WHAT? WHERE?

Queen Anne's, Caversham School Berkshire

Queen Anne’s is one of the oldest girls’ schools in the UK, offering day and boarding for girls aged 11-18 years. The school dates back to 1698 in London, but moved to Caversham in 1894 – on the fringes of Reading and its speedy trains to London and Oxford, with the added bonus of the Elizabeth Line. Despite its heritage, it’s very much a dynamic, forward-thinking school with a ceiling-smashing attitude and an inspiring motto: Kind Hearts, Fierce Minds, Strong Spirits.

The school is a leafy oasis with 34 acres for the 400 girls to go wild, with some of the best facilities we have seen. The campus is largely made up of modern teaching blocks and boarding houses, including an award-winning sixth form centre – a creative and fun space that gives Google’s offices a run for their money. But that’s old news, a recording studio and the St Cecilia Recital Hall now complete the phenomenal Scott Music Centre – named after former head Audrey Scott (1978-1996).

FACILITIES

Queen Anne's, Caversham School Berkshire

PHE-NOM-EN-AL! QAS’s facilities are crisp and modern, with a veneer of quality and excellence. It’s a clean sweep of A* from us. The glass atrium and reception sets the tone, The Space (the funky sixth form centre and dining hall) and Scott Music Centre all reflect the latest chapter of Queen Anne’s but the charming old chapel and period mansion house are a touchstone to the school’s rich history. A new Reading Room – designed by one of the students – offers a quiet, contemporary space to, well, read and hang out.

It’s worth noting, QAS is a six-time Microsoft Showcase School! Sounds fancy but what does it mean? Well, in simple terms it’s a kite mark of digital excellence in education. Every pupil has a ‘device’ for all lessons, and all work is on OneNote, including textbooks. Many of the student also took their GCSE and A Level exams online this year – a sign of things to come for all.

SPORT

Sports facilities – it’s your time to shine. Brand-new flood lights have been added to the existing courts, allowing for year-round game play – and work has almost been completed on a spinky-spanky Pavilion (last used in the Sixties) following a major refurbishment. It will provide new changing rooms and toilet facilities to improve the thriving game day atmosphere.

That’s not all, the netball and tennis courts have been resurfaced and the 25m indoor pool has also had a refresh – while it’s not as glossy as some of the other facilities, it looks smarter. Tennis is now huuuuge! A Tennis Academy now runs after school, and QAS has strong links with elite centres, like Bisham Abbey, to develop this. Trampolining and badminton academies also support talented young athletes here.

Queen Anne's, Caversham School Berkshire

For a school so close to Reading, QAS has acres of green space for lacrosse and football pitches, an athletics track, seven netball courts, 14 tennis courts, plus a snazzy fitness suite, climbing wall and dance studios. The list goes on and on, and it’s all top notch. Phase two of the sports revamp includes a dome, but there’s currently no timeline for this big budget project.

Lacrosse is Queen’s Anne’s game – they are outrageously good – and are the team to beat on match days. Their archrivals? According to the girls, it’s Downe House! There’s a lot of silverware to polish after wins at the cricket and U13 tennis Berkshire County Finals, plus a leaver, captained the England U19 Lacrosse team at the World Cup and 16-year-old discus thrower, Zara, is ranked 11th in the UK, including the adults.

Most recently, Queen Anne’s was announced as the national runner up for the LTA’s (Lawn Tennis Associations) Tennis School of the Year, after their U13 tennis team claimed the title of Aegon Tennis regional champions 2019. Casually, Olympian Chemmy Alcott also trained the ski team for the Inter-Schools Ski Racing Championships. It’s worth noting, hockey isn’t played here. So, if you have a hockey nut, this won’t be the school for them, unless you’re happy to pursue it out of hours.

DRAMA & MUSIC

Music is a huuuge part of school life and having outgrown its previous home, the new £1.45m Scott Music Centre is now located at the heart of the main building. It boasts a music hall, recital hall, recording studio, 16 soundproof practice rooms, a Mac suite, a small performance space as well as 21 pianos. An impressive 50% of pupils play at least one instrument, choir is cool, the girls can perform at lunchtimes, lay down tracks in the studio and girls regularly perform at events at Westminster Abbey and Washington DC.

