Year 7 Parents' Handbook 2024

WELCOME TO YEAR

Parents’ Handbook September 2024

Welcome from the Headmistress

Welcome to Year 7 and to the Senior School at North London Collegiate School. It is exciting to imagine the journey that your daughter will go on over the next seven years.

We don’t yet know where that journey will take her, but we hope that along the way she will discover intellectual passions, friends and new pastimes. When Year 13 students leave us they often shed tears for the time they have spent at NLCS, such is the influence that this community has had on their lives.

Our vision for NLCS is to honour the school’s proud legacy of intellectual endeavour and joyful scholarship, prizing knowledge for its ability to inspire, whilst also preparing your daughter for the world beyond school. It is our vision that we should educate for heart and character as well as for the mind, and we do this in partnership with you as parents.

Thank you for choosing NLCS and welcome to our friendly community. We hope your daughter enjoys her Year 7 adventure.

Best Wishes,

Vicky Bingham Headmistress

Welcome

from Mrs Demetriou, Head of Middle School

As Head of Middle School, I am especially looking forward to welcoming your daughter to our vibrant and warm school community here at NLCS. My top priority is to ensure your daughter feels happy, secure, and confident within our school community and I am committed to encouraging them to embrace all that is on offer.

We have a strong support system in place for your daughter as they make the transition to Senior School. Your daughter’s tutor will be your daughter’s key person at school and will remain their main source of support throughout Year 7 and beyond. The Year 9 buddies will also play a key role in making your daughter feel welcome, for example they will be in the Year 7 classrooms on their first day, ensuring they feel welcome and helping with any questions (such as how to get to their first lesson!).

I am sure that the upcoming academic year will be both a challenging and exciting one for the students, filled with opportunities to learn and grow, both academically and personally. I very much look forward to meeting you and your daughter and helping to ensure that the next stage of their school journey both successful and rewarding.

Joanna Demetriou Head of Middle School

Vision

AN INSPIRATIONAL EDUCATION

A whole education, for life

Intellectual Tradition

An ambitious academic education

Intrepid Innovation

Inspired by heritage, empowered by modernity

Investment in the Individual Fostering wellbeing and character for life

Impact & Influence Deeply connected to the wider world

School Aims

To provide an ambitious academic education to enable every individual student to make the most of her intellect and abilities

To nurture a team of professional teachers who inspire their students with a love of their subjects and a spirit of scholarship

To enable all students to recognise excellence and realise that it is attainable

To ensure that every member of the School feels valued, supported and encouraged

To foster a community built on positive relationships between staff and students and between students themselves

To encourage students to embrace new challenges confidently, and respond to setbacks in a resilient and determined manner

To develop an outward looking, internationally minded community that promotes respect and compassion, service to others, and active, positive participation in society and the wider world

NLCS Values

ASPIRATION: we aim to be our best selves

CURIOSITY: we strive to ask questions and be engaged in our learning

COURAGE: we aim to push new personal boundaries

PURPOSE: we love what we do and we want to make a difference

COMMUNITY: we look out for others and for our school

COMMITMENT: we work hard, and we keep going

North London Collegiate School was founded in April 1850 by Frances Mary Buss in the family home at 46 Camden Street, Camden Town. All the family assisted in the school including her artist/illustrator father, R.W. Buss, some of whose paintings hang in the Buss room in the Old House at Canons. Miss Buss was the Headmistress for 43 years and was a notable figure in the struggle for the education of girls in the second half of the nineteenth century. She took a leading part in the campaign for endowment for girls’ schools, for girls to sit public examinations and for girls to be admitted to university. Her school was “destined”, in the words of the Fleming Report of 1944, “to become the model of girls’ day schools throughout the country”.

History of the School

As the school grew bigger, it moved to Camden Road and then to Sandall Road. The site at Canons was bought in 1929 but the whole school did not move there until 1939. The new building was designed by Sir Albert Richardson whose original drawings can be seen in the Drummond Room.

North London Collegiate School began as a private school but obtained public status as early as 1870 and later became a Direct Grant school, taking scholarships from the Local Authorities. When the Direct Grant was withdrawn in 1976, the school reverted to being an independent school with charitable status. The governors are committed to maintaining the social mix of the school, offering generous bursaries and scholarships, and have raised funds through a Bursary Appeal to compensate for the loss of the government’s Assisted Places Scheme.

The achievements of Miss Buss and her successors are celebrated each year at the end of the Spring Term on Founder’s Day.

