North London Collegiate School
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

North London Collegiate School has been one of Britain's leading independent schools for girls since its foundation in 1850. It consistently ranks among the highest-performing schools in the country, yet places equal emphasis on individual character – the school is as interested in who a student is as in what she can do academically.

NLCS is looking for able, curious students who will contribute to and benefit from a stimulating school community. The school does not define students by labels or rankings, and its admissions process is designed to get to know each candidate as an individual. Both the exam and interview matter – and the interview, in particular, is given significant weight in the final decision.

Entry involves five stages.

The first is attending an event. NLCS encourages families to visit before applying – the school runs Open Days and Taster Mornings throughout the year.

The second is registration, completed via the school's online form. Families applying for a bursary will be sent an additional form at this stage.

The third is the entrance exam, held in December at the school. All registered candidates are invited to sit written papers in English and Maths. These are entirely separate from the 11+ London Consortium Schools assessments – NLCS runs its own independent process. Sample papers are available on the school's website.

The fourth stage is an interview, held in mid-January, for a shortlisted group of candidates. Interviews are described by the school as friendly and informal, and include further verbal questioning in Maths and English. NLCS treats the interview as a genuine two-way conversation – an opportunity for the school to get to know each girl, and for each girl to ask questions of her own.

The fifth stage is offers, sent by email following interviews. All offer holders are invited to an event at school before the decision deadline.

The written papers in English and Maths are the primary academic filter. Sample papers are published on the school's website and are worth working through to understand the style and difficulty level. The interview stage is notably important at NLCS – the school is explicit that it carries real weight – so preparation that builds a student's confidence in spoken discussion, not just written answers, is time well spent.

NLCS has offered bursaries since its founding, in keeping with its long-standing commitment to accessible education for able students. Means-tested bursaries and music scholarships are available for 11+ entry. Families wishing to apply for financial support should indicate this at registration.