The Queen's School Review 2026: Royal Patronage and Academic Excellence

Queen Victoria issued a royal decree in 1882 that no other school in England would receive. In a gesture of distinction granted to few institutions, she commanded that the school founded in Chester just four years earlier as "The Chester School for Girls" should henceforth carry the name The Queen's School, the only educational establishment in the nation to hold this honour. Nearly 150 years later, that singular royal connection remains woven into the fabric of what is today one of the region's most accomplished independent girls' schools. Perched on the historic city walls overlooking Chester's landscape, the school combines Georgian and Victorian buildings with modern facilities, creating a campus that reflects both heritage and forward momentum. With 614 pupils aged 4-18, The Queen's School operates as a tightly knit, purposeful community where academic rigour and personal development move in tandem. The school ranks in the top 5% in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking), with 64% of entries at grades 9-7, and at A-level sits in the top 7% of schools. The recent ISI inspection in March 2025 awarded Outstanding ratings across all areas, recognising academic excellence, exceptional pastoral care, and an inclusive, ambitious culture.

The school's physical presence speaks to its history. The Senior School occupies the site of Chester's former City Gaol and House of Correction, land gifted by the Duke of Westminster in the late nineteenth century. The Victorian main building, erected in 1878, commands attention from its elevated position on City Walls Road. Within, the atmosphere balances formality with warmth. Girls move purposefully between lessons, engaged but not hurried. In classrooms, teachers encourage questioning and independent thought. The inspection report noted that pupils are "engaged, articulate, and confident learners" and that "mutual trust and respect are tangible and visible throughout the school."

Leadership under Headmistress Joanne Keville, who took office in April 2024, has sustained and refreshed this culture. Keville, who spent 25 years at the school before her appointment, brings continuity with intentional development. She has initiated expanded scholarship schemes (Academic Excellence, Sport, Performing Arts), refurbished the sixth form and library spaces, and commissioned a state-of-the-art astroturf facility opened in September 2025. The mood is one of thoughtful progress rather than frenetic change.

The Lower School, a five-minute drive away on Liverpool Road, occupies Victorian properties that have been expanded with purpose-built facilities. Girls in the younger years experience a different but complementary environment: tighter pastoral oversight, outdoor learning through the Forest School and Beach School programmes, and age-appropriate challenge.

GCSE Performance

The school's academic performance is unambiguous. In 2024, 64% of GCSE entries were graded 9-7, well above the England average of 54% (FindMySchool data). When looking at the highest grades specifically, 43% achieved grades 9-8, again meaningfully above national norms. The school ranks 242nd in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top 5% of all secondary schools (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, it ranks second among girls' schools in Cheshire.

These figures reflect the school's consistent position at or near the top of independent school league tables for the region. The curriculum is broad: all subjects are taught separately (not combined humanities), sciences are delivered as three separate subjects, and both girls' and boys' PE are offered. The scope allows girls to follow genuine interests rather than compromise on breadth.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form delivers equally strong results. In 2024, 79% of A-level grades achieved A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. The 22% achieving A* grades and 30% achieving A grades demonstrate sustained excellence across the cohort. The school offers 26 A-level subjects, from Classical Greek and Russian to Further Mathematics and History of Art. A-level ranks place the school 187th in England (top 7%, FindMySchool ranking) and first locally among sixth forms in Chester.

Sixth form entry is from both internal progression (girls from the main school) and external candidates. Current sixth formers number approximately 81, distributed across both day and city-centre based study. The school has invested significantly in the sixth form environment, recognising that sixteen-year-olds benefit from semi-independence and adult privileges. Dedicated sixth form study spaces, common rooms, and a relaxed approach to uniform (compared to the strict standards of younger year groups) create a genuine transition towards university life.

University Destinations

In the 2024 leaver cohort, 71% progressed to university (DfE leavers data). Among those, approximately 80% secured places at Russell Group universities, with destinations including Imperial College, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Warwick appearing regularly. Two students secured places at Cambridge, and four girls entered medical school, reflecting both the academic calibre and the school's effective preparation for competitive applications.

The Sixth Form offers an explicit University Entrance Support programme including mentoring from alumni currently at leading universities, mock interviews, and subject-specific extension seminars. A dedicated Head of Careers works closely with girls from Year 9 onwards, helping them understand what skills and qualifications different paths require.

