Lecture Programmes
Regular talks by distinguished and often well-known visiting speakers have become an important feature of our School life.
There are formal programmes both for the Lower School and for our senior pupils; such talks are often given in assemblies. Lectures are also frequently delivered during one-off visits and at the invitation of our clubs and societies, and especially through our thriving Politics Society.
Hearing from those who have established outstanding careers, or are recognised by their peers as experts in a particular field, provides our pupils with valuable opportunities for learning and for broadening their horizons. We encourage boys not merely to attend and listen carefully, but also to ask thoughtful questions, thus cultivating in them habits of free thinking and of intellectual curiosity.
Here is just a small selection of guests who have spoken at QE in recent years:
Rt Hon Lord Michael Heseltine CH
The former Deputy Prime Minister covered the major political issues and characters from his career spanning more than five decades, and gave his ideas for how to transform the UK and its economy today.
Sonita Alleyne OBE
QE was the first school visited by Sonita Alleyne after taking up her post as Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. The first black Master of an Oxbridge College, she advised Year 12 to keep doors open for themselves and extolled the uniting experience that her education had provided.
Mishal Husain
The BBC presenter explained how following her own ambitions and focusing on excelling at every stage of her career had brought her success as one of the UK’s best-known and most-respected journalists.
Jeremy Paxman
The shoe was on the other foot when the legendary interviewer, journalist and broadcaster visited QE, with boys given the opportunity to grill him on a range of political topics.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
The former Metropolitan Police Commissioner visited a fortnight before retiring and was insightful on the virtues of great leadership, as well as on the challenges of tackling crime and terrorism in modern-day London.
Sir Christopher Hum
The former British Ambassador to China and Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge attended the Year 12 luncheon and shared his predictions about China's future growth and position on the world stage.
Tristram Hunt
The former Shadow Education Secretary was a high profile critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership from within the Labour Party at the time of his visit to QE. He discussed post-Brexit referendum politics and the future of the centre-left. He subsequently stepped down from Parliament and took up the position of Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Evan Davis
The journalist and presenter of the BBC's Newsnight and Dragons' Den majored on the global economic situation when delivering a his lecture at the School. He explained how two seismic events, 9/11 and the 2007/8 financial crash, had changed the world with long-lasting consequences.
George Mpanga OE
The spoken-word artist, known professionally as George the Poet, who attended QE from 2002-2009, delivered an inspiring address taking in various societal issues. George has gone on to become an award-winning podcaster and a regular contributor to news discussion programmes and the coverage of major national events.
Nick Robinson
The political journalist and host of the Today programme urged boys to broaden their own thinking by engaging with ideas with which they disagreed, speaking of his concerns about the deleterious effects of the internet on political discourse.
Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP
The former Business Secretary gave a robust defence of the Liberal Democrats' role in the Coalition government on his visit to the School, which followed him - along with many party colleagues - losing his seat at the 2015 election.
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP
Our local Member of Parliament, representing Chipping Barnet since 2005. Ms Villiers was serving in David Cameron's Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the time of her visit. She gave boys an insight into life as an MP and cabinet minister.
Matthew Winthrop Barzun
The diplomat and businessman was US Ambassador to the UK, under the Obama administration, at the time of his visit and spoke about perceptions of America. He presented special embassy medals to QE's outgoing and incoming School Captains.
Lord Robert Winston
Lord Winston, one of the nation's most recognisable and respected medical practitioners and scientific professors, delivered the opening lecture of QE's burgeoning speaker programme.