Junior   Sch oo l
Queen’s Gate creates a secure, happy and stimulating environment where individuality is nurtured and each girl can realise her academic and personal potential
Welcome to
Queen’s Gate Junior School
It gives me much pleasure to welcome you to Queen’s Gate. As Principal, I oversee the work in both the Junior and Senior Schools; the Schools are closely linked, not just in proximity, but very importantly in their ethos and values, offering continuity of education for our girls from 4 to 18. At Queen’s Gate, we value our history and maintain a healthy respect for tradition, but at the same time we are committed to change where appropriate. In 2007, we entered an exciting new period in our long history when our Junior School moved into our splendid new buildings at 125–126 Queen’s Gate, providing the staff and girls with excellent facilities for learning. This year, our School has enjoyed celebrating its 125th Anniversary; we look back on the past with pride
and forward to the future with confidence, as we prepare our girls for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. I hope that you will enjoy your visit to the Junior School and will enjoy meeting our Director of the Junior School, Mrs Sharie Neale, and her staff. A warm welcome awaits you. Mrs Rosalynd Kamaryc BA MSc PGCE Principal
For 125 years Queen’s Gate Junior School has been committed to providing a first-class education. We combine traditional values including respect and responsibility with a flexible and inspirational approach to learning in the 21st century. Situated in the heart of Kensington, we have access to many wonderful museums and are just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park. We are a one form entry school which enables us to give individual attention to all girls in our care. From Reception through to Year 6 our aim is to provide a supportive learning environment with opportunities for each girl to develop the skills and knowledge which will enable her to become an independent, responsible and successful citizen. Queen’s Gate Junior School provides an environment where pupils can achieve their full potential, whether their talents are academic, creative or in the field of sport and we pride ourselves on encouraging our children to become confident and enthusiastic members of the whole school community.
We are very lucky to have our own wonderful building, which includes three science laboratories, an art room and an ICT suite. We also are very fortunate to be able to use the facilities in our nearby Senior School. Our Junior School girls are also taught by many of the Senior School’s specialist subject teachers. Our strong links with our Senior School are complemented by the many Senior School girls who help with various activities. This prospectus can give you only a taster of life at Queen’s Gate, so we would encourage you to attend one of our three Open Mornings. You will be shown around the school by our best ambassadors, our happy, confident and articulate pupils. You will also have an opportunity to speak with current parents, and with the Principal and Director of the Junior School. In addition you are also most welcome to visit during a normal school day and see how we put our principles into action. Mrs Sharie Neale BEd ARCM LTCL Director of the Junior School
The school was founded on the ethos of nurturing individuality, and this is as important today as it was in the 1890s when Queen’s Gate first opened. We believe that selfesteem, self-discipline, and respect and care for others are core values which lie at the heart of personal development. Leadership skills are developed through girls being encouraged to take responsibility within their Forms. A Head Girl and Deputy are appointed in Year 6, as are prefects who take on important responsibilities around the school.
We believe that self‑esteem, self‑discipline, and respect and care for others are core values Girls from Year 2 onwards are elected to School Council which meets twice a term. This gives our pupils a sense of ownership in decision-making in the school. Our pupils are confident, independent learners who have the skills, energy and enthusiasm to meet the new challenges of the rapidly changing world of the 21st century.
Queen’s Gate is a small school, with just one class for each year. This enables us to give our pupils a great deal of individual attention. It is also a very caring school, where each child is valued and nurtured through close monitoring, and where support and extension are provided where appropriate. Personal success is celebrated on a regular basis, and the annual prize-giving provides the opportunity for parents to share in this celebration. Our House system enables us to provide an additional support network based on a vertical division of the School. Membership of Victoria and Elizabeth House provides the opportunity for older and younger girls to collaborate closely, and fosters healthy competition in a range of activities. Rewards and
sanctions are linked to the house system thus developing individual and collective responsibility for actions. Boundaries are clearly laid and there are high expectations in terms of manners and behaviour. We are very family orientated, we welcome siblings and the children of Old Girls; the families of some pupils have a long association with the School over several generations. Our caring ethos extends beyond the School; girls are encouraged to involve themselves in raising money for a wide range of good causes including the annual Swimathon for the British Heart Foundation and the Readathon for the Roald Dahl Foundation. Children also use their initiative to raise money for charities of their own choice, and do so with great success.
Every child is valued and nurtured
Academic standards are high, and a love of learning is evident throughout the School. The curriculum includes a well-balanced range of subjects. Core subjects sit
The sciences are taught in our well-equipped laboratories and ICT is incorporated into lessons
happily alongside the humanities, Art, DT, Music, Drama and PE. The sciences are taught in our wellequipped laboratories and ICT is incorporated into other lessons using laptop computers. French is taught throughout the School, Latin is introduced in Year 5, and Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and German are offered in Years 4–6.
