WHAT? WHERE?

St Helen’s School is an academically selective all-through girls’ day school for 3-18 year olds, set in a elegant, leafy 21-acre estate in Northwood, easily accessible for Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire students, and boasting a rich history, dating back 125 years (you’ll see portraits of much-celebrated founding head, May Rowland Brown, dotted around the school).

Despite its relatively large cohort – around 1150 pupils across the Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior – class sizes are small with an average of 19-21 girls in KS3 classes, and fewer still at KS4 and KS5, no doubt contributing to plays the school’s stellar academic reputation. ‘Be your passion’ is the school’s dictum, reinforced by a blend of traditional values, a progressive curriculum and a seemingly endless number of extra-curricular activities.

Notable former students include actress Patricia Hodge OBE, art historian Dame Ingrid Roscoe, and journalist Penny Marshall.

FACILITIES

The sheer scale of the site is something to marvel at, with the monumental Victorian clock tower the centrepiece of the school. It features separate buildings for the Sixth Form, Senior School, Prep and Prep-Prep, each equipped with specialised facilities and its own set of clubs. St Helen’s continues to evolve with significant investments, including a beautiful new School of Music, a bespoke STEM centre for budding engineers, mathematicians and scientists, and brand-new changing rooms. There’s also a large performance hall and several well-stocked libraries.

SPORT

The school was the holding ground for female athletes in the 1948 London Olympics, but its strong sporting legacy is still in full force today – it has ex-Olympians in its midst to prove it! There are national and international athletes among the teachers here, developing powerhouse runners, swimmers, and rugby players, amongst a wide breadth of sporting strengths. The sports centre boasts a 25m swimming pool, football pitch, multi-gym, and netball court with a dome that is installed every autumn so students can play throughout the winter months.

They recently affiliated with Pentathlon GB, and it is now a Penta Hub+, joining up with a national network of elite training centres to develop the best young athletes. There are regular inter-school competitions across a whole gamut of sports, with girls currently excelling nationally at badminton.

It’s not just about competitive sport though; all the girls, whatever their standard, are encouraged to find an active pursuit they can be passionate about and that can serve them well into adulthood.

CREATIVE ARTS

The arrival of a new Director of Music has revitalised the department into an energetic and creative team. Music education starts early, and individual lessons are offered from ages 6 onwards Prep and Senior girls also have the chance to join several orchestras, choirs and ensembles and there’s an international music tour in the summer holidays every other year including performances in Lake Garda and Paris – not too shabby!

A big hit is the popular St Helen’s Goes Pop’ where the girls a form bands, write songs, and perform. In a more classical vein, every March, St Helen’s teams with Merchant Taylors’ School to perform a large orchestral and choral work – a tradition dating back two decades. The school also hosts several intimate tea-time concerts throughout the year in its smaller Recital Hall.

The full-size theatre wouldn’t look out of place in the West End (seriously, it’s a whopper) giving St Helen’s girls their moment to shine. Recent performances, again staged jointly with Merchant Taylors’ School, have included Blood Wedding and West Side Story, alongside the school’s own adaptation of The Crucible.

Strong academic results are reflected in the outstanding Art department, with students excelling in national competitions.

SCHOOL

NURSERY

The little ones benefit from their own building in Nursery, cocooned with private outdoor play space. The space is adorned with artwork, a gallery of their creativity, giving it a vibrant but cosy feel. French, art, ballet and educational trips are all part of the fun and parents often sign their children up from birth for a place.

The school follows the EYFS but also aims to expand student experiences with events such as ‘People Who Help Us’ giving girls the opportunity to meet locals such as police officers, dentists and the fire service.

PREP

The Prep School is housed in a Victorian complex just a stone’s throw from the vast sports field, where the children spend much time charging around. Much of their learning is based on ‘doing and discussing,’ as well as getting to grips with IT and specialist teaching in French, Drama, Music, PE and Ballet. The Houses are all part of the joy in Prep School. Pupils elect Year 6 House Captains, attend House meetings and all the house points earned for good learning behaviour or efforts, go towards their House success. The winning House for each term then chooses a ‘treat’ such as a non-uniform day.

