Seven advantages of an all-girls school
We understand that choosing the right school for your daughter is a huge decision. There are so many benefits to an all-girls environment and we have highlighted the main advantages below to help you make the right decision.
1. Lack of stereotypes at an all-girls school
The facts speak for themselves. Independent research by the Institute of Physics, for example, found that girls who attend independent girls’ schools are significantly more likely to study physics to A-level than girls in any other type of UK school, including independent co-ed schools. At Queen’s, more than 50% of girls take a science at A-level, and alongside the doctors, vets and dentists which we have produced historically, we are seeing an increasing number of girls going on to study typically male-dominated subjects at university, such as computer science, physics, astronomy, maths and engineering.
2. Inspirational all-girls environment
To state the obvious, girls at GSA schools are surrounded by female role models - from their peers and older girls to prefects and alumnae, not to mention many of their teachers.
Queen’s is a small welcoming community where each girl is known as an individual. Behaviour which is understanding, respectful and kind is modelled by staff and expected of all our pupils.
Our curriculum, enrichment clubs and all extended learning opportunities are designed with girls in mind – whether academic, sports or the arts, activities are offered which will inspire and engage girls with a range of different interests and aptitudes.
3. Leadership opportunities
GSA schools create nurturing environments where girls feel okay about taking charge and putting themselves forward.
With only girls in the classroom and on the sports field, both intellectual and physical confidence has room to grow. Every girl has every opportunity to become a leader, a form captain, a Head of House. They learn not just how to shoulder responsibility, but also how to take risks, inspire and lead others. This is particularly the case in Queen’s Sixth Form where every girl selects a specific role of responsibility, leads clubs, acts as a mentor to younger pupils and as an ambassador for the school.
It’s true that ‘real life’ isn't single-sex, but it’s also true that teenagers are not adults and that by allowing them the opportunity to develop a strong sense of self away from the scrutiny of the opposite sex, girls’ – and boys’ – schools can help children to become more confident adults. By the time they enter the world of university, work and life, they have acquired the life skills and self-confidence to really succeed.
4. Exceptional facilities
We pride ourselves on ensuring we provide the facilities the girls need to thrive. We have invested heavily in the facilities as we know how important play and the right environment is for learning for young girls. Our Lower School boasts an abundance of sporting facilities including a swimming pool, netball courts, tennis courts and a running track and long jump pit. There is also a playground with climbing equipment, a forest area, wellness garden, classrooms for science, cooking music, IT and a kiln.
We have recently secured planning permission for a brand new Astroturf mulit-sports pitch at the Senior School. This will provide huge benefits for both our school and the local community and will encompass a full-size hockey pitch, a lacrosse pitch, a 200m running track and will also be available for a range of other outdoor sports and training activities, including netball, tennis and football.
We also use iPad’s to help the learning of our students. If you would like to learn more about our use of iPads at The Queen’s School, please visit this link.
5. Successful alumni
Many of our students who have previously studied at The Queen’s School have gone on to live extraordinary lives with rich and interesting careers. To see some examples of successful Queen’s School alumni, please follow this link.
6. Exemplary GCSE & A-level results
Our pupils achieve outstanding results!
We are extremely proud of the effort and work put in by every student at The Queen’s School and they consistently deliver exceptional results year on year. Our focus however, is on developing the whole individual.
There are three key areas that we want our girls to excel in, and they are, to be able to collaborate confidently, think independently and aspire globally. Of course, we also value empathy, humour and community. We want our girls to be ambitious, have goals, to know what is it that they want from life, ask for it and trust that in the end, they will receive it through hard work, determination, persistence and the confidence to do so. We encourage them to set all kinds of goals - personal, career, adventure and contribution, so that by doing so they will have a sense of direction, security and purpose in their life. We are there to support and champion them along the way. That is why pupils leave Queen’s confident in themselves and knowing that they are capable young people with the ability to make a difference, innovate, inspire and lead.
7. Small class sizes
We pride ourselves on being a small school with a family enviroment. We celebrate our pupil’s uniqueness and our small class sizes mean that we can tailor what we do to meet the needs of every member of the school community. We want our girls to be happy, to expect the best from life and to cultivate their optimism even when faced with challenging times, so we continually encourage them in all they do.