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- Message from the Headteacher
- QEHS STEM Fair 2022
- Headteacher's Commendation Award
- Rotary Club Citizenship Awards
- East Midlands Handball Champions
- James Thomas breaks a record from 1988
- First Foray into Futsal for QEHS
- Jennifer's Swimming Success
- Meisha Roberts in Winter Wonderland
- British Medical Journal Publication
- British Physics Olympiad
- Your Time Leaders
- Maths Feast Event
- UCAS Conference
- Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference
- QEHS Drama Department: REP. Theatre Performance
- Work Experience - The Next Steps
- ParentMail Revision Guides
- Mvumi School Trust
- House Cooking
- Term 4 House Events
- Term 5 House Events
Dear Parents/Guardians
As always, there has been a broad range of House activities and competitions this term, with the House Swimming Competition being a notable success last Thursday. Students in Years 7 to 9 had not experienced this event previously so for them to revel in the competitive atmosphere of the sub-tropical environment of Gainsborough swimming baths was certainly an exhilarating experience! The Sports Leaders embodied the QEHS Learner Standard of Leadership for Learning as they supported both the organisation and motivation of competitors and spectators alike. An absolute triumph!
The House Cooking Competition, meanwhile, presented different challenges albeit less strenuous. Cooking dishes from around the world, our six Houses selected their own teams of chefs to don aprons and take up arms – well, rolling pins and whisks! Following two hours of intense culinary competition, two dishes from each House were prepared and set out for tasting. Alas, the quiche produced by Scott fell short with a soggy bottom, whilst Churchill emerged as champion cooks thanks to a delicious chicken curry dish.
The final Tuesday evening of term saw the welcome return of the Spring Concert to the school calendar of events. The occasion was utterly inspiring, as the array of talent across Years 7 through to 13 left one wondering how so many youngsters could be just so incredibly talented. Whether brass, string, percussion, wind or voice, the standard of musicianship was something to behold. On the evening I mentioned just how contagious levels of inspiration like this can be. Whether it was our Year 13s with what, for some, will be their swan song performance, or our Year 7s just starting their musical learning journey at QEHS, all of the students involved were a credit to Mrs Lawrence and the Music team. Bravo!
Another significant highlight of the term has been the STEM Fair which was expertly planned and led by Miss Spencer and Mr Hearnshaw. This major event for the school was an unqualified success. It was a joy to see visiting students from local primary schools gasping in awe and wonder at the live science experiments professionally conducted by our amazing students donned in 'mad professor' wigs and lab coats! Similarly, for our own Key Stage 3 students to be so incredibly inspired by where Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths can take their lives represents a true milestone moment for many. In total, 1200 students experienced 1800 hours of STEM provision over the two days and I have sent personal letters of thanks to all those Sixth Form students who took time out to support and deliver STEM Fair 2022.
In other news, I am delighted to report that the QEHS PE Department has attained the coveted Association of Physical Education Quality Mark Award. At the heart of this success, of course, is high quality Teaching & Learning and strong leadership within the department. Many congratulations, therefore, are extended to Mr Burge, the PE Department and all colleagues who play such a crucial part in supporting and delivering the wider QEHS sports offer. Well done!
The end of this term also saw the culmination of the Senior Student Team selection process. Following initial applications, presentations in assemblies, student votes, the presentation of manifestos and a grilling at interview, fifteen Year 12s have been successfully appointed to the Senior Student Team – such was the quality. The calibre of candidates this year made the selection of individuals to key leadership positions particularly challenging. Nevertheless, the following appointments have been made: Harini P (Head Girl), Evie C (Deputy Head Girl i/c Student Projects), Kishna H (Head Boy), Mason H (Deputy Head Boy i/c Student Leadership), Michelle V and Grace H (Deputy Head Girls i/c Student Voice/Student Council). Congratulations all!
Remaining with the Sixth Form, the academic prowess of QEHS students continues to reach new heights. Towards the end of term Tatiana B, Eleanor M, Rebecca T, Millie L, Hassan T, Eleanor J. Kishna H, Oliver B, Sam M and Yousef in Year 12 were delighted to be told their abstract entitled, 'Developing a Young Persons Advisory Group to inform the design of a study to improve pre-hospital pain management for Children and Young People' had been selected for publication in the British Medical Journal this May. What a phenomenal academic achievement!
