| Motto | RUR2L? (Are You Ready To Learn?), Be The Best You Can Be |
|---|---|
| Established | 1888 |
| Type | Comprehensive community school |
| Headteacher | Mrs Kate Webster |
| Specialism | Arts and Maths & Computing |
| Location | High Street Barnet London EN5 5RR England |
| Local authority | London Borough of Barnet |
| DfE number | ???/4208 |
| DfE URN | 101348 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1149 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours | Pale blue and navy blue |
| Website | Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School |
Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls, or Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School (QEGS) is a state comprehensive girls' school for ages 11 through 18, in Barnet, London, England.[1]
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The school has been awarded specialist status as an Arts College and Mathematics and Computing College.
Queen Elizabeth Girls' has been around since 1888. The school celebrated its 120th anniversary on May 17, 2008. It was administered by the South Herts Division of Hertfordshire County Council until 1965. As a grammar school, it had around 700 girls.
Barnet schools became comprehensive in 1971 under a scheme known as Plan C. QEGS became comprehensive year by year from 1977.
As of August 1st 2011 QEGS became an academy. There has been no name change.
The lower years all have Mathematics, Science, English, MFL (French and Spanish), IT, Technology (food, product design, graphics and textiles), Art, History, Geography, RE, PE, Drama, Music and PHSCE lessons.
GCSE students are also offered Performing Arts, Business Studies, Applied Art, courses at Barnet College (Hairdressing and Health and Social Care) and Media studies
The subjects that are offered in the 6th form are: Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Critical Thinking, Dance, Drama, English Lang & Lit, English Literature, Film Studies, French, Geography, Government & Politics, History, ICT (AGCE), Mathematics, Math GCSE, Media Studies, Music, Philosophy and Ethics, Physical Education, Physics, Product Design, Product Design (Textiles), Psychology, Sociology and Spanish. There are also one year courses offering Level 2 qualifications
Around the 17th of May each year QE holds a Commemoration Day Assembly in the Sports Hall to celebrate the schools ‘birthday’. Usually the whole school is present apart from those on study leave. During the assembly the Head talks about how and when the school was founded and why girls should value their education and the freedom they have today. There is usually a guest to assist with the presentations and awards. There are many different awards given to students who have excelled themselves or improved greatly. The Assembly is not the only event to take place on the day, there is a cake competition open to the whole school including teachers and there is a special cake and drink event held in the library for those who won awards.
The annual Media Arts Evening is a chance for students and teaches from the school, plus those who have worked with the school to showcase their work, whether it is dance, singing, films or animated films. The 2009 Media Arts evening was said to be the best yet, with a warm atmosphere to it and a wonderful variety of performances ranging from: two local primary school choirs, local dancers, Indian and Irish Dance fusion performed by two year 10 students from QE, animations produced by students on the Olympics, a range of humorous animations made by teachers from QE, 6th form media work and several other dances.
QEGS holds four musical concerts per academic year: Junior Concert (middle of Autumn Term), Seasonal Celebration (last week before Christmas), Spring Concert (end of Spring Term), and the Summer Chamber Concert (towards the end of the Summer Term). The concerts are organised by the music staff; H.Tierney, C. Horne and C. Sugden as well as various other members of staff.
Students from the school do theatrical performances several times a year in one of their three acting spaces. These include the "new hall", a traditional proscenium arch stage, and the "drama studio", a black box acting space.
Performances include the April 2009 'Spices of India' show, where people from Asian culture portrayed distinct areas of Indian Dance. The money raised (approx 26,000 Rs.) was taken to an orphanage in Kutch, India in person by the organisers. The show was open to everyone, from all backgrounds and cultures. The main aim of the show was for the whole school community to join and celebrate different Asian cultures. The feedback from the audience was outstanding, with many people hoping that there will be a show next year! 'Spices of India 2010' has already begun rehearsals, with many more girls participating. Spices of India 2010 is rumoured to be spectacular, with more than 15 dances of bollywood, classical, and traditional dance, not including other marvellous acts of talent, such as singing and instrumental talents.
In November 2008 QE ran its first whole school production in many years. The performance was of Daisy Pulls It Off. It ran for three performances – two that parents etc. could attend and the other for a local primary school. Over all the production was a great success.
A Black History performance is performed by many every year and is an annual tradition of the school as well as the new Spices of India performance.
QE has three tennis courts, three fields, a gym (equipped with climbing apparatus), a fitness gym, a swimming pool and a sports hall. The annual sports day is held at Barnet Copthall, usually in June/July. There are frequent student v student, teacher v teacher and student v teacher matches, however student v teacher football matches are not permitted. Every other year QE holds a sponsored jog that the whole school are encouraged to participate in.