Queen's College was founded on Monday, October 10, 1927. It was the first government-owned school for girls. Its first principal, Miss Wordsworth, was a great-grand niece of the famous English writer, William Wordsworth. Originally called Government School for Girls, Lagos, it officially became Queen's College on April 12, 1928. The school's original site was in the heart of Lagos, on King George IV street. It was later moved in 1958 to its present site in Yaba. At QC's inception, its population was modest. There were 7 students in Form 1 and 13 in Form 2. 

The college's curriculum was essentially concerned with preparing girls for roles as mothers and housewives. Subjects included Prayers, Housework, Drill, English, Needlework and Embroidery, Singing, Geography, Mathematics, Hygiene, History, Reading, and Games. The 1930s saw the introduction of science into the Queen's College curriculum. A strong brother-sister relationship was nurtured between King's and Queen's Colleges because Queen's College science lessons were conducted at the brother school. In 1939, the school song, "Pass on the Torch" was written by Miss Dorothy Peel and music composed by Mr. Woodham. Since then, the school's motto has been Pass on the Torch;

The college has witnessed a rapid expansion since the sixties. It has grown from 2 streams to its present 8 in the Junior Secondary School and 6 in the Senior school. In 1988, the college phased out the Sixth Form programme according to government policy. The college has grown from a modest 20 students in 1927 to its present population of over 2500.

PAST PRINCIPALS

  1. Miss Wordsworth later Mrs. Tolfree 1927-1930

  2. Miss. W.W. Blackwell 1931-1942

  3. Mrs. Mather 1942-1944

  4. Dr Alice L. Whittaker 1944-1946

  5. Miss Ethel Hobson 1946-1950

  6. Miss Mary Hutcheson 1950-1954

  7. Miss Joyce Moxon 1954-1955

  8. Miss Magaret Gentle later Mrs. Harwood 1956-1963

  9. Mrs. Efunjoke Coker 1963-1977

  10. Mrs. Theresa Chukwuma 1978-1982

  11. Mrs. A.A. Kafaru 1982-1986

  12. Mrs. Ejueyitchie 1986-1987

  13. Mrs. Namme 1988-1991

  14. Mrs. Helen Marinho 1991-1996

  15. Mrs Sojinrin 1996 to 2000

  16. Mrs Euler Ajayi (present)