Congratulations are extended to Alfie R (11C), who won the Headteacher’s commendation this term. Alfie kindly arranged to visit the home of a prospective Year 7 student to answer their questions together with those of their parents in order to encourage and reassure them about life at ‘big school’ and starting QEHS next September. The parents of the child passed on their thanks to the school and commented specifically upon how polite, articulate and helpful Alfie had been. What a fantastic role model for the school. Well done, Alfie!
On a daily basis, the level of pride shown by both students and staff for this fine school drives the QEHS community onwards. QEHS is indeed a fantastic place in which to learn, blossom and develop. As always, thank you for your support and may I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a peaceful and restful Easter break.
Kind regards
Mr R Eastham
Headteacher
On Tuesday 15March and Wednesday 16 March, students and teachers from Queen Elizabeth’s High School came together to host one of the largest STEM events in the county. The STEM fair included a vast range of activities consisting of sessions centred on Science, Maths, Engineering, Technology, Sports, and Languages. The first day welcomed students from over 50 primary schools in Lincolnshire and nearby areas, while the second day was hosted for the school’s own students from Years 7 to 9.
The school saw over 1000 students over a period of 6 hours, requiring a large amount of planning and coordination and this took over 2 months of planning. Everything ran smoothly, with little to no disruption. Many thanks must be given to everyone involved as they carried out their duty effectively and efficiently. A great deal of students from both Year 12 and 13 bravely volunteered to become part of this mass event where some led activities and sessions, while others chaperoned the visitors. The teachers and technicians also played a vital part as they were the ones who enabled such an event to take place.
On the first day of the STEM fair, the school was honoured with having guests from the Royal Air Force and JCB manufacturing company. There were also volunteers from the University of Lincoln, who hosted a session centred on building cardboard robots using unique tools which were robust for the job. The children loved this session as it brought out their creative and innovative side.
One of the favourite sessions throughout the two days comprised of two ‘mad scientists’ carrying out exciting and interactive experiments. The mad scientist experiment involved a wide range of neutralisation and exothermic reactions and biological information, as well as a script that Yousef and Hassan followed in which we saw the scientists make children laugh and fear the mad geniuses. Many of these interactive activities prompted the primary school teachers to ask how they can do this with their class! As a result, our Stem Ambassadors, Charlie and Yousef, will involve these experiments as part of their outreach programme with primary schools providing and enabling primary school children to explore STEM.
Another notable activity was Freddie, Aaron, and Jude’s elephant toothpaste where they used potassium iodide as a catalyst combined with hydrogen peroxide and fairy soap liquid. Even though there were a few problems in the early sessions, these were smoothed out by trial and error giving an explosive end to STEM and teaching the children that there will be success behind trial and error in Science.
One of the most enlightening experiences of the day was Jacob, Heath and Charlie explaining nuclear fission, fuel cells and the breakdown of H2O molecules into its constituent elements via electrolysis.
This STEM fair was one of its kind marking a new chapter in STEM for QEHS students as they were able to see a wide range of unique and immersive activities. The purpose of the event was to present young students with opportunities to engage with STEM subjects. Being shown exciting and engaging experiments and partaking in interesting activities, led by passionate and knowledgeable older students, will potentially ignite a students interest and aspiration for a career in STEM. Being given opportunities to engage with STEM subjects outside of lesson is especially important in the development of scientific skills as they can build on schoolwork with more practical activities. Students were made aware of how Science impacts our wider world and is in everything that we do, from microwaving popcorn to literature and modern languages. Many subjects took part in this STEM such as English, Sport, Computer Science, Design, and Technology and many more, debunking the stereotype that STEM is only Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths based and that our new world provides new and emerging opportunities for all, as more niche degrees are in higher demand. The attendees were also given a taste of different career options through a UCAS quiz, which will have opened a wide variety of opportunities and highlighted jobs and careers that they may be interested in pursuing.
