“Cotlake House has been a real home from home for our two children (Year 7 & 8). Being a Forces family, our main priority was to find a caring, nurturing and homely environment where our children could feel secure. Cotlake has been just that. Mr Baker, Matron and the team are warm, friendly & flexible, encouraging strong links between the boarding house and home. Consistently, we have found the pastoral care to be excellent; any issues or problems have been dealt with swiftly and sensitively.

The weekend programme of activities is generally full of fun and exciting things to do. Some of the highlights have been the water parks, wildlife parks, the Pier, high ropes, ceramic painting, shopping trips & plenty of BBQs!” – Mrs Rendall

“With a new posting every two-years, Queen’s College provides us with the stability and continuity we are so eager to give our two children. We have nothing but praise for the exceptional academic, sporting, drama and music facilities Queen’s offers. 

Currently serving at the Defence School of Electromechanical Engineering (DSEME) in Lyneham, I have given 34 years of service and advanced through the ranks to Major.

Our daughter is currently in year 10 and has been boarding since year 7 and our son is now in year 7 and has been boarding since year 5.

The prospect of boarding was extremely daunting to us at first but Queen’s has never given any us any cause to question our decision. The pastoral care at Cotlake has been simply outstanding and second to none in every way. We have found each and every member of staff over the years to be empathetic and caring and never failed to impress. 

The weekend trips are extremely varied, imaginative and exciting and the whole set-up with Mr Baker, his family, pet dog and all the staff just makes it feel like home from home – they really are simply superb.” – Iain & Naomi McDavid

Stuart Bartlett – a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy – and his wife Elizabeth have twin daughters, Eleanor and Caitlin, who have just finished their A Level exams. Here he tells of their Queen’s College journey…

Seven years ago we dropped off our twin girls at Queen’s College, Taunton. The beginning of a new journey was fraught for us, an adventure eagerly grasped by them.

Accepted with open arms by their peers, they instantly settled into the routine of a new school and boarding house, forming bonds which still stand to this day and undeniably comparable to those within the military environment.

How those seven years have passed, almost in a proverbial blink of the eye, we arrive at the final stage of their tenure, their transformation from girls to ladies complete. Ready to face the world with all its problems, the need for autonomous decision making, a confidence facing outlook they stand steadfast in their desire to continue in the Queen’s motto – “We learn not for school, but for life”.

Within the past seven years we have faced both scholastic and familial issues – with two teenagers away from parents’ eyes, this is almost expected.

When required we always had faith and trust in those discharged in our absence and, most importantly a relationship built on solid foundations, that matrons, house parents, safeguarding teams and teachers interaction didn’t end at the resolve but ensured a continuation of care and oversight to ensure the quickest return to normality as expected.

Taking all aspects of our children’s needs – academically, psychologically, socially and spiritually – the school’s holistic approach nurtured, honed and encouraged independent thinking, fully preparing them for life beyond Queen’s.

In totality, has the experience worked? Undoubtedly so and with a full peer recommendation for both Queen’s and their boarding lifestyle.

Without the effort imparted by all, our children would not be where they are today, experienced the events which have shaped their outlook and personality, and been given a start in life we could only have dreamed of when we dropped them off seven years ago.