Some very exciting changes to the fabric of the school will be taking place over the summer.

The imminent Queenswood Hall project has provided the perfect opportunity for us to reassess the use of some of our larger building spaces. With a buoyant pupil roll in the Lower Sixth for September 2017, we have been considering how to provide the best possible accommodation and facilities for the whole Sixth Form community. Simultaneously, we are looking to make greater use of our exceptionally well-stocked library.

One of the current Sixth Form study rooms on the second floor of Bellman

From September 2017, Bellman will become the Sixth Form Centre. There will be study rooms on the ground and second floors for day girls; boarders will also be welcome to make use of these new study facilities if they wish to do so. The light and spacious mezzanine level will become the communal area for quiet relaxation and reading, with kitchen and refreshment and facilities. Key Sixth Form staff will also have their offices within the building. As your daughters progress through the school, it is important that they are afforded a greater degree of autonomy. By providing this new, self-contained study centre, separate from the rest of the school, where girls can work at their own pace and with their own approach, we hope to ease the transition to full independence at University.

Meanwhile, the Old Pool Hall will house the current library. This unique and fascinating architectural space, with a rich history dating back to 1930, has recently been fully renovated and refurbished, but at present remains an underused resource. Situated at the very heart of the school campus, it will be the perfect environment for girls and staff to explore our extensive collections of learning resources. The new library will be equipped with IT stations and softly furnished reading areas, and offer greater flexibility in terms of storage and display of the many thousands of books, journals, periodicals and DVDs in our collection. The large open-plan design of the new library will accommodate much more sizable groups, allowing our librarian, Mrs Truran, to build upon the very successful programme of author talks and themed exhibitions introduced this year.

The refurbished Old Pool Hall

We were delighted that the school’s recent ISI Inspection report recognised the culture of independent study at Queenswood: ‘The pupils demonstrate excellent study skills. They make confident use of the resources available to further their learning and understanding.’ These initiatives will ensure that we continue to support girls in all year groups to be inquisitive, independent learners.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the changes.

Jo Cameron