Queen Anne's School review
Founded in 1894, Queen Anne's School is renowned for its focus on music and arts development, making continuous investments in these areas to provide first-class facilities in line with the school's holistic development policy. Simultaneously, the school maintains an excellent academic record, making it a well-rounded institution. Scholarships are available in music, art, and sports, attracting talented and versatile students to apply each year. As the only traditional boarding school for girls in the Reading area, the school accommodates around 450 students, with boarding students comprising approximately half of the population. The dormitory atmosphere is warm, and the relationships between students are harmonious, fostering a strong sense of unity and enabling even introverted students to naturally integrate into the environment.
Queen Anne's School Introduction
Active Encouragement for Music and Arts Development
The school invests heavily in staffing and resources for music and arts development. For example, the newly built Scott Music Centre provides opportunities for two-thirds of the school's students to participate in various music training and activities, such as choirs and orchestras. Students also have opportunities for performances and exchanges, including joint concerts with The Oratory School in the region and attending special teaching sessions at the Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays. The school's "Brain Can Do" programme collaborates with the University of Reading and Goldsmiths University to research how to enhance pre-college students' learning performance, research abilities, and listening skills in music. In the arts, the school provides abundant resources and specialist workshops that rival those found at the university level for each specialised field.
Experienced Faculty and Attentive Care
Located in the sought-after residential area of Reading, the school's convenient proximity to London Paddington Station, with a direct train journey of only 26 minutes to central London, has attracted over a hundred local students to board at the school. Current students have expressed that the small size of the school allows international students to quickly integrate into their new lives. The relationships between Hong Kong students and local day students and boarders in this close-knit community are also very harmonious. The staff spares no effort in providing assistance to international students. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the school temporarily switched to online learning in 2020, a Hong Kong student encountered difficulties with coursework. The teacher promptly provided remote instruction from the beginning. This exemplifies the school's student-centred approach and unparalleled learning support.
"Brain Can Do" Programme for Enhanced Learning
Queen Anne's School's performance in science subjects, often considered a weakness for girls, is also outstanding. Approximately half of the girls study science subjects, and STEM education is considered a key focus of the teaching policy. The "Brain Can Do" program, led by the headmistress, aims to enhance students' focus and learning performance in the classroom through research on brain function and the psychology of learning. Recent research includes collaboration with the University of Bristol, using Year 12 students as subjects to investigate the effects of delaying the start of lessons by one hour. The study collected data on the students' learning outcomes, behaviour, and sleep habits and found an improvement in their focus compared to previous years. The study also indicated that inhaling the fresh scent of lemon before an exam can help students alleviate anxiety and improve their performance. This programme demonstrates the school's serious commitment to education and its scientific approach to assisting students in absorbing knowledge from textbooks.