St Helen's School 圣海伦学校

What it's like
Founded in 1899, it occupies an attractive semi-rural site of some 22 acres of gardens and playing fields in north-west London. It comprises a nursery and pre-prep department, a junior school and a senior school housed in well-equipped buildings. There are impressive facilities for art and design and a state-of-the-art sports centre (with swimming pool, fitness suite, dance studio and sports hall). The school has a Christian foundation but pupils of all faiths are welcome. It has an excellent academic record with very good examination results. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form, in addition to AS and A-levels. There is strong emphasis on music and drama and a good range of sports and games in which high standards are attained. There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities and a good record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Regular use is made of London's cultural amenities. There is a well established relationship and joint activities, including CCF and drama productions, with Merchant Taylors' School.

 
Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 1127 day girls. Junior department 3-11, 470 girls. Senior department 11-18, 657 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 7, 11 and 16. Part of North London Independent Girls' Schools' Consortium for entry at 11; for sixth-form entry, 7 GCSEs at least grade C including English and maths (grade A in most sixth-form subjects). All talents considered; no religious requirements. State school entry, 50% intake at 11, plus few into sixth form. Many senior pupils from own junior department, as well as a range of other schools.
Scholarships & bursaries
Academic scholarships, value up to 50% of fees; plus scholarships and exhibitions for music and art at 11 and 16, and for drama and sport at 16. Bursaries also available.
 
Parents
4% in armed services; 40% in industry or commerce.

 
Head & staff
Head: Mrs Mary Morris, in post since 2000. Educated at St Dominic's Priory School and London University. Previously Deputy Head of the school and Head of Year at Dr Challoner's High School. Teaching staff: 80 full time, 25 part time. Annual turnover 7%. Average age 45.

 
Exam results
GCSE: 90 pupils in Year 11, all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels/IB: 89 in Year 13. 70+% take AS/A-levels, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final point score of 398. 25+% take the IB, all passing the Diploma with an average IB score of 37.

  
Pupils' destinations
All sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (approx 10% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 15% in science and engineering, 10% in law and economics, 28% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in languages, 10% in creative and performing arts, 16% in other vocational subjects eg education, physiotherapy, business and management.

  
Curriculum
GCSE, AS and A-levels, and IB Diploma. 25 subjects offered. Sixth form: 25%-30% take the IB Diploma. Remainder take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level, together with a non-examined enhancement programme; 21% take science A-levels, 44% arts/humanities, 35% both. Vocational: Work experience available in UK and Europe for sixth formers. Special provision: Extra English lessons given on 1-to-1 basis for dyslexia and EFL. Languages: French, German, Spanish, Latin, Classical Greek, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin offered to GCSE, AS/A-level and IB - some at beginners' level. Over 50% take GCSE in more than 1 language and all pupils may continue language study in sixth form. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 150 computers for pupil use (8 hours a day), all networked and most with email and internet access.

  
The arts
Music: Over 40% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken each term. Numerous musical groups: several choirs, 2 orchestras, brass ensemble, concert band, jazz band, flute choir, 2 string quartets, recorder consort, saxophone quartet and several smaller ensembles. Joint orchestra and choral society with Merchant Taylors' School. Drama and dance: Drama and ballet offered. GCSE drama and A-level/IB theatre studies, Guildhall and LAMDA speech and drama exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions and joint productions with Merchant Taylors' School. Art and design: On average, 35 take GCSE, 11 A-level/IB. Also design and technology GCSE and A-level/IB.

 
Sports & activities
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, tennis, rounders, gymnastics, dance, swimming, athletics compulsory in Years 7-9. Basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash, trampolining, aerobics, self-defence, first aid and life-saving Years 10-11. Sixth form only: golf (off site). Several regional and many county lacrosse players each year. Successful national schools' lacrosse, swimming and tennis teams. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF optional at age 14 (with Merchant Taylors'). Community service optional in sixth form; also runs residential holiday for disabled each year with Merchant Taylors'. Up to 30 clubs, eg Amnesty International, debating, eco schools, puzzle club, magazine, languages, history forum.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl and house prefects - head girl and deputies appointed after selection process; prefects elected. Religion: Girls of all faiths welcomed within the framework of school's Christian foundation; compulsory morning assemblies as whole school, year groups, houses or forms. Social: Debates, theatrical and choral productions, local conferences with other schools. Some activities shared with Merchant Taylors'. Trips abroad include educational (eg Greece, Italy, Germany), sporting (eg USA, Australia) lacrosse tour, skiing, music (Italy and Holland), language exchanges (eg Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan). Meals self-service.

Discipline
High standards of behaviour expected and achieved; punishment for minor offences includes sanctions, detentions or some form of service to school which would be generally useful. Serious offences involving drugs would lead to temporary or permanent exclusion.