We pride ourselves that within the few resources we have been provided with, we should always support our community and we should always lead the younger generation as they are our future.
By Luca, Yousef, Hassan, Kishna, Michelle and Rebecca in Year 12.
Headteacher's Commendation Award
Well done to Alfie Richardson, 11C, who has won the Term 4 Headteacher's commendation Award.
Alfie kindly arranged to visit the home of a prospective Year 7 student, inviting another student, to answer their questions and encourage and reassure them. The parent of the child emailed the school to pass on her thanks for his polite and articulate help.
Rotary Club Citizenship Awards
Fin Nichols, Year 12
How many of us have been affected in various different ways throughout the pandemic over the last two years?
Well, Fin wanted to do something to help his community during the pandemic. He decided to complete an e-learning course on a website called elfh (elearning for healthcare) the courses included: anaphylaxis; Covid-19 vaccination; flu immunisation; immunisation and statuatory and mandatory training amounting to a lot of hours, roughly 20+ just on the e-learning. These are just the broad topics and there are sub sections in each of these, this amounted to a considerable amount of training and learning during which Fin has had to keep up with his A Level studies.
After successful completion, Fin attended a course for Covid 19 vaccination and recombinant vaccine draw up at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield on the 21 December 2021, where he was taught: basic life support; recognising and managing anaphylaxis; deltoid intramuscular injections; and drawing up technique. All of this was completed with a view to him helping with mass vaccinations in the general population.
Fin's first day vaccinating after being signed off on competency was the 23 December 2021.
The vaccination centre Fin volunteers at is Rutland House in Doncaster and he has been working there since the 21 October 2021. He usually only works Sundays for 8-10 hours but does weekdays in the holidays.
Fin has administered over 400 hours volunteering there. Goodness knows how many people Fin has vaccinated!
At such a young age, Fin has made it his business to get out and help people to become vaccinated as part of the world-wide effort to combat against Covid-19.
Isabelle Cooke, Year 9
Isabelle is involved with the Readwell Campaign which is a charity that provides free pdf copies of books to young people. The purpose of the charity is to deal with teenage mental health giving people coping strategies and also support and advice. Isabelle is involved with choosing the books and also the promotion of this charity.
Isabelle is also involved with the Make Your Mark Campaign. This is a campaign to encourage democracy. Young people in the local authority were asked what they would like the youth council to focus on. Isabelle sits on the youth council and was involved in promoting the most popular topic which was health and wellbeing, this project is still ongoing. A BBC News Politics programme (we beleive this was Look North) did a piece on the youth council and an enthusiastic and energetic Isabelle could be seen on the TV! As part of her involvement in local youth politics, Isabelle recently ran for Young Mayor of North Lincolnshire and did fantastically well. Although she was not awarded the top job, Isabelle amassed an incredible 700+ votes which tells us all how powerful and compelling her campaign was.
Isabelle has attended additional local events and induction days to learn more about local politics and is clearly going to be somebody we need to look out for in the future.
East Midlands Handball Champions
On Thursday 03 March, 4 teams from QEHS went to participate in Nottingham for the East Midlands U13 and U15 England Handball Championships. The U13 girls came 1st, the U13 boys came 4th, the U15 girls came 6th and the U15 boys came 7th. This was QEHS’s first time ever entering a competition like this and none of us seemed to be out of place.
We played in the girls U13 competition. This team consisted of Emily Buckel, Iris Hutchinson, Jasmin Lowe, Poppy Baker, Hollie Cook, Holly Kerr, Hannah Parton, Kate Leach, Elsa Stevens, Olivia Lindley and Sophie Rickett. In our first game we drew but we then proceeded to win our last 3 games, meaning we qualified for the regional England Handball Championships. The U13 boys also qualified.
The venue was spectacular and it was a great opportunity to play against other people and teams than just our school friends. It was also great because we got to watch other people play and see their strategies. As we were watching them, we found ways to become better and generally a stronger team.
Written by
Emily Buckel and Iris HutchinsonJames Thomas breaks a record from 1988
In House swimming last week, James Thomas successfully broke a record which has stood since 1988. James completed the race in 35:50s, while the old record stood at 37:53s. Therefore James is the new Junior Boys 50m Backstroke record holder.
