Queen’s College, London
Queens College London
Org 1: GSA
Org 2: IAPS
43-49 Harley Street, London, W1G 8BT
Telephone: 020 7291 7000
Key dates: Autumn term: Wednesday 4 September 2024 to Wednesday 18 December 2024
Half term: Monday 21 October 2024 to Friday 1 November 2024
Spring term: Tuesday 7 January 2025 to Thursday 3 April 2025
Half term: Monday 17 February 2025 to Friday 21 February 2025
Summer term: Wednesday 23 April 2025 to Thursday 3 July 2025
Half term: Monday 26 May 2025 to Friday 30 May 2025
Age Range: Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 11, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day Only
Gender: Girls
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Sport
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award
Queen’s College, London was the first institution to provide an academic education and qualifications for young women in the UK. It was founded in 1848 by F D Maurice, Professor of Modern History at King’s College, and was originally housed at 45 Harley Street. Today, it is a thriving girls’ school of 425 pupils aged from 11–18, of whom around 100 are in the Sixth Form.
Queen’s College Preparatory School (https://www.qcps.org.uk/), which opened in 2002 at 59–61 Portland Place, takes girls from ages 4–11. Queen’s is situated on Harley Street, combining the beauty of four 18th-century houses with modern facilities for science, languages, art, drama, music and computer science, as well as the Somerville Hall and gymnasium. Two libraries offer the students some 10,000 books, and there is also an off-site archive recording the history of the College. Curriculum. Class sizes rarely exceed 22 and the normal size of a year group is 65–70, divided into three forms. The year group is streamed for Mathematics during the first year, and at a later stage for English, French and Latin. Pupils usually take nine or ten subjects at GCSE, and sciences are taught separately. At A level it is possible to study History of Art, Psychology, Dance, Politics, Business and Economics, as well as the subjects already offered at GCSE.
There is a comprehensive programme of sport offered for all year groups. There is a gym on site and outdoor games take place at a range of locations, including Paddington Recreation Ground, Regent’s Park, and Marshall Street Leisure Centre. Younger pupils play netball, football, cricket, rounders and tennis, while seniors can choose from a wide range of activities including sailing; there are thriving clubs before and after school for swimming, running, and netball. Regular sports fixtures are arranged against local schools. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is organised at bronze and silver levels.
Individual music lessons are offered in all instruments including voice, and the musical or dramatic productions and jazz concert are highlights of each year. The location of the College means that theatre and other educational visits in London are an integral part of the curriculum, complemented by opportunities to travel abroad or to other parts of the country. In recent years, pupils have visited France, Greece, Germany, Italy, South Africa, the USA and Japan. There are also regular ski trips.
Almost all pupils leaving Queen’s proceed to university, including Oxford or Cambridge, and several students each year choose to take an Art Foundation course at one of the London colleges. Former students are prominent in medicine, education, writing and the media; they retain contact with each other and the college through our Old Queens community.
Pastoral care. Queen’s prides itself on its friendly and welcoming atmosphere, highly valued by pupils, parents and staff. At Queen’s, we believe pastoral care is the most important thing we do; providing a happy and supportive environment for all pupils will let them succeed and achieve. Our pastoral care system, the ‘Thrive’ programme, underpins all our work, and covers an extensive range of pastoral initiatives, including a multi-tiered conflict resolution system, student anti-bullying ambassadors, a peer mentor scheme and ‘Thrive’ lessons, where pupils are taught about kindness, resilience, and important life skills. Our ‘Queen’s Off Screens’ programme ensures all pupils in Years 7–11 can concentrate at school without the distraction of phones, and each year we run the Nokia Brick Challenge, where members of the school community go without their smartphones for a week. Pastoral care is integral, and we have a full-time nurse to support the work of form tutors and pastoral staff. Members of the Neurodiversity and Adaptive Learning Department work individually with pupils once a need has been identified. We send reports to parents every half term and hold regular Parents’ Evenings. Parents also support the College through membership of the Parents’ Association, giving practical and some financial assistance to College functions.
Admission. The College is a member of the London 11+ Consortium. Candidates for Year 7 entry sit the London 11+ Consortium entrance examination and all are invited to attend an interview. As well as high academic standards we value enthusiasm and creativity, and academic, music, dance, sport, performing arts and art scholarships are available to 11+ entrants. If vacancies arise, we also welcome applicants at other ages, and we have a larger intake at 16+ for students to join our Senior College. Some scholarships are available on entry at this stage. Means-tested bursaries are considered at all points of entry.
Fees per term (2024–2025). £8,575.
Charitable status. Queen’s College, London is a Registered Charity, number 312726. It exists to provide education for girls. It is an Anglican foundation, open to those of all faiths or none who are prepared to subscribe to its ethos.
Governors & Staff:
Council:
Co-Chairman: Mrs Alexandra Gregory, BA Exeter, ACA
Co-Chairman: Mrs Rae Perry, BA Trinity Washington, MBA New York, MSc Liverpool
Vice-Chairman: Mr Matthew Hanslip Ward, MA Cantab
Mrs Jenny Blaiklock, MA Oxon
Mrs Catherine Brahams-Melinek, BA UCL, MA Durham
Mr Greg Cohen, BSc Manchester
Mr Richard Ford, BSc LSE
Mrs Alexandra Horner, MA Cantab
Ms Holly Porter, MA Cantab, MA, RCA, RIBA, FRSA
Mrs Linda Wei, BA Harvard, MBA INSEAD
Mrs Patricia Wilks, BA Oxon
Bursar and Clerk to the Council: R Richards, BA Leeds
Principal: R W Tillett, MA Cantab
Acting Headmistress of Queen’s College Preparatory School (Michaelmas Term 2024): K Colquhoun, BA Oxford Brookes
Headmistress of Queen's College Preparatory School (from Lent Term 2025): N Kaura, MEd-EdL Buckingham
Senior Deputy Head: E A Wilkins, MA Oxon, MA Cardiff
Deputy Head – Academic: S Bailey, MA Cantab, MA Open, MSc Oxon
Deputy Head – Pastoral: I D'Arcy, BMus London
Deputy Head - Pedagogy & Learning: P Davies, BSc, MA, PhD London
Registrar: B Porter, LLB Open