Queen's College, Taunton
Address
Trull Road

Taunton
,
Somerset
,
TA1 4QS

England
Information
TypePrivate day and boarding school
MottoNon scholae sed vitae discimus
"We learn not for school, but for life"
Religious affiliation(s)Methodist[1]
Established1843 (1843)
Department for Education URN123913 Tables
HeadmasterJulian Noad
GenderCo-educational
Age3 months to 18 years
Enrolment645[1]
Houses4 boarding houses, 4 day pupil houses
Colour(s)Gold and grey    
Former pupilsOld Queenians
Websitewww.queenscollege.org.uk

Queen's College is a co-educational independent school located in Taunton, the county town of Somerset, England.[1] It is a day/boarding school for pupils aged 0–18. The school incorporates nursery, pre-prep, prep, and senior schools. The current Head of College is Julian Noad.[1] Henry Matthews is headmaster of Queen's College Prep School.

History

First known as the Wesleyan Collegiate Institute, Queen's College was established by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1843. Originally located in the Norman Castle in the town centre, the school opened with 34 pupils on 12 July 1843.

Under the headship of Thomas Sibley the school outgrew the old school classrooms and so a new building was commissioned in 1845 in the Trull area. Due to the increasing popularity of the school, they were forced to vacate the castle premises in 1847 and move into the new building before it was finished. The current school building is a symmetrical Tudor Gothic building built by Giles and Gane in 1845 and has been designated as a Grade II* listed building.[2] The original school site consisted of the main school building and upper playing fields. Since then the buildings have expanded, with the bridge and library (now known as the Old Music Room) being added to the school in the 1920s. This addition was built in commemoration, along with the obelisk on the front lawn, for those who served in the First World War.

Present day

The school sits in approximately 35 acres (140,000 m2) of grounds.

Since the 1970s the school has been co-educational with both female and male boarding houses being present on the school grounds. In 2016 the school appointed their first female head teacher, Lorraine Earps. Earps was replaced by Julian Noad on the 12th August 2021.

The school is part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust.[1]

Pastoral system

The prep school is split into four day houses and one boarding house, each accepting both boys and girls. The houses are named after local hill ranges: Quantocks, Brendons, Blackdowns and Mendips. The senior school operates a 'horizontal' pastoral system with students in year groups, each with a designated year lead.

Notable former pupils

Former pupils are known as Old Queenians, and include:

Headteachers

Lorraine Earps then became the first female head teacher of Queen's College. on 12 August 2021 Julian Noad took over from Earps as Head of College. The current head of the prep school is Henry Matthews.

A former headmaster at the school was found guilty by a professional conduct panel of "unacceptable professional conduct" over a series of allegations.[3][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Queen's College - GOV.UK". Get Information about Schools. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Queens College". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "REVEALED: Disgraced headmaster 'downloaded inappropriate material and had inappropriate adult relationships'". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "Queen's College former head failed to report pupil's rape claim". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2022.

51°00′07″N 3°07′00″W / 51.002069°N 3.116738°W / 51.002069; -3.116738

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