Queen's College is an

independent school An independent school is independent in its finances and governance. Also known as private schools, non-governmental, privately funded, or non-state schools, they are not administered by local, state or national governments. In British Eng ...

for girls aged 11–18 with an adjoining prep school for girls aged 4–11 located in the

City of Westminster The City of Westminster is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and London boroughs, borough in Inner London. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government. It occupies a large area of cent ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. Founded in 1848 by theologian and social reformer

Frederick Denison Maurice John Frederick Denison Maurice (29 August 1805 – 1 April 1872), known as F. D. Maurice, was an English Anglican theologian, a prolific author, and one of the founders of Christian socialism. Since World War II, interest in Maurice has exp ...

along with a committee of patrons, the college was the first institution in the world to award academic qualifications to women. In 1853, it also became the first girls' school to be granted a

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...

for the furtherance of women's education. Ever since, the college patron has been a British queen; the current patron is

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

. The college has a distinctly liberal ethos based upon the principles of F. D. Maurice.

History

FD Maurice painting Queen's College London

In 1845, David Laing, chaplain of the Middlesex Hospital raised funds with a committee of patrons to acquire a building at 47 Harley Street with the intention of creating a home for unemployed governesses. Laing was keen to develop the institution to provide governesses with an education and certification. In 1847, he acquired the agreement of professors from

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

to give lectures in the Home.

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

gave her assent, promise of funds and patronage. In 1847, the first lectures took place, the Committee of Education was established under the chair of F. D. Maurice, and number 45 was purchased. In December of the same year, the first certificates were issued. Meanwhile, it was decided to extend the reach of the education on offer to women who were not governesses. Waiting RoomQueen's College London

The establishment of the college was met with criticism by the press,

F. D. Maurice John Frederick Denison Maurice (1805–1872), known as F. D. Maurice, was an English Anglican theologian, a prolific author, and one of the founders of Christian socialism. Since the Second World War, interest in Maurice has expanded."Frede ...

was forced to defend the intention of teaching mathematics to women against claims of its 'dangerous' consequences. William Sterndale Bennett and

John Pyke Hullah John Pyke Hullah (27 June 1812 – 21 February 1884) was an English composer and teacher of music, whose promotion of vocal training is associated with the singing-class movement. Life and career Hullah was born at Worcester. He was a pupil ...

were among the founding directors. In the early days of the College, lectures were given to a single classroom of girls ranging from 12 to 20 years of age. The younger pupils were soon to be given their own school at the back of the buildings, which was also open to boys. The Waiting Room became the place where girls would gather and be introduced by the Lady Resident to their chaperones who remained with them throughout their classes and were known as the 'Lady Visitors' (one of them being

Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley Henrietta Maria Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley (née Dillon-Lee; 21 December 1807 – 16 February 1895), was a British Canadian-born political hostess and campaigner for the education of women in England. She was a founder and be ...

). When the college was separated from the Governesses' Benevolent Institution in 1853, a new Governing Council was established, with the 'Visitor', the

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

as its figurehead, an arrangement which continues to this day. Following the resignation of Maurice in 1853, Richard Chenevix Trench became the first principal and took over as Chair of the Committee of Education. The college had resisted attempts to become, or merge with, a college of

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...

. The Lady Resident

Eleanor Grove Eleanor Grove (1826 – 22 November 1905) was a British translator and educationist. She was the founding principal of College Hall in London that allowed women to live in Bloomsbury and attend the University of London. She and her life long pa ...

and linguist

Rosa Morison Rosa Morison (5 June 1841 – 8 February 1912) was a British linguist and educationist. She offered her services for free to College Hall, London and became their first Lady Superintendent of Women Students. She worked there until her death, ou ...

had left together in the 1880s because of this and they returned to lead College Hall, London. The practice of offering lectures from visitors throughout the year is a tradition of the college. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the college escaped destruction when a bomb exploded on the opposite side of Harley Street. The windows at the front of the building were smashed and plaster work damaged. The college continued to function during the war with classes held in bomb shelters constructed in the main corridor. Evacuation of the pupils to the Lake District and then to Northamptonshire was short-lived. The college ceased to offer boarding accommodation in the 1980s and Kynaston House was re-modelled from the accommodation to offices, a senior common room and a library. In 2002,

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was the l ...

opened Queen's College Preparatory School at 61

Portland Place Portland Place is a street in the Marylebone district of central London. Named after the Third Duke of Portland, the unusually wide street is home to BBC Broadcasting House, the Chinese and Polish embassies, the Royal Institute of British A ...