SENIOR

As the girls move up into Senior School, academic success is coupled with more opportunities for responsibility. The much anticipated annual House Arts event is a St Helen’s staple. Sixth Formers write, direct, choreograph and compose a piece of drama performed by Y8 –Y10 which is then judged by an external professional.

SIXTH FORM

The A level choices here are largely traditional, but with interesting extras such as Classical Greek, Latin, Mandarin, Philosophy, Politics and Psychology. The extra EPQ qualification option also means that girls can show a deep understanding of a subject, which is a great asset to hold and something many universities favour.

Every week Sixth-Form students dedicate an entire afternoon to outreach programmes, including volunteering at local state and special needs school, so that they practise their own pastoral care and have the opportunity to give back.

ACADEMICS

The school’s high academic success is a huge calling card. Academically, St Helen’s is ranked 43rd nationally for GCSEs – the results for 2024 saw 37% of all grades at 9 (just think about that for a minute, that’s outstanding!). 65.5% of students were grades 9-8 and 85.6% achieved grades 9-7. For A levels 64% of students hit the top grades of A*-A, with 92% achieving A*-B grades.

The traditional career routes, such as medicine, are still strong, but the school is seeing a rise in computer science with girls recently invited to the VEX Robotics National Finals. Women in engineering, economics and social sciences are also growing popular pathways and if you’re daughter likes maths you’re in luck – and then some. The school’s Centre for Advanced Mathematics (CAM), is North London’s first dedicated Advanced Maths centre and the UK’s first all-female facility of its kind. In the last two years 80% of pupils entering the UK Mathematical Trust Maths Challenges have come back with certificates, which is kind of mindblowing.

Despite this level of success, there’s an emphasis here on an individualistic and modern approach to learning that helps the school avoid a high-pressure, hothouse environment often associated with academic attainment. Instead, a GROW coaching model is used by all class teachers: Goals, Reality, Obstacles and Way forward. Designated coaching sessions give the girls ownership over their goals and advance personal confidence, character and learning habits.

A focus on the 200 extra curricular clubs is paramount too – the Combined Cadet Force, run with Merchants Taylors’ School, is exceptionally popular with with around 40 pupils joining the Army, RAF and Navy sections each year, and clubs are diverse and sound a lot of fun – from Knit & Stitch and Climbing to Ancient Games Club, Music Production and Big Robotics to Fab Food. Students are encouraged to create and run their own clubs too, like The Mock Trial Society, launched by a pair of Y12 Politics pupils with the aim ‘to develop teamwork and public speaking about the criminal justice system.’ Blimey.

PASTORAL CARE

The school’s pastoral team includes two nurses, an onsite counsellor, a trained psychologist, Sixth Form mentors and coaches. Every student is assigned a personal coach to guide them through the highs and lows of school life. For any extra support, they have a Wellbeing Hub, designed to be a safe space to encourage students to take a breath and reset.

The Key Stage 3 ‘study buddies’ are a support for those needing extra homework support. The Senior Sister scheme sees girls partnered up with students two years above them, helping them to navigate everything from school pressures to personal confidence.

St Helen’s takes a particularly strong stance to offer a dynamic spiral PSHCE programme that teaches children about mental health and wellbeing in an age-appropriate way.

SEND

For any identified SEND needs, the class Teaching Assistants in the Prep School will pick up the reins and be on hand to give one-to-one support or small group intervention for those who may need it. Literacy, mathematics, social and behavioural skills, as well as organisational strategies, are all included in these sessions. Students with identified Individual Learning Needs can also have accommodations set within the classroom environment, such as coloured overlays, enlarged texts, time-out passes, and certain seating arrangements.