The purpose-built theatre has had a refresh, with the foyer looking fancy with its sound-proof cladding and cool production posters. A new Director of Performing Arts has been appointed to join up drama and music and is making a positive impact. Drama (or Dramaramaland as it is affectionately called), is a very busy, buzzy place – four full-scale productions a year and nearly a hundred girls involved in LAMDA examinations. A competitive night of House Panto was to be performed (oh yes it was… I’ll stop), they had already wowed with a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the 2025 musical will be Little Shop of Horrors.

Annie-Me and My Sister Queen Anne's Caversham Royal Academy prize — QAS prize winner at Royal Academy Summer Show for her painting, Me & My Sister.

The Art and Design block is in one of the few uglier buildings on campus. What it lacks in architectural wow, it makes up for in equipment. Fledgling artists can work with clay, textiles, print, photography, film, stop-motion equipment, to name a few. Gallery visits are back and workshops are planned with visiting Royal Academy artists. It’s a hive of creativity with all the kit and expertise to create. Pretty much all the art around the school is student work, and it’s safe to say there’ a lot of talent. The building itself is the only disappointment, when you see everywhere else.

No need to keep your dance talents for TikTok, there are two mirrored, spring dance studios to enjoy. It’s hugely popular, with the option to learn lots of styles – ballet, tap, modern, jazz and street dance – both for fun in extracurricular clubs and working towards formal exams at GCSE and A level.

GENERAL

Cookery is back! Forget the terrible home ec’ classes of school days past, the classroom looks like the Bake Off tent and Food & Nutrition is now a GCSE option. It’s part of the curriculum, so all pupils learn to make a few dishes, while the GCSE is a combination of practical and theory, taught by the charismatic Karen Teague. It’ll undoubtedly go from strength to strength.

As a Microsoft School, the classrooms are all teched up. The Science Centre has seven labs and prep rooms spread over three floors. The library sprawls across two-stories with a staggering 20,000+ fiction and non-fiction books. The girls can study, revise, and read here, and there’s a dedicated Careers Library too. A new Reading Room has also been created near the English classrooms – a cosy, modern space to read or quietly chill. We likey a lot.

SIXTH FORM

Queen Anne's Caversham Sixth Form Centre The Space writing on glass wall with Big Ben Mural

The big wow is the award-winning sixth form centre. The communal study area has funky houses if you need privacy, Café 6 is a big hit and upstairs the classrooms have hi-tech smart walls instead of whiteboards. What I loved the most are the three creative spaces, designed by the girls themselves – a retro cinema with fold-up velvet seating, NYC’s Central Park with park bench and cushion boulders and Big Ben. But for all the momentum for the latest innovations, it feels entirely appropriate that history and classics are taught in the oldest part of the school. I also love the world map, showing the leavers’ destinations and what they are studying. It broadens the mind, for sure.

The A levels have been spruced up a bit. After consulting the girls, unpopular, dusty subjects are out and animation, criminology, film studies, music tech, psychology and sociology are in. The results? Psychology is now the most popular A level, with a haul of top-notch results: 84% per cent A-C* in 2023. Don’t worry, meaty subjects like maths, English, chemistry and biology are still popular and the results are good.

ACADEMICS

Queen Anne's, Caversham School Berkshire

You don’t have to be Einstein’s love child to snag a place at Queen Anne’s, but complacency is not an option. The results are consistently VERY good. The 2024 GCSE results saw 67% of students achieve 9 (A*-A). A-Levels results were also excellent – 84% at A*-C, with 36% achieving A*-A. Impressive, when you consider this is not a pressure cooker. The focus here is on ensuring the girls excel, have opportunities and aim high. They’re well-rounded, ‘can do anything’ mentality.

Oxbridge is always an option, but Queen Anne’s pupils favour Russell Group Universities like Exeter, Durham, LSE, St Andrew’s, Bath, King’s College London, to name a few. American universities are becoming increasingly popular in recent years with several girls winning scholarships to study, including the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.

