Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools
Under the pioneering QE Global Schools project, QE Barnet will be the first state school in the UK to open affiliated schools overseas.
QE is working with a highly experienced partner, Global Education (GEDU), with an initial target of opening three schools – two in India and one in the United Arab Emirates.
The new schools will carry the QE name and branding, but will be independent, fee-paying schools open to both boys and girls, and with a wider age range than QE Barnet.
Once the new schools are up and running, they will constitute a new, international family of schools, offering exciting educational and collaborative opportunities for the future.
Any revenues received from the Global Schools initiative will be invested into the School here in Barnet, thus further improving educational opportunities within the state sector.
The Headmaster, Neil Enright, and his senior staff at QE Barnet will play a key role in shaping and guiding the new schools, ensuring that they are worthy of bearing the proud name of Queen Elizabeth’s School.
For its part, GEDU will shoulder much of the administrative burden involved in bringing the project to fruition and in managing the new schools once they are open. GEDU is already involved in educating 60,000 students across 12 different countries, so can draw on a huge depth of experience and on considerable resources.
GEDU’s support will leave Mr Enright and his senior colleagues free to focus without distraction on maintaining the very highest standards at QE Barnet.
Making connections, winning support
GEDU’s Chief Education Officer, Dr Vishwajeet Rana, visited QE in Barnet, with Deputy CEO Professor Ray Lloyd, meeting the Headmaster and other staff in the autumn of 2024. A few weeks later, Mr Enright reciprocated, travelling to the UAE and India. He met dignitaries and education officials during a visit that coincided with the Diwali celebrations in India.
The response to news of the Global Schools initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, both in the UK and abroad. For example, the UK India Business Council's Managing Director, Kevin McCole described it as a "tremendous advancement", while there has been vocal support from the Old Elizabethan community, with many alumni living in the UAE giving enthusiastic backing.
Neil Enright, Headmaster of QE Barnet
“The key aim of this bold and exciting venture is to generate revenue that can be re-invested here in Barnet, thus further enhancing our reputation for educational excellence delivered in the very best facilities."
Location: GIFT City, India
One of the two Indian schools to be established under the QE Global Schools initiative will be in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, known as GIFT City for short. This is a new financial and technology hub, which is located in the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Region of the western coastal Indian state of Gujarat.
Location: United Arab Emirates
The new QE school in the Middle East will be in the UAE - an internationally-recognised modern trade hub. The UAE includes Dubai, which has a population of nearly 4 million, more than 90% of whom are expatriates.
Location: Gurugram, India
Gurugram, also known as Gurgaon, is a thriving satellite city of Delhi, located in India's northern state of Haryana. It will be home to one of the two QE schools in India. Gurugram is one of the country's wealthiest cities, with large IT and financial sectors; many of India's largest companies have their headquarters there, while it is also home to thousands of startups.
Behind the scenes
The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s charity has created a new subsidiary to manage QE’s commercial relationship with its partner, Global Education (GEDU). FQE International Enterprises Ltd (FQEIE) will ensure that FQE and the School benefit from the income that the new schools generate.
Playing a key role as a director of the subsidiary is Old Elizabethan Asif Ahmed (1997–2004). Asif has significant experience of start-ups, leading the team at major accountancy firm Cooper Parry that focuses on venture capital-backed company founders. A keen supporter of his alma mater, he is pictured here speaking as Guest of Honour at QE's Junior Awards. His fellow FQEIE directors are: QE Barnet Headmaster Neil Enright; the School's Chair of Governors Nick Gaskell; Governor David Lowen (OE 1957-1964); and FQE Director Del Cooke.