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

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, bridge, photography, ornithology, fencing and much more.

Beyond this you can find groups of boys pitting their wits against each other in chess and bridge club or, in Jamie Oliver style, getting stuck into some cooking at classes shared with Red Maids' or Redland High.

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.

Activity trips during the holidays provide further opportunities - an adventure week in Devon for younger boys, or maybe the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for older ones, or even a mixed age group expedition to Base Camp of Everest! Educational trips take historians to World War I battlefields, classicists to Greece, geographers to Iceland, artists to Madrid, a debating team to Estonia or musicians to the USA. Travel awards up to £1000 are on offer to individuals for their own expeditions.

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.