Your time in the Sixth Form provides the foundation for the rest of your life.

These are years when you step into adulthood, gain a better understanding of who you are as a person, and gain qualifications that will unlock doors to university and beyond.

We want you to leave QEH armed with the excellent qualifications that will help you start on your chosen career. But we also want so much more for you.

We want you to develop a strong inner confidence and self-respect – and tolerance for others too. We want you to gain the leadership skills that will enable you to thrive in the wider world – the ability to take the initiative, learn from your mistakes and work well with others.

GO TO LIFE IN THE SIXTH FORM PAGE

Whether you want to do some reading, focus on that all-important essay, or relax and catch up with your friends, the purpose-built Sixth Form centre ticks all the boxes.

You’ll have your own dedicated IT suite and library area, a silent work room for maximum concentration, and communal study areas for when you want to brainstorm ideas with fellow students.

When you’re hungry or just want to put your feet up, there are comfy sofas and chairs in the Upper Common room and a café in the Lower Common Room serving a range of hot and cold food including jackets, pizza and toasties.

GO TO SIXTH FORM CENTRE PAGE

Your success in the wider world after school depends in part on your ability to take responsibility, be proactive, learn from your mistakes, and work alongside others to make things happen.

We’ll help you develop these leadership skills through roles such as School Prefect, House Captain, and Peer Supporter where you’ll help younger students settle in and make the most of life at QEH. You can also be a Theatre Mentor, Music Prefect or Librarian, and we’ll encourage you to lead one of our weekly assemblies to build your confidence in public speaking.

GO TO LEADERSHIP PAGE

We’ll give you lots of freedom and independence but we also recognise there may be times when you need support. If you do, we’ll be there to help.

You’ll be assigned to a tutor and will meet with your tutor group every morning. Typically, these groups consist of about 13 or 14 students from your year group. Your tutor will help you adapt to the challenge of A-levels, monitor your progress and work with you to resolve any issues. They will also write a reference for university or job applications.

GO TO PASTORAL PAGE

In Sixth Form, there are many opportunities to be involved in Music and Drama.

As well as offering A-levels in Music and Music Tech, we have twenty one regularly rehearsed choirs and ensembles available. Among these are the Chapel Choir, performing regularly throughout the year at Council Prayers and Mayor Making Services in the Lord Mayor’s Chapel; House Choirs which are led by Sixth Form students; the Tour Choir which is formed every two years; Barbershop Quartets and Acapella Choirs that perform at various concerts including ‘Unplugged’ concerts and the Jazz Evening.

The ensembles include the Orchestra which performs an exciting and varied repertoire at various concerts throughout the year, the highlight of which is our annual Spring Concert at St George’s Concert Hall; and there are ensembles for Strings, Wind, Brass, Saxophone, Guitar, Ukulele and Samba too as well as the Jazz Band, QEH Rock Project and Open Mic concerts.

GO TO CREATIVE ARTS PAGE

The Futures programme is central to QEH’s mission of equipping young people with the skills and character they need to make a positive influence on the world. We want our pupils to understand and be excited by the world of work – to have a vision for their future that motivates them, and which they can meaningfully break down into a series of concrete steps.

Our Futures programme complements and extends many areas of QEH’s outstanding co-curricular provision. It leverages the best of what the school currently does, encouraging pupils to reflect periodically on how they are developing as individuals and to consider what this could mean for their next steps. Our vision is that every child will be prepared for their future.

GO TO FUTURES PAGE

Rupert Heathcote, Head at QEH, has today paid tribute to the students and staff at QEH for their hard work over the last two years.

“It has been a hugely challenging time for both young people and their teachers. But while the last eighteen months have seen more disruption to schooling than at any point since World War II, it has also been an incredibly inspiring time to be working with young people. They have been required to adapt, to learn in a variety of ways and using different tools, and to demonstrate a huge amount resilience – which they have all done admirably. I am delighted that we are able to recognise their hard work.”

GO TO A-LEVEL RESULTS PAGE

One of the most important features of the Sixth Form at QEH is how it prepares its students for Higher Education and beyond.

As competition for places at good universities becomes more intense, the importance of this aspect of the Sixth Form has increased significantly.

Our well-qualified and experienced staff offer specialised guidance and support in this demanding process. Your tutor will help you to recognise your own skills and potential and to write a Personal Statement that presents you at your absolute best. The expertise of our Head of Sixth Form and of committed tutors, who know you really well, will be available to you on a regular one-to-one basis.

GO TO WHAT NEXT PAGE

Charter Day Celebrations

The QEH community gathered at Bristol Cathedral to celebrate Charter Day, honouring the 1590 Royal Charter and the values that continue to shape the school. The service featured historic readings, powerful music, and reflections on inclusion, legacy, and unity across generations.

