I have two daughters there and have been exceptionally happy with it.
Yes, fees are expensive, but it reflects not just the facilities but the whole environment. School days are long - ending at 6pm Monday to Thursday - and girls are expected to participate in a lot of extra curricular activities. A long journey there and back on top can take time to adjust to. The majority of co-curricular activities have no extra charge, only when they have to get outside teachers involved or 1-2-1. Residential trips are sensibly priced. I never get shock bills or charges on top of fees.
Size wise it’s big enough that you can find “your people” but small enough to be seen. I feel the teachers know my girls extremely well. There’s an awful lot to be said for that. They really do focus on the needs of the individual.
Academically, yes, it’s not particularly selective. It couldn’t be further from an academic hot house if it tried. But it doesn’t pretend to be. This is a school that doesn’t ask girls to sit formal exams as private candidates if they don’t feel they’re going to get good enough grades. They are what they are. You’d be surprised how many private schools DO actually do this - all is not as it seems at times.
What I can tell you though is the great majority of girls actually exceed academic expectations. They are very good at squeezing an extra grade out. Is it academic enough? Absolutely. We turned down a place at NLCS for my eldest at 11. People told us we were mad to choose Q instead. She got the exact same GCSE grades as if she had gone there so we have no regrets. Only a sense of relief really as she had absolutely none of the stress her friends who did go to very academic schools went through. I see a similar pattern with my youngest with a similar academic profile. Her Y7 was huge amounts of fun - really concentrating on settling in, making friends, getting used to things. Her friend at STAHS was miserable and finding things very hard. Academic children don’t always need to be with other academic children to succeed. Sometimes being towards the top of the cohort is what they need.
The “rich but dim” description is actually pretty ignorant. Yes, parents are monied. A lot live in the Hampstead / St John’s Wood / Islington areas as well as Hertfordshire. Yes, their children invariably didn’t get into Highgate, SHHS, NLCS, Habs or St Albans. A bit of perspective though - lots of children who gain entry to grammar schools don’t get places at these schools either. I’m not sure you’d describe them as “dim”. I think it’s fair to say Q takes girls of average ability and above.
To add that they are also very good at supporting girls with SEN e.g. dyslexia. A girl can be bright but needs help accessing learning in a different way. Many of the top academic schools have rubbish support in this area (that is if they actually offer a place in the first instance).
Sport is inclusive. Yes, they are known for their tennis but this is largely due to the scholars. They spend half their school day playing tennis and are often at competitions so do tend to stick together. There’s also only a handful in each year so it’s hardly a cliquey problem. They also play a lot of netball and hockey. Talented girls play more but there are plenty of opportunities for the recreational player too.
Girls leaving? A lot leave at sixth form. But they do at most all girls schools. The reality is some want to be with boys, some want to move to more local day schools, some transfer to state. Some just want a change. Some don’t make the grade academically.
There are some international girls who come for just a term or a year to improve their English. These are planned short stays. For UK based girls I can count on one hand the number of girls who have left to go to another school in the local area across both my daughters years. Far more girls join than leave. Some international boarders stick together, some mingle with everyone else.
Each year is very diverse in terms of ethnicity and religious background. It feels multicultural and reflective of London demographics. I haven’t come across any issues with discipline. A few items have been “borrowed” without permission but were returned.
Ultimately it’s a school where your daughter will reach her academic potential (even if that’s not a string of 9s), find out who she is as a person and come out the other end happy and confident.
I would say that your gut reaction is always the right one though. For us something felt “off” at NLCS. Can’t put my finger on it. Just Q felt like “the one” from the point we set foot in the door. Only you know what environment will be best fit for your daughter.