A magnetic head for use in a perpendicular recording system having a novel shield structure that provides exceptional magnetic shielding from extraneous magnetic fields such as from a write coil, shaping layer or return pole of the write head. The magnetic head includes a write pole, a return pole and a magnetic shield that is magnetically connected with the return pole near the ABS and extends toward the write pole. The shield is formed with a notch at its edge closest to the write pole. The notch assures adequate physical, magnetic, and electrical separation between the write pole and the shield, while allowing un-notched portions of the shield to provide additional magnetic shielding.