Independent Review taken from The Good Schools Guide

Head:
Since 2006, Mr Steven Jandrell BA, married to Margaret, also a teacher. Together they have over 35 years teaching experience. The Jandrells love music and have recently had a son, their first child. Numbers are up under Steven Jandrell's leadership and plans are afoot to expand the senior school with new staff

Academic Matters
Small classes and streamed. 12 or 13 per class for A levels. Terrific new IT facilities, with day pupils lent 'powerful multi-media computers' to use at home. RSA, CLAIT and integrated business technology on offer as well as GNVQs and 23 A levels - all the trad ones plus performing arts, fashion & design and PE, plus psychology, photography. The majority do very well with at least one fifth getting four or five straight A grades. A pleasing absence of lower grades. French from six and German from ten (which means that pupils arriving at the senior school are taught separately to catch up). Spanish for all at 14, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese all on offer. No classics. Dual science very popular - and fab modern labs with spectacular views. Science and maths a strength with many A grades. Dyslexia help available and free in the junior school, all children tested on arrival during the first half term, ed psych's report if necessary, usually individual lessons for free once a week, if more needed then extra charge. Dual teaching at the bottom end with two and a half dedicated accredited British Dyslexia Association staff on site ie SENCO. Increasing facilities for disabled. EFL free throughout the school. Not a school that can be judged only by the league tables - ask to see the value-added data - very impressive. Exam results lists the usual streams of As, with one chap getting straight A’s over six A levels and one AS.

The Faculty is a separate school-within-a-school that allows less academic sixth-formers to take a reduced number or no A levels, and to follow courses in the arts, beauty/therapies, business, childcare, computing, hospitality, sport, land management, animal care and horses (of course). We think this is a first for an independent school and is to be commended and encouraged.

Games, Options, the Arts:
Horses are an important part of QE and the giant new Genesis centre catering for sport and equestrian facilities is now under construction. The previous first floor stabling in the Royal Court Equestrian centre has been converted to sixth form girls' accommodation (!) and the ground floor is converted to temporarily house senior boys who have transferred from the existing houses which are being refurbished. Impressive outdoor manège and masses of pony paddocks are still available in the existing equestrian centre whilst the new one is being built. Pupils may (and do) bring their own animals, Pupils get up to muck out at 7.30am, and generally do their own horses. BHSAI on offer in the sixth form and riding is timetabled. Karen Dixon (Olympic Eventer) tuition available on school horses.