Queen Anne's School, History of the School

History of the school

The origins of Queen Anne's School go back to 1698 when eight merchants founded the Grey Coat Hospital, a Christian foundation, in Westminster. In 1706 Queen Anne granted the Grey Coat Hospital a royal charter. By 1874 Parliament had begun to recognise that girls deserved an education and the Grey Coat Hospital became a girls' school.

The Grey Coat Hospital Foundation bought the present site in Caversham, and this became Queen Anne's School on Ascension Day in 1894. Since that time Queen Anne's has grown and prospered and become a well known and well-loved independent school. The school remains part of the Grey Coat Hospital Foundation and values its connection with the other Foundation Schools: Grey Coat Hospital, Emanuel, Sutton Valence and Westminster City School.

Queen Anne's retains its connection with Westminster in many ways. A special service is regularly held at Westminster Abbey for Queen Anne's pupils, parents, old girls and associates. Sixth form art students take part in the annual Foundation schools' art exhibition in SW1 Gallery in Westminster and the girls take part in joint Foundation events such as the annual athletics championship.

The Scarlet Runners

In October 2008, the school launched 'The Scarlet Runners: A Social History of Queen Anne's, Caversham', by head of history, Daniel Talbot. In this thoughtful, funny and moving book, the author draws on the voices of the school community to explore the trends in social history that have made the school the special place it is today. The 220 illustrations also provide a rich visual feast and add yet another dimension to the story Talbot tells. A beautiful, highly readable book, The Scarlet Runners has been warmly received at Queen Anne's and in the world beyond.