Notting Hill and Ealing High School
independent · Est. 1873
NHEHS is empowering, grounded, and fiercely academic — with none of the social arrogance that can creep into schools at this level of selectivity. The girls champion each other. The culture rewards intellectual curiosity, genuine involvement, and resilience rather than competitive anxiety. It is a top-30 national school by results that consistently punches above its weight, yet manages to feel warm and unpretentious.
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Founded
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Annual Fees
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Pupils
Varies by form
Entry Points
11+, 13+
Best For
Bright, curious girls who want to excel academically in an environment that champions confidence and wellbeing alongside results.
Watch Out For
The school uses the London Consortium adaptive digital test — no separate Maths or English written papers exist. Music and Sport scholarship applications must be declared at November registration, not after the exam.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window:
Results & League Table Position
NHEHS consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
Not published
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
Not published
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Attainment 8
Not published
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
Not published
NHEHS ranks 59= nationally at A-Level and 28 nationally at GCSE — placing it firmly in the top 30 schools in the UK by examination outcomes. These results are delivered without the intense hothouse culture that characterises some schools at this level.
A-Level Results vs National Average
NHEHS vs England average (%)
What this means: 25.9% A* and 64.5% A*/A at A-Level (latest results) — ranked 59= nationally. The school's A*/A rate places it in the top 3% of all schools nationally.
GCSE Grade Distribution
NHEHS vs National distribution (%)
What this means: 93.1% of grades 9–7 at GCSE — ranked 28 nationally. Girls at NHEHS achieve at the level of the country's most selective schools while maintaining the warm, non-pressurised culture the school is known for.
University Destinations
Where NHEHS leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
Ranked 28 nationally at GCSE
NHEHS's GCSE results place it in the top 28 schools in the UK — an extraordinary outcome for a day school that prioritises wellbeing alongside academic rigour.
Elizabeth Line access from across West London
The Elizabeth Line to Ealing Broadway has transformed NHEHS's catchment, drawing girls from Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, and across West London with fast, reliable connections.
GDST alumni network: 70,000+
The GDST's 70,000-strong alumni network provides career connections, mentorship, and support that extends the school's value far beyond the classroom.
Multi-million-pound facilities upgrade
A major recent investment in sports and Sixth Form facilities has significantly enhanced campus life and positions NHEHS alongside much larger schools in provision.
Top 10 nationally at GCSE in multiple years
NHEHS has placed in the top 10 nationally by GCSE results in multiple recent years — a testament to both teaching quality and the calibre of the intake.
League Table Position: NHEHS ranks 59= nationally at A-Level and 28 nationally at GCSE — placing it firmly in the top 30 schools in the UK by examination outcomes. These results are delivered without the intense hothouse culture that characterises some schools at this level.
The NHEHS Interview: Authentic Conversation Over Rehearsed Performance
Because the Consortium test is adaptive and computer-scored, many shortlisted candidates arrive with very similar test profiles. The January 1:1 interview with a senior member of staff — often the Head — is NHEHS's primary tool for making fine distinctions between strong candidates. The school is explicitly looking for confident, articulate girls who can hold a genuine, lively conversation. Scripted, rehearsed answers are immediately identifiable and work against candidates.
Format
1:1 interview
Duration
20–30 minutes
Role in Admissions
Eliminatory — a strong pass is required
What They Are Actually Looking For
NHEHS wants to meet the girl behind the test score. Can she hold an interesting conversation about something she genuinely cares about? Does she have opinions and the confidence to express them? Is she curious about the world? The interview is not a knowledge test — it is a character assessment. A girl who has clearly thought deeply about a book she loves, an issue she cares about, or a hobby she is passionate about will make a far stronger impression than one who has memorised a list of acceptable answers.
What Makes a Strong Impression
A girl who asks a question back to the interviewer. A girl who says 'I'm not sure, but I think...' rather than giving a confident wrong answer. A girl who talks about something she genuinely knows about rather than something she was told to mention. A girl who seems excited about the school rather than nervous about the process.
