QE Co-Curricular Newsletter - Autumn Term

QE Co-Curricular Newsletter

December 2024 December 2024

Dear Parents and Students, We are thrilled to introduce our new co-curricular enrichment newsletter, your go-to source for all the exciting activities and opportunities available beyond the classroom. Each term, we will bring you updates on our diverse range of enrichment programmes, from sports and arts to super-curricular activities, our QE Connect events with local schools, volunteering and charity fundraising.

Our goal is to keep you informed and engaged, highlighting the achievements of our students and the dedication of our staff. We value the importance of a holistic education, and are committed to providing enriching experiences that support personal growth, skill development and cultural exploration.

We look forward to sharing many inspiring stories and updates with you.

Thank you for your continued support and participation.

Mr Matt Clayton Head of Co-Curricular

Autumn Term Activities The Autumn Term has been busy with activities, with over 150 clubs opportunities being offered within 84 areas to our students in King's Magna, College & Faculty. As part of Welcome Week this year students attended a Co-Curricular Fair showcasing to them the huge range of enrichment activities opportunities available to them. The Co-Curricular Fair was a fantastic way to launch activities for the year ahead and allowed students to discover just how much Page 1

QE Co-Curricular

they can get involved with as well as sign up to the various

activities. With so many enrichment activities taking place it can be hard for students to decide what to attend, but the most popular

enrichment activity for the Autumn Term has been Charity & Volunteer Leaders.

TOP 10 Attended Activities Autumn Term 1. Charity & Volunteer Leaders

2. Queen’s Academy 3. CCF 4. Badminton (Y10-11) 5. Basketball Open Gym 6. CREST Award 7. Badminton (Y12-13) 8. Rugby 9. Model United Nations 10. Netball (Y11-13)

Students who are signed up to our chargeable Golf and Horse-riding lessons have continued to grow and develop their skills with enthusiasm this term. Staff who accompany these regular weekly lessons have been particularly impressed with the groups commitment to their lessons even when the weather has taken a turn for

Interested in receiving

the worst. We were also thrilled to welcome back our

lessons in; golf, horse-

Fencing Coach, and resume weekly Fencing lessons after

riding, tennis, fencing, or

he had been selected by British Fencing to travel

LAMDA? Complete the

overseas and take part in a highly coveted International

Annex H form on the

Fencing Federation accredited training opportunity for

parent portal.

the first half of the Autumn Term. Whilst this meant a delay in the start of our fencing lesson offering students were excited to welcome Mr Trevithick back and benefit from having a coach of his calibre.

Page 2

Term Activities QESpring Co-Curricular

Activities will start again when we return on Monday 6 January 2025, and a new Spring Enrichment Activity programme will be shared with parents via EVOLVE clubs before we return in the New Year. Whilst many activities will continue from the Autumn term there may some changes to times/locations/days. Some new activities confirmed for the Spring Term are; Dungeons & Dragons and Mahjong. These are being led by some proactive sixth form students who wanted to share their passion for these games with the wider student community at QE. Both activities will be open to students in Year 6 and above, and full details of the activity will be included in the Spring Enrichment Activities Programme.

Give It A Go A new initiative this year is the Give It A Go (GIAG) programme, which allows students to try taster sessions of an activity. Students are then asked to provide feedback on whether they think the activity is something QE should run as a regular activity for students. This ensures that we are student led in our decision making when creating new activity opportunities, listening and valuing the student voice. This term a group of 12 students from Years 6-13 attended two sessions of Bouldering at a local bouldering centre. The students enjoyed the challenge of climbing without ropes and following routes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Staff who accompanied the trips were particularly impressed with how supportive the students were of each other, providing advice and encouragement throughout the sessions.

Page 3

QE Co-Curricular

The other activities that the Co-Curricular team are

planning to include in our Give It A Go series are; Rowing,

Give It A Go

Scuba Diving, Drone flying, and Archery. Students were asked earlier in the term to complete an expression of interest form for these activities. Students are welcome to email qeactivities@qe.org or come to Connors in Wimbledon to register their interest if they think they missed the form.