An appreciation of the Arts is evident throughout the School. Music and Drama are highly prized for their intrinsic value and for the part they play in the personal development of each child. Class music for all year groups is taught by a music specialist. We have three choirs in school and an orchestra, as well as a range of other musical ensembles: girls are encouraged to develop their musicianship through involvement in these. Girls may choose from a
opportunity to perform as part of a group or as an individual. Our choirs take part in various festivals each year. Drama is taught as a timetabled subject and girls may also join the Drama Club which is responsible for the annual school play.
An appreciation of the Arts is evident throughout the School wide range of instruments from Year 1, and are given the opportunity to play in instrumental groups. All pupils in Year 3 are given a string instrument and instruction free of charge for one year. They may also perform in our Open Day concert and summer concert, as well as in informal concerts throughout the year. Our assemblies also provide the
Physical Education plays an important part in our curriculum and in extracurricular activities. We make full use of the gym in the Senior School building for lessons and for gym club. A wide range of before and after school clubs are on offer, including rock climbing, cross country, dance and yoga. Swimming takes
We make full use of Hyde Park for free play for younger pupils place at Fulham Pools and Imperial College, and netball, hockey, athletics, tennis and rounders take place at Battersea Park. We have fixtures against other schools. Our annual swimming gala and sports day are inter-house competitions. In addition we make full use of Hyde Park for free play for younger pupils, and for Games lessons throughout the year.
A huge variety of activities takes place throughout the day and after school. The clubs on offer may vary from year to year but may include Art History, Philosophy, Calligraphy, Science, Mathematics, Computing, Sign Language, Art and Craft, Embroidery, Games Clubs, Drama and Music. We welcome visitors to the School to speak on a wide range of subjects. We have a strong link with our local church, Holy Trinity, Prince Consort Road, and the vicar visits our Assembly on a regular basis. We also
have links with the borough road safety committee and the community police force. Assemblies enable us to address topics ranging from world events to environmental concerns. These often provoke further debate and discussion and lead to charity-based activities.
We address topics ranging from world events to environmental concerns
Our excellent location enables us to take advantage of all that London has to offer
Our excellent location enables us to take advantage of all that London has to offer in terms of museums, art galleries, theatres and places of interest. Local venues we visit include the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, Leighton House and Holland Park. Further afield we visit the National Gallery, the Globe Theatre, the Tower of London,
the Polka Theatre and The Wetlands Centre. We also like to travel out of London to destinations such as Legoland, Highclere Castle, Juniper Hall and the Discovery Centre. Residential trips are important for both educational reasons and for personal development: Year 4 visit New Barn in Dorset, Year 5 spend a week on the Isle of Wight and Year 6 spend five days in France. These take place in the Summer Term.
Queen’s Gate provides the opportunity for continuous education from 4 to 18. The Junior School maintains very strong links with the Senior School. Older girls may carry out work experience or simply enjoy spending time with younger pupils sharing a range of activities. They help out at occasions such as sports day and the school play, and older girls visit our building on a daily basis for science and language lessons, as the Spanish and German departments are based in our building, and our laboratories are shared with the Senior School.
Members of the Senior School staff help in the teaching of science, languages, DT, Latin and PE in the Junior School. The majority of girls move on to the Senior School at 11+, but girls are fully prepared for entrance examinations to any schools to which they apply in Year 6, including boarding schools.
The majority of girls move on to the Senior School at 11+
Scholarships Two scholarships are available (one internal and one external) at both 7+ and 11+. These are based on examination and an interview with the Principal.
Entrance Procedure Entry at 4+ is dependent on an assessment and an interview with the Director of the Junior School. These take place during the Autumn Term prior to entry. Entry into other Forms is dependent on availability of places, an interview with the Director of the Junior School and the results of examinations in Mathematics and English. For further enquiries or to visit the School, contact our Registrar on 020 7594 4982 or by e-mail registrar@queensgate.org.uk
We firmly believe that the interests of the child are best served when the School works closely with parents. We have a hard-working and committed PTA which organises a fundraising event each term, as well as a highly successful annual Christmas Fair run jointly with the Senior School PTA. We value parental help with school trips and with the school play. Meetings between parents and staff take place on a regular basis, and two full reports are sent home each year. Parents are welcome to make appointments with staff at any time during the term should they wish to discuss any aspect of school life.
Queen’s Gate Junior School 125–126 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5LJ 020 7761 0303 queensgate.org.uk @queens_gate /133queensgate