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Some 35 Sixth-Formers visited the Houses of Parliament as part of their Politics studies.

The Year 12 boys found out about the history of the mother of parliaments during the trip to Westminster, as well as enjoying the opportunity to try the business of government for themselves.

Jamie Martin, of Year 12, said: “Overall the trip was a thoroughly enjoyable, educational and unforgettable experience.”

In addition to learning about the subjects of current Parliamentary debates, the boys also created their own political parties and framed laws and policies, incorporating into their party manifestoes ideas that they had previously discussed in class. The groups had put forward contrasting views on issues such as youth and the environment, thus giving a realistic representation of actual debates in the Commons, Jamie commented.

He added that his impressions from the day included being surprised by the small size of the Lords and Commons Chambers.

Head of Politics, Liam Hargadon, led the trip, which is one of a series of visits organised annually for Sixth-Formers by the Politics Department. These include a conference later this year at which boys will hear from a diverse range of speakers such as MEP Nigel Farage, Leader of the UK Independence Party, and George Galloway MP. Boys can question politicians on topics covered in lessons and other issues about which they feel strongly.

“Such trips offer our students the chance to explore in greater depth an aspect of Politics which interests them,” said Mr Hargadon. “For some, it provides insights that will serve them well when they later pursue a Politics-related degree at university.”

Thirty-six pupils from the Upper Sixth took part in the latest research symposium to be held jointly by QE and one of the country’s leading independent girls’ schools.

The collaborative events with North London Collegiate School (NLCS) allow pupils to experience discussion in mixed-gender groups, encouraging them to think flexibly as they respond to previously unseen source material.

“The aim is to increase students’ awareness of subject material beyond the confines of the taught curriculum, whilst developing their skills of analysis and debate,” said QE’s Head of Pupil Progression, Dr. Sarah Westcott.

In the most recent symposium, eight Year 13 students from QE focused on English, eight on Economics, twelve on Medicine and eight on Natural Sciences. A similar number of girls from NLCS took part across all subjects.

“This event was challenging for the students on many intellectual levels,” added Dr Westcott. “They had to present their ideas articulately both on material which they had been given time to read and analyse, as well as on source material which they were given on the day to evaluate. These sessions represent an excellent opportunity for our students to experience the type of high-level, argument-based discussion which forms the core of many of the degree courses at the universities they aspire to.”

Among the topics discussed was What advances has science made in the treatment and prevention of HIV transmission and progression in to AIDS? The English group looked at six works, including A Defence of Cosmetics by Max Beerbohm and Reticence in Fiction by Hubert Crackanthorpe.

QE is involved in a number of joint academic symposia with both NLCS and another girls’ school, The Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead. These have involved students from a number of different year groups.

Queen Elizabeth’s School boys are to perform an abridged version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, following a special drama workshop at the Arts Depot in Finchley.

Four schools in total are taking part in the project, with the QE boys, who are drawn from Years 8-11, representing Key Stages 3 and 4.

The QE team of actors, technicians and marketing assistants have been working on a cut-down version of the play in readiness for the public performance after half-term. They received expert help at the drama workshop at Finchley from an actor/director from the Central School of Speech and Drama, which is overseeing the project.

At the workshop, the School’s team met up with participants from the three other schools, who have been preparing abridged versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew. The workshop provided the pupils with a range of techniques and tips to improve their performance skills.

All four schools will present their 30-minute plays at the Arts Depot on Wednesday 7th November. Parents and friends who would like to support the QE actors can purchase tickets from the theatre’s box office on 0208 369 5454.

Year 7 boys were treated to a musical tour de force by older boys who performed at a special concert. The event in the School’s Shearly Hall combined full orchestral pieces with spoken introductions to, and musical demonstration of, individual instruments.

“The concert was a wonderful success,” said QE’s Director of Music Kieron Howe. “It gave the Year 7 cohort the opportunity to see and hear a wide range of orchestral instruments played live.”

The aim of the concert was to build the Year 7 boys’ skills to identify aurally the orchestral instruments, whilst at the same time introducing them to the range of extra-curricular opportunities available in the School.

The central ensemble was the School’s Symphony Orchestra, which performed Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King – from the Ibsen play Peer Gynt, based on a Norwegian folk-tale. The orchestra then split into the string, woodwind and brass families for the boys to be able to hear these instrumental families on their own.

The concert also included a performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody by the 90-strong Choir. After a short percussion demonstration by Jamie Mui of Year 12, Janan Sathiendran of Year 13 and Year 10’s Anhad Arora, the Symphony Orchestra came together again to perform the final piece, an arrangement of music from the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

“The boys of Year 7 left the concert thrilled and exhilarated to have had the opportunity to hear all of these instruments played live, just for them,” said Mr Howe.

Saturday 3^rd November marks the 80^th anniversary of the official opening of QE’s Main Building.

The ceremony in 1932 was conducted by Prince George (later Duke of Kent). It was covered by the local newspaper, The Chronicle, which reported on the “fine modern buildings for Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys in Queen’s-road which are to take the place of those occupied since the school was founded in 1573”. The photo to the left shows the Prince symbolically opening the School's main front door.

In declaring the new School site open, the Prince said: “The appearance of the new buildings indicates the progress of secondary school education.” He added: “Speeches have ever pleased us best when once they are fairly over,” – a quotation he attributed to Queen Elizabeth I.

The ceremony was attended by a number of local dignitaries including: the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire; The Bishop of St Albans; the Chairman of the County Council, Sir Joseph Priestley; the Chairman of the County Education Committee; the Chairman of the School Governors, H E Fern, and the Headmaster, E H Jenkins.

Mr Fern formally received the Articles of Government of the School from the Chairman of the County Education Committee. He said: “It will always be our endeavour to be mindful of the interests, both educational and recreational, of the boys and to preserve the customs and traditions of the School.”

Queen Elizabeth’s School was first established in Tudor Hall in Wood Street, Barnet, which remained its base for more than 350 years until Hertfordshire County Council ordered the construction of the new building at Queen’s Road.

Since 1932, a number of alterations and additions have been made to the site, including the addition of the Fern and Heard buildings, the Friends’ Music Room, the Clark Laboratories, the Martin Swimming Pool and the Shearly Hall. Most recently, a new Food Technology suite was completed, and work is currently underway to create a new Library and Dining Hall.

The Old Elizabethans’ Dinner on 16^th November in the Main School Hall will be linked to the anniversary celebration. “We have offered our Old Elizabethans the opportunity of arranged tours of the School,” said Headmaster Neil Enright. “I’m sure they will enjoy seeing the changes made over the last 80 years both to the Main Building and across the whole site.”