The Staff Team

Senior Team

Mrs Vicky Bingham VBingham@nlcs.org.uk

Mrs Jessica Bedi JBedi@nlcs.org.uk

Mrs Nicola Dawson NDawson@nlcs.org.uk

Mr Tim Brown TBrown@nlcs.org.uk

Mr Samy Etienne SEttiene@nlcs.org.uk

Mr Robin Street RStreet@nlcs.org.uk

Mr Richard Queripel RQueripel@nlcs.org.uk

Headmistress Deputy Head (Academic)

Chief Operating Officer Head of Junior School

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Senior Deputy Head Director of Innovation

The Staff Team

Pastoral Team

Mrs Nicola Dawson NDawson@nlcs.org.uk

Mrs Natasha Taberner NTaberner@nlcs.org.uk Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Mr Benjamin Tosh BTosh@nlcs.org.uk

Mrs Joanna Demetriou JDemetriou@nlcs.org.uk

Miss Harriet Woods HWoods@nlcs.org.uk

Medical Centre phone number: 020 8951 6446

Ms Gayle Mellor GMellor@nlcs.org.uk

April Wellesley AWellesley@nlcs.org.uk

Mrs Lorna Soares-Smith LSoares-Smith@nlcs.org.uk

Medical Centre phone number: 020 8951 6446

Beatrice Fox BFox@nlcs.org.uk

The Staff Team

Year 7 Pastoral Team

Head of Middle School

Mrs Joanna Demetriou JDemetriou@nlcs.org.uk

Deputy Head of Middle School

Ms Ana Santos ASantos@nlcs.org.uk

Other Key People

Ms Veronica Simon is in charge of the stationery store. Your daughter may buy pencils, paper and other materials from her.

Mrs Deborah Baum - PA to the Headmistress. Her office is in the Old House. DBaum@nlcs.org.uk

Miss Sarah Prentice - Attendance Officer. Please contact Miss Prentice if your child is absent from School. Please email: absence@nlcs.org.uk, as well as your child’s form tutors. You can also call the Absence Line directly on 020 8951 6404, or follow prompts from the main school number.

The School Librarians will help your daughter to use the library both for reading, pleasure and for homework and research. The library is open from 8.15am - 5.30pm Monday - Thursday, and from 8.15am - 4.15pm on a Friday.

Forms and Layers

The Senior School is divided into seven year groups or ‘layers’. In Year 7 there are five form groups.

The Senior School comprises:

Year 7 | age 11-12

Year 8 | age 12-13

Year 9 | age 13-14

Year 10 | age 14-15

Year 11 | age 15-16

Year 12 | age 16-17

Year 13 | age 17-18

Form Tutors

Middle School

Head of Section: Mrs Joanna Demetriou

Upper School

Head of Section: Mrs Natasha Taberner

Sixth Form

Head of Section: Mr Benjamin Tosh

Each form has two tutors who, along with a Head of Year and Head of Section, are responsible for the pastoral and academic care of your daughter. If you or your daughter have any worries or concerns, the first person to contact will be your daughter’s tutors. The tutors also write tutor reports and arrange report reading, assist with filling in of self-appraisal forms and the setting of targets.

The School Day

The school day at North London is divided into nine lessons of 35 minutes each, though many subjects in the Middle School such as Art, Games and Science have double lessons. As your daughter will move around the building from lesson to lesson it is important that she does not try to carry all her possessions with her. All students are issued with a student ID card, which they MUST carry with them at all times. This allows them to gain entry into school buildings as they move around the site. In her form room your daughter will have a locker for books and materials. In the basement of the Old House (‘Dungeons’) she will have a large locker for her PE kit and equipment, her coat and other belongings. It is important that all her possessions are kept secure and we require that both lockers to be secured with durable padlocks.

“Lessons are planned and taught well by skilful teachers who are passionate about their subjects”.

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2024

Structure of the day

8.15am – 8.35am Students begin arriving

8.40am – 9.15am Period 1

9.15am – 9.50am Period 2

9.50am – 10.25am Form time / assembly

10.25am - 10.45am MORNING BREAK

Students may go to the Dining Hall to buy drinks or snacks or they may bring something from home provided it is nut free.

10.45am – 11.20am Period 3 11.20am – 11.55am Period 4 11.55am – 12.30pm Period 5

12.30pm – 1.40pm LUNCH BREAK

Before and after lunch, they may walk in the grounds, join one of the many clubs or activities on offer, or go to the Library.

1.40pm – 2.15pm Period 6

2.15pm – 2.50pm Period 7

2.50pm – 3.25pm Period 8

3.25pm – 4.00pm Period 9

Parents should be aware that there is no formal supervision of students who arrive in school before 8.30am although there is a breakfast club in the Performing Arts Centre from 7.30am until 8.30am serving a tasty breakfast including fruit salad, yoghurts and cereals. Students staying after school for official school activities, for example matches or play rehearsals, are supervised by the member of staff in charge. Students not involved in such organised activities should work or read in the Library while waiting to be collected by parents.

Assemblies and Form Time

North London Collegiate School is committed to developing the whole personality of our pupils, fostering good relationships and maintaining a community that is tolerant towards those from all backgrounds and cultures. The combination of whole school assemblies covering a wide range of issues and perspectives and separate religious assemblies, where students can meet with others of their own faith, gives opportunities for pupils to share and celebrate the richness of our multicultural community.

