A Scenic Route to Success
Director of Queen’s Gate Junior Schoool James Denchfield’s “Guide to Choosing the Right Prep School”
“It’s like buying a family house. You get that sense as soon as you walk through the door”.
We are very fortunate in this area of West London to have excellent independent schools, and therefore, when we think about making the right decision for our children’s futures, we can be pretty sure that they will receive the best academic results possible regardless of which school they go to.
The destination is perhaps, therefore, the same; the journey, however, might be very different.
So, when it comes to making a decision, you must have a sense of what your child’s journey will look like as they progress through the first seven years of academic life.
At Queen’s Gate, we favour the scenic route.
Although our standards are very high and the girls’ academic achievements are exemplary, we are not a hot-house. The school offers a uniquely broad range of subjects taught within a happy atmosphere, which I believe is essential, and, as you compare schools, the first thing I would urge you to ask yourself is
“which school offered the most warmth and happiness when you walked through the door”?
Did you get a sense of the friendliness, security and homeliness that you want your child to enjoy as they begin their education? It should be very apparent; it’s like buying a family house. You get that sense as soon as you walk through the door.
Are the pupils at the school representative of what you hope your son or daughter will become? Assess your school tour – did it seem overly rehearsed or reassuringly spontaneous? Did you witness happy children and engaged teachers as each classroom door opened?  Did you see a normal school day or a choreographed performance? Tours should give an accurate reflection on everyday life, and you will come away able to gauge the schools’ identities and personalities.
Are pupils able to learn from one another? Vertical integration: we hear this phrase more and more, and at, Queen’s Gate, we have brought four-year-olds and eighteen-year-olds together since 1891. It is vital that role models are there for younger children, and that their opportunities to interact, whether at games, clubs, or during park visits, are meaningful.
As you were watching lessons, what was the relationship between pupils and teachers like? Your child’s teacher will be one of the most important people in their lives for a whole year. Did you get a sense of warmth, support and inclusion? Was there energy and dynamism in the lessons taking place and were children encouraged to have their voices heard?
“Over 50% of the current workforce will require re-skilling by 2025. Yet the ability to adapt to change and engage in lifelong learning must be developed from an early age.”
The 10 skills needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to the World Economic Forum
1.Complex Problem Solving
2.Critical Thinking
3.Creativity
4.People Management
5.Coordinating with Others
6.Emotional Intelligence
7.Judgement and Decision Making
8.Service Orientation
9.Negotiation
10.Cognitive Flexibility
When making your decisions, have a good look at each school’s curriculum. Is it broad and enriching? Does it offer enough opportunities to hone soft skills as well as having a strong grounding in the traditional academic subjects?
A school’s ability to think progressively about the curriculum is essential for children’s ability to thrive in a rapidly-changing workplace when they are grown up.  Companies are looking for critical thinking skills, compassion, collaboration and resilience, which will be increasingly important in a jobs market dominated by artificial intelligence. And the ability to be a risk taker and a team player starts at school within a secure and supportive environment.
At Queen’s Gate, our curriculum includes (amongst many other things) Debating, History of Art, six languages, Design and Technology and Philosophy. These subjects, along with Science, Art, Computing, Music and PE are all taught by subject specialists who also teach in our Senior School up to A Level. We are very proud of the breadth of our curriculum, which we feel prepares girls for the academic challenges ahead and their life journeys.
Similarly, look for an extracurricular programme which is exciting and vibrant, with opportunities to participate in drama, music, art and sport. Is the programme fixed or does it evolve in line with the interests and passions of its pupils?
Look at the school’s place within the community. Queen’s Gate was founded in 1891, so we’ve been here for over 130 years, and we are very much part of the South Kensington community and make full use of the museums on our doorstep. We work with local businesses; we support other schools by hosting debating and science competitions. We offer community events such as “Super Saturdays”, which run twice a month, offering workshops in origami, pumpkin carving, gingerbread house making and street dance, to name a few; these events are open to all members of our community. We also run “Food Bank Fridays”, donating food to local charities. Attending a top independent school is a great privilege, and pupils benefit enormously from having opportunities to give back.
Getting a sense of the parent body is also very important as you make your decision. Has the school given you opportunities to speak to current parents? Can you gauge whether or not the priorities of other parents are similar to your own? What is the school’s culture amongst its families, and is there a sense of community of helping one another, rather than competitiveness? A phone call with an existing parent is a very helpful part of decision making.
Do not be afraid to question assumptions.Â
The school has outstanding academic results? Well, is this success compatible with pupils’ happiness? How dependent is the success on a ‘tutor culture’?
School A’s onsite facilities are excellent? How much of an advantage is this if School B has unlimited access to even better nearby facilities?
School C is more conveniently located? Have a thorough look at School D’s wraparound care and travel arrangements before settling for something close but less special.
Above all else, ask yourself, ‘Will my child be genuinely happy here?’ This is, by far the most important question—and one for which the answer should come easily to you.
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/
