Queen's Gate Junior School A GSG School

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Director of the junior school

Since 2017, James Denchfield BA PGCE. English and history degree from Goldsmiths and PGCE from the Institute of Education. Early in his career he worked in Waterstones, just around the corner, and ‘fell in love with South Ken’ - so when a job at Queen’s Gate School came up, he applied immediately. A stint as head of English led to him being made head of lower school and then to his appointment here.

Comes across as calm and reassuring, with a quick understanding and equally alert (just hidden) sense of humour. A very articulate man, as you’d expect from someone who admits to ‘being obsessed with poetry’ in his youth, he explains why he feels that he has a three-dimensional view of the school: he has worked in the senior school, has a daughter who recently left the sixth form, and still teaches a double English lesson every week. In fact, we suspect it’s hard to keep him out of the classroom as his eyes light up whenever he mentions teaching.

Entrance

There is an assessment morning at 4+. Head describes it as 'light-hearted and welcoming' and one happy candidate told her parents, ‘I danced and they gave me crayons’ – obviously not a frightening experience for her. A waiting list for the occasional place further up the school, caused by two or three families moving each year; normally around 10 girls for each spot.

Exit

The majority stay under the Queen’s Gate umbrella and move on to the senior school, with automatic entry now offered, but quite a few go elsewhere - tiny numbers become boarders at, say, Woldingham; remainder tend to go to leading London independents including Godolphin and Latymer, Latymer Upper, Putney High and Francis Holland. Parents say the next step is made easier thanks to good rapport between them and school. Members of staff add that the size of the school means they grow to know each girl really well, so are confident about knowing where she might fit in best. For instance, they said that ‘there are always girls who need acres and acres of green space’ (presumably they meant sporty types) who might not be suited by the lack of ‘outdoors’ at the senior school.
One music scholarship in 2023.

Our view

Although almost next-door, this school feels different from its older sister. The ethos may be the same but the atmosphere is calmer, possibly due to more square feet per smaller child. That said, the links are many, among the most important of which is access to specialist teachers who operate across both schools - a huge plus as experts in their fields are not always available in small preps.

Recent changes in the academic structure include an increased awareness of the ‘excitement of numbers’ – continues at home with school now providing parents with tips on how to fan the flames of numerical curiosity. Hugely popular problem-solving classes start in year 2, based on maths and also designed to develop lateral thinking. Girls are encouraged to give STEM subjects equal importance to that previously given to English and the arts - the traditional strengths of the school. Twenty-two different subjects include six languages - French all the way through; Spanish, Italian, German, Mandarin and Latin all on the timetable. Fluent French speakers (several, as this corner of London is almost a Parisian arrondissement) follow an adapted programme. Setting in maths from year 3. From year 4 onwards, some core classes are set and the optional Albertopolis programme (a club covering a new, one-off topic each week, eg Brexit, DNA testing or the Beatles) is available for further stretch. This approach chimes with a parent’s view that ‘the girls are encouraged to enjoy the world of academia’.

EAL and SEN teachers operate across the junior and senior schools, but we got the impression they are not often called into play due to the small (maybe two or three at any one time) number of identified children. Head says the weekly staff meetings bring any potential problems to light. In addition, both he and the teachers say that they can almost always spot issues (either academic or pastoral) a mile off.

The preliminary classrooms on the ground floor to year 6 in the attic are bright and cheerful, although the layout means this is probably not a school for anyone finding stairs a problem. The tables in the former computer room are decorated with a certain amount of haphazard paint and there is a charming cubbyhole on a landing, labelled The Burrow, where one-to-one lessons can be held. The recently refurbished library takes up one floor and is satisfactorily full, with an enthusiastic librarian plus a popular digital interface. The school chose the winning title for the Awesome Book Awards last year and has high hopes of being on target again. ‘We’re rivals but we’re still friends,’ was the pupil comment about the scoreboard on the stairs showing the current scores in the annual battle between the two school houses and the current week’s maths challenge is displayed, alongside an endearing home-made green letterbox where answers can be posted.

‘There is not enough space for playing after lunch as there isn’t time to go to the park,’ grumbled one pupil. Indeed, the only outside space is a yard for the little ones, although the gym in the senior school and close-by Kensington and Stanhope Gardens allow more running around (there is a 50/50 split between organised sport and free time in the gardens, with head voting for ‘spitfires and hurricanes’ whenever he gets the chance). Plus, Hyde and Battersea Parks come into play when a larger space is called for.

Sports staff from the senior school include an ex-goalie of the England hockey team and they field teams for netball, hockey, fencing, biathlon, swimming and cricket. Fencing, taught by an Olympian coach, is enough of a draw to bring girls (and presumably their poor parents) to school at crack of dawn (well, 7am) for practice. Running has a popular programme and rowing is an option in year 6. Open to suggestion, they acted very fast when told of nearby tennis courts and that is now another games option.

The influence of the ‘legendary’ art teacher in the senior school has permeated down, resulting in exciting examples of work on display - ‘They get to see what the senior girls can do, which is amazing,’ enthused a parent. We were shown a calendar (part of a competition run by the Mayor of London) with the cover design by a Queen’s Gate pupil and saw one child working towards an art scholarship.

Musical talent is explored at an early stage, with every girl given a ‘music taster’ on an instrument and all girls in years 3, 4 and 5 play in a strings orchestra - one girl was so won over by the music department that she asked her parent for a cello for her sixth birthday. Concerts several times a term, whether strings, woodwind, piano, choral or combinations and the Kids for Kids concert is a very big deal. Drama was enthusiastically promoted by our guides with the highpoint being an annual production by years 5 and 6 at RADA, as well as the weekly lessons on the timetable.

From reception, girls tend to go to a club most days and even the little ones join in at lunchtime. There are some imaginative and well-subscribed arty options including papercrafts, story club, young writers and musical theatre as well as the usual sports although one parent felt they could include more languages (school says they have now addressed this, offering clubs in Italian, Spanish, French and Mandarin).

The school council, made up of form captains and an elected rep from each year, feels its requests are listened to, with one longstanding campaign having finally resulted in the arrival of the two tortoises, Rocket and Dandelion (each affiliated to one of the school houses). PTA meets once a term and has introduced regular social outings, where parents and teachers can talk out of school. A very close-knit bunch of parents, with one remarking that when her daughter left ‘the saddest thing would be moving away from the other parents’.

Money matters

Scholarships for both external and internal candidates at 7+. While not an official position, school states that attempts would be made to try and ensure that any girl affected by a change in her parents’ financial circumstances could stay until a suitable break-point is reached.

The last word

There are obvious close connections but this is not just a Queen’s Gate with smaller people; rather, a school with its own identity. ‘That is exactly the kind of girl I want my daughter to be,’ said one parent after his pupil-led tour. A traditional, genuinely friendly all-girls school, with the added bonus of access to teachers from the senior school and actively encouraged relationships between the older and younger girls. As the head says, ‘We take all the best bits.’

Special Education Needs

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