Channing School

The School

Awarded ‘Excellent’ in all areas inspected by ISI in 2022, Channing School is summed up by its vision, ‘Girls Enjoying Success’.

Girls at Channing enjoy academic success from a tailored educational programme that encourages confidence, independent thinking and provides girls with life skills to take on the next stage of their education as thoughtful, responsive, socially aware adults, prepared for the challenges of the world today.

Founded in 1885 by Unitarian sisters Emily and Matilda Sharpe, supported by Reverend Robert Spears, Channing School, named after notable American Unitarian William Ellery Channing, has been known as a successful, happy community. Remaining true to our Unitarian foundation, the School is an inclusive community that values the individual skills, spiritual beliefs, achievements and contribution of all members of the school community.

Academic achievement

Academic results are excellent – GCSE and A Level results consistently place us amongst the top-performing schools in the UK and London.  Virtually all our sixth formers go on to HIgher Education, some after a gap year. Girls also excel in a very wide range of co-curricular and extra curricular activities, and especially in Music, Drama, Sport and Art.

Community spirit

The Head and members of staff know every girl personally and as an individual.  We have a strong family tradition and an enthusiastic and supportive parents' association.  The atmosphere is calm, focussed and purposeful. We set high standards emphasising concern and respect for the needs of others. A major feature of the school is the huge diversity of the extracurricular activities on offer to pupils and it is expected that all staff will contribute to this side of the life of the school.  Opportunities exist for involvement in cultural, dramatic, sporting and intellectual pursuits and we like staff to assist in areas where they have a genuine interest and enthusiasm.

Exceptional setting

The school is in an attractive part of Highgate, with convenient transport links by road and underground.  Visitors are often surprised at how light, green and open our site is.  We have preserved the character of the older buildings, but completely refurbished and redesigned them to provide bright and spacious teaching rooms. Our ambitious £13m building programme, completed in 2017, has provided us with excellent dining facilities, a Music School, a new Sixth Form Centre, Sports Hall with fitness suite and a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre.