Queen Anne's School
Encyclopedia
Queen Anne's School in Caversham, Berkshire
is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated just north of the River Thames
and Reading
town centre and occupying a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) campus.
There are around 330 pupils. Nearly half are boarders. Some stay seven nights a week; others stay during the working week (weekly boarders) or two, three or four nights a week (flexi boarders). Saturday morning lessons were replaced in 2009 by a programme of optional sport, hobbies and extended learning activities, including pottery, horse riding, textiles and critical thinking.
The school awards scholarships in academic subjects, sport, music, art and drama at ages 11 and 13 and at sixth form entry.
The 2008 Ofsted Social Care report rated the school as ‘good’, which Ofsted translates as “this aspect of the provision is strong”. It said: “Boarders receive good pastoral care and enjoy boarding at the school. They feel safe and have access to a range of adults who can support them in enjoying and achieving whilst at this school. There are low levels of bullying and the standard of the boarding accommodation is good.”
The Independent Schools Inspectorate's Inspection Report 2005 said: "Queen Anne’s school has many strengths and no significant weaknesses."
Queen Anne's is a member of the Girls' Schools Association
and the Boarding Schools' Association. Queen Anne's was chosen as one of Tatler
magazine's Top 225 prep and public schools 2010.
The head is Mrs Julia Harrington, who joined the school in 2006.
.
The Main Block and Chapel at Queen Anne's School are Grade II listed buildings.
, chemistry
and biology
.
At A level in 2009 93% were A to C grades and one in five students gained three or more A grades. Students gain places at some of the UK’s top universities, including Oxbridge
.
, and many go on to do postgraduate work. The courses they take range from art, drama and classics to medicine, civil and chemical engineering, modern languages and management.
, tennis
, swimming
and netball
are major sports at Queen Anne’s and there is provision for most other sports either at the school or at local clubs. The school has produced Olympic and national-level sportswomen.
, Senior Choir, Rose Choir, Orchestra
, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Quartet
, Flute Group, Swing Band and Junior Wind Band.
In 2007, A number of Queen Anne’s pupils featured in the St Trinians film.
In 2009 Queen Anne’s drama pupils won two of the few dozen places at the National Youth Theatre
in London to train with professionals.
and its students participate in the competition every year. It has also hosted the event on a number of occasions, most recently in 2003.
Caversham, Berkshire
Caversham is a suburb and former village in the unitary authority of Reading, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, within the royal county of Berkshire, on the opposite bank from the rest of Reading...
is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated just north of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
town centre and occupying a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) campus.
There are around 330 pupils. Nearly half are boarders. Some stay seven nights a week; others stay during the working week (weekly boarders) or two, three or four nights a week (flexi boarders). Saturday morning lessons were replaced in 2009 by a programme of optional sport, hobbies and extended learning activities, including pottery, horse riding, textiles and critical thinking.
The school awards scholarships in academic subjects, sport, music, art and drama at ages 11 and 13 and at sixth form entry.
The 2008 Ofsted Social Care report rated the school as ‘good’, which Ofsted translates as “this aspect of the provision is strong”. It said: “Boarders receive good pastoral care and enjoy boarding at the school. They feel safe and have access to a range of adults who can support them in enjoying and achieving whilst at this school. There are low levels of bullying and the standard of the boarding accommodation is good.”
The Independent Schools Inspectorate's Inspection Report 2005 said: "Queen Anne’s school has many strengths and no significant weaknesses."
Queen Anne's is a member of the Girls' Schools Association
Girls' Schools Association
The Girls' Schools Association is the professional association of the heads of independent girls' schools in the UK and overseas and is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council .-History:...
and the Boarding Schools' Association. Queen Anne's was chosen as one of Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
magazine's Top 225 prep and public schools 2010.
The head is Mrs Julia Harrington, who joined the school in 2006.
History
In 1698 eight merchants founded the Grey Coat Hospital, a Christian foundation. In 1706 the foundation received a royal charter from Queen Anne. In 1874 Grey Coat Hospital became a girls' school. The Grey Coat Hospital Foundation used part of its endowment to buy a mansion in Henley Road in Caversham which became Queen Anne's School in 1894. The social history of the school is described in detail in a 2008 book by Daniel Talbot, current head of history, 'The Scarlet Runners: A Social History of Queen Anne's, Caversham'.Facilities
Queen Anne's campus is a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) site with landscaped gardens and playing fields immediately adjacent to the teaching and boarding accommodation. The facilities include a cafe for sixth formers and parents (opened 2009) and a Chapel, designed by Reginald BlomfieldReginald Blomfield
Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield was a prolific British architect, garden designer and author of the Victorian and Edwardian period.- Early life and career :...