The school employs 70+ teaching staff, many of whom have taught at the school for a decade or longer. Retention is high, suggesting strong working conditions and professional culture. Class sizes in the lower school average 18-20 pupils; in the senior school they range from 25-28 for breadth subjects down to 8-10 for A-level optional subjects like Classical Greek or Russian.

Teaching style emphasises rigorous engagement with content. In observed lessons, explanations are clear, questioning is probing, and girls are expected to think beyond surface-level answers. The curriculum is traditional in structure (separate sciences, ancient languages, humanities disciplines taught distinctly) but contemporary in application. For instance, the Confucius Classroom designation reflects investment in Mandarin Chinese teaching; technology integration is extensive (all senior girls have iPads, teachers use iPads for lesson delivery), and recent STEM trips to the Hadron Collider and external partnerships with universities indicate engagement with cutting-edge thinking.

Beyond the standard curriculum, the school offers extension through academic clinics (spelling, languages, maths), internal competitions (essay prizes, debating tournaments), and external competitions (Cyberfirst competitions aimed at encouraging computer science careers, for example).

All pupils from Reception learn three languages. From Year 7, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese are compulsory, with French as an optional addition. This breadth of linguistic exposure is unusual in English independent schools and reflects the school's global outlook.

The extracurricular programme is extensive and represents a defining strength of Queen's education. Girls are expected to participate, and the school ensures that activities are diverse enough to engage every interest and aptitude.

Music: A Defining Strength

Music flourishes across both schools. The Senior School hosts a Senior Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, String Ensemble, Jazz Band, and multiple choirs including the elite Chamber Choir, which performs at Chester Cathedral for the annual Christmas Service. There is also a Pop Choir, Musical Theatre Choir, Rock and Pop ensemble, and a pupil-led Ukulele Group. Additionally, a Composition Club runs for A-level musicians. Ensembles perform at the annual Queen's Festival of Music, House Choir Competition, and Cabaret performances. The school also hosts the Chester Youth Symphony Orchestra once a week on its premises, widening the community's engagement.

In the Lower School, all pupils learn an instrument in class from Reception onwards, and two-thirds take additional instrumental lessons from Year 3. Two choirs and two instrument ensembles provide performance opportunities. The Young Voices choir has reached the semi-finals of the BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition for three consecutive years, and achieved the final in 2015, signalling competitive excellence.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

The school's drama provision ranges from whole-school productions to intimate pieces. The Senior School mounts a large-scale production annually, alternating between serious plays (recent productions include Our Country's Good) and musicals (recent examples include Sister Act). The Music and Drama Departments collaborate closely, creating hybrid experiences that benefit from both disciplines. Beyond the main productions, lunchtime and after-school drama clubs serve all year groups, and the school facilitates regular theatre trips to venues including the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

STEM and Technology

Science is taught with rigour and specialisation. Pupils learn Chemistry, Physics, and Biology as separate subjects from Year 7, allowing depth that combined science cannot match. The school hosts Code Club, participates in Cyberfirst competitions (external competitions encouraging girls into computer science), and runs a Dissection Society for those considering medical careers. STEM clinics offer tailored support for girls struggling with specific topics, and A-level students receive extension seminars.

A notable facility is the Pet Club, which maintains a collection including giant African land snails named Gertrude and Gary. While playful in tone, the club develops responsibility and biological curiosity in a hands-on manner. Similarly, the Gardening Club has use of purpose-built greenhouses on the school grounds, offering horticultural experience alongside ecological learning.

Sports: Rowing, Hockey, and Beyond

Sport is not optional; it is integral to school life. The Fitness for All strategy, mentioned approvingly in recent inspection feedback, ensures that girls who do not excel at traditional competitive sports have meaningful athletic opportunities. Options include salsa, street, dance, basketball, tag and rugby, spinning, and aerobics. There is also a Daily Running Club that circuits the historic walls of Chester.

