Why Families Choose Channing

Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. When we ask our parents what made them choose Channing, the same themes come up time and again: warmth, ambition, opportunity and a community where every girl is known.

A school where bravery is the norm

Channing girls are curious, ambitious and unafraid to have a go. In our classrooms, being ambitious is something to celebrate rather than hide, and girls are encouraged to ask questions, challenge ideas and join in. Our whole-school focus on developing Fearless Learners helps every pupil grow into a confident, independent thinker who takes ownership of her learning.

That ambition shows in our results. In 2026, 91.4% of A Level entries were graded A* to B, and 85% of GCSE grades were 7 to 9. Results are only part of the story, though. They come from girls who are happy, supported and enjoying school.

Warmth you can feel from the moment you arrive

Visitors often tell us it’s the atmosphere they notice first. Channing is a famously warm and supportive community where each girl is treated as an individual and valued for her efforts as well as her achievements. Form tutors, Heads of Year, our school nurse and our counselling team work closely together, and our Big Sibling scheme pairs every new Year 7 pupil with a Year 8 girl who remembers exactly what it feels like to be new.

Our values are written by the girls themselves in the Channing Promise, which commits everyone to treat each other with respect and kindness, and to create a positive environment where we all have the freedom to act, think and be heard.

Ten per cent braver

We encourage every girl to be 10% braver: to put her hand up, audition for the school production, stand for a leadership role or try a sport she has never played before. Small acts of courage add up, and over the years they build the resilient, fearless young women our leavers become.

A world of opportunity beyond the classroom

With more than 200 clubs and societies and 25 sports, there really is something for everyone, from Model United Nations and debating to cheerleading, chess and Show Choir. Our 243-seat theatre in the Arundel Centre and our Music School give girls inspiring spaces to perform, and our award-winning podcast, Chatting with Channing, puts pupils in the interviewer’s chair.

A distinctive heritage

Channing was founded in 1885 and is named after the American Unitarian thinker William Ellery Channing. We remain the only independent Unitarian school in Britain, and that heritage gives us an open-minded, inclusive outlook, with freedom of thought at the heart of school life.

One school, from 4 to 18

Girls can join our Junior School at 4+ and stay right through to Sixth Form, or join us at 11+ or 16+. Many grow up alongside the same friends and teachers, while each new stage brings fresh challenges and more independence. Our purpose-built Sixth Form Centre gives older students the space to study, lead and prepare for life at university.

In the heart of Highgate

Set in leafy Highgate in North London, we’re around a nine-minute walk from both Highgate and Archway Underground stations and served by a whole host of buses, so Channing is easy to reach for families across the capital.

Come and see for yourself

The best way to understand why families choose Channing is to visit. Join us at our Senior School Open Day on Tuesday 3 November (9 to 11am). You can register for any of our events on our Admissions page.