PASTORAL

The weekly wellbeing survey has transformed QAS’s ability to maintain a hum of happiness. Pupils fill out a form every Monday – it’s not mandatory, but the girls I spoke to were happy to do it – then staff analyse the responses and flag any potential issues. Tutors and housemistresses keep a watchful eye and the school is very quick to act on any concerns.

The school also hosts wellbeing weeks, where students learn about the importance of self-care through guest speakers and healthy BBQs. The medical centre is staffed with nurses, GPs visit a few times a week and ad hoc specialist support is available, from independent listeners to psychologists.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

Queen Anne’s reputation is unabashedly high achieving and competitive, but there’s also a huuuuge extracurricular element. A staggering 75% of girls take part in Duke of Edinburgh, with 30 gold awards over the past five years. If your child is an unashamed nerd or likes to keep in their own lane, you still have options: animation, astronomy, climate change, current affairs, bee keeping, cookery and orchestra. There’s even a club for aspiring doctors to apply for med school! Not a one-size fits all, but something for everyone.

QUIRKS

For such an innovative, modern school, it’s not at the expense of tradition. Scarlet cloaks are still worn on high days and holidays, and you’ll see the red army at opening mornings and church services.

The peer mentor system is a superb support for younger students and creates a real sense of community – but it does mean the older girls can become a grandma at the tender age of 16 (in name only, before you grab the smelling salts). There’s also the annual end-of-term Bust-Up. A chance for staff and pupils to blow off steam with some fancy-dress fun. You’ll need to sharpen your elbows to get anywhere near the mirror on that day.

BOARDING

Boarding is fashionably flexible – with full, weekly, flexi and occasional boarding all on offer but most sixth formers go the whole hog and spend the week. The three modern boarding houses are well above average and feel homely with an abundance of super-squishy sofas, large communal kitchen tables and a couple of cute dogs padding around too.

There’s been a shuffle in the boarding houses which really works, making more sense pastorally and geographically. Michell, the former sixth form house at the end of the game’s pitches, has been transformed into a junior ‘retreat’ for Y7-Y9. Loads of cosy hangouts: The Big Sit is a lovely hangout for meetings or a Saturday night takeaway, the Zen Zone has comfy sofas and a pool table. There’s a kitchen for cookery and snacking – and no prep. The girls complete homework during school hours, so when they return to their boarding house feels like home.

The housemistresses have two daughters who have been through the school, and two dogs. In fact, there are six well-behaved staff pooches right at home here. It’s really homely, nurturing and the housemistresses are incredibly kind, taking the girls under their wing.

The older girls (Y10-Y13) are now based in three houses at the heart of the school. They are at the business end of their education and the houses allow them to study with a short commute to their base camp. Y10s share triples; with the older years occupying doubles and singles. Girls can walk into Reading on Sundays or have a range of outings, e.g. theatre, trampoline, cinema, bowling.

HEAD

Head Elaine Purves has been in post since January 2022, having previously worked at St John’s International School in Belgium. She has a wealth of experience with headships at Rossall School and Ipswich High School, as well as five years as Deputy Head at the Royal High School, Bath. Elaine brings with her a vast amount of experience in providing outstanding pastoral care, a forward-thinking education as well as co-ed and single sex experience. I think you’ll agree wellbeing and a progressive outlook are just what girls need right now – and QAS’s approach in this area is now award-winning.

Elaine and her team have worked hard on the academic provision, sporting opportunities and pupil experiences – building on the school’s past success. The school has just announced its fees in advance of VAT being added from January 2025. Part of the Grey Coat Foundation (a registered charity), Queen Anne’s has been able to absorb some of the costs, so the full 20% is not passed on to parents – 14% is the announced increase. Elaine and the team are adamant the quality of the provision remains exactly the same. It doesn’t appear to have dented the numbers.