Mondays - Compulsory whole school assembly typically taken by the Headmistress, one of the Deputies or another member of staff.

Wednesdays - Often a Middle School assembly (Years 7-9), a layer assembly (just Year 7), house meet-up or separate religious assemblies. Wednesday assemblies provide an opportunity for one or more year groups to meet together. These assemblies may be taken by a member of form staff or a group of students. Separate religious assemblies are arranged by the Sixth Form students who run the religious societies. They may lead them themselves or invite a visiting speaker. There is also the option of attending a secular assembly. The students may choose which assembly to attend.

Fridays - Compulsory whole school assembly usually taken by one of the societies organised by Sixth Form students. This may be a religious society, which frequently take whole school assemblies to coincide with festivals or holy days, or an academic or interest group-society who will focus on a current issue. Canonaid, the charity fundraising organisation run by the Sixth Form, also has a weekly message for the School at these assemblies.

On rare occasions this pattern may be disrupted when the Hall has to be used for major school plays, concerts and examinations. This opportunity is often used to have smaller form, layer or section assemblies which often feature drama or musical performances by the students. During the year there are occasional longer school assemblies, for events such as Remembrance and Founder’s Day.

Tuesdays and Thursdays - On Tuesday and Thursday mornings students spend time in their forms with their form tutors dealing with form business, discussing matters of the day, covering some PSHE topics and enjoying each other’s company.

The Middle School Curriculum

All pupils in Year 7 study a wide range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Design and Technology, French, Latin, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Drama, Art & Design, Computing, Computer Science, Sport and Religious Studies & Philosophy and PSHE (personal social health education).

In Year 8 and Year 9, pupils continue with all these subjects, with Biology, Chemistry and Physics being taught as separate sciences (building upon the general Science course followed in Year 7). Pupils also choose to study any two of the following modern languages in Year 8 and Year 9: French, Spanish, German, Mandarin. Guidance about how to make this selection will occur later in the year.

Homework

At the beginning of the Autumn term, students are issued with a homework diary in which to record any work set. Form Tutors check to ensure that students are using their homework diary effectively. However it is helpful for parents to reinforce this with their own checks and reminders. The students are given a homework timetable so that they know which subjects to expect each day. There are usually two homework assignments each evening and they last approximately 30 minutes each. The amount and length of homework gradually increases as students go up through the School. The first two weeks of the Autumn term in Year 7 are homework free in order to allow the girls to settle into the school routine and to have more time to explore different clubs and activities.

It is important that your daughter is not spending more than the allocated time on each homework task. Teachers think carefully about which tasks to set their classes, and need to know that the submitted work has been completed to time in order to effectively understand how your daughter is progressing in her studies. Form tutors will reinforce this message, but it is so important that our students consistently receive the message that working to time is the right approach, rather than pouring too much time into every task as this is not sustainable, or conducive to their progress academically. Thank you for your help in ensuring this message is reinforced at home. Of course, if you are concerned that your daughter is finding it too difficult to work within the limits of the homework timetable, you should contact her form tutor so that we can work with her to address this.

Much of your daughter’s homework and classwork will be corrected with a comment but without a specific grade. This is because we want the students to concentrate on producing good thoughtful work rather than on being competitive about the marks they get. Experience and research also tells us that when a comment is accompanied by a grade students tend to ignore the comment, which contains vital information about how to progress. When there is a more formal piece of work it will be graded and your daughter’s teachers will explain the significance of these grades. Examinations are taken in the Summer Term. For Years 7, 8 and 9 these will be held the week before half term.

As a rule, homework is not set during halfterm breaks, or during the holidays between terms. This is to encourage students to relax and engage in other interests during their time away from school, and so that they can return refreshed at the start of each half-term.

Lunches

Lunchtime is a high point of the day. Often Years 7 and 8 extra-curricular clubs and activities take place in the first half of the lunch break and they eat lunch from 1.10pm. Lunch is very important to students who work and play hard, and is a wonderful opportunity to extend social boundaries. It is expected that all students will have time to sit down to enjoy their lunch and they should only arrange one extra-curricular activity for themselves per lunch break. If a Year 7, 8 or 9 student needs to have lunch at 12.30pm. as she has a music lesson or club, she simply asks her tutor for an ‘early lunch’ slip which she keeps and shows to the member of staff on duty at the entrance to the Dining Hall.

Enrichment Activities

Lunchtime clubs and activities take place at 12.30pm or 1.05pm. Some, like Art Club or Science Society, are organised by students in the Sixth Form, whilst others, like the Concert Orchestra or the Under-12 Netball squad are taken by specialist staff. Activities take place every day and students are encouraged to ‘dip in’ during the first few weeks and then make a commitment. A member of staff coordinates the programme and a notice board which keeps everyone up to date.

