St Helen's School

The girls are at the heart of all that we do here at St Helen’s. Every girl is valued and known, and able to enjoy the warm and lively atmosphere that makes this school such an exciting place to learn. Our students become the best version of themselves: happy, healthy and active; creative and flexible thinkers; kind, thoughtful, successful and responsible young people.

We pride ourselves on exceptional teaching by specialists who are experts in how girls learn and develop. Exam results that will open doors to the ambitious university courses and careers that our students set their hearts on are an important part of the St Helen’s story. Just as important is that from the girl in nursery coming to ‘big’ school for the first time to the Year 7 girl about to become a teenager, everyone is encouraged to find out more, to work things out for herself, and to love learning. By taking risks and developing their imagination, the girls here learn to know and understand what they care about and have the confidence to go out into the world and live the lives they want to lead.

What happens outside the classroom is just as important. Our co-curricular programme means that each girl can discover her talents and her passions whilst having fun and finding out a lot about herself. Our pastoral care means that she will always have somewhere and someone to turn to – we understand that growing up can sometimes be confusing and when a sympathetic ear will make all the difference. That’s why girls leave St Helen’s with a calm inner confidence and also a sense of when others need an encouraging word – we are very proud of the kind-hearted and compassionate approach that is at the heart of our school life.

Our website will give you an introduction to what St Helen’s is about, and our virtual tour will allow you to view our spaces, but please do come and visit too so you can experience the School firsthand and hear from the girls themselves what makes St Helen’s so special.

A St Helen's girl

• Is excited by learning and the opportunity to excel
• Is intellectually curious and thinks independently
• Is confident and able to lead as well as be a team member
• Has integrity, celebrates diversity and respects others
• Uses her talents, energy and enthusiasm for the benefit of the community
• Has skills which enable her to become a leader of her community and profession

We provide each and every girl with the opportunity and the means to achieve academic excellence. This is not to be measured only by results in public examinations – though these are stunning - but by the improvement and progress made by each girl over her time with us. Our curriculum is carefully constructed to provide every girl with a balanced, academically rigorous and ambitious education, and we review and evaluate it every year.

The pastoral care provided at St Helen’s is outstanding and the girls are known, valued and respected by the staff. Through the PSHCE programme, tutor time, the care given by the Individual Needs Department and our pastoral staff, we are able to guide, support and advise the girls at each stage of their school careers.

We are fortunate to enjoy a position at the heart of Northwood, and as part of the wider Merchant Taylors’ family. We are seeking to bring this family together through the work of the Development Director and the exciting and innovative Futures Programme. Alongside us, throughout our journey of growth and development are our dedicated and professional Governing Council, our ambitious and skilful staff, the friends of the School including former Headmistresses, alumnae and staff, and a loyal and energetic parent body.

In short, our purpose is to provide an outstanding academic education and to develop young women through the provision of excellent teaching, first class facilities, vibrant and exciting opportunities, and by embracing the enduring values of the School. By providing our pupils with choice, opportunity and the skills necessary to succeed, they will be prepared to lead and make an exceptional contribution to wider society and to become the leaders of their professions and communities.