Not only should James be praised for his amazing achievement, I would also like James to be recognised for his fantastic sportsmanship that he showed throughout the competition. James was the first to congratulate and encourage all other participants and this was fantastic to see.
James has received Star of the Event for his achievement and also for his ability to show all five core aspects of a Scott individual (courage, excellence, resilience, respect, and support).
I wish James all the best in his swimming career as he continues to swim for Gainsborough Dolphins.
Miss Allen
Teacher of PE
Teacher of Biology
Head of Scott
First Foray into Futsal for QEHS
Every journey has a starting point and on this occasion I am very grateful that Mr Burge decided to allow me to incorporate Futsal in our extra-curricular PE provision for this academic year. Since September the Futsal sessions on Thursday lunchtimes have been gaining momentum until I felt ready to give players their first opportunity to experience a competitive match. Lincoln Minster School kindly agreed to be our opponents, and on Thursday 17March, I was able to witness one of the best moments of my teaching career.
Back in the days when I was a student myself, Futsal was a common occurrence for me as most schools in Southern Europe have the equipment and facilities to play the sport as opposed to 11 a side football. I have fond memories of playing during PE lessons, lunchtimes and breaks so it was a very rewarding moment when I was able to convey my passion for the game to our current Year 7 players.
The actual game two weeks ago was a fast-paced affair with both teams producing some remarkable passing interplays at times, some of the goals were exquisite also. Lincoln Minster have already told us that they look forward to further fixtures, given how much they enjoyed the experience, that will hopefully include different year groups and also girls Futsal.
It was the first ever Futsal match for QEHS, although I do really hope that it meant the first step towards an enjoyable and successful adventure for our students.
Mr Fortis
Well done to Jennifer Walker, 9D, who has won the 200m and 400m freestyle to become Nottinghamshire’s ASA Junior Champion in both events, along with 3 other top 3 finishes in the 200 Backstroke, 800 freestyle and the 400 Individual Medley, claiming 3rd overall out of 24 swimmers in her age group. She also won 4 silver medals with her relay team for the mixed and girls freestyle and medley relays.
Jennifer has qualified for 7 different events at the East Midlands Regional Championships in April & May, going in as the fastest qualifier in 4 different events and is currently on course to swim at both this year’s British and English Summer National events in 6 different events.
Meisha Roberts in Winter Wonderland
Well done to Meisha Roberts, 8S, whose poem has been selected to be published in a book called Winter Wonderland showcasing young writers', a copy of this will remain in the National Archives of the British Library forever.
The Winter Season
Winter has begun
Animals sense it before us
Squirrels collect acorns
Birds start to migrate
Hedgehogs get ready to hibernate
Bats, bees and dormice join them
People fuel up on wood and hot chocolate
Hats and mittens appear
Children get sledges ready
Eager faces looking out
Waiting for snow to arrive
For the fun to begin
Its already the 24th, lights go out early
Children lying in bed listening for jingles
Adults settle for the night
An early morning start
Paper everywhere
Happy smiles on faces
The end of the year, New Years Eve
Raucous noises made as children stay up
Later and later, then finally
Ding dong ding dong
Signals the New Year
Fireworks go off!
That was the last late night of the year
People get home
Its almost 2:00 am
Late waking for many
Breakfast is lunch
Lunch is dinner
Children back at school
Adults back at work
Weather warms up
Birds start to chirp
Snowdrops appear
Spring is almost here
British Medical Journal Publication
Congratulations to the students below who have been successful in having their abstract entitled, 'Developing a Young Persons Advisory Group to inform the design of a study to improve pre-hospital pain management for Children and Young People', selected for publication in the British Medical Journal this May.
Tatiana Bujor
Eleanor Maitland
Rebecca Townell
Millie Ladd
Hassan Tanveer
Eleanor Jolly
Kishna Haldipur
Oliver Bambridge
Sam Malson
Yousef Al-Bahrani
A very well done to Hollie Wilson, Joshua Jackson, Harvie-Leigh Longstaff, Lance Haldom and Ptolemy Chapman on their impressive performance in this year's round 1 British Physics Olympiad.