Travelling to School

Coach Services

We are committed to reducing the School’s carbon footprint and we therefore encourage students to use our coach services, local TfL buses, or to walk or cycle, rather than being driven to school. This is also important as local roads get very congested and there are limited parking spaces and drop off facilities on site. We have also launched a fantastic, innovative HomeRun App. This enables parents to connect to other families in their area, so that their daughters can safely travel to and from school with other girls, whether by school bus, train, cycling or walking or by car sharing.

Over 600 girls use our coach and minibus services each day as well as station shuttle buses that connect to the Jubilee and Northern Underground lines. All coaches are fitted with seat belts and pupils are expected to remain in their seats, with belts on and to behave appropriately. Pupils are issued with coach cards which they must scan when boarding and leaving the coach.

For more information about any of these services please see the ‘Travelling to School’ section on our website. If you have any further questions please contact the Transport Team on 020 8951 6490 or via email at travellingtoschool@nlcs.org.uk.

Access to the school site by car

We recognise that some parents may need to drive to school. However as the local roads can become congested we recommend parking and walking the last half mile. There are Park and Stride maps on our website which indicate the areas where you can park. These include Dalkeith Grove (in the designated waiting zones), or Canons Drive (please park on the school side of the road only to maintain a clear access route for delivery vehicles and the Fire Service). We ask that you avoid all driveways, giving consideration and respect to our neighbours.

Access to the school site is controlled by the School Marshalls from 7am to 7pm (Canons Drive) and 7am to 8pm (Dalkeith Grove), or later if there is a school event.

In the afternoons between 3.45pm and 4.20pm (when the coaches depart) no cars are allowed on the Loop Road. This is because there is insufficient space for parents to wait with due to the students connecting to our coach and minibus services. Between these times we recommend you use the ‘Park and Stride’ options, or the Canons Drive entrance.

If you use the Canons Drive entrance, you may drive into the grounds but will not be able to access the area in front of the entrance to the Old House as this area is used by delivery vehicles and staff cars.

On entering the school via Canons Drive, you will be required to turn right before the second barrier and you may drop off your daughter by the steps opposite the tennis courts (known as South Courts). You may then follow the road to the exit and back onto Canons Drive. We ask that you do not attempt to pull over onto the grass verges as this causes considerable damage.

Access to the School Buildings

Your daughter will be given a student ID card which will allow her to move freely around school by giving her access to the school buildings. If she loses this card, she will be able to request a new one via mypass@nlcs.org.uk. A third or subsequent new access card will be charged at £10.

If your daughter has limited mobility and needs access to the lifts, please inform the Estates Team (estates@nlcs. org.uk) and they will set the appropriate permissions on her access card.

Any pupil who has a travel card for the coaches can also use this for access to school buildings so that she does not need a separate card.

Visiting the School

Senior School Reception is in the Old House and can be accessed via the Canons Drive entrance. Once the new Innovation building is opened then it will be in there and accessible via Dalkeith Grove. Visitors to the Headmistress will continue to report to the Old House via Canons Drive.

Parents who are visiting the school to meet a teacher or go to an event should either report to the Senior School Reception, or go directly to the area where the event is taking place, as instructed on the relevant invitation. School Marshals will always be available to help direct you. If you are coming to the School to watch your daughter play sport, this will usually take place in the Sports Centre or on the outdoor pitches. Please refer to SOCS on the Parent Portal for details of individual matches.

Please note we do not allow any dogs to be brought to the site for hygiene and safety reasons. For events out of hours, the School Marshals will be able to show you where to park, although we do encourage parents to use alternative means of transport as much as possible as parking is always limited.

Pastoral care

The ‘Buddy’ System

Every Year 7 student is assigned a buddy. The buddy will be a Year 10 pupil who is also in the same House, giving them more opportunities to meet up over the course of their school careers. Your daughter will receive a personal message from her buddy before the beginning of term. Within it, her buddy will introduce herself and tell your daughter which House she is in, and a bit about themselves and the School. She may also be a familiar face from the same Junior School or a new face living in the same area or nearby. Buddies are there to help Year 7 girls to settle in, to offer advice and be a friend. Years 7 and 10 buddies have lunch together on the second day of term and aim to support each other.

The Medical Centre

When a student feels unwell in school she will visit the School Nurse, who will make a medical decision as to whether she should stay for a short period in the Medical Centre, or call her parents to collect her from school. Please note that other than life-saving medicine (epipens & inhalers) girls must not carry medication on them, any pupil requiring prescribed medication during the school day should hand this to the medical centre. In emergencies, or in the case of serious illness or injury, parents will be informed, an ambulance will be called and if necessary the student taken to hospital. Please ensure that you make us aware of any changes to your daughter’s medical condition.

