Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School in Barnet, founded in 1888. The school was founded after Queen Elizabeth 1 granted Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester’s request for a charter for the establishment of a school of Queen Elizabeth “for the education, bringing up and instruction of boys” in Barnet and at a future date, a school for girls in Barnet. A copy of the charter, bearing the Queen’s seal is held as part of the school’s archive collection in our Library.
We have a strong tradition of excellence. Our vision for the future is quite simply to continue to develop our school to be a sustainably outstanding and inspiring school, at the forefront of girls’ secondary education. Students and staff are proud to be a vibrant part of our learning community. We encourage the development of each girl’s inner resources so that she acquires the wisdom and integrity to make positive choices in a rapidly changing world. Most importantly, girls leave our school as well-qualified, confident, caring, and happy members of their community, equipped to be capable of supporting themselves financially and contributing economically and socially to wider communities
We strongly believe that all students are individuals each should pursue excellence and develop their talents in academic, creative, physical, and social skills. Collectively we are a community. Students and staff at our school have a love of learning a process that is constant, regardless of time or place. For students that means an environment in which their education can flourish and be enjoyed not just as a means to good academic results but as an interest for life, nurtured by the school’s commitment to providing the girls with access to a full range of study and enrichment experiences. For staff, that means an environment where they can develop professionally and excel in their practice.
Our curriculum is designed to challenge the girls, to support them in their education to acquire knowledge and understanding, and also to develop their skills and flexibility so that they can participate confidently in the rapidly changing and increasingly technological society of the 21st century. Our girls are expected to show increased maturity and a growing sense of responsibility for their work and progress so that they develop as resilient and self-reliant young women. The broad and balanced curriculum offers girls a wide platform of learning opportunities to facilitate excellent outcomes and to foster excitement about learning for its own sake.
The school offers a varied program of activities that run alongside the taught curriculum. Such activities complement the taught curriculum and extend the learning, engagement, and personal development of our students. For this reason, these activities are highly valued. They take place during the break for lunch, before or after school, and are often the result of student initiatives, developed through interests and enthusiasm and often led by the students themselves.
Quality First Teaching is our priority staff benefit from a planned program of continuing professional development to model innovative and rigorous practice. Learning and teaching are closely and systematically monitored to ensure girls are supported to achieve their best and secure the highest outcomes. A variety of learning and teaching strategies are used to engage and stimulate learning and the learning experience is continually developed in response to systematic data checks on potential, prior attainment, and student learning needs. In this way, the school ensures maximum intellectual challenge for each student, regardless of ability or educational needs as a result, students make excellent progress.
