The Henrietta Barnett School Review 2026: Grammar Excellence in North London

When the first six students arrived at The Institute on 17 January 1912, few could have imagined the legacy they would help build. Over a century later, Dame Henrietta Barnett's vision of open access to excellence remains as powerful as ever. This girls' grammar school in Hampstead Garden Suburb stands as one of England's highest-performing state schools, consistently ranking among the nation's academic elite. With 97% of GCSE grades at 9-7 level and 95% of A-levels at A*-B, the school ranks 6th nationally for GCSE performance and 18th for A-level (FindMySchool ranking data), placing it firmly in the top tier of academic achievement. Beyond the examination hall, the school balances intellectual rigour with over 50 student-led clubs and societies, from Robotics and MedSoc to the Jazz Band and Debating Society. Built on the Grade II* listed Lutyens-designed buildings that frame Central Square, HBS remains true to its founder's principle that education should transcend class and circumstance.

The architecture speaks first. The original 1911 north wing, the Queen Mary Wing (1924), and Crewe Hall (1929) together create a campus of genuine architectural significance. Walking through Central Square's landscaped grounds, students cross between Victorian proportions and modern wings added in 2011. The atmosphere balances tradition with purposeful energy. Girls move with quiet purposefulness between lessons. The refurbished library, opened in 2015, has become a social heart of the school, evidence of a community that values learning beyond the timetable.

Emma MacLeod took the helm in September 2024, arriving from a deputy headship at Queens' School in Bushey. Her background in English (Oxford University), Medieval Literature (York), and teaching qualification from Cambridge positions her well to lead a school renowned for intellectual breadth. The school operates without bells or imposed rulebooks, trusting instead in self-motivation and shared purpose. Girls are driven by genuine curiosity rather than compliance, creating a culture described by current students as genuinely supportive rather than purely competitive, though the academic intensity is real and acknowledged.

The diversity is genuine. Students come from across London and beyond, representing multiple faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school's founding principle remains visible: entry is by demonstrated ability, not family wealth or proximity.

GCSE Performance

In summer 2024, 97% of GCSE grades were awarded at 9-7 level, with an Attainment 8 score of 86.4 and a Progress 8 score of 1.09. These figures place the school 6th in England (FindMySchool ranking), well above the England average. Reading, mathematics, sciences, and languages consistently show exceptional strength. EBacc performance is highlighted as particularly strong, with 97% achieving grade 5+ across the core suite.

The 2022 Ofsted inspection confirmed that teaching is strong and expectations are clear. The latest inspection noted impeccable behaviour, with pupils highly interested in their learning.

A-Level Performance

A-level results continue the trajectory. In 2024, 72% of grades were A* or A, with 95% achieving A*-B. The school ranks 18th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it among the elite nationwide. Mathematics, sciences, humanities, and languages all show consistent excellence. The Sixth Form intake of around 100 students per year maintains selectivity at post-16 entry as well.

The curriculum is ambitious and traditional in its breadth. Girls study core subjects alongside choices that include Classical Greek, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Politics, Economics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Setting in mathematics begins in Year 4 across the primary phase (for those entering at the younger ages), though the secondary entry at Year 7 is the main pathway.

Science education benefits from the completely refurbished Queen Mary Science Wing, featuring eight modern laboratories with specialist suites for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These facilities enable hands-on, investigative learning. The school has invested heavily in computing and design technology, with dedicated CAD studios and music composition labs housed in the Hopkins Wings completed in 2011.

Teachers are subject specialists with clear expectations. A-level class sizes often drop below ten, enabling deep discussion and tutorial-style learning. The extension of learning beyond the exam specification is encouraged, with rigorous scholarship and research embedded in the culture.

The university pipeline is strong and diverse. In 2024, 32 students secured Oxbridge places from 79 applications, representing a 79% success rate. Cambridge attracted 21 acceptances, whilst Oxford secured 11. Beyond Oxbridge, leavers regularly progress to Imperial College, University College London, Durham, Edinburgh, and Warwick, reflecting the school's Russell Group pipeline.

From the 2024 leaver cohort (142 students), 79% progressed to university, 1% to further education, 2% to apprenticeships, and 12% to employment. The Sixth Form focus is explicitly university preparation, with Oxbridge support available for those aiming at the highest targets. The school's relationships with top universities are long-standing and productive.

The extracurricular programme is genuinely exceptional, with over 50 clubs and societies available to students across Years 7-13. Many are student-led, creating genuine peer ownership and demonstrating leadership at all levels.

Music: Central to School Life

The school's music provision is comprehensive and ambitious. Peripatetic music lessons in violin, viola, cello, piano, clarinet, flute, bassoon, percussion, trumpet, trombone, and French horn run throughout the week, with teachers sourced if students wish to learn instruments beyond the standard list. The Jazz Band rehearses weekly, as does the Rock School, whilst choral provision includes multiple groups rehearsing and performing collaboratively. Orchestra rehearsals happen weekly in the dedicated music rehearsal spaces within the Hopkins Wings. Several concerts run each term, with students from all year groups performing together, reinforcing the sense of vertical community.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

Drama is extremely popular, with LAMDA classes and qualifications available alongside major productions. Recent years have included musical theatre (The Sound of Music), classic plays (A Christmas Carol), and Shakespeare (The Tempest this year). The Musical Theatre Club and Key Stage 3 Drama Club provide entry points for all abilities, whilst advanced students access drama through the dedicated theatre spaces within the Hopkins Wings, which include orchestra rehearsal facilities and purpose-built production space.