Wellbeing (aka pastoral care) has seen the most significant change – and award-winning. Alongside Deputy Head Pastoral, Andrew Towse, a weekly survey is completed by the girls for them to rate how they feel on that day. It’s a touch point for the girls to raise things and for staff to nip any worries in the bud. Exam stress, UCAS application anxiety and home sickness are common concerns. Nothing groundbreaking but addressing their worries in assemblies and individually has helped the girls enormously. They’re happier and less stressed, which means the girls can focus on the business of learning (much to the delight of their parents). The more data the school gathers, the more they can see patterns forming and plan for those bumps in the road. Simple but effective.

QAS is evolving, and this new chapter puts the school’s offering in HD – a killer combination of academic rigour, wellbeing, opportunities, world class facilities, lots of support and, shout it from the rooftops, fun. Elaine’s quietly confident, calm, loves Queen Anne’s and wants the girls to excel in all areas of their lives. She’s appointed two new deputy heads and a new director of performing arts and has brought a fresh energy and twinkle to the school.

WRAP-AROUND CARE

Queen Anne's, Caversham School Berkshire

The days may be pretty long, three days a week the school day is 8am-6.15pm with extracurricular activities kicking in after 4.30pm, but the girls finish earlier on Wednesday and Friday (4.15pm). Although traditional activities like rowing, drama and cookery and newer ones like app workshops and yoga, it’s hard not to be lured back through the school gates. On the weekends, international sports fixtures are something they do too.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Phones are put away in phone lockers at the start of school day until the end of lessons. Younger boarders hand them in again before bedtime. From Y10 they can be kept until morning, but the WIFI is turned off at 10pm (11pm on weekends).

FEES

Day pupils: £10,271 – £10,733 per term. Full Boarding: £17,943 per term. Flexi boarding: £17,377 per term for 3-4 nights per week and £16,477 per term for 2 nights per week, international boarding £19,182. Expect to pay extra for individual music, drama, dance and sports tuition. Discounts available for families of the British Armed Forces and siblings. Includes VAT.

THE RED CLOAK FUND

Queen Anne's Caversham girls wearing traditional red cloaks

Let’s be real, many families cannot afford private school, so often it can feel like you are nose pressed against the glass looking in. QA’s origins were charitable and so they have introduced the Red Cloak Fund – a new programme of assisted places that provide generous fee-support (often 100%). So, if you’re thinking Queen Anne’s would be perfect fit for you daughter but can’t stretch to the fees, APPLY. They might just get a place and make their mark at QA and the world.

TRANSPORT

So many options: There’s a local bus service bustling around the towns and villages of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Bucks and Surrey. London buses pick up on Monday mornings and drop off on Friday afternoons. Lots of girls travel in by train to Reading Station – London is a speedy 23 mins away and the new Elizabeth Line connects Reading to Canary Wharf.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents love it for its ceiling smashing attitude, pastoral care, facilities and that they are very much a part of the school community (you can pop it as often as you like). What do the girls think? They said it’s a bit strict, particularly on skirt length (nothing a sly roll of the waistband can’t sort out). But they love their school, enjoy the social side and are driven to succeed – even if that means they have to try, try, and try again.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: It’s hard to know a girl who wouldn’t love it here. It’s academic enough for the pushiest of parents but the style of teaching plus the sport and diverse range of extra-curricular activities means the kids have a blast.

Not for: It’s pricey, but you get a lot bang for your buck. Hefty discounts are available to parents serving in the British Armed Forces, and scholarships are up for grabs for Academic Excellence, Art, Drama, Music or Sport.

Dare to disagree: See if you agree with my verdict. The next Open Days: Fri 28 Feb 2025 and Sat 10 May 2025 (9.30am-12pm). 11+ Taster Days (Y5 & Y6): Wed 22 Jan and Tue 11 Feb (9am – 3pm). Alternatively, QAS is running three small group tours on 17 Jan and 14 Mar (9am-11am) and personal tours are available on request. Please contact admissions to book a personal tour at admissions@qas.org.uk or 0118 918 7333.

Queen Anne’s School, Henley Road, Caversham, Berkshire RG4 6DX. Tel: 0118 918 7333.

Queen Anne’s School, Caversham

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