Queen's College is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

day school A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children are given instruction during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compared to a regular s ...

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 London borough with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in Greater London, England. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government. It contains a large par ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. It was founded in 1848 by theologian and social reformer

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

along with a committee of patrons. In 1853, it was 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, but ...

for the furtherance of women's education. Until 2024, the college patron had always been a British queen. The college has a distinctly liberal ethos based upon the principles of F. D. Maurice.

History

In 1845, David Laing, chaplain of the

Middlesex Hospital Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, England. First opened as the Middlesex Infirmary in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally clos ...

, 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 university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...

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 January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

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. The establishment of the college was met with criticism by the press, F. D. Maurice was forced to defend the intention of teaching mathematics to women against claims of its 'dangerous' consequences. The composers 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. He worked with Charles Dickens and Felix Mendelssohn. Life and ...

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 ben ...

). 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 The bishop of London is the Ordinary (church officer), ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. By custom the Bishop is also Dean of the Chapel Royal since 1723. The diocese covers of 17 boroughs o ...

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 degr ...

. The Lady Resident Eleanor Grove and linguist Rosa Morison 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 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.

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 may also refer to: *Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter dat ...

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.

Preparatory School

College

Ethos

Religious affiliation

The college is

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

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, 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 academia, academic settings, mainly tertiary education, tertiary (and sometimes secondary schools, secondary) education, worn mainly by those who have obtained a university degree (or simila ...

. 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: * Camilla Croudace, Lady Resident at Queen's College (1881–1906) *

Gertrude Bell Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell (14 July 1868 – 12 July 1926) was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist. She spent much of her life exploring and mapping the Middle East, and became highly inf ...

(1884–86), archaeologist, cartologist, diplomat *

Jane Asher Jane Asher (born 5 April 1946)''The International Who's Who of Women'', 3rd edition, ed. Elizabeth Sleeman, Europa Publications, 2002, p. 29 is an English actress and author. She achieved early fame as a child actress and through her associatio ...

(1960-1962), actress and author *

Anna Wintour Dame Anna Wintour ( ; born 3 November 1949) is a British-American media executive, who has been serving as editor-in-chief of '' Vogue'' since 1988. Wintour has also served as global chief content officer of Condé Nast since 2020, where she o ...

OBE (1960–63), editor-in-chief, '' Vogue'' * Frances Helen Prideaux, the first woman to be competitively appointed as a surgeon to a London hospital

Heads of Queen's College

:''Principals'' : F. D. Maurice (Chair of the Education Committee 1848–53) :

Richard Chenevix Trench Richard Chenevix Trench (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 writer Melesina Chenevix (1768� ...

(1853–54) : A. P. Stanley (1863–1872) : J. LLewelyn Davies (1873–1874) : Edward Plumptre (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, suffragist and educational reformer * R. C. Trench *

David Bedford David Vickerman Bedford (4 August 1937 – 1 October 2011) was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music. He was the brother of the conductor Steuart Bedford, the grandson of the composer, painter ...

, composer *Louisa Bovell-Sturge, pioneering female doctor *Isidore Brasseur, tutor to the Prince of Wales * Émile Cammaerts, Belgian poet *

, Dean of Westminster * Henry Charles Innes Fripp, 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 workin ...

, author and social reformer *David Laing, chaplain and secretary of the Governesses' Benevolent Institution * Edward Collett May, music educator *Fiona McIntosh, Olympian and former British number 1 fencer *Tessa Millar, Olympic rower and coach * Edward Plumptre, 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, first woman to achieve a first in physics at

* Richard Henry Walthew, 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 private. The guide's contributors are predominantly parents, but include researchers and former headteachers. It uses a conversational tone. Selection of schools is made ...

Footnotes and References

{{coord, display=title Educational institutions established in 1848 Private girls' schools in London Private 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