Harriet Woods and Lorna Soares-Smith are our medical team. Their office is in the Medical Centre and they are available to help your daughter with a wide range of topics. You can contact them on 020 8951 6446 HWoods@ nlcs.org.uk & LSoares-Smith@nlcs.org.uk.

The Cedar Space

“Older pupils are trained to act as peer mentors for younger pupils”.

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2024

April Wellesley and Beatrice Fox are our school counsellors and Ms Gayle Mellor is our Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing and they are all based in the Cedar Space, which all students will get a chance to visit. The Cedar Space offers a calm and quiet environment in which to seek support or have some quiet time. The Cedar Space is also a place where some clubs and student voice / group sessions are run. With parental permission, the counsellors offer individual appointments to support students and help them deal more positively with thoughts, feelings and issues and experiences relating to a range of topics. These sessions are confidential meaning that what your daughter discusses with the counsellor stays between the two of them unless there is a safeguarding concern These are by appointment and following a referral from a member of staff via The Head of Year, Head of Section or Ms Mellor, Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing. The counsellors also run drop in sessions and students will see information on these in tutor notices throughout the year. These sessions do not require parental permission.

Tooled Up Education

Tooled up is an evidence-based platform providing resources on all aspects of parenting, education and family life to parents, pupils and schools. As a Tooled Up school we work closely with founder and Head of Research, Dr Kathy Weston, Parents and staff have access to a huge wealth of resources via the NLCS Tooled Up Education Library. This online depository hosts a wide variety of resources, including articles, podcasts, webinars, worksheets and videos, all organised by topic and age group. The Tooled Up Library is constantly evolving, being refreshed and added to in response to new research and the ever-developing needs of our young people.

School Code of Conduct

School rules exist to make life pleasant for everyone rather than being dictatorial for their own sake. This means we care about punctuality to morning and afternoon registration and to lessons; we expect doors to be held open for those following behind. For their own safety students must not use the ground floor windows as doors. We appreciate all possessions being named so that the duty team can return them to their owners.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones must always be kept out of sight. Pupils in Years 7 to 11 must store their mobile phones in their Yondr pouch on arrival at school. It is important phones are switched off as this can disrupt lessons if left to ring in a locked locker.

If students are found to be using their mobile phone during the school day, a member of staff will confiscate it and take it to Reception for safe storage. Students can collect confiscated phones from Reception at 4.00pm before heading home.

Dr Weston also visits NLCS regularly and hosts online talks for the community on a wide range of topics to ensure we can all work together to guide and support the girls as effectively as possible. You will receive details of such events via the school calendar within the Parent Portal and via email. Recent talks have included The Role of Sleep in Adolescent Mental Health, Supporting Young People Through Bereavement, How to Raise a Resilient Child, and Social Media Trends.

To access the NLCS Tooled Up Education Library, please visit www.tooledupeducation. com and log in using the details you will be provided at the start of Year 7.

If students need to contact home during the school day, they can use the phone at Reception. If parents need to contact their daughter during the school day, they can call Reception who will pass a message on.

Banned Substances

We do not allow chewing gum in school because inconsiderate people might deposit it on their lunch trays, under desks or on chairs.

The school and grounds are non-smoking areas and students who smoke or vape on campus, or on the way to or from school are in serious breach of school rules. Education about smoking, vaping, alcohol and illegal drug use is included in the Years 8 and 9 PSHE syllabuses and re-visited at regular intervals as the students progress through the school. The School’s policy is to educate about the health risks and to make clear that misuse of such substances is unacceptable behaviour in school and may risk suspension or expulsion. This policy also extends to school trips.

We expect that each student will contribute in a positive way to life in our community, making best use of her talents. Courtesy is the backbone of all relationships and care and consideration of others underpins all actions. Students take responsibility for their own actions and communicate with others when there are problems.

A unit of lessons on good relationships is included in the Personal, Social and Health Education programme (PSHE). The unacceptable nature of bullying is introduced into form discussion, assemblies and into lessons where suitable, e.g. through drama improvisation. One of the Founder’s Day prayers talks of ‘much being expected of those to whom much is given’ and our community thrives on this expectation. Bullying of any sort is unacceptable, and the School will investigate and address all incidents thoroughly and carefully. If you become concerned that your daughter is experiencing any difficulties you should contact her form tutor straight away.

Lessons begin with a formal greeting. At the end of a lesson, students stand, put their chairs under

desks and leave rooms quietly.

All academic departments will make it clear as to the behaviour expected in their area of the School, whether it is a laboratory, art studio, history room or sports hall.

When students are taken on school trips the same standards of behaviour apply as in school, so that everyone can relax and enjoy themselves. It is always appreciated by the members of staff accompanying trips that students thank them on their safe return to school.

