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New drone footage reveals the School’s historic Main Building looking magnificent following the removal of scaffolding.

The building, opened in 1932 when the School moved from Tudor Hall on Wood Street, is currently undergoing its biggest overhaul since the 1950s.

The £2.3m project was recently paused to avoid noise during A-level and GCSE examinations, but work is now set to start again and should be completed over the summer holidays.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It’s wonderful to see the roof of the Main Building looking so smart after the replacement of 130,000 tiles, to admire our newly restored cupola, and to have a bird’s-eye view of all the solar panels that have been fitted.”

The School this week welcomed the new intake of Year 7 pupils for an induction day. By the time they start in September, not only will the Main Building project be complete, so will a number of other campus improvements, including:

• Phase I of a two-summer project to completely refurbish the Biology department, including all the laboratories
• Installation of air-conditioning across the teaching spaces in the very large Fern Building
• External works to the Fern Building and Shearly Hall.

The principal scaffolding around the Main Building was removed during the recent half-term holiday.

Main Building combines classic 1930s features – such as the iconic bottle-green glazed tiles that still adorn the classrooms and corridors – with a homage to QE’s Tudor roots through its brick and stone masonry, and oak panelling. It was extended with new wings as the School continued to grow in the 1950s.

The project includes the replacement of ten flat roofs, work on the brick and stone (including re-pointing), rectifying mould on internal walls, replacement of rainwater goods (drainpipes etc.), and the redecoration of around 50 classrooms and other rooms. There is also a raft of environmental measures, including the fitting of modern insulation, as well as the installation of the solar panels on the south-facing pitched roof towards the rear. The few remaining original windows will be replaced with double-glazed units specially produced to be in keeping with the building. The work included specialist restoration of the copper-and-wood central cupola (tower).

After the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s charity committed some £0.3m, the School bid successfully for £2m in Government Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) grants to fund the work.

“All of the above, including the Main Building project, would be impossible without support from The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s: I am immensely grateful to all the parents and others in our Elizabethan community who contribute so generously and so consistently,” said Mr Enright.

The drone footage may also be viewed here.

From the opening classical march through to the quirky bounce of Baggy Trousers by Madness, the Junior Recital encompassed an impressive range of solo and chamber performances.

There was even a notable milestone for the Music department – the first pupil bassoon performance in the Friends’ Recital Hall since its opening in 2022.

Assistant Director of Music Caroline Grint says the event’s young participants, drawn from Years 7–10, left no one in any doubt as to their ability:  “The word ‘Junior’ in our Junior Recital certainly did not reflect the exceptional standard on display.”

The concert provides younger musicians with the opportunity to perform in a formal setting before an audience of family and friends.

The evening began with a “spirited” performance of Schubert’s Marche Militaire for eight hands by the Piano Quartet and concluded with an “outstanding” rendition of the first movement of John Ireland’s Sonata in G minor by Year 10’s Eshaan Anil, Miss Grint says.

“Other memorable performances included Year 7 pupil Adrian Tai’s commanding interpretation of Poulenc’s Toccata and the Junior Saxophone Quartet’s lively and characterful rendition of Baggy Trousers.”

The first bassoon performance was the Double Reed Trio’s presentation of Trio No. 1 by Ludvík Milde, a 19th-century Czech composer known primarily for his bassoon works. The trio comprised bassoonists Yuvraj Shah and Devansh Nath, of Years 9 and 7 respectively, and oboist Hasan Moochhala, of Year 9. Its name reflects the fact that bassoons and oboes, together with English horn (cor anglais) and contrabassoon, use two pieces of cane tied together.

“This ensemble was newly formed this year to give more support to our up-and-coming young bassoonists, so it was delightful to see them take their first steps as an ensemble in front of an audience in our recital hall, Miss Grint adds.

“The concert highlighted the depth of musical talent emerging through the School, and every performer should be immensely proud of the dedication and hard work that went into preparing such a successful event.”

“Alongside the musical achievements, it was wonderful to see the encouragement, camaraderie and mutual support shared amongst all the performers throughout the evening.”

The Association is sad to announce the passing of John Brown, an Associate of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, on February 19th. After leaving Queen Elizabeth’s, John’s sculpture training began at Hornsey School of Art, and continued under Howard Bate R.A. at Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute. He continued his association with the Elizabethan community through playing rugby for the Old Elizabethans, while living in his Wood Street house since 1977.

The Association was sad to learn of the passing of Paul Roethenbaugh (OE 1945-1952) on 24 June 2025.

Paul joined Queen Elizabeth’s in the first intake following the Second World War and continued his involvement with the school as Secretary of the Old Elizabethans and later as Vice-President.

The Association was sad to learn of the passing of Malcolm Dixon (OE 1972-1979) on 10 December 2024.

Malcolm died in tragic circumstances at the relatively young age of 63, at his home in Holt, Norfolk late in 2024.  A popular boy during his years at the School, he is much missed by his friends.