FAQs

PGHS was founded in 1905 by Miss Alice Hum and has provided girls with an exceptional education for over 120 years. We specialise in educating girls, challenging and guiding them to achieve their full potential within our warm and friendly school environment. The School motto, “By Love Serve One Another” was carefully chosen and it still epitomises our special ethos where individuals are nurtured, successes are celebrated and their contribution to the community is greatly valued.

Lower School classes from Reception though to Year 6 benefit hugely from the encouragement and expertise of their class teachers and teaching assistants. Favourable teaching group sizes, light and airy classrooms and access to Senior School facilities all lead to an inspirational learning environment. This is enriched by specialist teaching in Art, Design & Technology, Drama, French, Spanish, Music and PE – frequently in half class groups. An exciting range of extra-curricular activities encourage girls to develop into well-rounded individuals.

At all ages the aim of the process is to identify potential for learning. For entry into the Lower School from Reception to Year 6 candidates are invited for an individual assessment with one of the specialist primary teachers. Candidates for entry into Years 5 and 6 undergo timed tests, whilst tests for those in Year 4 and below are less formal. Those candidates who demonstrate academic potential in their assessment are invited to spend time in the School with their peers when there is then a more general assessment of ability and aptitude. All parents will be given an appointment to meet with the Head.

For English and Maths, we ensure that our schemes of work meet all the objectives of the National Curriculum. We create our own plans, rather than use a single commercial scheme, as we have found that those that you purchase do not have the same breadth or depth that our pupils need.

There are no sets in classes but work is differentiated according to ability. This is not a rigid system and those who show potential in certain aspects of the curriculum can access the more or less challenging work within lessons.

You can view our school fees for 2025/2026 on our website here.

At PGHS, we believe that high-quality teaching and opportunities for meaningful challenge in both mathematics and English ensure our pupils are well prepared for the 11+ examinations. In-class assessments and homework are carefully targeted to support and reinforce learning.

In Year 5, pupils are assessed through end-of-year examinations in maths and English. Based on their performance, they may be offered a place in the Secondary sector of PGHS without the need to sit the ISEB 11+ examination—unless parents wish their daughter to be considered for a scholarship, in which case the examination is required. External candidates are required to sit the ISEB 11+ examination. All applicants are interviewed by a senior member of staff as part of the admissions process.

Our extra-curricular clubs change termly, with new offerings frequently added.

Prep extra-curricular clubs include:

Art & Craft Club, Born to Move, Niles Wilson Gymnastics Club, Karaoke Club, Lego Club, Prep Choir, Prep Violin Club, Speech and Drama (LAMDA), Tennis Club and Yoga Club.

Junior extra-curricular clubs include:

Art Club, Born to Move, D&T Club, Eco Club, Fun Projects Club, Junior Book Club, Speech and Drama (LAMDA), Junior Choir, Junior News and Book Club Junior Orchestra, Sewing Club, Niles Wilson Gymnastics Club, Ukuladies Club and Yoga Club.

We have fantastic PE facilities. In addition to our sprung-floored hall for gymnastics and dance, from Year 3, all pupils go to the Walker Sports ground for their PE lessons and also to Southgate Leisure Centre for Swimming lessons. In Years 10 & 11 the girls enjoy a whole afternoon of Sport at Southbury Leisure Centre and can choose from Swimming, Trampolining, Basketball and Fitness.

If you would like to register your daughter for a place in our Reception class or other year groups, please download the registration form on the website and send it back to us with the registration fee. The fee is £120 incl. VAT for entry into Reception to Year 6, and £150 incl. VAT for entry into Year 7 to Year 11. Alternatively, you can complete the registration form online on our website and transfer the registration fee online. For entry into Reception in September 2026, your registration form needs to be with us as soon as possible; the assessments commence in November 2025. We encourage you to apply promptly as places will be allocated following the assessment.

For entry into other year groups, please return your registration form as soon as possible so that we can organise an ad hoc assessment.

PGHS was founded in 1905 by Miss Alice Hum and has provided girls with an exceptional education for over 120 years. We specialise in educating girls, challenging and guiding them to achieve their full potential within our warm and friendly school environment. The School motto, “By Love Serve One Another” was carefully chosen and it still epitomises our special ethos where individuals are nurtured, successes are celebrated and their contribution to the community is greatly valued.

In the Senior School, small class sizes (an average of only 10 at GCSE) and a broad range of extra-curricular activities enriches the girls’ experience.

For 11+ entry, candidates sit examinations in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, which are designed for their age group. The Mathematics, English (Comprehension) and Reasoning (NVR and VR) assessments are done via the ISEB Common Pre-test.  English (Creative Writing) is a traditional written paper. Familiarisation tests for the ISEB are available at www.testingforschools.com/player-demo-iseb and more general information can be found at www.iseb.co.uk/Examinations-Assessments/Common-Pre-Tests

Every year PGHS pupils achieve excellent results and 2025 was no exception with the overall percentage of A*/9/8 grades an incredible 48% and 9-7 a fantastic 71%. Please click here to view our GCSE results.

You can view our school fees for 2025/2026 on our website by clicking this link

At 11+ the School offers scholarships, for which internal and external candidates are equally eligible. The academic scholarships may be awarded to candidates who perform well in the 11+ entrance examinations in Mathematics and English and at interview. Art, Drama, Music and PE Scholarships may be awarded following an audition process in the chosen field. Further information on Scholarships can be found here.

Yes, applications are open for bursaries for 2025/2026 entry. Please refer to the bursaries section on our website here for more information.

We have fantastic PE facilities. In addition to our spring-floored hall, which is used for gymnastics and dance, from Year 3, all pupils go to the Walker Sports ground for their PE lessons and also to Southgate Leisure Centre for Swimming lessons.

In Years 10 & 11 the girls enjoy a whole afternoon of Sport at Southbury Leisure Centre and can choose from Swimming, Trampolining, Basketball and Fitness.

Pupils join us from areas including Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green, Southgate, Enfield, Edmonton, Barnet, Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Potters Bar, Highgate and Islington. We also run a private minibus service to and from Ilford.

The following list provides examples of popular Sixth Form Destinations:

Independent: Aldenham, City of London School for Girls, Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, Haileybury, Highgate, King Alfred School, North London Collegiate, St Albans High School for Girls, St Edmunds College, St Paul’s (Hammersmith) and Queenswood.

State Selective: Dame Alice Owen’s School, Henrietta Barnett School, The Latymer School and St Michael’s RC.

State Non-Selective: Alexandra Park School (APS), Ashmole, City and Islington Sixth Form College, Fortismere and Woodhouse.

To register your daughter for Year 7 entry, please download the registration form on the website and send it back to us with the registration fee of £150 incl. VAT.  Alternatively, you can complete the registration form on-line on our website and then contact the School Office for our bank details to transfer the registration fee on-line.