale Hall, the site of Avondale College for girls, and a popular location for suffragette meetings, is something of a Tardis. PGHS (recently named Independent 11-16 Secondary School of the Year by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025) has been here since 1918 and is spread over three thoughtfully laid out floors – Early Years on the ground floor and Y10 and Y11 at the top. It’s not the prettiest from the outside, but the classrooms are light, airy and generous.

FACILITIES

It’s a city school, so space is at a premium. From an academic point of view, the school is well equipped with specialist classrooms: two science labs, a fabulous double height art studio, a generous DT room and a large inviting music room. The classrooms are lovely with big windows and bright wall displays. There’s also a multi-purpose hall used for all school assemblies, drama performances, and PE. The day I visit a small group of girls are exploring the balance bars and gymnastic rings.

Outdoor space is not as expansive. There’s a small, but perfectly formed free-flow outdoor learning area for Reception children, complete with recently installed bifold doors and an awning to protect them from the elements. A larger playground runs across the front of the school for all year groups, which is functional and provides space for fresh air and games. The Student Council are looking at creating different zones in the playground for art activities and relaxation. Sports and swimming take place off site at a variety of local venues.

There’s been investment in the classrooms too. For example, tables are now on wheels so they can be easily reconfigured depending on the lesson. Lots of the classrooms are laid out in small circles to encourage discussion and collaboration.

pupils drawing in art class at Palmers Green High School

Dining at PGHS has also been revamped. The Student Council made up of two girls from each year group asked for a new food supplier. As a result, the contract was put out to tender, and the girls were involved in choosing the successful applicant. As part of this, the dining room has been renovated, with help from the PTA, with sound proofing added to improve the acoustics and stools adding to the café vibes.

In the Senior School, the girls asked for somewhere to store their possessions. In the summer of 2024, walls of plywood cupboards with numbers etched into the wood were built in three form rooms to meet their request. They look great and differentiate the senior classrooms from the lower school. There are plans to add a bespoke wallpaper to the plain ply panels that line the corridors. The advantages of a through school are evident here with the younger year groups enjoying access to facilities more common in senior school. It is clear that the younger pupils benefit from these specialist classrooms and teachers too.

SPORT

All the usual suspects are on offer here – netball, football, athletics, gymnastics and swimming – plus additions such as fencing, yoga, volleyball and trampolining for the older girls. Many of these activities take place off site from Y3, with minibuses available to take the girls on these local journeys to the excellent Walker Ground, just two miles from the school, which boasts several cricket pitches, eight football pitches, a rugby pitch, an athletics track, tennis and squash courts. There’s also Southgate and Southbury leisure centres (1.5 and 3.5 miles away respectively).

The school enters teams into the Enfield Borough Gymnastics Competition (Y2-6), Enfield Netball League, Enfield Borough Athletics League and the Rounders leagues/tournaments. If pupils are keen, tennis fixtures can be arranged too. Recent notable sports highlights include PGHS girls being invited to represent North London at the ISA National Swimming Gala, held at the iconic London Olympic Aquatic Centre in Stratford, in individual events and as part of the freestyle and medley relays.

CREATIVE ARTS

Music class at Palmers Green High School

Peripatetic music lessons and LAMDA are available with 30% taking music lessons and 42% enrolled with LAMDA. Those number are about average, but a new creative team has been appointed so I’d expect these numbers to rise. Head of Drama, Nicholas Bissessar joined very recently from John Lyon school (two weeks and counting!) and Head of Music, Anna Lush who is also a choral conductor, singer and composer. There’s already lots of opportunities for the girls to perform or work behind the scenes.

Y6-Y10 recently joined forces on a production of Grimm Tales and there’s fond recollection for a performance of the ever-popular Matilda Jr. On the music front, there are choirs and instrumental ensembles for all ages, including a Prep violin club, chamber choir, rock band and stringettes, and a new woodwind teacher joining soon. With new senior staff in place, this offering is bound to strengthen further and is definitely an area to watch.

ACADEMICS

This is a high achieving, selective school with a strong focus on academic success. There is age-appropriate testing for each entry point: 4+ for Prep, 7+ for Junior and 11+ for Senior school. For Senior entry, external candidates take the ISEB online assessment and there’s also a creative writing test.

From September 2025, current Y5 pupils won’t be required to take these tests. If they are considered eligible, based on their work and attitude to learning (alongside discussions with parents), girls will be offered a place in the summer term. However, anyone wishing to apply for a scholarship will need to sit the tests.

There is dedicated SEN support throughout the school. Pupils with additional learning needs are quickly identified and supported by dedicated members of staff. Across the school, there’s a focus on oracy including learning, speaking and listening techniques, and importantly, how to respectfully disagree with one another.

pupils of Palmer Green High School looking at rocks

While all subjects are valued, the STEM offering is notable. A biennial trip to CERN in Geneva – the world’s largest particle physics laboratory where nerding out on science is cool (lucky Y10 and Y11). STEM Club is popular, so for kids with an interest in science it’s a fun way to develop that passion through practical activities. The school was also awarded a Green Flag by Eco Schools in 2024.

The practical learning can tap into the pupils’ competitive spirit, battling it out in the British Biology Challenge (Y9 and Y10); Top of the Bench Chemistry Competition Years (Y9 – Y11), the Physics Olympiad and a Super Star CREST Award (Y5 and Y6) which introduces problem-solving in STEM. PGHS often book events triggered by scientific trends, from guest speakers to lab sessions. It’s a lively part of the offering, with an eye on creating future change makers.