QE Motorsport Now in its second year, QE Motorsport has continued to grow and develop, with a second car and driver being added for the 2024 season, and Team QE remaining the only school-aged student group in the Student Motorsport Challenge. Students spent numerous weekends in the workshops or at the track, and reaped the rewards of their hard work and dedication with Team QE making the podium multiple times over the course of the season and finishing in 5th and 6th drivers, Haydn, who drives car 72, lovingly known as “the blue one”. At the first race of the overall out of 14 teams. Both drivers also finished in the top 10 out of the 44 drivers who took season on the Silverstone circuit a mechanical issue meant that Haydn received a Did Not part . No racing season is without its mechanical issues, and a blown engine at the Donnington Finish. Having to start at the back of a grid of 35 cars for the next race might have put Park circuit part way through the day could have spelt disaster for some drivers off, but with QE students and staff alike screaming encouragement from the the team. With only an hour and half until the next race our students sidelines Haydn managed an incredibly impressive comeback, making up a mammoth showed they can keep calm under pressure and work together to 27 places to finish in P8 overall and get P3 in the Student Motorsport Challenge for that complete a full engine change, ensuring the car was in a race-worthy round. Inspired by their time with QE Motorsport serval students who have been involved condition and able to take part in the next race. are now wanting to student motorsport engineering or a similar STEM subject at Higher Special mention must also be given to one of our QE drivers, Haydn, Education. Full race reports and results can be found on studentmotorsport.com and we look forward to another season starting who drives car 72, lovingly known as “the blue one”. At the first

race of the season on the Silverstone circuit a mechanical issue meant that Haydn received a Did Not Finish. Having to start at the back of a grid of 35 cars for the next race might have put some drivers off, but with QE students and staff shouting inspiring words of encouragement from the side-lines Haydn managed an incredibly impressive come back making up a Page 4

QE Co-Curricular

mammoth 27 places to finish in P8 overall

and get P3 in the Student Motorsport Challenge for that round. The QE Motorsport is a project only open to students in Year 12, and

several

students

through

their

involvement have been inspired to choose to study student motorsport engineering or a similar STEM subject at Higher Education.

“We have been very impressed with the QE Motorsport students this year who have really stepped up to run two cars for the first time. They have been very committed, taking on roles and jobs at each race circuit and have created some lovely memories. We were also delighted this year to have more

Full race reports and results can be found on studentmotorsport.com and we look forward

female

representation,

fully

promoting

women in the industry.”

to another season starting in the Spring Term.

Mrs Snuggs and Mrs Smith-Dodsworth, who support the students involved in QE Motorsport and are the driving force behind the staff team

Page 5

Combined Cadet Force QE Co-Curricular CERN, Switzerland The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), has grown in numbers this year, with 49 students taking part.

Of these, 30 participated in Exercise Winter Warmer, at Warcop Training Centre in Cumbria, on a very wet and windy weekend in November. Those who were new cadets to the QE CCF had a busy weekend of foot drill and weapon handling training. An intense period of learning resulted in 15 of the new cadets successfully completing the weapon handling tests, and all passing their Drill test. This meant they could be presented their Cadet Berets and Caps at the Passing Off the Square parade at the start of December. Due to the bad weather the majority of the training took place indoors, and Captain John Shaw reported that it was a credit to the cadets that when the weather did improve they were able to drill outdoors, showing how much they had learnt in a less then ideal situation. Of the senior cadets in attendance, six of them gained their Emergency First Aid at Work qualification as part of the weekend which is a fantastic achievement.

In November, two students who are part of the RAF section of CCF travelled to RAF Leeming to take part in a flight day. Both students experienced a 30 minute flight in a Grob Tutor T1. The students were able to take control of the plane under the supervision of an experienced RAF pilot which helped to consolidate their theory training completed during the weekly evening parades and support them with their progress in flight training. Both students chose to complete aerobatics as part of their flight and it was great to see their confidence in the air.

Page 6

QE Co-Curricular

Music at QE

Numerous students at QE take part in music and vocal tuition, whether they are picking up an instrument for the first time or have been studying music for years and are working towards the various Grades. Several students have been entered for Music examinations to take place at the end of this term, or the start of the Spring Term, and we look forward to being able to share with you their success in our Spring Newsletter.

Students who are interested in receiving instrumental and vocal tuition can complete and

QE Carol Service

Annex G Form on the Parent Portal and at present we are able to offer lessons in the following;

Cello

Saxophone

At the start of December, the QE community

Clarinet

Tenor Horn

came together for the annual Carol Service.

