Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet

Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnetis a boys'grammar schoolinBarnet,northern Greater London, which was founded in 1573 byRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester,and others, in the name ofQueen Elizabeth I.

Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Tudor Hall, the original 16thcentury schoolhouse
Address
Queen's Road Chipping Barnet Borough of Barnet , Greater London , EN5 4DQ England
Coordinates	51.65495°N 0.21341°W/51.65495; -0.21341
Information
School type	Grammar School
Motto	Dieu et mon Droit (God and my Right)
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1573(1573)
Status	Open
Local authority	Barnet (302)
Department for EducationURN	136290Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Governors	Barrie R. Martin
CFO	Emi Aghdiran
Executive headteacher	Neil Enright
Gender	Boys-only
Age	11 to 18
Number of pupils	1,245 (2012)
Capacity	1,200
Houses	Broughton Leicester Harrisons Stapylton Pearce Underne
Colour(s)	Navyandpale blue
Publication	The Elizabethan
Endowment	£23,303,827 (2017)
Budget	£8.19m (2017–18)
Revenue	£8.16m (2017–18)
Alumni	Old Elizabethans
Key Stage 4 Test Scores	2018 Scores Report & Comparison
Financial Benchmarking	2019 Report
Website	www.qebarnet.co.uk
Last updated: September 24, 2019

It is consistently ranked as one of the most academically successfulsecondary schoolsin England, having toppedA-levelleague tables forgrammar schoolsfor five consecutive years, as of 2016, and was chosen by theSunday Timesas "State School of the Year" in 2007.AnOfstedreport published in January 2008 stated: "It is held in very high regard by the vast majority of students and their parents, and rightly so."It has also been aTraining schoolsince April 2009 and has a specialism inMusic.

History

Foundation and location

The school was founded in 1573 by QueenElizabeth I,petitioned byRobert Dudley, Earl of Leicester,and assisted by local alderman Edward Underne.Elizabeth I'scharterof 1573 describes the school's purpose thus:

Bringing up and instruction of boys and youth, to be brought up in grammar and other learning, and the same to continue for ever, and the said School for one Master and one Usher for ever to continue and remain and that there shall be for ever four-and-twenty discreet, honest governors

The originalTudorbuilding, known asTudor Hall,was erected in 1577 opposite the Church of St John the Baptist on Wood Street, with money raised by the first governors of the school and by collections in London churches. It was repaired in 1597 and again in 1637. During the 17th century, further extensive repairs were carried out, in spite of a poor financial situation following theCivil War.Financial conditions became progressively more comfortable during the 18th century.

The trustees of Elizabeth Allen's Charity, which had been established by her will dated 10 February 1725, gave financial assistance to save it from a state "very ruinous and unfit for habitation".It then became a private boarding school.It was closed in 1872 and restored in 1874 with many additions. In 1885 a governor, H. E. Chetwynd Stapylton, bought a plot of land behind the Jesus Hospital, a building in Wood Street dating back to 1679; today the Stapylton Field stands in front of the main school building and is used for rugby and cricket.

As the number of pupils outgrew the capacity of Tudor Hall, so the school was transferred in 1932 to a new site in Queen's Road, which backed on to the Stapylton Field. It was administered by the South Herts Division ofHertfordshire County Council,until 1965 when it became part of the borough of Barnet. In the 1960s, there were around 550 boys with 150 in the sixth form. Tudor Hall was completely restored in 1968 by theLondon Borough of Barnet,and is now part ofBarnet and Southgate College.

Two plaques are located on the walls of the original school building, Tudor Hall. Inscribed on the stone plaque is:

This is to commemorate the original school founded here by Queen Elizabeth and built in 1573. The school was removed in 1932 to new building in Queens Road, Barnet. This plaque was erected by the Visitors of Jesus Hospital Charity, the owners in 1952.

A more recent blue plaque was erected by the London borough of Barnet which dictates:

This Tudor Hall housed the free grammar school of Queen Elizabeth I who granted its charter in 1573.

Grammar school reinstatement

Under Eamonn Harris (Headmaster 1984 - 1999), who took over the school when earmarked for closure, it returned to its previous selectivegrammar schoolstatus in August 1994, having opted out of the London borough and become agrant-maintained schoolin 1989. Other schools in Greater London did this, and many becamepartially selective(up to 50%) at this time. In the 1990s it went on to become England's top state school for A-levels.

Thegirls' schoolremained a comprehensive.

From 1999 to 2011, the headmaster was John Marincowitz, who commissioned the new Martinswimming pool,opened in 2006, the Shearly Hall, opened in 2009, and a library. In 2011 Neil Enright became the 40th headmaster, and the completion and use of the Queen's library took place.