Robin Huges (Chair of the British Physics Olympiad) emphasised the level of difficulty in the questions presented to the students, stating that every question required a different perspective to get the measure of it. This fluency in recognising topics and linking ideas is, in part, what develops the physicist's confidence and mastery. It takes time and perseverance to master this challenge and even university professors "got nowhere" with the questions when taken at school.
Given the success of this year's results, the Physics department is working collaboratively with other departments to craft a talent pathway for the talented physicists at QEHS!
Mrs Baldwin and Mrs Walker are running a new programme for ten Year 10 girls. Sports Leaders have given them the opportunity to be ‘Your Time Leaders’. The group will be accredited with an Award and develop their leadership skills by running sporting events for younger students at QEHS. The girls have to complete training modules including communication, team work, event planning, self-management and problem solving amongst other areas.
Well done to the selected students.
On 24 February our school took part in the Maths Feast event at Huntcliff School. The following students won 3 out of 4 rounds and did the school proud!
Jana Alseifi 10S
Tom Ball 10S
Liya Binoy 10A
Tom Bontoft-Robinson 10A
Tudor Morris 10A
Ethan Gay 10D
Madeleine Walton 10S
Ashleigh King 10C
Well done to you all.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 23 March the Sixth Form Team; Mr Betts, Mr Dawson, Mrs Cropper and Mrs Housham, took the whole of Year 12 to the UCAS Conference at the University of Lincoln. There was an opportunity for students to visit stalls from a huge range of universities where they could ask questions about courses offered and specific entrance requirements. Lots of goody bags were on offer as the universities sought to recruit our amazing students to join them for undergraduate study.
For those not planning on applying to university, there were also stalls offering information about apprenticeships, meaning all students had access to up to date information that is relevant to them.
The sun was shining on the beautiful city of Lincoln which added to the overall feel good factor for the trip, and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended.
Oxford and Cambridge Student Conference
At the end of March, 63 students from Years 11 and 12 were selected to attend a conference run by Oxford and Cambridge universities, this was aimed at supporting students through the selection process for these prestigious institutions. The students attended lectures from professors at both universities and were able to ask those gnawing questions about the selection process. Students currently studying at these universities, many of whom were former students of QEHS, ran seminars describing their day-to-day study routines and giving a vivid insight into university life.
QEHS Drama Department: REP. Theatre Performance
REP is an amateur group of young actors, singers, dancers, and writers who collaboratively and creatively develop their own performances on a Tuesday evening after school. This month we performed our own comedy creation “Lidl Shop” to rave reviews which was written by the group and directed by one of our own. Personally, I enjoyed the musical side of Lidl shop, with the songs included being ‘Lidl shop’ (a Little Shop of Horrors parody), ‘The other side’ (from The Greatest Showman) and ‘Dancing clean’ (a parody of Dancing Queen). It allowed REP members to explore and develop their singing and dancing abilities. The club is a relaxed environment that has diverse opportunities suitable for all who enjoy being artistic in their own way. The process in which we rehearse varies depending on the theme of the show, but mostly follows the order of coming up with a concept, creating the script, casting, rehearsing and then performing. The liberty to be expressive is one of the best parts of REP (in my opinion). I enjoy being on stage as much as I do writing and designing so it is perfect for me, all roles in the composition of the play are required and that means multiple opportunities for people to take part. The social aspect of REP is great too, particularly as it is a comfortable environment for students (especially younger years) to gain confidence and make friends. I am proud and always excited to be a part of REP and have made friends there. We have recently started to put together our next performance and everybody is welcome if you wish to get involved.
Lydia T, 9E
Work Experience - The Next Steps
The FINAL deadline for submitting completed placement forms and employer confirmations is now very close - Friday 22 April 2022. If students are still waiting for employers to confirm a placement, they will need to chase these up and politely remind their employer of this deadline. Students who have a definite offer of a placement MUST complete and submit their Google form as soon as possible. This will give Mrs Thorpe time to get back to the student or employer if any of the required information is missing.
