From Roman remains to cutting-edge biological research: QE Flourish Days 2026

This year’s QE Flourish Days saw more than 800 QE pupils head beyond the School gates for exploration and adventure.

The two days, a summer highlight of the QE Flourish co-curricular progamme, are hugely varied but have this in common: they make the most of the School’s location close to London yet on the edge of the countryside to offer boys exciting educational experiences.

New destinations for Flourish Days this year included Bletchley Park and the Tower of London.

Assistant Head Crispin Bonham-Carter (Co-curricular and Partnerships), who heads QE Flourish, said: “Despite the challenges of the recent heatwave, staff and students embraced our two Flourish Days with enthusiasm, resilience and a spirit of adventure.”

“From exploring the rainforests at Kew Gardens and uncovering the secrets of Bletchley Park to visiting the Roman Verulamium Museum at St Albans, the Globe Theatre, the Kelvedon Nuclear Shelter and undertaking a Year 12 hike, a huge number of our students took part in an amazing range of worthwhile activities.

“Thank you to all the staff who led visits and to the students whose positive attitude, curiosity and resilience made the days such a success. Together, they demonstrated the very best of the QE Flourish spirit!”

Alongside many popular tourist attractions, during their Flourish Days QE pupils headed to several academic destinations, including Imperial College and Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Molecular Cell Biology.

Through the academic year, the QE Flourish encompasses the School’s many clubs, societies, competitions and charitable work, as well as a host of day trips, short residential trips and longer tours, home and abroad.

QE Flourish activities are organised under four headings – the four Cs – namely: Care, Challenge, Compete and Create.