QE has been criticized by many current and former pupils for a very strict approach to discipline.In April 2000, this led a group of current and former pupils to create a website where they could talk about their experiences. This was known as 'QE Boys: The Truth'. It gained more hits than the official website, and the school excluded three pupils for posting messages on it.The current system uses 'bad notes' sent directly to parents via e-mail if a pupil repeatedly shows poor behaviour.If too many accumulate, the issue is referred to the pupil's tutor and then to their year head.

Culture and sports

Queen Elizabeth's School is divided into six houses, named after famous old boys, patrons and former teachers. They are Broughton, Harrisons', Leicester, Pearce, Stapylton and Underne.

Rugby union,played during the winter and spring terms, is compulsory for boys in their first four years at the school, as arecross country runningand most other school sports, which includeorienteering,swimming,basketball,tennis,cricket,Eton fivesandathletics.QE is well known for not playingfootballcompetitively against other schools, although it is occasionally played internally in friendly games and at lunchtimes. Students also take part in cross country runs semi-annually, at the start of the autumn and spring terms. A particularly muddy part of the cross-country route, suitably nicknamed the 'Elephant Dip', owing to its extreme depth in wet weather, links the Byng Road Open Space (Barnet RFC) and the north-west gate of the bottom fields, however there is also a paved route turning right from the gate and going down Byng Road towards the Open Space. Students regularly use the Barnet RFC's fields (the Byng Road Open Space) which are a short run from the back field gate.

There is much competition in the summer term when frequent competitions between houses are held before the summer examinations begin in June, including the QE Sevens Tournament which takes place in the school for the U14s and U16s. It is normally held at the end of the Spring Term.

A-level and Essential Skills assessments

Boys usually choose foursubjectsto study atA-level,but may drop one, either voluntarily, or because it does not appear that they can continue with outstanding performance in the subject.These subjects can, liable to some controversy, only be chosen after receiving offers of study, commonly referred to as 'recommendations', in those particular subjects.Given the large number of students who achieve many, sometimes straight, grades 8 or 9 atGCSE,achieving an outstanding grade in a given subject at GCSE level is not sufficient to judge suitability for A-level. Instead, students must show that they have the 'essential skills' required to thrive at A-level in the subjects.Once departments are confident that a student possesses the required 'essential skills', only then will they issue a recommendation.To judge this, criteria are set by each department which must be met either in regular end-of-topic tests during the GCSE course, or by 'Essential Skills' tests which are sat exclusively to measure performance against these criteria.The majority of recommendations are issued to those who have met the criteria in November of year 11, but will have an opportunity to meet the criteria in further tests, often including the GCSEmock exams,to then get a recommendation in February.

A main focus of the sixth form is preparation for entry into higher education. As a result, the school focuses on career advice, theUCASapplication process, personal statements, finance and other things related to university entry, which are often covered inPSHElessons (known internally as Personal Development time or PDT) which take place in tutor groups once a week, as with lower years. The school also encourages students to partake in a wide range of extracurricular activities both outside of and during school time, such as the recommended 30 hours of volunteering.

Founder's Day Fête

The Founder's DayFête,and the preceding service of celebration at St John the Baptist's Church, Barnet, is the largest cultural event in the school calendar.It is held every year, regardless of weather, on the third Saturday in June, and celebrates the founding of the school in 1573.

All Year 7 students must attend the service in full uniform. Thegovernorsalso attend, as do most teachers, in academic dress with gowns.Thehead boys,past and present, are readers at the service,and the school choir and chamber choir sing. The hymns sung are: "All people that on earth do dwell", "For all the saints", "Jerusalem" and "Now thank we all our God". "God Save the Queen" is always sung at the end of the service. The boys then walk back to the school along Wood Street and prepare for the roll call on Stapylton Field. This is again compulsory for all of Year 7, with five boys from each house attending from all other senior years. In the past, this was compulsory for the whole school. The boys troop in from the two wings of the main building and form three lines stretching across the Stapylton Field. The boys of each house sit together; previously they had to stand.

The school chronicle is read out each year at Founder's Day by the headmaster during the roll call, with minor additions as necessary.It was originally prepared in 1930 by Ernest H. Jenkins, the headmaster, and Cecil Tripp, Secretary of the Old Elizabethan Association and a governor of the school for twenty-four years.The most up to date school chronicle is listed on the school website.

In 2020, most boys were not in school due to the coronavirus pandemic, so the roll call was recorded withZoomand only year 7 boys attended. The fête, as well as a biryani cook-along, was published as a 45-minute video onYouTube.

Kerala partnership

QE Boys has formed a long-term partnership with a school inKeralacalled the Sri Sathya Sai School, funded by the 'Sathya Sai Appeal'.In addition, the school has strong links with charities through the house system, and three events are held each academic year (two houses join forces for each event) to generate funds for a charity elected by students and staff.These range from guessing teachers’ childhood pictures to general knowledge quizzes.