Drums

Trombone

Set against the impressive backdrop of Ripon

Euphonium

Trumpet / Cornet

Cathedral, the services were split into College

Flute

Ukulele

and Faculty, and King’s Magna and Chapter

French Horn

Viola

House, and offered a chance for staff,

Guitar - Acoustic

Violin

students, and parents to celebrate the festive

Guitar - Bass

Vocal tuition

season. Both services provided a wonderful

Guitar - Electric

Piano

opportunity for students involved in the various music activities at QE to showcase their talents. The congregation were treated to wonderful flute and piano solos from some of our talented students, as well as ensemble performances. A highlight for both services was the Rock & Pop Christmas Medley, featuring several popular Christmas hits, as well as the orchestra's performance of Hall of the Mountain King, or more recognizably known as “the Alton Towers theme tune”. All students who were part of the service must be credited for remaining composed and carrying on with their performance when part way through “O Come All Ye Faithful” the conductor managed to lose their conducting baton following a rather enthusiastic flourish, proving the age old adage that the show must go on! A massive thank you must be given to the Performing Arts department for putting together a wonderful service and for working with students in the various weekly music activities to ensure they were confident and performance ready.

Page 7

Trips near and far QE Co-Curricular Life at QE is all about ensuring students have numerous enrichment opportunities, and one of the best forms of this is the fabulous trips that our students go on. Trips provide a great way for students to get out of the classroom and apply lessons to the real world. Participating in trips also allows students to develop important life skills, grow in confidence and increase their independence.

Within the Autumn Term we have had over 40 trips take place, including one overseas and four UK residentials. These trips have ranged from academic related, such as the Year 11 Human Geography Trip to Leeds, and the Year 4 trip to the Great North museum, to those that form part of our weekend activities offering such as a day trip to Liverpool and festive themed trips to ice skating rinks and Stockeld Christmas Adventure for our younger students. “the best bit was seeing a real life mummy!”

- Year 4 student

Our final trip of the Autumn Term is the QE annual ski trip. Always a highlight of the trips calendar, this year our students will be jetting off to Bormio, Italy, in the week before Christmas

to

have

a

festive

winter

experience on the piste. Keep an eye on the QE social media channels over the holidays for some snowy snaps of our students on the slopes.

We also launched our three year residential trips programme before half term. If you’ve not had a chance to have a look yet please see the programme on our website or scan the QR code overleaf.

Page 8

QE Co-Curricular CERN, Switzerland In November, 23 students who study Science or Physics travelled to Geneva, Switzerland as part of an exciting trip to further develop their understanding of CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.

As part of the trip, students visited the world-renowned research centre, which is at the forefront of scientific research and discovery, as well as taking part in physics workshops and science gateway exhibitions. What better way to hear about the trip than from one of our students;

We left early in the morning on Monday and returned on Friday late at night. We visited various fascinating museums and landmarks during the five days in Geneva. The highlight of our trip was the visit to CERN, a particle accelerator located on the border between Switzerland and France. In CERN, we visited the ATLAS project command centre and its data centre, where over 100 petabytes of data are stored annually. ATLAS is one of the main projects around this massive investigation centre, which involves over 5000 scientists from 40 different nationalities and 180 institutions.

Nevertheless, the visits to the Red Cross and History of Science museums complemented the trip excellently. In the Red Cross museum, we got an introspection on the volunteers' magnificent actions during both World Wars to aid in the well-being of war prisoners and families that got separated. In contrast, in the Museum of the History of Science, we got to experience how we evolved in scientific research to the tools we have nowadays.

Having a small break from daily life is always great, and this trip is the best way to do so. Not only do we switch the routine slightly, but we also visit a fascinating centre of investigation dedicated to particle physics, which is one of the topics we are studying.

Cesc C, Year 13 students studying Physics

Page 9

QE Co-Curricular

Page 10

QE Co-Curricular QE Connect Community Outreach Our QE Connect Community Outreach programme has had a fantastic Autumn Term, successfully hosting three events: Festive Window Artwork, Dick Whittington Pantomime, and Festive Bath Bomb Day. We were delighted to welcome over 160 external students and their teachers from local state schools over the 3 events, fostering creativity and community spirit. Additionally, these events provided valuable leadership opportunities for QE students, their involvement was instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of each event and offered them practical experience ing

in leadership and teamwork. It was fabulous to see QE students and those from neighbouring schools forming friendships, learning

together,

and

building

positive

connections.

Heartfelt thank you goes out to all QE staff for their support and dedication, which made these events possible.

We look forward to continuing our efforts in fostering collaboration and creativity in the upcoming terms, further enhancing the connections within our community.

Our QE Connect Programme for 2024-25 can be found at this link.

Should you have any contacts at schools local to QE, that you believe may like to be involved in our QE Connect Programme, please email QEConnect@qe.org confirming the school name, name of your contact at the school and an email address to send the programme to.

Page 11

From all the staff in Co-Curricular, we wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and hope students enjoy the festive break. We look forward to seeing everyone again in the Spring Term and having many more exciting trips and activities take place.

Page 12