Typical Interview Areas
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- Books: what she has read recently, what she thought about it — not 'what happened' but 'what did you make of it?'
- Interests and hobbies: depth over breadth. One thing she knows a lot about is better than a list of activities she does.
- Current events or ideas she finds interesting — not expected to be a news expert, but genuine curiosity is noted.
- Why NHEHS specifically — not a scripted answer, but evidence that she has actually visited, thought about it, and made a genuine choice.
The pattern: Warm and conversational. The interviewer wants the girl to feel at ease and talk naturally. They will gently steer the conversation and ask follow-up questions. A positive, memorable interaction with the Head can strongly influence a candidate's experience of the school and its impression of her.
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Reads genuinely and widely — can talk about a book with real opinion, not just plot summary
- 2Has practised having intellectual conversations at home about ideas, not just facts
- 3Knows why NHEHS specifically appeals — beyond 'it's academic' or 'my friend goes there'
- 4Is comfortable with silence and with saying 'I'm not sure' before working through an answer
- 5Has visited the school and can refer to something specific she noticed or liked
“The interview was with the Head herself. My daughter said it felt like a proper conversation rather than a test. She was asked what she'd been reading and ended up talking for ages about it.”
“We did minimal interview prep — just talked to her about her interests and told her to be herself. She came out saying she'd really enjoyed it. She got an offer.”
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 71+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
There is no written Maths or English paper — it is a digital adaptive test only
NHEHS uses the London Consortium bespoke online assessment exclusively. There are no handwritten papers, no separate creative writing task, and no traditional comprehension paper. Candidates who have prepared only for pen-and-paper exams will find the digital format disorienting. Practice on digital platforms from Year 5.
The correct fee is ~£8,100/term — not the £20,000 figure on some comparison sites
A figure of £20,000 per term appears on some tutoring and comparison websites for NHEHS. This is sourced from a generic article about top-end boarding schools and is completely wrong for NHEHS. The correct 2025/26 termly fee is approximately £8,100. Sharing the wrong figure with families is seriously misleading.
Music and Sport scholarships must be declared at November registration
Academic scholarship consideration is automatic for all Consortium sitters — no application needed. Music and Sport scholarships require specific declaration on the November registration form. This cannot be added after submission. Families with a musically or athletically gifted daughter must remember to tick the relevant box.
The interview is the primary differentiator — the digital test produces similar profiles
Because the Consortium assessment is adaptive and computer-scored, many shortlisted candidates arrive with very similar test profiles. The January interview is NHEHS's main tool for making fine distinctions. A girl who can hold a lively, authentic conversation will outperform one with a marginally higher test score who gives rehearsed answers.
The Analysis section is the most under-prepared component in the Consortium test
The 25-minute Analysis section — reading and interpreting maps, timetables, historical texts, and data tables — is rarely covered in traditional 11+ tutoring programmes. Most generic prep focuses on Maths, English, and reasoning. Specific targeted practice for Analysis questions is a high-value investment for Consortium applicants.
The Elizabeth Line has transformed the school's catchment
Since the Elizabeth Line opened to full service, NHEHS draws girls from Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, Berkshire, and across Central London with much shorter journey times. Families previously deterred by the commute from East or Central London should reassess travel time.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Notting Hill and Ealing High School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
NHEHS vs Competitor Schools
How does Notting Hill and Ealing High School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
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| School Type |
| Co-educational |
| VR in Exam |
| Annual Fee |
| 11+ Difficulty |
| Interview Style |
Why Parents Choose NHEHS
Points to Consider
Scholarships & Financial Support
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
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The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Notting Hill and Ealing High School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 4 (Age 8–9)
Year 5 (Age 9–10)
Year 6 September–October
Year 6 Early November
Year 6 Late November / Early December
Year 6 January
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Intelligence Score
Updated · 71 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked recently. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
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Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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