Location, Location, Location! Debunking the myths of central London schools
Zara Camenzuli, Director of Operations and Academic Development at Queen’s Gate School, outlines the many exciting opportunities offered by a central London location.
It goes without saying that space is at a premium in central London schools, but that does not stop us from offering a full programme of activities both within and beyond the curriculum. Whilst schools in central London may not be able to offer green open spaces or a swimming pool on site, they benefit from the fantastic array of world-class facilities that London has to offer.
At Queen’s Gate School, our five Victorian buildings house a range of specialist classrooms, from six science laboratories to a drama studio, a design and technology studio, two IT suites and a gym. Beyond the buildings, though, girls enjoy the many specialist facilities which are close by in South Kensington and central London.
Myth #1 – Limited sporting facilities are available
When it comes to sport, variety is the name of the game. At Queen’s Gate, girls take part in a wide range of activities and clubs on site, including fencing, climbing, aerobics, yoga and dance, with our fencing coach successfully preparing girls for national and international competitions.
We are also lucky to have access to numerous open spaces and specialist facilities beyond our School site, as outlined by Acting Director of Sport, Jacqueline Marshall: “The greatest advantage of being at a school so centrally located is the easy access to some of the most amazing sporting facilities and parks London has to offer! Each day, Queen’s Gate pupils get the best of everything available locally such as the ample tennis courts, netball courts, athletics facilities and hockey pitches in Battersea Park.
For many years we have had a strong affiliation with Imperial College and we use their state of the art facilities, such as the pool, sports hall and climbing wall available at the Ethos sports centre. Queen’s Gate pupils also have the opportunity to row on the Thames with Barn Elms Rowing Club, and to swim at Fulham Pools. And, with Hyde Park only a stone’s throw away, it makes the perfect location for any outdoor activities.
Pupils often walk up to the park and reap the benefits of being in the fresh air with their peers. There is a plethora of sporting activities and options available to pupils as they progress through their years at Queen’s Gate. Yoga is very popular, along with fitness and spin sessions in local boutique fitness centre Retrofit”.
Myth #2 – There is a lack of space to offer clubs and enrichment
Whilst we offer numerous clubs and activities on site, Queen’s Gate’s location in South Kensington means that we are ideally placed to take advantage of the museums of so-called Albertopolis. Both Junior and Senior School girls have the opportunity to visit the Natural History Museum during lunchtimes as part of Science Enrichment Club.
Head of Science, Justine Mercer, notes “the museums support and consolidate learning and provide fantastic enrichment opportunities, where girls can explore themes beyond the specification content”. Biology teacher Lucinda Coulton, who runs the weekly Senior School club, says “their favourite area is the Earthquake section but they also love the gems and, this week, for the first time in ages, we visited the dinosaurs. On other occasions we have visited the Darwin centre, which the girls love, especially if there are scientists there to answer the girls’ questions!”. Our Junior School pupils also love exploring the museums, and this week they enjoyed the Broken Planet exhibition, reminding us of Earth’s fragility but also focusing on key solutions to global issues, pioneered by innovative science.
Queen’s Gate’s Head of Chemistry and Junior School Science Co-ordinator, Carol Mayne, always speaks enthusiastically about the STEM enrichment opportunities offered by the close proximity of the Natural History Museum: “We are so lucky to have this on our doorstep. The rooms and corridors are full of such interesting displays and every week we explore earthquakes, dinosaurs, rocks and gems, creepy crawlies and a slice of a sequoia tree that was growing before William the Conqueror invaded, and was cut down in 1891 (the year Queen’s Gate was founded) at the age of 1,341 years! All the exhibits extend our pupils’ learning as they illustrate, with lots of examples, the ideas we cover in our lessons”.
Head of Biology, Philippa Garty, also notes how useful our local facilities are for Sixth Form students, and for aspiring medics in particular: “Girls have visited researchers at the Natural History Museum laboratories and they carry out work experience at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital”.
Arts and languages students at Queen’s Gate also make the most of our local area, enjoying the close proximity of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the theatres and the French Institute.
Fabienne Collombon-Branson, Head of French, enjoys taking girls to visit and says: “It is excellent that pupils can get familiar with this cultural space that is very central to the Francophone community in London. We are members of the French Institute library and borrow books and access online newspapers with our classes. Girls particularly enjoy the comic books and French cinema workshops”.
Myth #3 – There is no space for Drama facilities
When it comes to Drama, creative use of space inside and beyond Queen’s Gate’s school buildings makes for a highly enriching experience for our pupils. They develop their communication, teamwork and technical skills both on and off the stage, using the black box studio, the LAMDA Studio and the Hall for Drama and LAMDA lessons, the Year 7 Drama Society and the Year 8 play.
For School plays, girls embrace the professional environment of the Chelsea Theatre and RADA. Head of Drama, Linda Arthur, is currently preparing for her 21st production, taking place at RADA’s Studio Theatre this month. She says “At RADA, girls really lift themselves to professional standards. This is a special opportunity, and something to be proud of – girls excel individually and also as a team, appreciating skills of others and applauding each other’s success”.
And, of course, academic and extra-curricular Drama continue at Queen’s Gate all year round. Linda Arthur says “We are the best kept secret in London. Our Victorian buildings and chandeliers do not stop us from transporting audiences to the mountains or to Kansas. Girls need, love and want Drama, because it offers a unique opportunity for them to express themselves freely and to make sense of the world around them, in a safe and trusted space”.
The opportunities are endless!
The activities mentioned here offer just a flavour of what is on offer at Queen’s Gate, and our busy School Calendar really does provide something for everyone. A wealth of modern and specialist facilities lie beyond our traditional façade, and our academic and extra-curricular programme benefits hugely from all that surrounds us in South Kensington and Central London.
Queen’s Gate is an independent girls’ school in South Kensington for 4-18-year-olds.126 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 https://www.queensgate.org.uk/
Read more posts from Queen’s Gate
