For over 120 years England’s Norland College has been known as the most prestigious nanny-training school in the world, with graduates landing jobs with wealthy families and earning upwards of $100,000 a year. Founded in the late 1800s by Emily Ward, Norland College soon became the most renowned nanny-training school on earth, with clients including Royal families and wealthy couples looking for the best service money could by. Elite nannies are expected to cook and sew impeccably, as well as look after their charges, but that’s only a tiny fraction of the subjects in which Norland nannies train in over their 4-year stay at the college. From learning how to efficiently manage temper tantrums and utilizing crisis evasion tactics to self-defense training, skid pan driving, and even cybersecurity, Norland nannies really are a cut above the rest. Norland nannies have been described as a mix between Mary Poppins and James Bond, and as exaggerated as that sounds, it’s a fairly accurate description. Apart from impeccable manners and child handling skills, these elite nannies train to be able to deal with the most unexpected of situations. Studying at Norland College isn’t for everybody. Four years of training is a lot, not to mention that each year costs $20,000, which is reportedly more expensive than studying at Oxford or Cambridge. However, the prospect of getting a high-paying job after graduation and generating decent income from the first or second year of college attracts a lot candidates. Money isn’t the only thing you need to get into Norland. There are always more applicants than available spaces, so candidates have to go through grueling one-on-one interviews with several people and are tested on their abilities to be loving, kind, honest, creative, responsible and organized. Each year, the college has at least six jobs waiting for each one of its graduates. While most nannies end up working for wealthy families in London, demand comes from outside England as well, particularly from China, the U.S., and the Middle-East.
