Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle

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For other uses, see Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (disambiguation).
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
QEGS
Motto Libreæ Scholæ De Comvne Sigilvm
Established 1327
Type Grammar
Headmaster Timothy J Peacock
Students 820 (approx.)
Location Horncastle, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Colours Maroon
Website www.qegs.lincs.sch.uk

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle, is a selective mixed state secondary school in the Lincolnshire town of Horncastle on West Street and has around 820 pupils between 11 and 19 years old, of which approximately 220 are in the Sixth Form. It has attained a Specialist Science College award. The school achieves excellent GCSE results; and came 36th amongst the UK's state grammar schools[citation needed] . The current headmaster is Mr T J Peacock who has worked at the school for over 21 years.

Contents

[edit] School History

For over four centuries, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School has served the town of Horncastle and the surrounding countryside.

A school is known to have been in existence in 1327 but records effectively begin when Queen Elizabeth I granted, on the petition of Edward, Lord Clinton and Saye, Earl of Lincoln, a Charter to establish a Grammar School in Horncastle.

The School received its seal on 25th June, 1571, and that Charter is a proud possession of the present Governors. Originally, the school was built on a site adjoining the River Bain close to St Mary's Parish Church. It was demolished and rebuilt after the Civil War but there it remained until the first decade of the 20th century when in 1908 the present dining hall was the original building to be built on the current site.

For much of its life, Queen Elizabeth's was a boys' day and boarding school. Girls were admitted for the first time around the turn of the century. Since the school has expanded, with further buildings being added as the number on roll has increased. Up to the Education Act of 1944, Queen Elizabeth's had been independent; in the period following it became voluntary controlled and financed by the Local Authority.

In the Autumn of 1991, the parents voted overwhelmingly for the school to become a self governing grant maintained school. It now enjoys foundation status which allows a degree of independence from the Local Authority.

The Latin wording around the school badge includes the word 'liberae' meaning free. Even when fully independent, the school always prided itself on giving talented girls and boys a free education. The endowment of land made this possible over most of its life. Today, as a foundation school, the same principle holds good.

[edit] School Today

Today, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Schools is a co-educational day school with approximately 820 pupils, aged 11-19, on roll. Around 220 of these are sixth formers. In April 1999 the school became a foundation school. Entry at 11 is determined by the school's own selection procedures, which are in line with those operating in other parts of the county. Normally the school has four forms of entry representing the top 25% of the ability range. The school's Sixth Form is open to all students for whom it can provide a suitable course.

Queen Elizabeth's serves the town of Horncastle and the surrounding area up to and beyond Wragby, bardney and Woodhall Spa to the west, the Wolds to the north and east, and almost to Boston in the south. It includes the RAF base at Coningsby. They also welcome pupils from further afield, providing their parents can make suitable arrangements for transport.

A fleet of contract and services buses, organised by the LEA, provides free transport for pupils in our catchment area who live more than three miles from the school. The school is also served by a privately organised service for out of catchment pupils from the Sibsey and Stickney areas to the north of Boston, as well as Lincoln, Lincolnshire and the surrounding area.

[edit] School Uniform

The school's uniform for years 7-11 consists of grey or black trousers for boys and navy skirt or trousers for girls; black shoes; a white shirt/blouse; and burgundy blazer (with school logo). The tie is diagonally stripped navy, burgundy and white. For sixth form (year 12 and 13) boys wear a black blazer (with school logo) and black tie bearing gold school logos. Meanwhile girls wear a navy blazer and navy tie bearing silver school logos.

[edit] Curriculum

The front of the main school building, as seen from the school entrance.
The front of the main school building, as seen from the school entrance.

The subjects taught at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle are:

[edit] School Buildings

The new art, music and drama building.
The new art, music and drama building.

The school is made up of the main school building and several sets of outer buildings. The main building consists of around 30 classrooms, 4 IT rooms, school offices, a main hall, a sports centre, a sixth form block and a library. There are several outer buildings including a science block and most recently a state of the art Music block. This consists of two music classrooms along with practice rooms, a large drama studio and lighting balcony, and 2 art classrooms and a gallery.

[edit] Academic Life

The school is made up of three parts:

  • Lower School (Years 7, 8 and 9)
  • Middle School (Years 10 and 11 - GCSE Years)
  • Upper School (the Sixth Form - A Level Years).

The separate 'schools' all use the same buildings; one of the main differences is that they have separate assemblies, except on Mondays which are normally whole school assemblies. The sixth form also have their own common room.

[edit] Facilities

The facilities at the school are:

  • Three football pitches
  • Five netball courts
  • Nine tennis courts
  • Two grass hockey pitches
  • One cricket square and three outdoor nets
  • Athletics track
  • Trim track
  • Gymnasium – gymnastics, table tennis
  • Sports Hall
  • Four rounders pitches
  • One Astroturf
  • Two squash courts
  • Fitness gym

[edit] Highlights

  • Many pupils represented county and even higher level in sports such as Cricket, Hockey, Tennis, Football and Squash.
  • Many of the schools sports team won county competitions and went on to national level.
  • Several teams played sports in other countries.

[edit] Former Pupils

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Schools in Lincolnshire
Comprehensive and Secondary
Primary
Grammar
Independent