Queen Anne's Caversham versus Headington

[rococo1]

Hi there, i would really appreciate it if you could give me feedback on your DD's experience of QAS or Headington. I've read alot of comments here about QAS being cliquey and day girls not integrating well with boarding girls. Whilst i know that Headington is higher up in the school league table have your academic DD's been held back or not challenged enough at QAS ? We're thinking about sending our DD to one of these schools as a day girl in the next couple of years. Thanks in advance for your feedback xx

Headington is probably seen as slightly more academic and a bit more competitive, Queen Anne’s slightly softer. Due to their locations (very urban vs countrysidey) the schools have very different vibes plus QA has more boarders and this, again, this changes the dynamic.

We visited both on open days only and I liked them both for different reasons but neither felt entirely “right”. We were looking at a Mon to Thu weekly boarding place though.

Headington is more of a Monday to Friday school for non boarders (matches aside, especially lacrosse). Queen Anne’s has a lot of Saturday activities that day girls are encouraged to join in.

As Headington is an all through school and the great majority of girls go all through, then if your daughter is super sporty she might find the school A teams are already fairly established and hard to break into (something that happens at our local all through school).

QA has the benefit of everyone starts new at 11 (or 13) so there’s none of that. Everybody gets to start afresh and make their mark.

Headington feels more “gutsy” though.

I think they are just both quite different schools. It was much easier to get a feel on physical open days - I really don’t envy anyone trying to choose a school at the moment with everything being done virtually.

Many thanks @Zodlebud.. you are right - it's super tricky to make decisions nowadays based on 'virtual open days'...

If anyone else has any recent experiences on both these schools it would be great to hear from you...

My DD is currently a day girl at QA and counts both day girls and boarders amongst her friends, so I would say they are fairly well integrated. I have read some of the comments about QA on other posts and I'm surprised as I have never had the impression that it is cliquey whilst my DD has been there. She is academically very able and is thriving there, but I didn't want a pushy school for her. I wanted a school where she could achieve academically whilst being nurtured creatively at the same time. She is very into music, sport and drama as well as loving learning and she has the space to do all that there. They do seem to give her extension activities when she needs them. They work almost entirely on digital devices which seems to work well. I'm happy that she is being sufficiently challenged and above all, she is happy. I can't help you with Headington, although I've heard that it is also a lovely school.

Where do you live such that both those schools are within a sensible travelling distance for a day girl? The traffic to both locations is horrendous in the morning and I can’t really imagine where you can be that will not mean spending a long time on a bus.
If you are in the middle then Cranford House will be much nearer and is better academically than QAS.

Similarly, if your DD is academic enough for Headington she’d have a good shot at St Helen’s in Abingdon which will be much closer if you’re somewhere in the middle.

Cranford House better than QAS academically?! Not sure that this is the common view in the area!

63% 9-7 for Cranford vs 60% 9-7 for QAS in 2019 GCSEs, so I’m told.
No idea re 2020 but that one was a question of whose teachers were the most generous anyway. We’re not at either so no skin in the game

Many thanks @Buzzingbeez @Bramblethorn

@NeedingCoffee - we're near Twyford (at the moment) but would look to move house to be closer to one of these schools.

That makes sense! We have friends with children at both schools; both happy. Headington perhaps has more choice of sport - loads of dance and rowing as well as the standard sports. I get the impression that QAS is mostly lacross and netball. QAS is definitely “softer” and the friends say it feels much smaller. The girl there almost didn’t stay for 6th form as part of her wanted a bit “more”. But stayed in the end as she felt she’d be very well looked after through her A levels and could spread her wings at uni instead.

@Buzzingbeez - out of interest did your DD start at 11 or 13 ? Just curious about your decision and variables you used to make it ? Thankyou

@NeedingCoffee, thanks for your insights

It’s true that Cranford has recently had better results than Queen Anne’s and it is a lovely school.

She went at 11 with the view that it would be easier to settle and make friends when everyone else was new.

My daughter has been at QAS for a few years and is really happy there. Even split of friends between day girls and boarders. She hasn't found it cliquey at all. Academically bright and definitely challenged - the girls are worked quite hard I think and extension work is set.Pastoral side is also excellent. Lockdown learning was excellent and very well organised. Plenty of opportunities for other activities as well. We are near Twyford and make the journey every day. It really isn't too bad unless you get stuck at Sonning Bridge! I don't know about Headington but hear it's a lovely school too

Hi everyone,

Our family is relocating from India to Reading this December. My daughter will be entering Year 12 (equivalent to A Levels) and we've applied to Queen Anne's School, Caversham.

I'd love to hear feedback about the school, particularly regarding the teachers, extracurricular activities, pastoral care, and overall sense of community.

Thanks in advance for your insights!