Senior School | Highgate School

I joined Highgate in the Pre-Prep and have found the school to be a safe, welcoming and enjoyable place. My three favourite subjects are French, Geography and Physics; they are different and very interesting in unique ways. I get involved with several clubs and societies at Highgate, including early morning football, outdoor education and pop choir. I really enjoy all of them as they are a chance to meet people that have things in common. I love playing football at school, as well as representing Watford Ladies Football Club. I’m also learning to play the piano.

—Emilia, Year 8 Senior School

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“We want our pupils to enjoy their childhood to the full, to develop and pursue their academic and co-curricular passions, and to lead fulfilling, exciting lives as thoughtful and open-minded young adults.”
—Adam Pettitt, Head

Highgate is a flourishing co-educational day school in North London. Most teaching takes place on our North Road site, in the heart of Highgate Village. Here Victorian buildings, such as our Chapel, Central Hall classrooms and Sir Martin Gilbert Library, sit alongside modern facilities like our 200-seat auditorium and dedicated recital space, science laboratories, modern language classrooms, and ICT suites. Pupils have lessons in art, design, engineering and technology at our Mills Centre, in Bishopswood Road.

Highgate Voices

Teaching instils an appetite for intellectual effort and fosters in the pupils an ability to think and learn for themselves.

ISI Inspection 2024

The Sunday Times Schools Guide

Highgate School was named London Independent School of the Decade by The Sunday Times Schools Guide for 2021. Most recently, in their 2025 Guide, we were proud to feature in the Top 10 independent schools in London and amongst the Top 20 schools nationally.

94%

of GCSE exams
were graded 7-9 in 2024
(A*/A equivalent)

176

number of music lessons per week
in the Lower School

6,700

number of library books borrowed this
academic year

A day in the life of our Senior School

8.25am

Senior School pupils gather in form groups for registration. This creates a calm and positive start to the day, with pupils and their form tutor able to catch up and talk about the day, and week, ahead.

8.45am

Our first lesson of the day begins. Senior School lessons last for fifty minutes, with pupils having six lessons a day.

10.30am

The first break of the day, with activities during this time varying by the day and year group. Pupils spend break with their form, either attending their one weekly religious service, their one year group assembly, their one house assembly or time with their form tutor. Lessons resume at 11.15am.

1pm

Our Senior School pupils take a short walk with friends to our nearby Dining Hall, which serves hot and cold food. There is also time to take part in lunchtime clubs, talks and debates, plus music lessons. Our Years 7 and 8 also have Thursday Lunchtime Activities each week, with options as varied as bee keeping, creative writing, sign language and outdoor education. Our next lesson begins at 2.15pm.

4.15pm

Following two more lessons, school ends and after-school activities, including sport, take place until 5.30pm. On Tuesday afternoons, our Years 9 to 13 are involved in co-curricular activities from 4pm, which range from bicycle maintenance to photography, and include our always popular Duke of Edinburgh Award. Our Library remains open until 6pm for those who wish to study or collect books.

Classroom

Beyond the classroom

Sport and Exercise

Exam success

Highgate People

‘I love how inclusive the school is and how many new people you can meet’

Angelina

‘At Highgate, our approach to pedagogy means we explore and adopt, where appropriate for our School, the most up-to-date methodologies for the most effective teaching that leads to deep learning.’

Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning)

Dr Weston

‘The range of co-curricular activities offered at Highgate is phenomenal! There is always an opportunity to experience something new and interesting; I have tried everything from fencing to sewing. Then I discovered the Robotics Club and have been part of it ever since.’

Y10

Maya

‘I love all the fun sports options and all the kind support.’

Anvar

‘Our Year 9 Community Days and Year 10 Environment Day let pupils engage with local projects as wide-ranging as soup kitchens, charity shops and outdoor parkland areas.’

Senior Deputy Head

Ms Shelley

‘I really like that there’s lots of variety and opportunity to try different sports, and the amount of training and effort that goes into nurturing those talents.’

Y11

Fernando

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Highgate Senior

Welcome to our Senior School