Students are issued with an ID card at the start of Year 7. They should use this card to access buildings around school, by tapping it on the sensors at each doorway. Every student must tap in with their ID card on arrival and departure. In addition, if your daughter needs to leave school early/arrive late for any reason, they should tap their ID card on the sensors at either the Canons Park or Dalkeith Grove gates upon arrival/ departure to ensure they are registered correctly.

Our Expectations

Service to Others

Every student in the Sixth Form has an area of responsibility within the school. One responsibility organised by senior students is the raising of funds for charity - Canonaid. The school nominates and votes for local, national and international charities as well as supporting in cases of emergency aid.

We host a number of Taster Mornings and Open Events for prospective pupils and their parents, which your daughter will be asked to help at when they are in Year 7. The girls really are our greatest advocates and we appreciate the time and effort that they contribute.

Every week one of the forms in the Middle School is on the ‘duty rota’. For Year 7 this will happen towards the end of the Autumn term. The Big Six briefs the team about the courtesy part of welcoming visitors and the Senior Student (Head Student) briefs them about their lost property responsibilities. This all contributes towards the understanding of how a community works and that everyone is needed to play a part.

Parents’ evenings are held from 4.45pm7.15pm. The Year 7 parents’ evening takes place in the Spring Term.

Communications

Parent Portal

The Parent Portal is an efficient way for you to manage all correspondence from the School as well as other information relating to your child’s time at NLCS (such as timetables and sports information). There is also a ‘Notice Board’ feature for immediate or urgent messages. In addition, you can use the Portal to update the details we hold about you, such as your home address or contact phone numbers.

In addition to viewing the Portal on a computer, you can also access it via the ‘Schoolbase’ app that you can find on the app store of your smartphone. You will receive notifications via the app when we send new letters or information.

Information and News for Parents:

Information including letters about trips and activities is uploaded to the Parent Portal and you will receive a notification when new items are available to read.

Urgent information, such as school closure in the event of snow will also be sent via text message. It is vital that we have up to date contact information for all our students. If your details change, please make sure you update the details on the Parent Portal.

Also on the Parent Portal you will find letters, a termly calendar and coach travel information.

School news features are on the website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - @nlcs1850).

Information regarding sports fixtures (including team lists) are advertised via SOCS. Whilst it is your child’s responsibility to look in advance to see whether she has been selected to play, we understand that parents like to have this information as well.

Absence from School

If your child is unable to attend school you should email absence@nlcs.org.uk, also cc-ing form tutors, ideally before the start of the school day. Please note that first lesson and statutory morning registration is at 8.40am. Advance notice of planned absences, e.g. medical appointments or music exams taken out of school, is expected or the absence may be unauthorised.

Alternatively, please telephone the Absence Line by 9am on 020 8951 6404 and leave a brief message on the answerphone or speak to the main school number, giving your daughter’s full name, form and reason for absence. If any student is not accounted for, the Attendance Officer will endeavour to contact parents at home or at work to resolve.

Unless the initial phone call or email gives information about the length of absence, it will be assumed that the student is expected in school the following day. Parents should repeat the procedure for each day of absence if their daughter is unable to attend.

Term dates are published well in advance and we ask parents to support us by not arranging to go on a holiday during term time. When multiple students depart for the end of term early it devalues the experience for the rest of the group and often means that important school events are missed. Students are expected to attend school on every day of the published term dates. Any planned absence for exceptional reasons must be authorised by your daughter’s Head of section and we do not always support such requests especially if these are made with limited notice. Government expectation is 96% attendance. Pupils with attendance below 90% are flagged and you should expect to hear from us. When attendance drops below 70% we may make a referral to the local authority. Absence for medical appointments can be approved by form tutors. Absence of up to two consecutive days can be approved by Heads of Section. Anything longer than this should be addressed

to the Deputy Head (Pastoral). Religious absences are requested at the beginning of the year via a Microsoft Form which you will receive separately.

Reports

Each term, every year group receives either a full report, a progress report or you will be invited to attend a parents’ evening. This ensures there is a constant flow of feedback between home and school across each academic year. A full report will contain detailed comments from every subject teacher and a comment from your daughter’s tutor. A progress report will contain a shorter brief update from every subject.

During parents’ evenings, you will have the opportunity to meet with your daughter’s teachers to discuss their progress. The dates and details of when you can expect your daughter’s full and progress reports, and when your parents’ evening will take place will be available in the school calendar. Of course, teachers and tutors are always happy to speak with parents about their daughter’s progress outside of the normal reporting schedule. If you would like to contact any member of the teaching staff, please speak with your daughter’s tutor in the first instance, who will be able to arrange this for you.

“Pupils achieve well in public examinations”.

Independent Schools Inspectorate 2024

Music at North London Collegiate School

There is a broad range of musical opportunities for all students and we strive for ambitious music making. We encourage students to develop skills as a performer irrespective of level, and offer a wide variety of musical experiences both within and beyond the curriculum. We strongly encourage girls to take up an instrument in Year 7, particularly in rarer instruments such as the bassoon or french horn. Approximately 450 instrumental lessons are taught each week by over 25 distinguished visiting instrumental and vocal specialists.

