QES_FQE_Impact_Report_2022

Giving back to build our future

IMPACT REPORT 2022

THE FRIENDS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH’S A CHARITY SUPPORTING QUEEN ELIZABETH’S SCHOOL

THE WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE THAT FQE MAKES

Welcome to this report on the impact that The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s charity has had over the past year.

It is my privilege as Headmaster to work closely with FQE, safe in the knowledge that this charity is built on sound organisational foundations and that it is both professionally and strategically run in the best long-term interests of the School. FQE also constitutes an essential element of our Elizabethan community, supporting the School through charitable activities and helping us welcome new families into the fold.

The approach of our 450th anniversary year in 2023 is a fitting opportunity to reflect with gratitude on all the wonderful things that have been achieved by FQE through the generosity of so many. To see the difference the charity has made, just take a walk around our campus. There are so many high-quality facilities enhancing the educational experience we offer. It is largely through FQE’s work that QE, a state-funded school welcoming boys from all backgrounds, has been able to overtake leading fee-paying competitors catering for the privileged.

My heartfelt thanks go to all who have contributed.

Neil Enright Headmaster

OUR CONTINUING NEED FOR YOUR SUPPORT

First and foremost among this year’s FQE achievements has been the opening of QE’s magnificent new building incorporating the Friends’ Recital Hall & Music Rooms and the Mayes Atrium.

This project simply would not have been possible without the generous financial support of parents past and present, of alumni and of other friends of the School: its success is a brilliant example of the big, positive impact that your donations can have.

Given the current national economic situation, the School will need your support through FQE to grow if we are to continue to build on its present position of distinction. Funds are needed firstly so that we can continue to pay off the loans taken out for the Music building and for the improvements in the Fern Building; secondly, to fund the exciting new Robert Dudley Studio project, and thirdly to enable us to fund further developments over the coming years.

For our part, the FQE directors will continue to plan carefully, taking bold yet prudent decisions on how we should spend the charity’s funds most effectively in the interests of present and future generations of Elizabethans.

Barrie Martin FQE Director and Chairman of Executive Committee

The School Shop is run by FQE Enterprises Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the FQE charity. All the shop’s profits are donated to the charity.

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The objects of the charity are to advance the education of the boys of the School by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for education at the School, and to engage in activities that support the School and its pupils.”

FQE Annual Accounts

Inspiring! Grand opening of superb new facility

THE FRIENDS’ RECITAL HALL AND MUSIC ROOMS

The opening festival for The Friends’ Recital Hall and Music Rooms was an undoubted highlight of 2022. A three-day musical extravaganza, it used every inch of the new building, including the Mayes Atrium, and featured many of the School’s leading ensembles and soloists, alongside an exciting line-up of professional musicians. There were lunchtime and breaktime performances, talks and masterclasses, and Harry the Piano performing in concert in his inimitable style. The grand finale – The Festival Concert – was specifically planned to showcase the magnificent new Yamaha CF6 grand piano and the excellent acoustics of The Friends’ Recital Hall.

LORRY-LOADS OF CONCRETE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION

SEAT CAPACITY IN THE FRIENDS’ RECITAL HALL

“My colleagues and I are tremendously excited to have the opportunity to work in this inspiring setting. We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed to the project.”

Ruth Partington, Director of Music

SCHOOL ENSEMBLES PERFORMING IN THE FESTIVAL

“

new Music building is a great environment to practise and perform music.”

Shreyas Iyengar, Year 9

Founder’s Day

After two pandemic-affected years in which activities were held online, the Elizabethan community was more than ready to celebrate this year’s return of Founder’s Day. Parents, boys, staff, large numbers of alumni and other friends flocked to the School in time-honoured fashion on the third Saturday of June.

The day began with a thanksgiving service in Chipping Barnet parish church. Traditions were further honoured by the Roll Call and reading of the School Chronicle in front of Main Building, and by the playing of the Stanley Busby Memorial Cricket Match between Old Elizabethans and current senior pupils on Third Field.

Parents’ comments

“ Many thanks for organising such a lovely event.”

“ Thank you so much for a lovely event and the support our son receives at School.”

There was also a special event: a memorial ceremony, postponed from the early days of the pandemic, for former Headmaster Eamonn Harris (1984–1999). Among his many other achievements, Mr Harris, who died in late 2019, was largely responsible for resurrecting the Founder’s Day traditions that we enjoy today.

The afternoon saw the very welcome return of the FQE Founder’s Day Fete. Thanks to the efforts of a small army of FQE and pupil volunteers, our guests enjoyed a full range of activities, including food, stalls, music and Indian dance. Whether your preference was listening to Shakespearean monologues or seizing the opportunity to soak a teacher in the stocks, there really was something for everyone.

“Eamonn rescued and reinvented Queen Elizabeth’s. Here was a man of vision and courage.”

Dr John Marincowitz, Headmaster 1999-2011 , pays tribute to his predecessor, Mr Harris

Neil Enright, Headmaster

“Thanks to the selfless efforts of many, and the generosity of many more, Founder’s Day 2022 was both a triumph as our biggest fundraiser of the year and a memorable celebration of all that is good about Queen Elizabeth’s School.”

The Robert Dudley Studio FQE’s next act

PROJECT PROGRESS

The next major project to be supported by FQE is the Robert Dudley Studio – a 104-seat facility to strengthen drama and oracy at the School. This studio and lecture theatre will be created out of two existing rooms, CR1 and CR2, to the rear of Main Building and given its own landscaped external entrance.