House system

The foundation and naming of the six houses is listed below:

• Broughton — Named in memory ofWilliam Grant Broughton,an Old Elizabethan, who was appointed Archdeacon of New South Wales in 1828 and subsequently became the first Bishop of Australia.
• Harrisons' — The only House to honour two people, Harrisons' was established in 1954. It was named after a senior master, G. W. N. Harrison, who had taught at the school for 41 years until 1929, and E. W. Harrison (no relation), another long-serving and dedicated schoolmaster who retired in 1950.
• Leicester — A continuing reminder of the School's beginnings:Robert Dudley,Earl of Leicester made the request to Queen Elizabeth for a charter for the School in 1573.
• Pearce — John Pearce began his teaching career at the School in 1932, aged 23. In 1950 he became Senior Master, a post he held until he retired in 1971. The sixth House was named after him on its creation in 1971 when the School became comprehensive and expanded.
• Stapylton — Named after former Chairman of Governors H. E. Chetwynd-Stapylton, who in 1885 bought the Stapylton field for the school, which is still very much in use today.
• Underne — Once Queen Elizabeth had granted the Charter for the school, funds were needed to finance it. Edward Underne, Rector of Chipping Barnet Church, was responsible for raising the money for the original building of the School in the 1570s.

Academic excellence

In 2007, QE came first in theA-levelleague table for state schools, and twelfth in theGCSEleague table.In 2008 QE again topped the league table in A-level results and a record number of 37 pupils gained a place atOxford and Cambridge.

In January 2014, Barrie Martin, Chairman of the QE Governing Body and the Friends of Queen Elizabeth's was awarded anMBEfor 'Services to Education'.Headmaster Neil Enright described Martin as: 'an asset to QE in so many ways, combining a tireless work ethic with tremendous focus and an utterly reliable good nature'.

In 2016, QE came first in the A-level league tables for selective state (grammar) schools for the 5th year in a row, also coming sixth in theGCSEleague tables for grammar schools.2016 would make the eighth year in the past decade that the school achieved the top spot in the A-Level league tables, solidifying its position at the forefront of the modern British educational scene.

Notable alumni

See also:Category:People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys

• Demis Hassabis,CEO and Co-Founder ofGoogleDeepMind.
• Mustafa Suleyman,CEO and Co-Founder ofInflection AI.
• William Broughton,firstBishop of Australia.
• Allastair McReady-Diarmid,Victoria Crossrecipient inWorld War I
• Jay Shetty,internet personality and lifestyle blogger.
• Lucian Grainge,chairman and Chief Executive since 2005 ofUniversal Music Group International,and of Universal Music UK from 2001 to 2005
• Tim Bell,advisor toMargaret Thatcher
• Kelvin Hopkins,LabourMember of Parliament(MP) forLuton Northsince 1997
• Duncan Maskell,Vice Chancellor, University of Melbourne
• Cameron McVey,singer/songwriter/record producer, married toNeneh Cherry
• George Mpanga,stage name George the Poet, a London-born spoken word performer of Ugandan heritage
• Wilfred De'Ath,writer and broadcaster
• Edward Blishen,writer
• Darren Foreman,better known as 'Beardyman', UK beatbo xing champion
• Robert Rinder,barrister best known for his role on thecourtroom seriesJudge Rinder
• Jay Foreman,comedian and songwriter chiefly known for hisYouTubechannel.
• Peter Wells,Olympic, Empire and Commonwealth Games high jumper representing Great Britain, England and New Zealand between 1950 and 1956

Notable staff

During the Second World War the athletics coachFranz Stampfltaughtphysical educationat the school until his internment in 1940 as an enemy alien.The future headmaster ofEton,John Lewis,briefly taughtLatinin the early 1970s.

Crispin Bonham-Carter,a former television and film actor, has been assistant headteacher at the school since 2019.

Other Information

Admissions procedure

Admission to the school is strictly by academic selection, and boys may apply to join the school for Year 7. Roughly 3,600 applicants compete in a series of examinations to be awarded one of the 192 places offered annually, making places at the grammar school some of the most sought after and oversubscribed in the country.

Parents of boys not admitted to the school have protested against the school's selective admissions policy.Sometimes this has been because the prospective boy's parents have moved to the area assuming a place will be guaranteed,when this is not the case.The school was also on a list of schools breaching admissions laws in England.The Barnet education authority asked for an investigation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate.

Contribution requests

In 2014 it was reported that the school, despite not being of independent school status, was making regular requests to parents for 'voluntary donations' in order to provide the facilities pupils needed, with parents contributing monthly, usually around £60.The school justified these requests by saying that state funding was not sufficient to provide a sound education and "the polish for boys to go on to the best universities".

External links

• Official website
• Old Elizabethans
• EduBase

News items

• TelegraphAugust 2009
• ObserverMay 1999