Sixth Form Boarding

From September 2027, Queen’s College, London plans to introduce boarding for 12 Sixth Form pupils (Year 12), subject to successful recruitment. This opportunity is aimed at pupils who are born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011.  

Boarding will be delivered in partnership with DLD College London, combining Queen's outstanding academic education with an awardwinning Sixth Form boarding environment.  

Our boarding provision is led by experienced staff with more than 20 years’ combined experience working in boarding communities, including serving as houseparents and boarding house tutors, ensuring pupils and families benefit from strong communication, high standards of safeguarding and pastoral care, and boarding practices that place safety, wellbeing and family partnership at the centre of the experience. 

Boarders will live at DLD College, located in Waterloo, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament and close to the London Eye. Queen’s College, London pupils will occupy a self-contained flat within DLD, comprising:  

• 12 ensuite single bedrooms  

   

• A shared common room  

   

• Access to excellent dining and communal facilities  

   

The flat will be overseen by a dedicated resident houseparent, providing a safe, well-supervised home from home.  

DLD is an established college with an excellent reputation for boarding, recently named Boarding School of the Year. Their modern facilities and expertise allow Queen’s College, London to:  

• Offer high quality boarding and an outstanding academic focus  

   

• Provide independence within a structured and secure environment  

   

• Prepare pupils confidently for university life  

Student safety is central to the partnership between Queen's and DLD.  Key measures include:  

• A resident houseparent responsible for daily care and supervision who lives on the floor 

• Student movements recorded via the Reach app  

• Daily curfews and clear routines  

• Supervised communal spaces and shared activities  

• Strong safeguarding policies across both Queen's and DLD  

• Parents can be assured that pupils are carefully monitored while learning to manage independence responsibly.  

Pupils travel between Waterloo and Harley Street using safe, agreed routes. The journey time is less than 30 minutes, with no changes required on public transport.  The Bakerloo line on the underground connects Waterloo and Oxford Circus, while the very frequent number 453 bus also serves the route.

Expectations around punctuality, behaviour and travel are clear and age appropriate, with independence increasing as pupils demonstrate maturity.  

Queen’s College, London remains girls only for all academic provision. DLD College is coeducational, meaning boarders may mix with boys:  

• At mealtimes  

• In shared social spaces  

• During structured evening and weekend activities  

This is carefully supervised and offers a gentle, well-managed introduction to coeducational social settings, helping prepare students for university life. 

During the week, lunch is provided at Queen's College, London and, alternatively, Sixth Form students may leave the School for lunch.

DLD's Global Kitchen will provide the following meals, which are included in the boarding fees:  

• Full English breakfast every morning  

   

• Three-course evening meal  

Menus offer variety and balance, and students are encouraged to suggest menu options. The catering team works hard to meet dietary, cultural and medical needs.  

Yes. The on-site House coffee shop at DLD offers:

• Coffee and hot drinks
• Snacks, paninis and cookies

These are available at an additional cost, and are significantly cheaper than high street coffee chains.

At Queen's, pupils can purchase snacks and breakfast items at breaktime in the dining room and there are coffee, tea and toast-making facilities in the Senior Common Room.

DLD offers a rich evening and weekend activities programme, including:

• Cultural visits around London and beyond
• Sports and fitness activities
• Social events and enrichment

These activities provide structure, enjoyment and balance, while allowing pupils to practise independence in a safe environment.

Independence is encouraged progressively, supported by:

• Clear boundaries and expectations
• Ongoing pastoral guidance
• Increased freedom for pupils who demonstrate responsibility

This approach supports confidence and readiness for life beyond school.

Boarders are fully integrated into Queen’s College, London's pastoral and academic systems, including:

• Two Form Tutors and Heads of Year
• Director of Sixth Form and Designated Safeguarding Leads
• The Queen's House system
• Sixth Form enrichment and support
• University and careers guidance

Boarding staff and QCL staff work closely together to ensure continuity and individual care.

Yes. QCL holds Home Office visa sponsorship approval for up to 12 non-UK students, allowing recruitment worldwide.

International pupils are fully supported academically and pastorally.

Boarders may use the laundry room in the basement of the boarding house, with coin-operated washing machines and dryers.

Houseparents will:

• Show pupils how to use the machines
• Explain where to buy detergent

An optional laundry service is also available for an additional fee. Laundry is placed in labelled bags, collected, washed, dried and returned the next day.

Both DLD and QCL have a dedicated College Nurse. The Nurses will:

• Register boarders with a local GP
• Care for pupils who are unwell
• Administer medications
• Provide flu vaccinations with the local NHS immunisation team
• Carry out health checks for all boarders

Houseparents and Queen's College, London staff will liaise with families as needed.

For safeguarding reasons, guests are not permitted in the boarding house

However, with permission from a Houseparent, guests may attend approved school spaces (such as the Atrium or Global Kitchen) in the evenings or at weekends, provided they sign in and remain supervised.

Queen’s College, London will be:

• The only single-sex school in central London with boarding
• Offering boarding on a small, carefully managed scale
• Combining historic academic excellence with modern Sixth Form boarding.