A large number of schools carry out work experience in Term 6 which leads to high demand for placement visits by our risk assessors. As a result, the assessors will need to be able to get a response from employers on the phone numbers and emails which students have provided and it is important these details are correct. It is also vital that the Employer has their Employer’s Liability Insurance certificate available at the visit or the placement will be declined. Thank you to those students who have already provided a copy of their employer’s insurance.
Placements already booked by Year 10 and 12, will now be processed by our health and safety partners, Safety Measures Ltd and where required, new risk assessments will be carried out either by themselves or their fellow agencies, for longer distance placements. If Safety Measures have any problems getting hold of an employer, they will contact Mrs Thorpe who will pass a message on to the student/parents/guardians for their assistance in reaching the employer and putting the visit in place, to avoid the placement being cancelled. If your child does receive a message from Mrs Thorpe regarding their placement, could they please respond promptly. If your child is doing a placement which includes working outside “normal” hours, please ensure they see Mrs Thorpe as soon as they know their schedule, as she will be the emergency contact before 08.00 and after 17.00.
During Terms 5 and 6 up to the start of work experience, the placement paperwork will be sent home as and when the risk assessments have been carried out. This process will be ongoing from early May through to the week before work experience depending on how soon the agencies can get appointments to visit the employers. This paperwork will include a student/parent/guardian agreement which both parties must sign to accept the job description and risk assessment and this needs returning to school before the placement can start.
The employment market for students has been quite tough post-Covid, so well done to all the students who have secured work placements and thank you to the arents/guardians who have helped them along the way!
Mrs Thorpe
When ordering books on ParentMail, please note this is a two-step process:
- Place the order on Parentmail.
- Send an email to [email protected] informing us that you have placed an order.
When your books are ready for collection your child will be notified and asked to collect them from the Library. If you have not received them within 10 days please contact the library.
Thank you to parents/guardians who donated to the Mvumi School Trust for Civvies Day on 11 February. We raised £569 in total!
House cooking is an event that requires a team of 4 students from each house to plan, cook and serve a healthy 2 course meal for two people in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The students must choose a recipe from the countries given on the brief, this year the countries were Thailand, Brazil, Scotland and France. The dishes must also cost no more than £10. Each team must practice good food safety and teamwork as well as creating tasty and attractive looking dishes.
This year I was part of the winning team, Churchill. We made a Red Thai curry that contained a range of practical skills such as slicing and dicing, whilst also looking good and tasting very nice with the right level of spice, according to the judges. We then made a French apple tart which also had lots of practical skills like making a Pâté Sucre and arranging the apples in a spiral shape, although our tart was slightly under baked, overall the tart came out looking neat.
By Megan Waite, 13C
The first House event this term started with Senor Dodgeball which Year 12 really seemed to enjoy. It was the first time we have been able to hold it since it was introduced due to the pandemic. Our Year 12 students were so enthusastic. Well done to Scott House who were the winners of this event.
Inter and Junior handball was another event that had suffered due to the pandemic and we only introduced it in 2019. This was not a sport that I have seen before and was very supprised by how fast the game of play is. I would like to say well done to the PE department for introducing the event. The students enjoyed it and cannot wait until next year to compete again.
House Swimming was the next event to happen and wow, what amazing swimmers we have, this was their time to shine. The Juniors looked up to our older students, there were approximately 330 students swimming, a quarter of the school. 3 records were broken. Well done to the following students:
Lauren Vaughan (Elgar) beating the record from 2016 in the 25m Butterfly.
Teagan Grey (Darwin) beating the record also from 2016 in the 50m Backstroke.
James Thomas (Scott) beating the record from 1998 by just over 2 seconds in the 50m Backstroke
Last was House Cooking. 4 students from each House competed in our very own Ready, Steady, Cook. They were given 4 countries they could choose from and were asked to produce a 2 course meal in 1 hour 15 minutes.The variety and quality of the finished meals made it really hard to Judge and deliberation did take quite a while, with only 3 points difference between 1st and 3rd place.
Not only were they judged on what they produced but also on team work, skill level and saftey.
Well done all the students who were involved.
Looking forward to Term 5.
Ms Frecknall