School organisation

Each student is assigned to a

form Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens. Form also refers to: *Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter data ...

of approximately 18–22 members. The forms are headed by a tutor and deputy, and take their name from the initials of the tutor. There are two or three forms in a year and each year is under the watch of a year head. The years comprise the three sections of the College, each with a further delegated head. Queen's college London Senior Library desk

Preparatory School

College

Ethos

Religious affiliation

The college is

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

in affiliation, stemming from its foundation under Christian Socialist F. D. Maurice. Half the principals since the College's inception have been vicars or canons of the Anglican Church. Today, the college is associated with the nearby

All Souls Church, Langham Place All Souls Church is a conservative evangelical Anglican church in central London, situated in Langham Place in Marylebone, at the north end of Regent Street. It was designed in Regency style by John Nash and consecrated in 1824. As it is d ...

, whose vicar is the school chaplain. Prayers are said daily in the hall (except on Thursday), and the year begins with the reading of a prayer written specially for the College by Maurice. Members of other faiths are welcomed and a weekly Jewish assembly takes place.

Calendar

Terms

The three terms are named Michaelmas, Lent and Summer. At the end of the Lent Term, Founder's Day is observed, when thanks is given for the founding of the College at All Souls Church, which is also the location of the carol service at the end of the Michaelmas Term.

Annual Gathering

The Summer Term closes with the Annual Gathering, when pupils continue the tradition, begun in 1854, of lining the school corridor dressed all in white, accompanied by the staff in

academic dress Academic dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, mainly tertiary (and sometimes secondary) education, worn mainly by those who have obtained a university degree (or similar), or hold a status that entitles them to assum ...

. The 'Visitor', the

, or his representative, is introduced by form tutors and the Principal to every student in the College from Class 1 upwards and selected representatives of Classes 2 and 3. The event is followed by the Principal's report to the governors, parents, staff and pupils on the academic year and an address from the Visitor.

Alumnae

Founded in 1891, the Old Queen's Society exists to connect former pupils with each other and the school. The first Honorary Secretary was Frideswide Kekewich and the first President, Ellen Howard. Known as Old Queens, alumnae have included many notable women over the school's history, including: *

Matilda Ellen Bishop Matilda Ellen Bishop (12 April 1842 in Tichborne, Hampshire – 1 July 1913 in Camberwell, London) was the first Principal (academia), Principal of Royal Holloway, University of London, Royal Holloway College, University of London and was responsib ...

(c. 1858–60), first Principal of

Royal Holloway College Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...

(1887–1897) *

Mary Wardell Mary Wardell (18 August 1832 - 20 January 1917) was a British philanthropist whose establishment for the treatment of Scarlet Fever reduced the prevalence of the infection in London. Hospital work The daughter of a wine merchant, and educated ...

(c.1851) founder of Convalescent Home for Scarlet Fever * Camilla Croudace, Lady Resident at Queen's College (1881–1906) * Gertrude Bell (1884–86), archaeologist, cartologist, diplomat * Katherine Mansfield (1903–06), poet and author * Rosalie Glynn Grylls, Lady Mander (1919–23), biographer, lecturer, Liberal politician, art collector, who wrote a history of the College *

Sofka Skipwith Sofka Skipwith (born Sophia Dolgorukova; 23 October 1907Sofka Zinovieff, ''Red Princess: A Revolutionary Life'', 2007, New York: Pegasus, 2008, . – 26 February 1994Frida Knight"Obituary: Sofka Skipwith" ''The Independent'' 8 March 1994.) was ...

