First for Girls
Queen's College has been changing the lives of girls since 1848. Founded to give young women access to the highest standards of education at a time when those opportunities simply did not exist, we are the first institution in Great Britain where girls could study for and gain academic qualifications.
Nearly two centuries later, our pioneering spirit remains unchanged. We continue to challenge convention, champion girls' ambitions and prepare young women to shape the future with confidence, compassion and purpose.
Experts in Girls Education
Queen's has always been resolutely and proudly a school for girls. That commitment has never wavered because we know girls thrive in an environment designed specifically for them. In an all-girls' school, students are free to develop confidence, curiosity and ambition without the pressures of gender stereotypes or expectations. They are encouraged to lead, to question, to excel in every subject, and to discover their own voices. Our teachers are experts in educating girls at every stage of their development, understanding how they learn, grow and flourish both academically and personally.
As pioneers of girls' education, we combine our rich heritage with the latest educational research to ensure every student is equipped not only to achieve outstanding results, but to become a resilient, compassionate and confident young woman, ready to shape the future.
A Proud History
Queen's occupies a unique place in British educational history. Founded by Professor Frederick Denison Maurice in 1848, the College was created with a bold vision: to provide girls and young women with the serious academic education that had long been reserved for boys.
That vision changed the course of education. Queen's became the first institution in Great Britain where girls could gain recognised academic qualifications, and in 1853 became the first girls' school to receive a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria. From then onwards, the College's Patron has always been a queen, most recently Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Our pioneering tradition has continued ever since. Queen's has educated generations of remarkable women, including some of Britain's earliest female doctors, lawyers, teachers, diplomats and scientists, whose achievements helped open professions to women for the first time.
The opening of Queen's College Preparatory School in 2002 extended that tradition, inspiring girls from their earliest years and laying the foundations for lives of curiosity, confidence and achievement.
Future Ready
While our history is exceptional, our focus is firmly on the future.
The introduction of the Queen's Diploma in 2026 reflects our belief that education must prepare young people not only for examinations, but for life. Running throughout every stage of a pupil's journey, from the Preparatory School to Sixth Form, it develops the knowledge, character and practical skills that girls need to thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
Our Values
We are academically ambitious and pastorally led. We believe that outstanding education is about far more than examination success. It is about ensuring every girl feels known, valued and supported to become the very best version of herself.
We notice, nurture and champion the individual strengths of every pupil. As a result, Queen's girls leave us intellectually curious, emotionally grounded and socially responsible—equipped not only to succeed, but to make a positive difference in the world around them.
175 Years of Pioneering
In 2023, Queen's celebrated its 175th anniversary - 175 years to the day since Frederick Denison Maurice founded the College.
As we look ahead, we remain true to the principles on which Queen's was established: that girls deserve an education of the highest intellectual ambition and that learning should continually evolve while remaining rooted in enduring values.
As Maurice himself wrote:
"We shall be glad to improve our practice every day, not alter our principle."
Nearly 180 years later, those words continue to define Queen's College.
