North London International School
Encyclopedia
The North London International School is an independent
co-educational school-foundation providing programmes prepared by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation
as an alternative to the British national curriculum. Most notably, employing the IB Diploma in favour of traditional British A-Level studies after pushes by staff to "raise the bar" of academic achievement at the school.
The establishment comprises senior, junior, preparatory and nursery departments in the North Finchley and Friern Barnet
areas of north London, educating children from the ages of 2-18.
The school initially developed from the Holmewood boys’ preparatory school
founded in 1885 at North Finchley, which in 1985 was acquired by the Dwight Franklin Foundation and the family of the then chancellor of the Dwight School
, New York, which remains the sister school of NLIS.
In 1988, Holmewood merged with St Alban’s School, becoming co-educational and being renamed Woodside Park Preparatory School, which in 1995 consolidated with the Friern Barnet Grammar School
for Boys to form the Woodside Park School (eventually Woodside Park International School), for education of pupils from the ages 4 to 18.
In December 1995 the senior department was accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to teach the Diploma Programme; in 2003,to teach the IB Middle Years Programme
, and the following year the junior department the IB Primary Years Programme
. Consequently, the school became one of only a handful of British establishments to deliver the full range of IB teaching programmes for pupils aged 3 to 19.
Though senior pupils continued to be prepared for GCSE examinations, abandoning the national curriculum emphasised the school’s international culture whilst realising the ultimate aim of establishing an international school in north London.
It is very easy to travel to the school, since it has its own minibus and the Junior Department has an Underground station very close to its site. The Senior department is close to several bus stops and New Southgate overground.
In May 2006, the school came under sole ownership and was listed as a limited company with an age range of 2 to 18 years old.
In September 2008, the school was rechristened The North London International, to better reflect its status as an IB World School.
Head of School: Mr David Rose
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
co-educational school-foundation providing programmes prepared by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation
International Baccalaureate Organization
The International Baccalaureate , formerly the International Baccalaureate Organization , is an international educational foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and founded in 1968. IB offers three educational programmes for children ages 3–19.The organization's name and logo were changed...
as an alternative to the British national curriculum. Most notably, employing the IB Diploma in favour of traditional British A-Level studies after pushes by staff to "raise the bar" of academic achievement at the school.
The establishment comprises senior, junior, preparatory and nursery departments in the North Finchley and Friern Barnet
Friern Barnet
Friern Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburban development situated north of Charing Cross. The centre of Friern Barnet is formed by the busy intersection of Colney Hatch Lane , Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet Road .-History:Friern Barnet was an...
areas of north London, educating children from the ages of 2-18.
The school initially developed from the Holmewood boys’ preparatory school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
founded in 1885 at North Finchley, which in 1985 was acquired by the Dwight Franklin Foundation and the family of the then chancellor of the Dwight School
Dwight School
The Dwight School is an independent, college preparatory school located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Dwight offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum to students ages two through grade twelve. Approximately forty countries are represented among its student body.-History:Founded in 1872...
, New York, which remains the sister school of NLIS.
In 1988, Holmewood merged with St Alban’s School, becoming co-educational and being renamed Woodside Park Preparatory School, which in 1995 consolidated with the Friern Barnet Grammar School
Friern Barnet Grammar School
The Friern Barnet Grammar School was a small independent day school for boys located on Friern Barnet Road, North London.It was later absorbed into the co-educational Woodside Park School foundation which is today known as The North London International School, notably one of the first schools to...
for Boys to form the Woodside Park School (eventually Woodside Park International School), for education of pupils from the ages 4 to 18.
In December 1995 the senior department was accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to teach the Diploma Programme; in 2003,to teach the IB Middle Years Programme
IB Middle Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is an educational programme intended for students aged approximately 11 to 16 . Thus, in the United States the programme is often taught throughout the middle school years and the first two years of high school...
, and the following year the junior department the IB Primary Years Programme
IB Primary Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 11. While the programme prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme, it is not a prerequisite for it...
. Consequently, the school became one of only a handful of British establishments to deliver the full range of IB teaching programmes for pupils aged 3 to 19.
Though senior pupils continued to be prepared for GCSE examinations, abandoning the national curriculum emphasised the school’s international culture whilst realising the ultimate aim of establishing an international school in north London.
It is very easy to travel to the school, since it has its own minibus and the Junior Department has an Underground station very close to its site. The Senior department is close to several bus stops and New Southgate overground.
In May 2006, the school came under sole ownership and was listed as a limited company with an age range of 2 to 18 years old.
In September 2008, the school was rechristened The North London International, to better reflect its status as an IB World School.
Head of School: Mr David Rose