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The Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is a non-denominational grammar school for girls aged 11-18. We became an Academy in April 2012. Founded in 1911 and situated in the peaceful surroundings of the Hampstead Garden Suburb, the school is a charming Lutyens-designed Grade II* Listed Building. HBS is a warm, friendly, and vibrant community that prides itself on happy and productive relationships. We are consistently one of the top state schools in the country and have an exemplary local and national reputation for academic excellence. Dame Henrietta Barnett strongly believed in the power of education to shape people’s lives and founded the School to provide educational opportunities of the highest quality for its students. She built the School on the principle that education should be open to girls from different backgrounds to study and learn together and from each other. This principle is alive and well at HBS. We provide a broad education that is ambitious, varied, and stimulating. Academic excellence and a wide range of extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities are offered in an open, caring, and supportive environment, enabling each individual to thrive and achieve her potential. We are committed to developing the whole person, encouraging students to explore their interests in a wide variety of ways, and promoting the curiosity of mind, independence of spirit, and a love of learning. We aim to inspire and engage girls in their learning, to develop them as confident, mature, independent thinkers, open to new ideas, to taking risks, and able to think critically. Our balanced curriculum allows girls to pursue their interests and challenges in a stimulating learning environment. Care for the individual is at the heart of everything we do and we aim to develop confidence and self-esteem, which is the foundation of all good learning. In a culture of respect for others but without the need for bells or lists of imposed rules, HBS students are driven by self-motivation, self-discipline and a common purpose, a thirst for learning, and a strong sense of pride in belonging to the diverse, inclusive, high-performing, friendly and supportive school community. They leave HBS full of integrity and ambition, ready and equipped to make a positive contribution to society, with the world at their fingertips. Art and DT are the growing strength of our school. Our projects and exhibitions show how far the girls flourish when given the freedom and confidence to be innovative with a strong foundation of in-depth research and a diversity of skills. We also have an artist-in-residence working on-site during the year to provide professional input and additional workshops for the girls. The school has a thriving and growing Music Department, supporting at least eleven ensembles and choirs, ranging from chamber orchestras to string quartets, Choral Society to Big Band. There are twelve concerts each year, individual music lessons in specific instruments, and an annual day-long Music Festival in which every girl performs with her tutor group. We were delighted to have been awarded Music College Status, in September 2007, to celebrate this area of excellence within the school which has allowed us to continue to develop extensive opportunities and exceptional facilities. The academic life of the school is complemented by a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities that play an essential role in creating a rounded educational experience for our girls. Girls are provided with regular opportunities to collaborate and compete with students from other schools. These include debating and engineering competitions themed study days and sixth form research symposia. View full school