• On our first visit, should we bring our daughter or come alone?

That is entirely up to you. We welcome girls on a family's first visit to the school but if you wish to set up a 'short list' before involving your daughter we quite understand.

• How many visits should we make before registering our daughter?

Again, that is entirely up to you. Most families attend at least one Tour Event and then come back during the working week to see the school in action and to talk to a senior member of staff. However, we are happy to welcome you back for as many visits as you feel necessary.

• What does 'register' mean?

It means that you have decided that Queenswood is a school you would like your daughter to attend and you have completed a form with all your relevant details. You will also have paid the non -returnable registration fee of £100.

• What happens once we have registered our daughter?

Her name will be entered on our Prospective Entry database for her academic year of entry and she will be eligible to be considered for a place at Queenswood.

• What does the registration fee cover?

It covers all the administration necessary before your daughter joins Queenswood, including the organisation of visits and examinations.

• How many girls do you have in the school?

417 in September 2007.

• What is the ratio of boarders to day girls?

Numbers are just about equal.

• How many girls are there in a class?

Usually 17 or 18 but once they embark on their GCSE courses many of the sets are even smaller.  

• What is the staff : pupil ratio?

The ratio is approximately one teacher to seven girls.  

• What time does the school start and finish?

As a boarding school Queenswood operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   All day girls arrive at 8.00 am for registration and leave at 6.45pm (5.45 for Year 7 girls).

• Why is the school day so long?

After school the girls have a break followed normally by an hour of supervised homework and an hour of activities. This means that when she comes home she has done most, if not all, of the work she needs to do. She may also have been riding, done her music practice, taken part in Pottery Club, had a swim or any of the things that you organise for her at present.  

In Year 7 girls finish lessons at 3.20 pm, an hour earlier than the rest of the school and leave at 5.45pm.

• Do we have to pay for lunch and snacks at school?

No, this is included in the fees you pay.

• On the same subject, are books included in the fees we pay?

Yes, but girls who wish to buy their own texts for annotation purposes may do so.

• Are girls allowed mobile phones?

Yes, from Year 8 onwards but only at certain times of day.   Housemistresses keep the phones in a secure place and give them out at the appropriate time.

• What percentage of your student body is from overseas?  

About 17% of our girls are from countries including Hong Kong, Korea, Nigeria, Russia, Spain and Thailand. Queenswood is very conveniently situated for access to Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports.

• How does your boarding system work?

We have three types of weekends:

"In school" weekends when all boarders are expected to stay at Queenswood for a wide variety of activities: House drama or music competitions, visits to the theatre, excursions to adventure parks such as Alton Towers or Chessington World of Adventure and many more.

Home weekends when the school closes - UK boarders go home and overseas boarders stay with their guardians.

Flexi weekends when girls can choose to stay in school or go home.   They may leave after House meetings on Friday afternoon or if they have a commitment on Saturday mornings they can leave after that.   They are also able to stay in school for the whole weekend if they wish. The Duty Housemistress often organises activities such as visits to local towns, shopping, cookery sessions, skating at a local rink or swimming in our new pool. Friday night 'pizza and film' evenings in our new theatre are very popular!

• Can day girls stay overnight at Queenswood?

Yes, so long as there is a bed available in her House. All Day girls can stay for three nights a term free, after which there is a sliding scale of charges. Some girls stay for the odd night, others may stay for longer periods while their parents are away on business.

• Is Chapel attendance compulsory?

Yes, Queenswood is a Methodist Foundation school and we regard the daily Chapel service as an opportunity for girls and staff to spend a little time quietly composing themselves for the day ahead.  As a modern school we accept girls of all faiths and none.  

• How is the House system organised?

Girls in Years 7 and 8 are members of Trew House. They then move into one of the four Middle School houses - Clapham North, Clapham South, Hartley and Waller - until they enter the Sixth Form. Most Lower Sixth Formers are based in Eaves and Upper Sixth Formers are mainly in Senior House. There are Sixth Form study bases for day girls in Bridge House.

• What happens if my daughter is ill at school?

We have a purpose built, well equipped Medical Centre on site. This is staffed by two fully qualified nursing sisters who provide cover at all times during school hours with an on call system operating out of school hours. If your daughter is a boarder she will be registered with the school doctor, who holds regular surgeries at the school. If your daughter needs to see the doctor outside school surgery times, she will be taken to the doctor's surgery in Potters Bar. Day girls will be looked after in the Medical Centre until you are able to collect her or she feels well enough to go back to lessons.  

• What is Queenswood's policy on bullying?

Bullying is not tolerated in any shape or form at Queenswood. The Queenswood Code emphasises respect and responsibility for each other, our privacy, property, culture and religious beliefs.

• How does Queenswood ensure that the girls are safe and secure?

We have a security team on duty throughout the night and most of the day. Barriers are in place at all main entrances and exits to the school.  CCTV coverage of the site is carefully monitored by the member of the team on duty. Doors to the Houses all have keypads so that anyone who does not know the code for that door will not gain access.

Boarders check in with House staff between 7.00 pm and 7.30 pm to let them know where they will be for the evening. They return to their House at 9.00 pm when they watch a recording of the news.

• Is there anyone the girls can talk to who is independent of the school, ie not a teacher, tutor or Housemistress?

A counsellor visits Queenswood once a week and she is available for girls to talk to in complete confidence.

• What is the pastoral care like at Queenswood?

Extremely good, according to our inspection reports. The pastoral team is led by the Deputy Principal (Pastoral), and she has a team of Housemistresses, Boarding Assistants and Personal Tutors who take care of the girls' welfare on a day to day basis.

• My question isn't listed here, can I speak to someone?

Please do! In the first instance, Mrs Sue Wood, our Registrar will be delighted to assist: (+44 ( 0)1707 602500) or email registry@queenswood.org