Post author By James Breeze
Post date April 11, 2025

2025 All Years Music QEH Community

Friday 11.04.2025 Fri 11.04.2025

On Thursday 10 April, the QEH community came together in the magnificent setting of Bristol Cathedral to celebrate Charter Day, marking the Royal Charter granted to Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital by Queen Elizabeth I on 21 March 1590.

More than four centuries on, this historic moment continues to be a cornerstone of the QEH identity. Charter Day is not only a time to honour our school’s rich heritage, but also to reflect on the values that bind generations of Old Elizabethans together.

The service opened with a moving citation from Mr Kevin Riley, Chair of Governors, reminding all in attendance of the enduring vision that has shaped QEH since its founding. Our Captains of School gave a series of thoughtful readings, including a historic moment as a passage from the Quran was read in Bristol Cathedral for the first time. This powerful gesture symbolised QEH’s commitment to inclusion, respect, and shared understanding across communities and faiths.

The atmosphere was further lifted by our exceptional choir, whose voices, clad in their traditional iconic blue coats, filled the cathedral with exceptional music, a testament to the standard of music at QEH.

The address was delivered by Reverend Errol King, who spoke movingly on the theme of “loving thy enemy.” His words challenged and inspired us to approach the world with courage, compassion, and unwavering faith — a message deeply resonant in today’s times.

Reverend Canon Mark Pilgrim led the prayers with warmth and sincerity. His continued support of the school community is something we hold with great gratitude.

Following the service, it was a pleasure to see many Old Elizabethans re-connecting. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the enduring connections formed at QEH and the strength of our alumni network.

Charter Day 2025 was a celebration of music, meaning, and legacy, a moment for our whole school community to pause, reflect, and look forward with renewed purpose.

Well done to Sidney who represented Gloucester County Cricket Club U18's in Dubai. A testament to her hard work she has shown in training and in matches.

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QEH provides a safe, nurturing environment where each pupil is treated as an individual. The results are confident young men who truly believe in themselves. Freddie now has a passion for learning and the confidence to apply it which is due to the school, its understanding of boys and its fantastic staff.

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Lisa, Parent

We believe that, in the earlier years of school, boys learn best this way.

At QEH, we understand boys and teach in ways that suit them. We know their foibles, their tendency to leave things until the last moment and their need to be active in their learning. And we understand how to coax them out of the teenage blues.

In a boys’ only environment – in our lower and middle school – boys are freer to acknowledge their feelings and develop self-confidence, and are less likely to succumb to unhelpful stereotypes of subjects or activities being ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’. This means they’re just as happy to read a poem in assembly, sing in the choir and perform on the stage as they are to play in the rugby or football team.

GO TO BOYS ONLY PAGE

We’ll give you lots of freedom and independence but we also recognise there may be times when you need support. If you do, we’ll be there to help.

GO TO PASTORAL PAGE

From the outside QEH may appear daunting, especially for new boys to the school. On the inside, however, it is a totally different story.

Introduction to Life at QEH

New boys and parents are invited to meet staff, tour the building and speak to their son’s future tutors in the Summer term before they join. The boys are also invited to spend a day at school to experience some lessons and to enjoy a visit to the Sports Ground. Above all, the boys will be able to get to know their new school friends, taking some of the worry out of that first official day in September.

GO TO LOWER SCHOOL (YEARS 7 AND 8) PAGE

Year 9 is distinctly defined at QEH, being between the Lower and Middle School and offering boys unique challenges and opportunities.

Experienced staff guide Year 9s in the transition from Year 8 to GCSE, helping them to flourish, knowing that physically and emotionally they develop at different rates. Some boys will battle with adolescence much earlier than others and you may notice that your son seems less communicative as the year goes on.

GO TO YEAR 9 PAGE

The transition through the Middle School is a pivotal period between the early years of secondary school and university preparation in the Sixth Form.

We are aware of the dramatic series of physical and emotional changes that occur between the ages of 14 and 16 as boys cope with the challenges of adolescence. They are encouraged to develop positively their new found opinions and independence, whilst realising the aims of the Middle School:

• To promote and monitor a positive work ethic in preparation for GCSE and A-level

• To promote a high standard of behaviour, appearance and self-respect

• To provide pastoral support and encouragement for both pupils and parents

• To encourage a full and active involvement in the co-curricular activities in and out of school.

GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL (YEARS 10 AND 11) PAGE

Our contract caterers, Holroyd Howe, provide first-class lunches for our pupils. These offer a healthy, balanced, nutritious diet each day for our pupils. Holroyd Howe also provide excellent breakfasts, which are available for pupils to purchase, and catering for special functions.

