Established 1888 Headteacher Mrs V Walker DfE number 302/4208 Founded 1888 | Type Academy Chair of the Governors Ms H Chamberlain Phone +44 20 8449 2984 | |
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Location High Street
Barnet
Greater London
EN5 5RR
England Address High St, Barnet EN5 5RR, UK Similar Queen Elizabeth's School, East Barnet School, Ashmole Academy, Copthall School, Finchley Catholic High Sch Profiles | ||
Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School is a girls' school with academy status for ages 11 to 18, in Barnet, London, England.
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History
Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School was founded in 1888. The school was the first girls' school to open in Hertfordshire, being administered by the South Herts Division of Hertfordshire County Council until 1965. Originally a grammar school for around 700 girls, the school has expanded significantly and there are now over 1100 girls on roll. On May 17, 2013, the school celebrated its 125th anniversary which was marked by a number of events including the painting of a mural in the main courtyard.
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
On August 1, 2011 QEGS became a converter academy. There was no name change.
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’. 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 speaker who will also assist with the presentations and awards.
The Assembly is not the only event to take place on the day: there is an annual cake competition open to the whole school including teachers. There is always a theme for the competition with previous themes including "This Girl Can!", "Celebrating Science" and "Looking ahead to the next 125 years". At the end of the day, girls return to their tutor groups in order to eat their cakes, with those who have won awards being invited to a special reception with their families which is usually held in the school library.
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. Previous Media Arts evenings contained a variety of performances including: local primary school choirs, dancers (including those who have entered the annual 'Rock Challenge' competition), recitals, animations produced by students, 6th form media work and a variety of other Media and Arts based items.
Theatre
Students from the school stage theatrical productions several times a year in one of their three acting spaces, which include the hall, a traditional proscenium arch stage, and the "drama studio", a black box acting space.
In November 2015 A Level students from the school worked in collaboration the London’s famous Donmar Warehouse Theatre. The programme involved a series of workshops with professional directors and chorographers, and culminated in a performance by the students on the West End stage.
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. The school also participates in sports outreach work with local feeder primary schools.