All styles of music thrive at North London Collegiate across classical, popular and world music genres.

Making music together offers such a powerful and enjoyable experience, and so students are encouraged to participate in a range of auditioned and non-auditioned musical activities, comprising choirs, orchestras and various ensembles. Pupils have numerous performing opportunities, ranging from our all-inclusive end of term concerts to our prestigious Old House Concert Series dedicated to solos and smaller ensembles. Students also have the chance to perform in external venues in London and abroad on tours. In recent years trips have included Venice, New York and Tuscany. More details will follow separately about the ensembles open to Year 7 students, and when they run.

We have an outstanding team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs) who provide regular individual music lessons at NLCS. All are vastly experienced performers and teachers who dedicate their time each week to providing high quality lessons across all major disciplines. Pupils have approximately 10 lessons of 35 minutes each term. If you are interested in applying for individual music lessons during the academic year, please contact Mrs Degnan, the Performing Arts Administrator at ldegnan@nlcs.org.uk.

If you have applied for lessons to start in September and a space is available, the relevant Visiting Music Teacher will email you. This message will be sent by the start of the Autumn term, and in most cases sooner than this. Please note that you will only be contacted by the Visiting Music Teacher if we are able to offer your daughter individual music lessons. (If there is not a space available, your daughter’s name will go on to a waiting list, and you will be contacted when there is a vacancy).

Some instruments are available for hire (please see separate letter on music lessons), and there is ample storage in the Music School for your daughter’s instrument. It is a requirement that the instrument is named, together with your daughter’s form. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this.

Parents Guild

All parents are automatically members of the Parents Guild, which organises a number of social and fundraising events during the year. The Guild has its own section on the School website and also a Facebook group: NLCS Parents Guild

Events

The school year commences with a welcome reception for Year 7 parents in mid-September. It is a wonderful opportunity for parents to meet each other. We begin with refreshments in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and then separate into form groups with tutors to share good practice about helping your daughter manage the changes from primary school. Representatives of the Parents’ Guild attend the meeting and the Vice-Chair explains the work of the Guild and the many ways in which you can get involved. Traditionally everyone finds the evening most helpful and we hope to see you there.

In the latter part of the Autumn Term there will be a Year 7 dance display in which every Year 7 student takes part. Throughout the year there will also be many informal occasions when you will be invited to school, for example to watch your daughter play in a netball match, perform in a musical concert or model her design in the Fantasy Fashion Show. Whatever the occasion and whether or not your daughter is involved, you are always most welcome.

We also run a programme of parental talks across each academic year. Recent talks for Middle School parents have focused upon topics such as how to encourage healthy emotional dialogues at home, safer internet use and how to support your daughter in developing healthy working strategies. Details of upcoming parental talks will be available in the school calendar within the Parent Portal each term.

Uniform & Equipment

Uniform

Our school uniform is designed to be comfortable, practical and smart. Students can choose to wear trousers or a skirt.

They may wear one pair of stud earrings and they must keep long hair tied back at all times. Students may use hair bands of any colour, but they may not have hair extensions or hair tinted in any colour that is not ‘natural’.

Shoes must be low heeled and not a “trainertype”. Trainers may only be worn as part of the non-sports uniform if your daughter has an injury or medical condition and must be accompanied by a letter from her parents or guardians.

The school stockists are Pullens and Uniform4Kids - Uniform can be purchased from:

Pullens - 48 Church Road, Stanmore, HA7 4AH

Uniform4Kids - 1103-1107 Finchley Road, Temple Fortune, NW11 0QB.

Pullens/Uniform4Kids also offer a mail order service for telephone orders

Pullens: 020 8954 3850 / Uniform4Kids: 020 8209 0999 and uniform can be ordered online at www.uniform4kids.com/collections/ north-london-collegiate-school.

Uniform 2024-2025

Years 7 – 9

Skirt Brown pleated

Trousers Brown

Blouse Blue open neck, short or long sleeved

Pullover Brown V-neck with sky blue trim

Shoes Dark brown or black. They must be below the ankle and not be trainer-style leather or suede shoes. No logo should be visible. They must have a low heel, not a flat crepe or rubber sole. No ballet pumps.

Tights or socks Plain brown (socks can be knee or ankle length in the summer)

Coat Any plain dark coat, anorak or raincoat

PE Uniform and Equipment

All items may be sourced from Uniform4Kids unless otherwise indicated.

COMPULSORY ITEMS

All PE uniform must be regulation unless specified – Please refer to the full list which is available on the Parent Portal.

