Chief Operating Officer
North London Collegiate School
Harrow
- Expired
- Salary:
- Highly Competitive Salary
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2023
- Apply by:
- 17 February 2023
Job overview
Chief Operating Officer
The Governing Body of North London Collegiate School (NLCS) is delighted to invite applications for the role of Chief Operating Officer, to begin in post in September 2023. The COO will lead NLCS’ non-academic functions, overseeing the day-to-day operational aspects of the School and working closely with the newly appointed Head to help lead the School’s strategic direction. A wide-ranging and exciting role, the COO will also provide commercial input into key areas of the School, identifying opportunities for development and growth as NLCS’ reputation as a market-leading girls’ day school continues to flourish.
NLCS educates over 1100 students aged 4 to 18 on a beautiful 30-acre site in Edgware, London. With a market-leading reputation for academic excellence, NLCS students enjoy an exceptional environment for learning through first-class teaching staff, exciting lessons and a broad and wide-ranging curriculum. Pastoral care is outstanding, and students thrive in a warm and welcoming community with a genuinely individualized approach. The School’s central mission is to provide an innovative and ambitious education to enable every student to excel in a dynamic and rapidly changing world, and NLCS is proud that its girls leave the School as accomplished, motivated, and self-driven individuals.
NLCS is well catered for with superb facilities inside and outside of the classroom, and the next COO will have a significant impact upon the physical fabric of the School as it embarks on the new three-phase 20-year estates masterplan. Whilst the School is in a good position financially as a result of strong admissions, the COO will need to be confident in addressing the challenges presented by rising inflation and possible regulatory and tax changes. In addition, the School’s expanding International business, overseen by a specialist team, makes an important contribution to the School’s finances.
The COO will be an experienced professional with a track record of managing a diversity of resources and teams and delivering organizational change. Applications are encouraged from candidates from a broad range of sectors who have strong commercial and financial skills, and a demonstrable record of success in commercial, operational and or financial management roles. A commitment to, and empathy with, the wider educational and charitable mission of NLCS will also be essential.
Further information on North London Collegiate School can be found at https://www.nlcs.org.uk/ and a candidate brief is available from www.odgers.com/87620.
Letters of application, CVs and application forms should be submitted by the closing date, 9am GMT on Friday 17 February, to Freddie Dennis at Odgers Berndtson.
NLCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all members of all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must declare any criminal convictions as the post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via the Disclosure and Barring Service and references from previous employers. We are an Equal Opportunities employer.
Attached documents
About North London Collegiate School
We are delighted that you are considering joining North London Collegiate School. We offer exceptional opportunities to contribute to a community that is redefining excellence in girls’ education. The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 has named NLCS the Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026, and we are proud to be ranked the No. 1 girls’ school in the country. This prestigious accolade reflects our outstanding academic achievement as well as the depth, breadth, and vibrancy of school life.
With additional awards for Independent International Baccalaureate School of the Year 2026 and Independent Secondary School of the Year in London 2026, NLCS offers an inspiring environment where passionate teachers are empowered to innovate, spark curiosity, and help girls achieve remarkable things.
Founded in 1850 by the intrepid Frances Mary Buss, pioneer of women’s education, NLCS has a remarkable history as one of the very first centres of academic excellence for girls in the UK.
Today, we continue to embrace a spirit of scholarly enquiry and creative endeavour, led by a community of staff and pupils who relish learning. Our mission is to provide an inspirational education to enable our pupils to become young women of influence and impact.
From the earliest years, we teach our pupils to think for themselves and to be intellectually courageous. The development of emotional intelligence and character is just as important. Our pupils’ personal development and pastoral care are supported by our relentless investment in individual growth. Pastoral groups in our co-tutor system are small, typically no more than 10-12 pupils, to enable our teachers to get to know girls as individuals. Relationships between staff and pupils are characterised by mutual respect and warmth.
We are inspired by our heritage of academically ambitious teaching but empowered by modernity. Our aim is that, as adults, our pupils will have the intellectual curiosity and personal resilience to adapt to and shape an increasingly fast-paced and dynamic world. This is an exciting time for the school as we recently opened our new IDEAS Hub in Spring 2025, a space designed to facilitate creative thinking, pioneering use of technology and interdisciplinary learning. A space that will place NLCS at the heart of a web of deep connections to the wider world.
Headmistress
Mrs Vicky Bingham
ISI report
In April 2024, North London Collegiate School received its latest routine inspection, which took place within the new Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) framework.
We were delighted that the inspection team gave a strong endorsement for all aspects of the education provided and the wellbeing and engagement of our pupils at every stage of the School. The inspection also identified NLCS as being fully compliant with all regulations and requirements, with best practice in place across the board.
One feature of the new framework is that ISI no longer uses single-word gradings of schools, such as ‘Excellent’ which NLCS received at its previous routine inspection. ISI now seeks to make an evaluative commentary across the various aspects of a school’s provision.
Inspection Report - North London Collegiate School (nlcs.org.uk)
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