To ensure that all pupils are catered for, there are times that you may need to discuss individual needs with us. We request you contact either the School Nurse or the Catering Department

GO TO CATERING PAGE

QEH cares about the way our students develop as human beings. All pupils in Years 7 to 10 take part in an exciting and meaningful programme that ensures our students are equipped to live a responsible and fulfilling life.

In their first four years at the Senior School, our boys are given the skills and guidance to cope with the pressures of the modern world, and to develop their talents and personalities beyond the academic curriculum. In these formative years prior to external examinations, all of our students spend an afternoon a week participating in activities and sessions that have been designed to support and challenge them.

GO TO ENRICHMENT PAGE

The Performing Arts flourish at QEH.

Through music, words and theatre, boys explore and express feelings they can’t necessarily articulate in other ways. In doing so, they embark on a lifelong journey appreciating beauty and excellence. They also grow in stature and confidence, becoming young men who are happy in their own skin.

Music and Drama are on the curriculum in Years 7 and 8 and both subjects are available at GCSE and A-level. In the Sixth Form we also offer Music Technology as an A-level subject. The school has invested heavily in facilities for Performing Arts, with a purpose built 220 seat theatre, and the recent addition of further performing spaces and music rooms within the Music department.

GO TO PERFORMING ARTS PAGE

Music is at the heart of school life at QEH and plays a key role both socially and academically. Our aim is to offer everyone the opportunity to get involved in the many varied musical activities we provide.

There are a large number of musical ensembles in which pupils can participate, most of which rehearse regularly during the school week. We also run a Music Tech Club and regular recording workshops which allow those more interested in composing and recording, the opportunity to develop these skills.

GO TO MUSIC PAGE

QEH Theatre is a striking modern building, with a comfortable three-sided auditorium seating 220, creating an intimate and dynamic atmosphere.

It is the home of the Drama department, and here we enable each individual pupil to develop their talents, ensuring that their intellectual, spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development is nurtured.

There are a number of productions throughout the year, ranging from whole school productions to smaller performances directed and produced entirely by the Sixth Form. Recent productions include Oliver Twist, Hamlet and the musical, Our House.

GO TO DRAMA PAGE

Sometimes students learn as much out of the classroom as in it.

Climbing in the Himalayas, singing in the USA, skiing in the Alps and just enjoying Bristol Zoo – we believe in offering rich and diverse experiences beyond the classroom which complement what we do in school.

Younger boys throw themselves into the annual Activities Week, older ones tackle the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the annual Ten Tors Competition.

GO TO CO-CURRICULAR PAGE

In recent years the programme for Outdoor Pursuits has become a special strength of the school.

Pupils at QEH love to be active and regularly take part in Outdoor Pursuits. QEH encourages wider participation from those who would not normally consider themselves to be ‘sporty’ in the conventional sense.

As well as participating in the annual Ten Tors Challenge, over 150 students are involved in Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with six weekends a year dedicated to Bronze, Silver and Gold expeditions. ‘The QE Award’, our own variant of the scheme, is extended to boys in the lower part of the Senior School and in Years 5 and 6 of the Junior School .

GO TO OUTDOOR PURSUITS PAGE

QEH prides itself on offering a comprehensive range of trips and educational visits, designed both to enhance the pupils’ 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 MShed; Watershed media centre and Arnolfini; Avon Gorge, Leigh Woods and Clifton Suspension Bridge; Bristol Zoo and Botanical Gardens; Hippodrome and Theatre Royal; Colston Hall; We The Curious; BBC; Bristol University; Bristol Cathedral and Lord Mayor’s Chapel, and Ashton Court estate. We are spoilt for choice.

GO TO TRIPS PAGE

The Futures programme is central to QEH’s mission of equipping young people with the skills and character they need to make a positive influence on the world. We want our pupils to understand and be excited by the world of work – to have a vision for their future that motivates them, and which they can meaningfully break down into a series of concrete steps.

GO TO FUTURES PAGE

We are delighted that our pupils have been successful in their efforts to gain top GCSE grades after 18 months of Covid-related disruption to learning. This year’s exam success is a result of the pupils’ commitment to learning, ably supported by both teachers and parents.

“At QEH, we firmly believe in the importance of a strong partnership between school and home to ensure each pupil is supported to achieve to the best of their ability. This partnership has been even more important during the pandemic with pupils learning under changing Covid restrictions,” said Rupert Heathcote, Head of QEH.