Sky blue polo shirt (at least two)

Navy skort or shorts

Navy midlayer

Navy tracksuit bottoms

House t-shirt

Navy shorts/cycling shorts

Navy football socks

White short sports socks

Leotard - the black school one or pupils are permitted to wear their own

Swimming costume

Swimming hat

Swimming bag

Swimming towel – any colour

Trainers - these must have non-marking soles which support your feet

Lacrosse boots - these are most commonly football boots, either moulded or screw-in metal studs

Netball dress (Netball Squad only)

Lacrosse stick - details about buying lacrosse sticks have been sent to you.

Please visit Hattersleys at www.hattersleysonline. co.uk for further information.

Lacrosse mouthguard - see ‘Sports Mouthguards’ section below for details

School kit bag (navy with pale blue logo)

Tennis racket in the Summer term.

DESIRABLE ITEMS

Navy leggings - available from the uniform supplier

Navy long-sleeved baselayer top - available from the uniform supplier

Side-line coat (available from school supplier)

Sky blue splashproof top with fleece lining (particularly useful in the colder months)available from the uniform supplier

Lacrosse gloves and goggles (available through Hattersleys - www.hattersleysonline.co.uk or other lacrosse suppliers)

Astroturf boots

(available from most sports shops)

School boot bag

Summer athletics vest - available from the uniform supplier

Sideline jacket - necessary for those involved in squads through the Autumn and Spring terms.

SPORTS MOUTHGUARDS

It is compulsory for all students to wear a mouthguard whilst playing lacrosse in lessons, practices and matches. They protect not only the teeth but the soft tissue around the mouth and good quality gum shields act as shock absorbers if there is a blow to the head. We recommend using moulded mouthguards and these are available from Opro (www.opro.com) or you can obtain one at your dentist. As a reserve, it is possible to obtain a temporary self-mould guard from any decent sports shop and mould at home, or we have a small supply of emergency use mouthguards in the PE office for a small charge. It is imperative that your daughter starts school in September with a fitted mouthguard. Please either make an appointment with your dentist over the summer, or purchase one from a sports shop.

LACROSSE EYE PROTECTION

It is highly recommended for all students to wear eye protection whilst playing lacrosse in lessons, practices and matches.

JEWELLERY

Students should not be wearing any jewellery in sports lessons (which includes earrings or other piercings). Students are not allowed to tape their ears (earrings must be removed) so please do not organise for your daughter to have her ears pierced during term time or six weeks prior to the start of term. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Other Information

School Policies and Information

The following information is available for all parents on the school website:

The aims of the School

The School’s policy to safeguard and promote the welfare of our pupils

The School’s policy and arrangements for admissions

The School’s policy regarding Relationships and Sex Education

The School’s policy to promote good behaviour (including sanctions and arrangements for discipline and exclusions)

Particulars of education and welfare provision for students with EHC plans and English as an additional language

The School’s curriculum policy

The School’s policy to prevent bullying

Details of the School’s academic performance in recent public examinations

The School’s concerns and complaints procedure

The School’s health and safety policy

The School’s first aid policy

All of these documents are posted on the school website in the ‘About Us’ section, along with the most recent ISI inspection report.

The School’s telephone number is 020 8952 0912 (Junior school 020 8952 1276), and the registered address of the School is North London Collegiate School, Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7RJ.

Parents who wish to contact the Headmistress (Mrs Bingham) or the Chair of Governors may do so at this address or via office@nlcs.org.uk

Key Dates

AUTUMN TERM 2024

Friday 30 August New Staff Induction

Monday 2 September Staff INSET Day

Tuesday 3 September Staff INSET Day

Wednesday 4 September Pupil Orientation Day

Thursday 5 September Autumn Term Begins

Monday 21 October –

Friday 1 November Autumn half term holiday

Thursday 5 December 11+ entrance examination (holiday for Y7-Y13)

Friday 13 December Autumn Term ends for Lower and Senior School*

SPRING TERM 2025

Monday 6 January Staff INSET Day

Tuesday 7 January

Spring Term begins for Senior and Lower Schools

Thursday 9 January Spring Term begins for First School

Monday 17 February

– Friday 21 February

Friday 28 March

Spring half term holiday

Spring Term ends for First, Lower, and Senior School*

SUMMER TERM 2025

Tuesday 22 April

Summer Term begins

Monday 5 May May Day Bank Holiday

Friday 23 May Staff Inset Day

Monday 26 May

– Friday 30 May

Friday 20 June

Tuesday 8 July

Wednesday 9 July

Summer half term holiday

Staff INSET Day - School closed to pupils

Summer Term ends for First School* and Lower School**

Summer Term ends for Senior School*

Wednesday 9 July Staff INSET Day for Junior School Staff

*Term ends at lunchtime **Term ends in the afternoon

Canons

Canons Drive

Edgware

Middlesex

HA8 7RJ

Dalkeith Grove

Stanmore

Middlesex

HA7 4SQ