The Religious of Jesus and Mary, who originated in France, were invited by Cardinal Manning to open a convent school in Willesden.

[2][3] During the era of the tripartite system, the convent was unique as it operated as a bilateral school offering both grammar and secondary modern streams.

[5] Today the school continues to serve the Catholic community in the borough and welcomes girls of all faiths or none.

[6] The school is a diverse community with around three-quarters of the students coming from minority ethnic groups.

[6] In 2000, long-serving head teacher Mary Richardson (née Habgood; born 26 February 1936), BA, PGCE, [8][9] who had retired the previous year, was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her outstanding work at the school.