For competitive athletes, the offering is comprehensive. Hockey and Lacrosse are flagship sports. The school's hockey players are regularly placed as county champions or higher across multiple age groups. The school fields netball teams from U10s to U18s, swimming teams across all ages, and adds rowing, skiing, gymnastics, equestrian, badminton, and athletics. A state-of-the-art astroturf facility opened in September 2025, significantly enhancing capacity for field sports training and fixtures. The school also competes in English School Athletics competitions, with several pupils annually progressing to represent Chester and Cheshire at district level or to English Schools' National Finals. The Equestrian Team enters Show Jumping, Dressage, and Tetrathlon competitions with growing participation.

Recently, the school has introduced shooting as a sport, with competitors entering the British Pistol Shooting Championships for the first time, contributing to a team win. Football is growing in popularity among girls, with coaching and competitive opportunities expanding.

Societies, Clubs, and Enrichment

Clubs range from beginners’ Greek and cognitive chemistry to debating and journalism. Specific named clubs on the school timetable include:

Debating Society, Journalism Club, Model United Nations (girls prepare resolutions for external conferences), Cognitive Chemistry, Beginners' Greek, Pet Club, Gardening Club, Code Club, Dissection Society, Fusion Fun, Lego Club (lower school), Dodge Ball, STEM Club, Calligraphy, Art Clubs, Duke of Edinburgh Award (with Gold level achievable), and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. Lower school leadership opportunities span the Catering Committee, Playground Agents, and Head of Choir roles.

Academic enrichment includes trips to the Hadron Collider, Berlin, China, sports tours, and language exchanges. General educational visits cover Chester Zoo, Liverpool War Museum, and more offbeat destinations like the Hat Museum, signalling a commitment to curious exploration beyond the curriculum.

The school is independent and charges tuition. Fees for the 2025-26 academic year are:

Infants (Reception-Year 2): £4,470 per term (annual equivalent: £13,410) Juniors (Year 3-Year 6): £5,004 per term (annual equivalent: £15,012) Senior School (Year 7-Year 11): £6,750 per term (annual equivalent: £20,250) Sixth Form: £6,750 per term (annual equivalent: £20,250)

All fees are inclusive of VAT. The fees cover tuition, most textbooks and stationery, and external examination entry fees. Additional costs include uniform, lunch (compulsory up to end of Year 11), individual or shared music and speech and drama lessons, and trips. Lunch costs £365 per term for senior pupils and £335 for lower school. Sixth form lunch is optional at £6.25 per day.

Individual instrumental or vocal lessons cost £20 per lesson (10 lessons per term, so £200 per term for solo instrumental tuition). Shared lessons cost £14 per lesson (£140 per term). Speech and drama lessons are priced identically.

Financial assistance is available through bursaries and scholarships. Bursaries are means-tested and available at Infant, Year 7, and Year 12 entry points. Support is awarded on a combination of academic merit and financial need at the Governors' discretion. Awards vary depending on parental need and funds available, but can extend to full fee remission. Hardship bursaries are available for sudden or unforeseen financial difficulty.

Scholarships (Academic, Music, Art, Sport, and All-Round) offer recognition and 10-25% fee reduction. The recently introduced Headmistress' Award for Academic Excellence carries a £1,000 discretionary award. Sport Scholarship holders receive £250 plus a custom training programme. The school is explicitly committed to broadening access, and families should contact the admissions office to discuss financial assistance options.

The curriculum emphasises academic depth combined with personal development. From Year 7, girls choose from a full range of GCSE subjects. The school does not employ a narrow points-chasing approach; rather, girls are encouraged to follow genuine interests, with the understanding that deep engagement in chosen subjects produces better results than strategic subject selection.

In the sixth form, the academic lecture series and alumni mentor programme extend learning beyond examinations. Guest speakers from various professions visit; recent visitors have included award-winning journalist Liv Jones, who spoke to students about career pathways in media. This exposure to working professionals demystifies career progression.

Admissions occur at multiple entry points: Reception, Year 3, Year 7 (the most significant entry point), Year 9, and Year 12.

For Year 7 entry, girls sit entrance examinations in January, with assessments in core subjects. The school does not use a narrow pass/fail threshold; rather, it assesses "the essence of the whole child," looking for evidence of curiosity, engagement, and potential alongside academic ability. Scholarships are awarded to girls demonstrating particular strength (academic, music, art, sport). Admission is not purely meritocratic; the school aims to build a diverse cohort that reflects different strengths and backgrounds.