(Princess Sofka Dolgorouk), Russian émigré, Communist, political prisoner, recipient of

British Hero of the Holocaust The British Hero of the Holocaust award is a special national award given by the government of the United Kingdom in recognition of British citizens who assisted in rescuing victims of the Holocaust. On 9 March 2010, it was awarded to 25 individ ...

honour * Anne Said (1925–30), artist * Diana Barnato Walker (1928–34), author and aviator *

Mary Soames Mary Soames, Baroness Soames, (; 15 September 1922 31 May 2014) was an English author. The youngest of the five children of Winston Churchill and his wife, Clementine, she worked for public organisations including the Red Cross and the Women's ...

(1940), Chairman, Royal National Theatre Board and daughter of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...

* Jacqueline du Pré (1959), cellist * Anna Wintour OBE (1960–3), editor-in-chief, ''

Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...

'' * Jane Asher, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist * Hermione Lee (1963–65), biographer and Goldsmith Professor of English Literature, Oxford *

Harriet Cass Harriet R M Cass (born 4 February 1952) is a freelance broadcaster, best known for her work on BBC Radio 4 as a senior announcer, with responsibility for newsreading and continuity. Born in London NW10, at the Central Middlesex Hospital, the four ...

, BBC announcer * Barbara Thompson, musician * Daisy Goodwin (1972–77),

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

television producer *

Emma Freud Emma Vallencey Freud (born 25 January 1962) is an English broadcaster and cultural commentator. Early life Freud was born in London on 25 January 1962 and is the daughter of politician and broadcaster Sir Clement Freud (1924–2009) and June ...

(1973–80), broadcaster, member of the prominent Freud family *

Claudia Rosencrantz Claudia Emma Rosencrantz FRTS (born 23 June 1959) is a British television executive and journalist. She was formerly the Controller of Entertainment for ITV, for over ten years. She was also Director of Television for Virgin Media for five year ...

(1975–79), journalist, Controller of Entertainment, ITV, Commissioner of '' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', '' X Factor'' and '' I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!'', Director of Programming, Living TV, Director of Television,

Virgin Media Virgin Media is a British telecommunications company which provides telephone, Cable television, television and Internet access, internet services in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are at Green Park in Reading, Berkshire, Reading, Engla ...

* Susannah Constantine (1978), journalist, television presenter and fashion guru * Amber Rudd (1979–81), MP *

Asma al-Assad Asma Fawaz al-Assad (born 11 August 1975) is the First Lady of Syria. Born and raised in London to Syrian parents, she is married to the 19th and current President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. Assad graduated from King's College London in 1996 ...

, First Lady of Syria * Peaches Geldof, writer, presenter and model *

Peggy Cripps Enid Margaret "Peggy" Appiah (née Cripps), MBE ( ; 21 May 1921 – 11 February 2006), was a British children's author, philanthropist and socialite. She was the daughter of the Right Honourable Sir Stafford Cripps and Dame Isobel Cripps, and ...

, author, philanthropist and socialite

Heads of Queen's College

style="font-size:100%;" :''Principals'' :

(Chair of the Education Committee 1848–53) :

Richard Chenevix Trench Richard Chenevix Trench (Richard Trench until 1873; 9 September 1807 – 28 March 1886) was an Anglican archbishop and poet. Life He was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Richard Trench (1774–1860), barrister-at-law, and the Dublin write ...

(1853–54) : A. P. Stanley (1863–1872) : J. LLewelyn Davies (1873–1874) :

Edward Plumptre Edward Hayes Plumptre (6 August 1821 – 1 February 1891) was an English divine and scholar born in London. Life He was born on 6 August 1821, being the son of Edward Hallows Plumptre, a London solicitor. Charles John Plumptre was his brother. ...

