Giving to QE

An introduction > The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s > Giving to QE

Boys at Queen Elizabeth’s School today benefit from superb facilities and educational opportunities. That they are able to enjoy such an inspirational learning environment is due in very large part to the generosity of past parents, friends and OEs.

Since the mid-1990s the fabric of the School has been transformed by regular support from the Elizabethan community, via the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s (FQE). A registered charity that has been in existence for many years, FQE has a twofold mission: to raise funds to improve and expand educational facilities and opportunities at the School, and to assist new parents and boys integrate into the QE community.

Our ambition is to provide a learning environment that enables pupils to fully realise their academic and extra-curricular potential and our facilities now rival many of the top independent schools, where annual fees in excess of £20,000 are the norm.

The School has a continually evolving estates strategy which considers how our campus might be progressively and coherently developed to improve facilities still further. Our most recent project has been the redevelopment of the Mayes Building to create new facilities for Music, including rehearsal space and a recital hall, whilst retaining an atrium for boys to enjoy at break times. This will enable further expansion of the opportunities in Music and the arts, as well as providing an extra assembly space for our burgeoning lecture programme.

‘Queen Elizabeth’s is a 21st century school, built on 16th century foundations’ (Neil Enright, Headmaster)

We endeavour to implement building improvements as quickly as possible so that parents who give will see their own sons benefiting from their contributions. Donations will of course benefit future generations too. This corresponds with the School’s ethos, which encourages boys to support causes greater than themselves.

The next project in the pipeline is for the creation of a new studio for drama, the performing arts and spoken word activities, including debating and public speaking.

Without the committed support of parents and Old Elizabethans, these projects simply would not be possible.

The facilities on offer at QE contributed to the Good Schools Guide describing us as ‘one of the most inspirational learning environments we’ve ever come across’ upon their visit in 2020.

You can make a donation in support of the charity and the delivery of new facilities and opportunities for our pupils through the secure CAF Bank portal. CAF specialise in working with charities. The School is hugely grateful for each donation received.

You can read our Giving to QE brochure here.

£819k

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The total amount received in donations and legacies in 2021-22. Your support is more important than ever if we are to fulfill our mission and provide the best opportunities to our young men. Click the ‘Find out more’ button to donate.

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Some recent projects have included:

The Martin Pool

A 25-metre pool with eight lanes, a third of its floor can be instantly raised or lowered making it suitable for everyone from the novice swimmer to competitive water polo teams. Used by all boys for PE.

The Shearly Hall

A multi-purpose hall which enables us to gather the whole of the Lower or Upper School for assemblies and guest lectures. Also used as our main concert venue, for PE, examinations and events such as our Careers Convention.

The Queen's Library

More than tripling the size of our old facility, The Queen's Library is a hub for independent learning (as our Sixth Form study base) and for exploring the many joys and opportunities that both books and online resources provide.

Dining Hall & Cafe 1573

A good (and healthy!) lunch is integral to fuelling the boys' efforts through the day. The redesigned Dining Hall creates a relaxed but orderly environment, which nods to the School's Tudor heritage. Cafe 1573 is for the Upper School and reflects the growing trend of the 'coffice'.

The Heard Building

The extension and refurbishment of the Heard Building has provided a new home for the English department, creating a brighter and more inspiring learning environment and freeing the space for our next planned project.

The Friends' Recital Hall & Music Rooms

We have now completed the project to create outstanding new facilities for music, including rehearsal rooms and a recital hall, on the site of the Mayes building. This will allow further opportunities for the boys in music and will give us another assembly space for our guest speakers.