"Being involved, in every sense, is what counts."

Activities & Trips

Activities

Every boy is good at something in addition to his academic work, and every boy needs to develop an interest outside the classroom.

QEH prides itself on the range of activities it provides, reflecting the wide interests and talents of the boys and the commitment of the staff.

In the early years we nudge boys into new areas by having an 'activities' slot on the timetable and that still leaves time to explore Junior Drama, the choir, photography, fencing, Gardening Club and much more.

Beyond this you can find groups of boys pitting their wits against each other in chess and at table tennis or, in Jamie Oliver style, getting stuck into some cooking and competing against the girls at The Red Maids' or Redland High in the Masterchef competition.

Variety is the key and all boys should find activities that interest them. From walking to Warhammer (a club run by the boys themselves), Young Enterprise to life drawing. It is there if you wish to participate.

We compete in the Rotary Club Public Speaking Competitions and ESU debates and run a comprehensive programme of internal debates across all the ages. The Christmas Balloon debate featuring staff members draws capacity crowds to the theatre. Such experience bears fruit in areas such as the Gabblers Competition, sponsored by Bristol Hoteliers and most notably the European Youth Parliament Competitions. QEH has represented the UK twice in the last five years.

Fund raising and social work mean regular 'mufti days' and Children in Need collections, and Year 7 boys undertake a sponsored hike each year for charity. Recent projects have seen boys working in practical ways to support the homeless and asylum seekers, putting our school motto, "While we have time, let us do good" into practice.

Trips

QEH prides itself on offering a comprehensive range of trips and educational visits, designed both to enhance the boys learning and stimulate their inquisitiveness.

Our city centre site is ideal with so much within walking distance: City Museum & Art Gallery; RWA; city docks with SS Great Britain, the 'Matthew' and Industrial Museum; Watershed media centre and Arnolfini; Avon Gorge, Leigh Woods and Clifton Suspension Bridge; Bristol Zoo and Botanical Gardens; Hippodrome and Theatre Royal; Colston Hall; At-Bristol; BBC; Bristol University; Bristol Cathedral and Lord Mayor's Chapel, and Ashton Court estate. We are spoilt for choice.

Further afield the list of venues is equally extensive. A flavour can be gleaned from this selection: Classics to Fishbourne and Carleon; History to Chepstow Castle and the Commandery at Worcester; Science to At-Bristol and Biology to Bristol Zoo.

Travel is not restricted to day trips: there have been recent sightings of QEH boys on the battlefields of the Somme, younger ones adventuring in the South of France, classicists roaming Greece, geographers in Iceland, artists in Madrid, a debating team in Estonia and on the streets of Riga, musicians in downtown Manhattan, and even some luxuriating amidst the Moorish splendour of the Alhambra! Boys travel to explore Art in Paris; Physics in Grenoble and Modern Languages in Normandy. The list is more extensive still with travel awards up to £1000 on offer to individuals for their own expeditions.