Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School
Established 1888
Type Academy
Headteacher Mrs K Webster
Chair of the Governors Ms H Chamberlain
Location High Street
Barnet
Greater London
EN5 5RR
England Coordinates: 51°39′06″N 0°11′48″W / 51.6518°N 0.1968°W
DfE number 302/4208
DfE URN 137131 Tables
Ofsted Reports Pre-academy reports
Gender Girls
Ages 11–18
Colours

Pale blue and navy blue

         
Website www.qegschool.org.uk

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School is a girls' school with academy status for ages 11 to 18, in Barnet, London, England.[1]

History

Queen Elizabeth Girls' was founded in 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.

Comprehensive

Barnet schools started to become comprehensive in 1971 under a scheme known as Plan C. QEGS became comprehensive year by year from 1977.

Academy Status

As of August 1, 2011 QEGS became an academy. There has been no name change.

Subjects

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 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

Special Events

Around the 17th of May each year QE holds a Commemoration Day Assembly in the Sports Hall to celebrate the school's ‘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.

Media Arts at QE

The annual Media Arts Evening is a chance for students and teachers from the school, as well as those who have worked with the school, to showcase their work, whether it be dance, singing, or films (animated or otherwise). The 2009 Media Arts evening was said to be the best yet, with a warm atmosphere 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.

Concerts

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; J.Reece, N.Scott and C. Sugden as well as various other members of staff.

Theatre

Students from the school stage theatrical productions several times a year in one of their three acting spaces, which 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 Rupees) 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 to mention other talented acts, such as singing and instrumental performances.

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. Overall 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.

Sport

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 in which all girls are encouraged to participate.

Notable former pupils

Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ Grammar School

Stephanie Beacham (actress)

See also

References

External links