Senior school class sizes are typically around 16-18 and often lower in the GCSE options subjects. In 2024, PGHS’s overall percentage of GCSEs at grades 9-8 (A*) was an impressive 44%, while 72% achieved grades 9-7 (A*-A). Some subjects achieve a value-added score of two grades compared to a pupil’s expectation, which is music to parental ears. Sixth form destinations are varied and include City of London School for Girls, Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, and North London Collegiate, Dame Alice Owen’s, Henrietta Barnett, Woodhouse College and The Latymer School.

PASTORAL CARE

The Pastoral Care here is very good but new Deputy Head Rebecca Stewart (in post since Jan 2025) is taking it to the next level. It’s all about developing a positive attitude to health, fitness and self-image and ensuring staff and students look out for each other and know how to get help when it is needed. Attention is paid to key transition points such as moving from Preps to Juniors and Y6 into Senior school. Special sessions and workshops help prepare the children (and their parents!) for these big moments.

There’s a popular mentor scheme in place too – Y7 pupils are paired with Y10 for peer support, friendship and advice. The class tutors and Deputy Head are the pastoral first responders – available to chat to pupils and parents. Plus staff are trained in Mental Health First Aid to spot the signs if individuals are struggling.

For further support, the school subscribes to a digital platform called Tooled Up Education, which gives families and teachers access to a digital library of evidence-based resources. Knowing the school recognises the scale of the problems young people face, is impressive and reassuring for parents.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

There’s a broad extracurricular programme provision with some 50 clubs on offer – impressive given the size of the school – something to grab the interest of every girl surely. Prep girls can try singing, dancing, gymnastics and Lego. Juniors can opt for jigsaw club, fencing or touch typing. For Seniors, there’s debating, coding, crochet and chess as well as academic subject specific surgeries. If the girls want to start a new club (eg crochet) the school is always receptive. Also, pupils will often lead their own activities.

THE HEAD

Sarah Proudlove head of Palmers Green High School

Sarah Proudlove took up this post two years ago, joining from Mill Hill International School, which she helped set up from scratch as Deputy Head. She’s a big believer in single-sex education for girls as an environment that removes gender bias and creates confident girls ready to take on their futures.

Proudlove is warm, friendly, and passionate about the potential at PGHS. Although she inherited a well-run school, she’s not been afraid to make changes. She’s restructured her leadership team, including creating an EDI lead and an Assistant Head role focusing on pupil development, and as mentioned, there’s new heads for drama and music. She’s invested in new ICT equipment, classroom furniture and dining facilities, with much more to come as part of the campus masterplan.

Proudlove has given the girls more autonomy (with the strict understanding that standards and behaviour must not drop as a result of course!). Senior girls can wear their hair down (a big deal and much appreciated according to the year 10s I speak to), paper towels have been added to the loos alongside the hand dryers, and the school bell is no more (the last two were particularly pertinent for neurodivergent pupils). These requests have all been made via the Student Council.

Bringing joy into school life and helping the girls balance study with extra-curricular participation and downtime are also on her priority list and she walks the walk by, for example, joining the end of year six school sleep over. Surely that is going above and beyond!

QUIRKS

There’s pink birthday cake and cupcakes every year on Founder’s Day, where celebrations take place in the local St John’s Church (also used for the annual carol concert, concerts and prize giving. This year the celebrations will be extensive as the school marks 120 years.

WRAP AROUND CARE

two pupils and a teacher at Palmer Green High School

There’s a daily breakfast club from 7.40am until 8.20am with a variety of foods on offer including cereal, toast, fruit juice, and hot items such as scrambled eggs, for £6.50 per session. Parents are asked to book a term in advance, although occasional drop in requests are always accommodated.

At the end of the school day there’s a Waiters Club for younger children with older siblings, which means one pick up for parents. Hallelujah. There’s also a free Homework Club for Seniors. Further after-school care is outsourced: children can be collected by local provider M&M Childcare, based 200m away at St John’s Parish Centre, Bourne Hill. The service is open from 3pm-6pm, Mon-Thu during term time.

ISI REPORT

The January 2022 ISI Report is a glowing one with the school rated excellent in every section. Read it here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobiles phones are handed into reception in the morning and can be collected at the end of the school day.

FEES

Good value for London I’d say: Reception to Y2, £5,346 per term, £5,732 for Y3-Y6 and Senior school (Y7-Y11), £7,603 – all including VAT.

WORD ON THE GROUND

pupils plating at Palmers Green High School

Positive from parents and pupils alike. Parents love the nurturing, family atmosphere and are excited about the direction Proudlove is taking the school. The girls love that their opinions matter, and on that note, the new food offering is universally appreciated!

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Academic girls who thrive in the small, family focussed school. It’s flexible enough to meet individual needs and excellent at boosting confidence.

NOT FOR: The petit size of the school won’t suit everyone and the very sporty may prefer a bigger pond to compete in. Anyone who wants their child to stay put for A-Levels – there’s no sixth form and no plans to add one.

DARE TO DISAGREE?! There’s a Senior School Working Open Morning – Friday 7 March (9.30-10.30am), Lower School Working Open Morning – Friday 14 March (9.30-10.30am), Prep Open Morning – Saturday 15 March (10am-12pm), Whole School open morning on Sat 14 June from 9.30am – 12.30pm. Or book an individual tour here.

Palmers Green High School, Winchmore Hill, North London

You may also like