‘Highgate’s Music Department offers such variety that you can take your music beyond the classroom and in very different directions. In 2019, I was awarded Highgate’s Young Musician of the Year for my cello but I am also lead guitarist in a rock band, with other Highgate friends. I can play the cello at world-class concert venues with Highgate orchestra, then gig with my band at the prestigious Camden Assembly.’
—Aris, Year 11
Outdoor education helps you go beyond your comfort zone, enjoy the great outdoors, build resilience and understand the importance of teamwork. At Highgate, we run activities in our School grounds, on nearby Hampstead Heath and at our Snowdonia centre, as well as elsewhere in the UK and abroad. Highgate remains Haringey’s biggest Duke of Edinburgh centre.
‘Highgate’s Sports and Exercise Department provides outstanding support and their innovative High Performance Programme helped me go beyond and improve every element of my game. I now train full-time with women’s football club, London Bees and have received caps for England Independent Schools. I’m proud to be Highgate’s first female football player to reach this level and hope to inspire the next generation of female players.’
—Mathilda, Year 11
‘Highgate’s English Department encourages you to love literature and read beyond expected texts for your age. Last year they introduced Highgate 21, a list of books for each year group that showcases great writing from across the centuries. I’m enjoying working my way through these amazing authors, and it helps that our Library is a beautiful place to borrow a book from!’
—Siena, Year 7
Highgate Senior School is for pupils
aged 11-18. We have over 1,220 pupils,
from Years 7 to 13.
If you’re interested in joining us in September 2022, please click the button below to leave your details so we can:
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.
a rare and magical combination of the high-flying and the humble Good Schools Guide
the overall vibe is very down to earth and low key Good Schools Guide
a first class, modern education to those lucky enough to land there. Good Schools Guide
of all Highgate GCSE entries
were graded A* in 2020
(or new numerical equivalent)
Highgate pupils learn
a musical instrument
Highgate pupils took part
in DoE in 2019-20
‘Everyone is welcomed here, and I almost immediately felt that I had been at Highgate for months. The facilities here, the art rooms, the sports grounds, the science labs, are amazing.’
Y8
Zara
‘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 the form competitions, especially sports day, because although there was a competitive air it’s great fun and everyone has a good time.’
Y8
Leo
‘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.’
Deputy Head
Ms Shelley
‘I help organise the individual year trips for Lower School – currently Lille for Year 7 and Northumbria for Year 8 – which are a great experience for each group!’
Lower School Administrator
Miss McCallum
‘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
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.
Our first lesson of the day begins. Senior School lessons last for fifty minutes, with pupils having six lessons a day.
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.
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.
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.
A few moments from today’s Y7 interform athletics, in one handy thread. First, here’s Vita running away with the girls’ 800m. (There were oth...
Well, why wouldn't you want to come to cricket practice at 0700 on a Tuesday? https://t.co/jwNY2f6UBL
Meanwhile, the U13As picked up a seven wicket victory, with Zach and Fin both in the 40s, while the Bs (pictured, looking supremely relaxed) lost b...
Ms Shelley kicking off Y10 careers day... https://t.co/LgQZd6goH1
RT @highgate1565: In Physics class we’ve been viewing the eclipse today at Highgate. Although it was cloudy, we still got a few good glimps…
RT @highgate1565: Some of our Senior School pupils on a SpEx trip to the Castle Climbing Centre in North London last week. #HighgateSchool…
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Lower School Middle School
