Northwood offers a variety of subjects, including the physical, natural and social sciences; a variety of commerce subjects (ranging from Business Studies to Accounting); Technical Drawing, Graphic Design and Tourism.

Northwood traces its origins back to the founding of the co-educational Durban North High School on the site of the present Northlands Girls' High School in September 1949.

The apartheid regime, which lasted from 1948 until the early 1990s, enforced racial segregation in all public and private sectors, including education.

Numbers continued to grow, requiring the building of yet another boys' school in the area.

Other headmasters at Beachwood were HM Puzey, KL Tomlinson, MJ Ellis and CW Thorpe.