Queen Anne's School, Caversham

[enigma16]

DD has just been offered a place for next year at Queen Anne's but we are uncertain because of the expense and in general - and there is a very good secondary in our area.

I have heard the school days at Queen Anne's are very long and that it can be cliquey. Can anyone share any experiences and opinions about QA?

Thanks much!

Hi Enigma, we are considering QA here also. I understand Wednesdays and Fridays are earlier finish times this year, which is a positive for us, as we were also concerned about this aspect. Particularly as we’re also looking at a 45 minute commute from where we are. Love the school though..tough decision!

When you pay high fees you expect a longer day. That is a plus for lots of working parents. It also gives DDs a chance to get stuck in to sports and clubs. I know parents who rate it highly but it is used by parents whose DC don’t get into the Grammars.

Not here..both my daughter and other girls we know who are considering..have all passed grammar.

DD also has an offer but we're going to turn down. Liked the school but didn't feel it was particularly academic compared to others we considered coupled with very long days due to commute through Reading ( a car park at the best of times). Only way would be if DD boards which we didn't want.

The ‘academic’ comment always intrigues me. On paper our daughter should thrive at grammar school..140+ scores..so potential is supposedly great. But we don’t want a school that purely focuses on academics. We want somewhere where she can thrive without undue pressure, grow in confidence and just be happy. That counts for far more on our agenda.

Absolutely agree with you Mumto2two, we are moving out of London from a highly academic school where there is huge pressure, in order to offer DD a more rounded experience. There is more to school life than academics.

It’s refreshing to hear other like minded attitudes. I find it quite sad that parents feel it necessary to put their children through these ‘hot houses’...in pursuit of whatever fulfils their own ambitious agendas. Even when they are not particularly bright, the tutoring and shoehorning is rife. Why anyone would want that for their child, is really beyond me.