(1875–1879) : J. Llewelyn Davies (1879–1886) : R. Elwyn (1886–1894) : C. J. Robinson (1895–1898) : T. W. Sharpe (1898–1903) : G. C. Bell (1904–1910) :Henry Craik (1911–1915) : J. F. Kendall (1915–1918) :Joseph Edwards (1919–1931) :G. E. Holloway (1932–1940) :A. M. Kynaston (1940–1963) :Stephanie C. P. Fierz (1964–1983) :P. J. Fleming (1983–1990) :Celia Goodhart (1991–1999) :Margaret Connell (1999–2009) :Frances Ramsey (2009–2017) :Richard Tillett (2017–present) :''Deans'' : C. G. Nicolay (1848–54) : E. Plumptre (1854–75) : Henry Craik (1875–81) : H. G. Seeley (1881–1909) : Joseph Edwards (1909–1919) : R. Bayne (1919–1922) : T. W. Crafer (1922) :''Headmistresses of the School'' : Parry (1849–57) : Hay (1857–1893) : Palethorpe and Wood (1893–1895) : Luard (1895–1907) : Teale (1907–1919) :Position merged with Principal (1919)

Members of staff

Former

*Terry Bagg, poet *

Dorothea Beale Dorothea Beale LL.D. (21 March 1831 – 9 November 1906) was a suffragist, educational reformer and author. As Principal of Cheltenham Ladies' College, she became the founder of St Hilda's College, Oxford. Early and family life Dorothea Beale w ...

, suffragist and educational reformer * R. C. Trench * David Bedford, composer *Louisa Bovell-Sturge, pioneering female doctor *Isidore Brasseur, tutor to the Prince of Wales *

Émile Cammaerts Émile Leon Cammaerts CBE (16 March 1878 in Saint-Gilles, Belgium – 2 November 1953, Radlett, Hertfordshire) was a Belgian playwright, poet (including war poet) and author who wrote primarily in English and French. Cammaerts translated three book ...

, Belgian poet *

, Dean of Westminster *

Henry Charles Innes Fripp Henry Charles Innes Fripp (1867-1963) was an English painter, genre artist and illustrator, stained glass maker, designer, and teacher. Many of his illustrations appear under the name Innes Fripp. He was born in 1867 to a family of well known pu ...

, Professor of Art *

, composer * Janet Kay-Shuttleworth * Elaine Kaye, author *

Charles Kingsley Charles Kingsley (12 June 1819 – 23 January 1875) was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian, novelist and poet. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the working ...

, author and social reformer *David Laing, chaplain and secretary of the Governesses' Benevolent Institution *

Edward Collett May Edward Collett May (October 29, 1806-Jan. 2, 1887) was an English music educator. Life He was born in Greenwich, where his father was a shipbuilder. His first teacher was his brother Henry, an amateur musician and composer of considerable ability ...

, music educator *Fiona McIntosh, Olympian and former British number 1 fencer *Tessa Millar, Olympic rower and coach *

, theologian * Anne Smith, world record holder for running the mile in 1967 * Henrietta Maria Stanley * William Sterndale Bennett, composer, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music *

Ethel Truman Ethel (also '' æthel'') is an Old English word meaning "noble", today often used as a feminine given name. Etymology and historic usage The word means ''æthel'' "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in Anglo-Saxon names, ...

, first woman to achieve a first in physics at

Richard Henry Walthew Richard Henry Walthew, often known as Richard H. Walthew (4 November 187214 November 1951) was an English composer and pianist, and an important figure in English chamber music during the first half of the 20th century. Life Richard Henry Walth ...

, composer

Secondary Sources

* Grylls, Rosalie Glynn, ''Queen's College 1848–1948: Founded by Frederick Denison Maurice'',London: George Routledge & Sons, 1948 * Kaye, Elaine,Former member of the staff and author of ''History of the King's Weigh House Church'', ''A History of Queen's College, London 1848–1972'', London: Chatto & Windus, 1972 * Billings, Malcolm, ''Queen's College: 150 Years and a New Century'', London: James & James, 2000

External links

Queen's College websiteOld Queen's SocietyQueen's College Preparatory SchoolBritish history on line: Queen's College, Harley Street
on the ''

Good Schools Guide ''The Good Schools Guide'' is a guide to British schools, both state and independent. Overview The guide is compiled by a team of editors which, according to the official website, "''comprises some 50 editors, writers, researchers and contri ...

Footnotes and References

{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1848 Independent girls' schools in London Independent schools in the City of Westminster Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association 1848 establishments in England 1848 in London