Sports: Competitive and Inclusive

Sport is central. Netball, basketball, volleyball, football, badminton, cricket, and Tang Soo Do (Korean martial arts) all have club provision. Fixture-based competitive sport runs alongside fitness-focused provision, and teams regularly enter borough tournaments in netball, athletics, and basketball. The refurbished sports courts provide facilities for hockey, netball, tennis, football, and volleyball. Senior netball training provides weekly sessions and match play for Sixth Formers, whilst the multi-gym and fitness facilities cater to those seeking exercise and wellness.

STEM: Innovation at Scale

Robotics Club and Advanced Coding Club engage students in computational thinking and engineering. The Maths Challenge offers competition-level problem-solving. MedSoc and Biomedical Society are particularly popular with students considering healthcare careers, often hosting sessions from external medical professionals. The refurbished science wing with eight modern laboratories provides excellent facilities for science extension work beyond the curriculum.

Academic Enrichment: Depth Beyond the Classroom

History Society, Economics Society, and Politics Society extend learning beyond the timetable, often inviting expert speakers to share research and perspectives. The Current Affairs society runs a regular lunchtime speaker programme, which has previously hosted politicians, journalists, campaigners, and activists, creating intellectual engagement with real-world issues. French Debating, Spanish Extension, Latin Reading Club, Mythology Club, Geography Society, and Classics Society all cater to subject-specific intellectual pursuits. The Debate Club and Mock Trial team prepare students for public speaking and legal reasoning, with Sixth Formers competing in the annual Bar Mock Trial Competition.

Publications and Leadership

Student-led publications include The HBS Economist, The Linguanaut (languages), The HBS Scientist, and AI Magazine, giving students editorial experience and platforms to document school culture. The Head Prefect Team leads peer groups, supports younger students, and manages the School Council, which meets termly to discuss broader issues from mental health to sustainability. Sixth formers have opportunities to establish their own societies, which in recent years have included Japanese Club, Greek Club, and Current Affairs programming.

Additional Opportunities

Duke of Edinburgh Award provision runs to Gold level. Green Team members engage in environmental projects. Chess Club, Gardening Club, the LGBTQ Society, Tamil Society, and Jewish Society create spaces for specific communities. Residential trips and educational visits supplement classroom learning. The breadth is genuine: students choose, commit, and develop real depth in their chosen interests.

Entry to Year 7 is highly competitive and based on demonstrated academic ability. The entrance process involves two rounds. The first round entrance test, held in early September, assesses verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and English using papers provided by GL Assessment. The top 300 performers are invited to a second round in early October, where HBS-designed papers assess English comprehension and mathematics. Results from both rounds are combined and ranked, with around 120 places available.

Admission priority is given to looked-after children and previously looked after children in the top 300, then pupils eligible for pupil premium in the top 300, then pupils living within three miles of the school. The three-mile radius has in the past seen significant oversubscription; competition for places is intense.

Applications for September 2025 entry closed on 31 October 2024. Registration for 2026 entry opened on 1 April 2025, with closure on 11 July 2025. The school strongly advises parents to research tutoring practices carefully, as external preparation is common but tutoring culture around grammar school entry is competitive and requires careful navigation.

Sixth form entry is selective, with admission to Year 12 requiring strong GCSE performance and meeting subject-specific entry requirements (typically grade 7 or above in relevant subjects). Around 100 students per year enter the Sixth Form from both internal progression and external applications.

The school day typically runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. The school is a state academy, so there are no tuition fees. Costs associated with school life include uniform, trips, music lessons (fee-paying peripatetic instruction), and optional residential visits. Transport links to Hampstead Garden Suburb are good; the Northern Line (Golders Green station) provides easy access from across North London and beyond.

The school takes pastoral support seriously. A Health and Wellbeing Hub opened in 2023, providing dedicated space for counselling and support. Mental health and emotional wellbeing are embedded in the pastoral curriculum. The school works with external organisations including Papyrus UK (suicide prevention) and runs peer support networks. Wellbeing lessons run across the curriculum, complementing the rigorous academics with genuine attention to student welfare.

Behaviour is described by the most recent inspection as impeccable. The culture of respect runs deep, with girls held to high standards of integrity and kindness. The lack of imposed rules (no bells, no lists of punishments) means expectations are internalized and owned by the community itself.

Entrance intensity is real. The 11-plus process involves two rounds of testing, and tutoring is widespread among applicants. Families should prepare for this reality and consider whether their daughter will thrive in a selective entry environment. Some girls find the preparation pressured; others relish the challenge.

Academic expectations are very high. This is a rigorous school, and the peer group is exceptionally able. Girls who struggle with the pace or who are less confident academically may find themselves anxious. The school has good support systems, but the intellectual intensity is genuine and not for everyone.

Three-mile distance criterion means that unless you live relatively close to Hampstead Garden Suburb, securing a place is statistically unlikely. Check the formal catchment criteria carefully and understand that distance remains a determining factor.

Mental health and pressure concerns exist, as acknowledged by student forums and parent discussions. The school has invested in wellbeing support, but the culture of high achievement can feel pressured to some. This is worth discussing with your daughter and considering whether her personality suits a high-achieving, selective environment.

The Henrietta Barnett School delivers academic excellence at state school cost, with a genuine commitment to breadth, character development, and intellectual curiosity that extends far beyond examination results. The facilities are outstanding, the teaching is strong, and the extracurricular provision is genuinely exceptional. The school remains true to its founder's vision: education is open to girls of ability regardless of background, and it develops independent, ambitious, intellectually engaged young women.

Best suited to girls within the three-mile catchment who are academically able, intellectually curious, and ready for the rigour and intensity of a selective grammar school environment. For families who secure a place, the educational experience is exceptional. The main barriers are the highly competitive entrance process and the need to live close enough to have a realistic chance of admission.