Queen's Gate 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.

Sports

Rowing

Fencing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Principal

Since 2022, Amy Wallace, previously senior deputy head at St Catherine’s, Twickenham. Her teaching career also includes stints at Wycombe Abbey as a teacher and housemistress, and St Francis College, Letchworth as head of sixth form.

Educated at St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon and at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she read history, later completing an MPhil in American History. PGCE from Hertford College, Oxford. Used to cox for her university colleges, Furnivall Sculling Club and the RAF, but these days her hobbies tend to be more land-based, including taking advantage of London’s museums and travelling overseas. Lives in Richmond-upon-Thames in a book-filled home that she shares with two 'naughty but adorable' kittens. Is a governor at Badminton School, Bristol.

Entrance

Around six applicants for each place at 11+ with the same process applied to girls from the lower school as for outsiders. This means an assessment, report from their previous school and an interview; the head always sees the candidates from the junior school but not always all external candidates. A very high proportion of the lower school applicants are accepted (usually 20+ girls). Almost always a waiting list further up the school, but occasional places due to the international background and movement of families. A very small intake for the sixth form, minimum of six 9-7s at GCSE: ‘We are very selective.’

Exit

Actively encourages students to explore other options after GCSEs, though just nine per cent fled the cosy nest in 2023. Year 13 leavers not only aim for a wide range of universities in the UK (Exeter, York, Bath and Oxford Brookes currently popular) but an increasing number want to head overseas, particularly to American colleges. The choice of courses is equally eclectic, ranging from neuroscience to liberal arts – no stereotyping here. Slightly sadly, the idea that they should suggest apprenticeships to their charges fell on stony ground. One to Oxbridge in 2023 and one medic.

Latest results

In 2023, 67 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSE; 43 per cent A*/A at A level (73 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 70 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSEs; 54 per cent A*/A (79 per cent A*-B).

Teaching and learning

Academic results across the board bear witness to the school’s success. Once known as an arty school, there are few academic gaps here these days and a conscious effort has been maintained to teach a wide range of subjects from year 7 onwards (unusually, you can study Latin and Mandarin for GCSE, even if it’s just you). This richesse of options is particularly obvious at A level, where they offer an astonishing (for such a small school) range of 28 guaranteed subjects, even if a subject has only one or two takers.

There has been a small swing in favour of STEM subjects at A level, with more girls taking a route which will lead them towards science or medicine, typified at the top end by one girl heading to Oxford to study engineering. Maths, art and English are still the most popular choices but biology, sociology, psychology and economics don’t lag far behind. At the moment, everyone signs up to four A levels (one of which can be dropped at any point in the lower sixth) but there is talk of reducing it to three with the option of a fourth.

Teacher turnover is low (unless retirement beckons) and some have been here for more than 20 years. However, school seems aware of keeping the balance between young NQTs and familiar faces, and the pupils and parents love the continuity.

Learning support and SEN

Around a quarter of pupils receive some level of SEND provision, mostly for dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism. Head of learning enhancement is a fully qualified SENDCO and a specialist dyslexia teacher and assessor. One-to-one support is offered when necessary, but generally the SENDCO team works with the heads of departments to put in strategies to support the children in their classes, so that all pupils are in all their lessons with the specialist subject teachers. Girls felt that there is always help on hand. Nature of school buildings means it may not be suitable for wheelchair users.

The arts and extracurricular

Buzzing art rooms at the top of the houses, presided over by the ‘legend’ of an art teacher who was overseeing an A level project on chairs when we visited, calling for the wood glue whilst wielding a drill. Imagination, enthusiasm and stimulation on show among all the different classes working under the roof. ‘We are so lucky to have all this - it was one of the main reasons I wanted to come here,’ said one student.

Music not quite so much in evidence but a substantial percentage learn instruments in school. Cosy drama teacher was recapping the important bits of the 39 Steps in a slightly chaotic space next to the small studio stage, the size of which does not appear to deter the girls.

