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WELCOME TO CANONBURY SENIOR SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
At NBH Canonbury Senior School and Sixth Form, we create a dynamic learning environment in which all children aged 11-18, regardless of where their strengths may lie, can discover their individual path to academic success.
Our students achieve outcomes way beyond starting point expectations, thriving on our personalised approach to teaching and learning within a small, close-knit school environment. Surrounded by and built on centuries-old heritage in leafy Canonbury Square, Islington, our school provides the ultimate backdrop against which young people find their True North, rigorously prepared to pursue their talents at university and in the world of work.
A TRULY UNIQUE EDUCATION
Our academic offering is designed to help every student find their own individual passion - their area of excellence - and what success looks like for them. We place each child's needs and interests at the heart of school life; our teachers are committed to understanding the individual and how they learn most effectively. Which is why our staff are actively involved in research projects with UCL and constantly probe their own practices to ensure we are following evidence-based approaches, working together with our students to achieve more than they believed possible.
UNPARALLELED CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
A huge part of an NBH Canonbury education is each child’s personal development; we aim to equip young people with the confidence, humility and resilience to thrive in everything they do. From our incredible arts department and very own outdoor activity centre, to our embedded enrichment and wellbeing programmes, we nurture strong relationships within an inclusive community at the same time as exposing students to a world of opportunity, preparing them for a globally competitive workplace.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU AROUND
Join us at an Open Day to see the school in action, hear from the Head, and meet our brilliant staff and pupils. Private tours are available if you cannot make the next Open Day, or if you are looking for a mid-year or immediate vacancy. We are here to personalise your tour experience.
FOLLOW NORTH BRIDGE HOUSE
Follow us on social media for the latest news, events and everyday learning.
“It began when neighbours stopped being neighbours...”
Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day, which falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.
To commemorate the day, Mr Deakin, Head of Faculty (Humanities), delivered informative assemblies linking the Holocaust to present day. He offered a definition and explanation of what a fascist state looks like and how fascism led to the events of the Holocaust.
Our students discussed how ideas do not disappear because they are defeated once and the lasting impact we can have to protect the dignity of others by promoting tolerance and respect.
As the Secretary of State for Education said, “Learning about the Holocaust is not simply a matter of historical record. It enables young people to recognise prejudice, to challenge discrimination, and to understand the consequences when these go unchecked.”
@holocaustmemorialdaytrust @holocaustuk
GCSE decisions are right around the corner 🤔
To help with some big decisions, a cohort of our Year 10 and 11 students spoke to our Year 9s about their subject choices, differences between KS3 and GCSEs, and advice for their younger classmates.
One of the students, Seo (Year 10) shared anecdotes about his choices of Latin, History and PE 🏃 Not only did he give great advice, but he also taught us about some new muscles 💪
#GCSEs #nbhcanonbury #wearecognita #futureready #studentvoices #physicaleducation #academicexcellence
This week we were delighted to welcome award-winning playwright Oli Forsyth (@oliforsyth) to NBH Canonbury for an inspiring workshop with Year 10. Oli led a stimulating session focused on plot structure and character development - and answered our students many thoughtful questions!
Oli has recently enjoyed success with his play `Brace Brace` at the @royalcourttheatre and is the recipient of the 2024 Jerwood New Playwright Award. His visit truly brought the curriculum to life and offered students a fantastic opportunity to meet a young, successful playwright in person.
#NBHCanonbury #playwrighting #academicenrichment #studentlearning #wearecognita
Last week, our library turned into a supportive space for SEND parents in the NBH Canonbury community.
Mr Valentine’s coffee mornings are a place where parents can come together to listen and be listened to while discussing topics from revision tips to Dyslexia.
Friday’s theme was ADHD, including how it appears in the classroom and at home, and how our school and parents can work together to support pupils.
Parents discussed the theme through a “supermarket sweep” to explore all the extras you may have to put in your basket as a SEND parent. This even included a fun scavenger hunt around the library 🕵️♀️
Thank you to the parents for your active participation and thoughtful discussion. We look forward to welcoming you to our next coffee morning ☕️
#NBHCanonbury #LondonStudents #NorthLondonSchools #LondonEducation #FindYourTrueNorth #FutureReady #CuriosityThrives #AchieveYourBest #londonschools #wearecognita
Our Year 8 Spanish students have exchanged Christmas cards, written entirely in Spanish, with students at our sister school, @britishschoolbarcelona. What began last year as a simple festive card swap has grown into a year-long pen pal partnership, with students writing to each other throughout the year.
This experience has been especially meaningful, as for many of our students, it was the first letter they’ve ever sent! Learning where to write the address, how to place the stamp, and the joy of posting something by hand turned into a brilliant life-skills lesson.
And the best part? This year, our pupils will visit Barcelona and meet their pen pals in person - friendships that started on paper will soon come to life. ✈️📮🇪🇸
#nbhcanonbury #GlobalMindset #CognitaSchools #SpanishLearning #LanguageLearning #GlobalEducation #PenPals #CulturalExchange #Year8 #SchoolCommunity #ModernLanguages #LearningForLife #LifeSkills #InternationalConnections #BarcelonaTrip #BritishSchoolOfBarcelona
Before half term, our school marked Mental Health Day, taking part in HelloYellow - an annual campaign by the charity YoungMinds that raises awareness and vital funds for young people’s mental health.
Yellow socks and ribbons served as a reminder of the importance of open and honest conversations about mental health. Throughout the day, various activities were held to educate, inspire and engage, helping to deepen understanding and encourage meaningful discussion across the school community.
Collaborative art, seed-planting in the garden, and reflective tasks all contributed to breaking down stigma and strengthening the sense of support we share. 💛
@youngmindsuk
#NBHCanonbury #HelloYellow #MentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAwareness #WellbeingInSchools #SchoolCommunity #BreakingTheStigma #YouthMentalHealth #WeAreCognita
Storytelling came to life on Tuesday as our Year 7 students were joined by Year 5 students from @GatehouseSch for an inspiring author visit with Zohra Nabi! ✨📚
Zohra inspired everyone with tales from her novels, The Deep Dark, the first in The Cassia Thorne Mysteries series, and The Kingdom Over the Sea. She also spoke about what first sparked her love for writing, as well as the inspirations behind her characters and stories.
Our students, and our visiting friends from Gatehouse, asked lots of questions, explored their own creative ideas, and were thrilled to have their copies signed by Zohra.
Opportunities like these not only ignite a love of reading but also show students what’s possible when imagination and determination meet - a truly memorable afternoon for our young writers and readers. 📖💫
@zohra_nabi
#nbhcanonbury #AuthorVisit #ZohraNabi #TheDeepDark #YoungWriters #BookSigning #InspiringAuthors #GatehouseSchool #CognitaSchools #LoveOfReading #SchoolLife #LondonSchools
📣 It’s nearly time!
The best journeys don’t happen by chance, they start with direction. If you’re thinking ahead for September 2026, please remember to apply by Friday 14 November.
Visit the link in our bio to apply and join us at NBH Canonbury - a place where every student is guided, supported, and challenged to achieve their best.
#NBHCanonbury #LondonStudents #NorthLondonSchools #LondonEducation #FindYourTrueNorth #FutureReady #CuriosityThrives #AchieveYourBest #londonschools #wearecognita
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
Please do get in touch to find out more about our school and life at NBH Canonbury. Our enquiry form takes just a couple of minutes to complete and a member of the Admissions Team will get back to you within 48 hours of receiving your submission.