The project is proceeding rapidly, with designs complete and fundraising already under way: well over £30,000 was donated from the proceeds of this year’s Founder’s Day fete and sponsored walks.

Sabbella, Year 10 Juror 1 in the 2022 School Play, 12

“Drama allows me to be creative and expressive, and in that way, improve my confidence. We were given a lot of freedom to develop our characters and think about their personality traits and then perform around it.”

Suhaas

Angry Men

JAY SETS THE SCENE

Global internet phenomenon and Old Elizabethan Jay Shetty (1999–2006) has been quick to back the project. Watch the hugely popular podcast host, purpose coach, author and storyteller explain why he thinks the studio will be such an asset to the School.

WHY THE ‘ROBERT DUDLEY’ STUDIO?

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, (1532–1588), was a towering figure of his time, not only as a statesman and courtier, but also as a major patron of the arts, including the theatre.

It was he who, in 1573, asked Elizabeth I for the Charter that established our School, so his connection with QE could hardly be stronger.

When it came to naming the studio, a facility that will be extensively used for drama, Robert Dudley was the natural choice.

PLAY VIDEO

Backed by the boys

On the eve of Founder’s Day, the School’s musicians and their friends waxed lyrical in a sponsored inter-House competition entitled Music and the Voice. The following day, Year 7 volunteers and prefects turned out in force to help at the FQE-run fete.

A few weeks later, boys from throughout Years 7-9 overcame the blistering July heat to complete a sponsored walk, making the most of QE’s location on the edge of the countryside.

It is not just parents and alumni who support FQE: through their own charitable endeavours, the pupils also work hard to raise money for projects that will benefit both them and those who will follow in their footsteps.

“The school has a strong sense of community.”

report, May 2022

Benefactors and champions

The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s has long enjoyed support from across the Elizabethan community, with parents past and present, alumni, staff and governors all generously contributing time, expertise and money for the good of the School.

£15,000

FQE’s single biggest donation of the year comes from the parents of a current pupil. They have asked for the money to be spent on library services.

QE Collections

Two years ago, former School Captain Richard Newton (OE 1956–1964) made a generous donation so that the School could establish its Digital Fund and start digitising its extensive records. This year’s launch of Ties through Time – a major installation in Main Building displaying 232 group photos from 1880 onwards – was made possible by the QE Collections work. Richard sadly did not live to see the launch of QE Collections in June 2021, but this freely available web-based archive constitutes part of his rich legacy to our community.

The digitising of thousands of documents and photos continues, helped by a further donation from an old boy this year.

Sid Clark

A pillar of our community

QE teacher, governor and FQE trustee Sid Clark, who died in November 2021, devoted some 50 years of his life to the School and was a key figure in the charity’s history. After his retirement in 1987, working alongside Headmaster Eamonn Harris (1984–1999) he set up the FQE covenant (‘Giving to QE’) scheme, thus laying the financial foundations for FQE’s subsequent role in transforming the campus.

Towards the 450 th anniversary

On 24th March 2023, Queen Elizabeth’s School will celebrate its 450th anniversary. A full programme of activities is being planned to mark this important milestone, including the publication of a new history of the School.

QE: the definitive history

Former Headmaster Dr John Marincowitz tells the story of the 450-year history of the School, charting its ups and down through financial crises, plagues and pandemics, civil and world wars and the vicissitudes of national education policy. The book is available for pre-order from the School Shop at a discounted price. All profits will go to FQE. Pre-order

The 450 Club

Launched in 2021, the club is aimed at alumni, former parents and friends of the School. It gives members an opportunity to support QE by pledging a gift of at least £450. Over the past year, members have enjoyed a range of benefits, including being named on the donors’ page of the new history of the School (see previous page). Those who join now – or renew by pledging a further £450 – will be invited to name a seat in the new Robert Dudley Studio.

450 Club members spotlight

Priyan Shah (OE 1991–1998) is a businessman and philanthropist, who runs the family’s commercial property investment business, DVS Property, with his brothers and is also involved in the running of his family’s DVS Foundation. This year, he and his parents visited the School to present DVS Foundation Awards to ten sixth-formers.

Civil engineer Karan Dewnani (OE 2006–2013), a project manager for Arup, frequently supports current pupils, speaking at careers and higher education events and giving advice to engineering club members, such as the Year 8 team who earlier this year won a competition run by the Institution of Civil Engineers with their design for a new London railway station.

Understanding FQE: how the charity is run

The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s School is a long-established charity, registered with the Charity Commission. Our governance structure is designed to ensure that we make the best professional strategic use of all donations to benefit current and future pupils of the School. In addition to the Directors, there are an executive committee and various sub-committees. These help FQE fulfil its role of liaising with parents and also ensure that parents can play a key part in organising fundraising activities for the School.

The next steps

We trust that you have enjoyed reading this report and learning about just how big an impact giving through The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s has had – and continues to have – in transforming the School and enhancing opportunities for successive generations of boys.

Whether you’re a parent, an alumnus or another member of the Elizabethan family, we would welcome a conversation with you. It’s important to note that support can take many forms, including financial donations and the giving of your time and expertise. There is considerable flexibility: while one-off donations are always welcome, many find that giving monthly or annually works better for them.

Yes, I would like to get in touch about increasing my support

I would like to remember the School in my will

Do you wish to make a donation right now?

You can make a donation to FQE towards the delivery of new facilities and opportunities for our pupils through the secure CAF Bank portal. CAF specialise in working with charities.

We are hugely grateful for each and every donation received.

Yes, I would like to make a single or regular gift

Yes, I would like to join the 450 Club

Do you think you can do more to support FQE?