Clubs are ubiquitous from astronomy to book club - ‘absolutely everything you want,’ enthused one mother. The location is an added boon and has led to exciting outings behind the scenes at their near-neighbour, the Natural History Museum - the chance of being up close and personal with dinosaurs makes the average school outing seem very dreary.

Sport

For a school with two small roof terraces and two other tiny outside spaces, they do well to offer any sport at all beyond basic PE in the basement gym. However, they try and overcome the practical problems and even field netball, hockey and basketball teams and can boast of a potential international rower and a ‘brilliant’ fencer. Perhaps not a school for a noticeably sporty girl, but encouragement is handed out liberally to anyone who has a go.

Ethos and heritage

At the end of Victoria’s reign, when Miss Eleanor Wyatt opened her door in nearby Stanhope Gardens, her aim was to help well-brought-up girls turn into educated young ladies. The ethos remains the same over a century later, the only difference being that Oxbridge rather than marriage is now the goal.

The facades of the adjoining houses have recently been embellished with discreet dark blue banners. Inside, the late Queen hangs on the stairs next to a pupil’s drawing of a screaming girl, seemingly heavily influenced by Munch. The entrance we came through was narrow and unglamorous, decorated with photographs of visits by their startlingly recognisable alumnae (think the Queen Consort) and staff members (ex-chief spy, Eliza Manningham Buller) but there is a much grander hall and staircase next door.

A stranger would need a map to negotiate the maze that consists of classrooms, libraries and staff cubby holes but it appears to be zero problem for its daily inhabitants who think it adds to the ‘homeyness’ of the school. The basement (apart from the gym and kitchen) is basically all about science, the top floor is all about art and the rest is squashed in-between. Fairly bonkers but it works.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

The praise (as well as fondness) for the staff and the pastoral care was unanimous and close to fulsome, if it hadn’t been so obviously genuine. School appears not only to help with problems but are aware of them before the student has realised that she should be worried. Everyone seems involved, with form teachers, heads of year and the subject director all coming in for plaudits. Particular mention of the relationship and care taken by older girls for younger ones, fostered by a buddy system set up on induction day, and a residential outing for the year group at the beginning of year 7.

When asked about the existence of eating disorders or other psychological and emotional problems causing distress, honest soul-searching went on amongst sixth-formers, concluding that they could only remember one girl in trouble and that it wasn’t a worry here unlike in some of the schools that their friends went to. Detention and late detention for offenders but the crimes appear minor and no evidence that serious problems are more than very occasional, or indeed are not dealt with before they manifest themselves.

Pupils and parents

Kensington has always been the respectable half of the borough alliance with raffish Chelsea to the south but nowadays the girls tend to come from both sides of the Fulham Road. The mix of backgrounds and nationalities appears not to have changed that much recently, with a cohort that includes Americans and Europeans, and Brexit has not made any significant difference, as yet. Strong links with old girls are actively encouraged - not only do they come back visiting but regularly send their daughters.

An English family told us that despite the variety of nationalities, it was really easy to make friends, both for the children and the parents. She was really pleased by this as she had wondered whether this would be the case among families who often have dual nationality and two, if not three, passports.

Money matters

Automatic scholarship candidacy for 11+ entrants with the prize of 10 per cent remission on the fees; also scholarships at sixth form entry. More money being channelled into bursaries and, if parents are struggling, attempts are made to help existing pupils stay until they reach a suitable break-point.

The last word

Not just arty, not just nurturing, but both those things, with good academics and several of London's big museums on its doorstep. A school with character and history, still turning out educated young ladies in its own contemporary style.

Special Education Needs

Our Learning Support department offers excellent support to pupils and works closely with staff and parents. Learning support staff provide teaching staff with detailed recommendations for all pupils receiving assistance and they attend all weekly staff meetings to update and advise staff. Parents are kept fully informed and provided with termly plans.

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