.
The Main Block and Chapel at Queen Anne's School are Grade II listed buildings.
Academic performance
In 2009 GCSE results were 87% at grades A* to B, 42% of pupils gaining straight A*/A grades in eight or more subjects and 100% A* to B grades in physicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
.
At A level in 2009 93% were A to C grades and one in five students gained three or more A grades. Students gain places at some of the UK’s top universities, including Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
.
University destinations
Almost all Queen Anne's students go on to study at degree level at university, including Oxford and CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and many go on to do postgraduate work. The courses they take range from art, drama and classics to medicine, civil and chemical engineering, modern languages and management.
Sport
LacrosseLacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
are major sports at Queen Anne’s and there is provision for most other sports either at the school or at local clubs. The school has produced Olympic and national-level sportswomen.
Music
The school’s own groups include: Chamber ChoirChamber choir
A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...
, Senior Choir, Rose Choir, Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
, Flute Group, Swing Band and Junior Wind Band.
Drama
The school puts on three full-scale productions a year, and organises masterclasses and workshops with professional practitioners.In 2007, A number of Queen Anne’s pupils featured in the St Trinians film.
In 2009 Queen Anne’s drama pupils won two of the few dozen places at the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
in London to train with professionals.
Debating and Public Speaking
Queen Anne's School is a founder of the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking ChampionshipsWorld Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships
The World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships is an annual international English language debating and public speaking tournament for individual high school-level students representing different countries. It occurs during a five-day period in late March and involves 180 to 200...
and its students participate in the competition every year. It has also hosted the event on a number of occasions, most recently in 2003.
Notable former pupils
- Barbara Brooke, Baroness Brooke of YstradfellteBarbara Brooke, Baroness Brooke of YstradfellteBarbara Brooke, Baroness Brooke of Ystradfellte and Baroness Brooke of Cumnor DBE was a British Conservative politician.-Personal life:...
, politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making... - Joan JacksonJoan JacksonJoan Jackson was the muse of Sir John Betjeman, best known from being the subject of his poem "A Subaltern's Love-song"....
, museMuseThe Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
of Sir John BetjemanJohn BetjemanSir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture... - Brenda RawnsleyBrenda RawnsleyBrenda Mary Rawnsley Keighley was a British arts campaigner and education activist...
, arts activist - Nozomi Sasaki, glamour model
- Posy SimmondsPosy SimmondsRosemary Elizabeth "Posy" Simmonds MBE is a British newspaper cartoonist and writer and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her long association with The Guardian, for which she has drawn the cartoons Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe , both later published as books...
, cartoonistCartoonistA cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and illustratorIllustratorAn Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text... - Helena CobbanHelena CobbanHelena Cobban is a British-American writer and researcher on international relations, with special interests in the Middle East, the international system, and transitional justice. In March 2010, she founded a new book-publishing company, Just World Publishing, LLC...
, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and researcherResearcherA researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
on international relationsInternational relationsInternational relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations... - Jun KasaiJun Kasaiis a Japanese professional wrestler, primarily competing for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Dubbed the Crazy Monkey for his violent and oftentimes self-harmful style of hardcore wrestling, Kasai is considered a breakthrough talent in Japanese wrestling, able to work both hardcore and technical styles...
, professional wrestler - Lesley AbdelaLesley AbdelaLesley Julia Abdela MBE at the London Gazette. "For services to the advancement of Women in Politics and Local Government." Hon D.Litt)...
, human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
campaigner - DJ FargettaFargettaMario Fargetta is an Italian dance/house/electronica/techno DJ, producer, recording artist, composer, and remixer...
, disc jockeyDisc jockeyA disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys... - Jenny SeagroveJenny SeagroveJennifer Ann Seagrove is an English actress. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and rose to fame playing the lead in a TV dramatisation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance and the 1983 film Local Hero...
, actress - Valerie EliotValerie EliotValerie Eliot née Esmé Valerie Fletcher is the surviving widow and second wife of the Nobel prize-winning poet, T. S. Eliot...
, wife of poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
T. S. EliotT. S. EliotThomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his... - JC Bailey, professional wrestler