Queen's College is an independent school for girls aged 11–18 with an adjoining prep school for girls aged 4–11 in the City of Westminster, London. Founded in 1848 by theologian and social reformer Frederick Denison Maurice, Professor of English Literature and History at King's College London, along with a committee of patrons, the College was the first institution in the world to award academic qualifications to women. In 1853, it also became the first girls' school to be granted a Royal Charter for the furtherance of women's education. Ever since, the College patron has been a British queen; the current patron is Queen Elizabeth II.
The College has a distinctly liberal ethos based upon the principles of F.D. Maurice. Through its non-competitive spirit and avoidance of excessive regulation, the College claims to produce confident and open-minded young women. Like other colleges of its type, offers a broad curriculum and a range of extra-curricular activities.
Founded at a time when educational opportunities were restricted for women in Britain, Queen's College became a pioneer in the field of women's education and emancipation. It also led the way in the study of music for women under William Sterndale Bennett and John Pyke Hullah who were among the founding directors. At the time, the establishment of the College was met with criticism in the press and the founder F. D. Maurice was forced to defend the intention of teaching mathematics to women against claims of its 'dangerous' consequences.
In 1845 David Laing, chaplain of the Middlesex Hospital raised the money with a committee of patrons to acquire the building at 47 Harley Street with the intention of creating a home for governesses who were between jobs. Laing was keen to develop the institution to provide governesses with an education and certification. In 1847 he acquired the agreement of professors from King's College London to give lectures in the Home. Queen Victoria gave her assent, the promise of funds and agreed to be patron. In 1847, the first lectures took place, the Committee of Education was established under the chair of F. D. Maurice, and number 45 was purchased. In December of the same year, the first certificates were issued. Meanwhile, it was decided to extend the reach of the education on offer to women who were not governesses.
In the early days of the College, the education took place in the form of lectures initially delivered to all girls alike aged 12 to 20. The younger pupils were soon to be given their own 'school' at the back of the buildings, which was also open to boys. The Waiting Room became the place where girls would gather and be introduced by the Lady Resident to their chaperones who remained with them throughout their classes and were known as the 'Lady Visitors' (one of them being Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley). When the College was separated from the Governesses' Benevolent Institution in 1853, a new Governing Council was established, with the 'Visitor', the Bishop of London as its figurehead, an arrangement which continues to this day. Following the resignation of Maurice in 1853, Richard Chenevix Trench became the first Principal and took over as Chair of the Committee of Education.
By 1900 the College was offering a broad, liberal education to young women, and had resisted attempts become or amalgamate with a college of London University. The practice of offering lectures from staff and visitors throughout the year remained, and is now a defining tradition of the College.
During the Second World War, the College narrowly escaped destruction when a bomb exploded on the opposite side of Harley Street. The windows at the front of the building were smashed and plaster work damaged. The College continued to function during the war with classes even held in bomb shelters constructed in the main corridor. Evacuation of the pupils to the Lake District and then to Northamptonshire was short-lived.
The College has been visited by its patrons five times. Queen Victoria came on 9 May 1898 for the fiftieth anniversary. She herself wrote of the occasion: "On my way out stopped at Queen's College in Harley Street, the first Ladies College ever founded in England, which is this year celebrating its jubilee. All the girls and ladies were drawn up outside. The Principal, the Dean and Mrs Robinson were presented to me. The Principal handed [me] an address, and Miss Coudace, the Queen's scholar for the year, a beautiful basket of roses."
Queen Mary visited in 1928, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited for the centenary in 1948 and again in 1972 and 1980.
The College ceased to offer boarding accommodation in the 1980s and Kynaston House was re-modelled from the old accommodation to provide offices, a senior common room and the Blue Library.
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother opened Queen's College Preparatory School at 61 Portland Place.