North London Grammar School (NLGS) is a private, non-denominational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4âÂÂ18 located in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet, London, England. The school offers primary and secondary education on a single campus and runs a one-year University Foundation Programme as an alternative to a traditional sixth form and A Levels.
The school was founded in 2006 as Wisdom School in Tottenham, before relocating to a larger site in Hendon in 2014 and adopting its present name.
NLGS is known internationally as the organiser and host of the International Greenwich Olympiad (IGO), a major global STEAM project competition involving students from more than 50 countries. In 2025, the school received the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for International Provision in recognition of the Olympiad.
Wisdom School opened in 2006 in Tottenham, north London, on a site of approximately 6,000 square feet. Early Ofsted inspections reported a good standard of education and pastoral care.
Growing enrolment and the need for greater facilities led to the acquisition of a new campus.
In 2013 the school acquired a former police training centre on Colindeep Lane in Hendon. After renovation, the expanded 50,000 square foot campus opened in 2014 as North London Grammar School, offering primary and secondary education alongside new boarding provision.
A one-year University Foundation Programme (UFP), accredited by OCN London, was later introduced for students aged 16âÂÂ18 as an alternative pathway to university entry, instead of an in-house sixth form and A Level provision.
Facilities include:
The school also uses external venues for competitive sports and undertakes regular educational visits to universities, museums and cultural institutions across London.
NLGS follows the National Curriculum for England and structures its academic provision around the motto Bonitas, Scientia, Disciplina. The school states that it offers a âÂÂbroad and balanced curriculumâ that extends beyond statutory requirements, combining traditional academic subjects with trips, clubs, Olympiads and opportunities for cultural enrichment.
The school operates a three-year GCSE programme, giving pupils additional time for depth of study, personalisation and reduced exam pressure. According to the school, this approach has contributed to recent outcomes, including 54% of GCSE grades being awarded at 7âÂÂ9 in 2024, which it states places the school within the top 1% nationally on progress measures.
Enrichment within the curriculum includes:
NLGS does not operate a traditional sixth form and does not offer A Levels. Most pupils completing Year 11 transfer to external colleges and sixth forms for post-16 study, while a proportion join the schoolâÂÂs own University Foundation Programme (UFP).
The University Foundation Programme is a one-year full-time course accredited by OCN London for students aged 16âÂÂ18, designed primarily as an alternative to A Levels for progression to higher education. The school offers three main intakes each year (September, January and April), and states that the programme is open to both local and international students.
The UFP is organised into four subject pathways:
According to the school, teaching on the UFP uses a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and educational trips, and assessment methods include written examinations, coursework, essays, presentations, practical exercises and portfolio work, depending on the pathway.
Entry requirements published by the school typically include a minimum UKVI IELTS score of 4.5 (or equivalent B2-level English), a CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) score, a recent school report and an age range of 16âÂÂ18. The schoolâÂÂs FAQs state that around 98% of pupils overall go on to further education at 16, and that UFP students progress to university at a reported rate of 100%.
Graduates of NLGS and its UFP progress to a range of universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, KingâÂÂs College London, University of Manchester and Queen Mary University of London.
The school offers boarding for approximately 30 boys from Year 8 to Year 11. Facilities include shared bedrooms, lounges, kitchens, study areas and supervised evening study (âÂÂprepâÂÂ). Boarding is accredited by the Boarding Schools Association.
The International Greenwich Olympiad (IGO) is an annual international STEAM project competition organised and hosted by North London Grammar School in London. It brings together secondary school students from around the world to present scientific, technological and creative projects with an emphasis on innovation and global awareness.
Projects are assessed by academic and industry judges according to creativity, scientific method, data analysis and clarity of presentation.
IGO categories include:
The 2024 Olympiad hosted:
Exhibitions and judging were held at Queen Mary University of London.
The 2025 edition expanded to over 500 students from 53 countries. The opening ceremony was hosted at Oxford Town Hall, featuring a parade of national flags and cultural performances.
Local media described IGO as âÂÂa hub of innovation and collaborationâÂÂ, citing its partnerships with schools, ministries of education and international scientific organisations. The Olympiad aligns its themes with selected Sustainable Development Goals and forms part of NLGS's engagement with the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.
NLGS offers an extensive programme of co-curricular and extracurricular activities designed to develop leadership, creativity and personal confidence.
Activities include:
According to the 2025 ISI report, enrichment activities are âÂÂwell integrated into the curriculumâ and contribute strongly to pupilsâ personal development.
According to its published information, North London Grammar School is a member of or affiliated with:
The school has received awards relating to STEM, e-safety and student achievement.
In 2025 NLGS received the Independent Schools Association Award for International Provision, recognising the global impact of the International Greenwich Olympiad. Judges highlighted the school's âÂÂambition, success and achievementâ in coordinating an event involving more than 500 students from 53 countries.