THE HEAD

St Helen's School Northwood Bridget Ward head teacher

Bridget Ward took up the reins at St Helen’s in Sept 2024 after several years as Head of Merchant Taylors’ School in Liverpool, so she has experience but also plenty of ‘new girl’ energy. Friendly and approachable, she talks a lot about empowerment, giving the girls the freedom to try new things, make mistakes and learn. On her early agenda for St Helen’s is greater parent engagement, but she also plans to increase business links and give students more life experience at a younger age.

QUIRKS

Outside in the grounds lies ‘Cluckingham Palace’, home to the school’s faithful chickens who have several hundred girls to look after them in their plush chicken coop. Looking after the feathered friends is designed to help the girls learn about the importance of animal care and teamwork (gotta tell you, they look cute too).

Every school needs a hangout, but St Helen’s takes it to another level. There are lots of lovely spaces around the site for girls to convene at lunchtime. A particularly special spot is ‘The Wizard’ – a grassy strip surrounded by daffodils, benches, sheltered by a willow arbour and guarded by a wise old carved Wizard that has apparently ‘been there forever’.

The school is also known for the annual Christmas Calendar Sale, a charming tradition that started over 100 years ago, predominantly to sell calendars but which has now expanded into a full blown Christmas fair for the whole community to enjoy.

WRAP AROUND CARE

It’s robust. Girls can arrive from 7:30am and stay for after-school activities or study. The library is open until 5.30pm on Mon, Tue and Thurs, and until 5pm on Wed and Fri for those who want extra studying. The after schools clubs has a Prep participation of 98% so I’m going to take a punt here and say they enjoy them. There’s also a strong emphasis on in-house clubs, ensuring students maximize their time without needing external activities.

ISI REPORT

St Helen’s School was last inspected by the ISI in Sept 2024. You can read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

In the Senior School, students are allowed mobile phones, albeit fully secured in Yondr pouches throughout the school day. Social media access is not permitted during the school day allowing students to focus on their learning without distraction (or pinging Whatsapps).

St Helen’s has a robust Online Safety Policy and age-appropriate Acceptable Use of IT Agreements which are shared with parents annually and regularly updated in line with statutory guidance and best practice. The helpful watching eyes of the school’s student Digital Wellbeing Ambassadors play a key role in promoting safe online practices among their peers.

TRANSPORT

Transport is less school run and more school stroll, with the building next door to Northwood underground station (Met Line). Just a 2 min walk, it is great for older girls (Senior and Sixth Form) who travel independently. There is also a front entrance and a back entrance so that different year groups can be dropped off without a mad rush.

FEES

Nursery-Y2, £6,286 per term (inc lunch); Prep Y3-Y6 £7,072 (inc lunch); Y7-13 £8,872. St Helen’s is absorbing the cost VAT until the end of the summer term 2025. Solo LAMDA and Individual music lessons, £326 per term. Scholarships are strong at St Helen’s with about 15% awarded, approximately 1 in 10.  They have sports, art, drama and music scholarships, alongside academic, worth up to a 30% discount on fees. Scholarships rarely have a significant financial benefit these days, so this is a big deal.

WORD ON THE GROUND

St Helen’s has a good reputation in the local area for behaviour – the girls are generally acknowledged as polite, caring and kind, and known to interact with their peers and teachers in a positive way. Parents are understandably fans of the one-stop-shopness of the through-school – no having to search for Senior schools further down the track! Early specialist teaching across sport, music, drama and art is a popular and the parents I talked to like the emphasis and unusually broad opportunities offered with STEM teaching here.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Those who want a robust all-rounder school where academic standards are high and extra curricular opportunities varied and plentiful.

NOT FOR: As a through-school with so much on offer, it feels exciting, busy and buzzy here. If you feel your daughter needs cosy and tranquil you might want to opt for a smaller setting.

DARE TO DISAGREE? There is a School In Action Open Morning on Thurs 19 March 2026. Click here for more details.

St Helen’s School, Eastbury Rd, Northwood HA6 3AS.

St Helen’s School, Northwood, N London

You may also like