For girls already in the school (Year 6 to Year 7 transition), places are automatic, ensuring continuity of experience.

For Sixth Form entry (Year 12), the school requires GCSE grades typically at 5 or above in subjects girls wish to study at A-level. Sixth Form Scholarships are available for both external candidates and internal pupils progressing to further study.

The admissions process includes taster days and personalised tours, reflecting the school's emphasis on helping families understand the culture before committing to entry.

The inspection report confirmed that pastoral care is outstanding. Each year group has a dedicated pastoral team. Tutor groups are kept intentionally small (typically 12-15 pupils) to ensure individual recognition.

The school employs a full-time counsellor available to pupils who need additional emotional support. Mental health and wellbeing are embedded in the PSHE curriculum. The school has invested in conflict resolution training for both staff and pupils, emphasising restorative justice and peer support.

The safeguarding team is rigorous, with annual training for all staff. Child protection policies exceed statutory minimum requirements. The inspection noted that the school maintains a secure, protective environment where girls feel safe to raise concerns and trusted to be heard.

Sixth form pastoral provision shifts towards independence and self-advocacy. Girls have study leave periods, manage their own timetables (within parameters), and experience greater autonomy in decision-making. This mirrors the transition to university life and is intentional preparation for post-18 study.

The school operates on a traditional term calendar (autumn, spring, and summer terms) with half-term breaks. The school day starts at 8:50am for senior pupils and concludes at 3:20pm. Before and after-school care is available in the Lower School (from 7:45am to 6:00pm), with wraparound care and holiday clubs extending access for working parents.

The school is located in Chester city centre, close to the historic walls and a short walk from the city's shops and amenities. Sixth formers particularly benefit from the urban location, with access to independent study spaces and local resources. Transport links are good: Chester railway station is a 15-minute walk; Manchester and Liverpool are within 30 minutes by train, and London is 2.5 hours away. Many pupils travel in from the Wirral and North Wales, with some coming from further afield in west Cheshire — sometimes taking close to sixty minutes by car or minibus.

The school offers a range of lunch options daily, with pupils required to purchase lunch until the end of Year 11. Menus cater to various dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-aware options.

All-girls education is not universal. While the school celebrates single-sex education and recent inspection feedback confirms girls benefit from reduced gender stereotyping and increased confidence in leadership roles, families must consider whether an all-girls environment aligns with their child's social preferences. Some pupils thrive in single-sex settings; others prefer co-education. The school's open events allow prospective pupils to visit and decide.

Travel may be necessary. While Chester is well-served by transport, pupils from outside the city require transport planning. Minibus services are available for some routes, and carpooling is common among families. Parents commuting for work should verify feasibility before applying.

Academic pace is demanding. The school's strong results reflect high expectations. Pupils are expected to engage substantively with material and think independently. Girls who struggle to keep pace academically or who find independent work challenging may find the environment stressful. The school does offer support clinics and one-to-one tutoring, but these are additional to main lessons and require active engagement.

Independent school fees represent significant investment. While financial assistance is available, tuition remains substantial. Families should carefully review affordability, including additional costs for music, trips, and uniform, before committing.

The Queen's School is an excellent independent girls' school delivering academic rigour, extensive enrichment, and thoughtful pastoral care. The recent ISI inspection confirming Outstanding ratings across all areas vindicates the school's approach. Results place it in the top 5% in England at GCSE and top 7% at A-level. The curriculum is broad and intellectually challenging, the extracurricular offer is unusually comprehensive, and the pastoral environment is genuinely supportive.

The school is best suited to girls who thrive academically, relish independence, and want access to a wide range of activities. The all-girls environment means girls develop leadership without gender stereotyping and confidence that lasts beyond school. The school's location in historic Chester, combined with modern investment in facilities, creates a campus that feels both rooted and forward-looking.

For families within reasonable travel distance and for whom independent school fees are affordable or bridgeable through financial assistance, The Queen's School represents one of the region's finest educational options. The royal patronage granted by Queen Victoria remains more than symbolic; it reflects a school that has sustained excellence across nearly 150 years and shows every sign of extending that tradition into the next century.