GO TO GCSE RESULTS PAGE

Head’s Welcome

‘‘The school gets boys. It’s the way the teachers talk to the boys. And if there is anything, it’s dealt with straight away.” Current Parent

“Children are stretched because the teaching can be individualised to suit the needs of every boy.” Year 6 Parent

“The nurturing environment that QEH provides has enabled him to settle in so much faster than we ever expected.” Year 5 parent

We believe in the importance of the Creative Arts

“Nothing’s uncool – at QEH, he’s involved in stuff he would never have done before, he always held back before saying something wasn’t cool.” Current Parent

QE Award

The Extended Day

Head’s Welcome

We believe that, in the earlier years of school, boys learn best this way.

We aim to produce young adults who are well-educated not just well-qualified. Small classes, a positive work ethic and teachers with a real passion for their subject create a learning environment where students are stretched, not stressed.

We’ll give you lots of freedom and independence but we also recognise there may be times when you need support. If you do, we’ll be there to help.

From the outside QEH may appear daunting, especially for new boys to the school. On the inside, however, it is a totally different story.

Year 9 is distinctly defined at QEH, being between the Lower and Middle School and offering boys unique challenges and opportunities.

The transition through the Middle School is a pivotal period between the early years of secondary school and university preparation in the Sixth Form.

Medical and Health

Our contract caterers, Holroyd Howe, provide first-class lunches for our pupils. These offer a healthy, balanced, nutritious diet each day for our pupils. Holroyd Howe also provide excellent breakfasts, which are available for pupils to purchase, and catering for special functions.

QEH cares about the way our students develop as human beings. All pupils in Years 7 to 10 take part in an exciting and meaningful programme that ensures our students are equipped to live a responsible and fulfilling life.

Sport

The Performing Arts flourish at QEH.

Music is at the heart of school life at QEH and plays a key role both socially and academically. Our aim is to offer everyone the opportunity to get involved in the many varied musical activities we provide.

With our dedicated music studio, we offer workshops for pupils to learn the basics of how to use a recording studio and also give them the opportunity to record their own ensembles or solo performances.

QEH Theatre is a striking modern building, with a comfortable three-sided auditorium seating 220, creating an intimate and dynamic atmosphere.

Sometimes students learn as much out of the classroom as in it.

In recent years the programme for Outdoor Pursuits has become a special strength of the school.

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

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

We are delighted that our pupils have been successful in their efforts to gain top GCSE grades after 18 months of Covid-related disruption to learning. This year’s exam success is a result of the pupils’ commitment to learning, ably supported by both teachers and parents.

Welcome to Sixth Form

Your time in the Sixth Form provides the foundation for the rest of your life.

Whether you want to do some reading, focus on that all-important essay, or relax and catch up with your friends, the purpose-built Sixth Form centre ticks all the boxes.

Currently Sixth Form students are expected to study four A-level subjects in Year 12 and then complete full A-levels by continuing with at least three of these.

Your success in the wider world after school depends in part on your ability to take responsibility, be proactive, learn from your mistakes, and work alongside others to make things happen.

We’ll give you lots of freedom and independence but we also recognise there may be times when you need support. If you do, we’ll be there to help.

Sometimes students learn as much out of the classroom as in it.

Sport

In Sixth Form, there are many opportunities to be involved in Music and Drama.

Rupert Heathcote, Head at QEH, has today paid tribute to the students and staff at QEH for their hard work over the last two years.

One of the most important features of the Sixth Form at QEH is how it prepares its students for Higher Education and beyond.

Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital was founded in 1590 as a ‘hospital or place for the bringing up of poor children or orphans being men children as such shall be born in the city of Bristol…’

The Friends of QEH is an active group of teachers and parents who help to build the school community from Juniors right through to Sixth Form.

The Next Ten Years

Inspection Reports – Independent Schools Inspectorate

PDF versions of our policies and documents, which are available to parents of current and prospective pupils, can be downloaded below.

Our FAQ page addresses a variety of common questions about QEH and related topics.

The School is fortunate in having well-qualified and committed Staff and Governors.

Sustainability at QEH

Inspection Reports

QEH is located in Berkeley Place, Clifton. The Junior School can be found at 9 Upper Berkeley Place, in the terrace of Georgian houses behind the QEH Senior School building.

When there are vacancies at QEH, full details of the position and the application procedure will be available below.

There is a regular QEH podcast, the place to find out more about the school and to connect with staff, pupils and parents at a deeper level.

This event has now finished. If you would like information on future events at QEH, please contact the Marketing Office.

Why QEH

Beyond QEH

Parents & Students

Prospectus

Head’s Welcome

‘‘The school gets boys. It’s the way the teachers talk to the boys. And if there is anything, it’s dealt with straight away.” Current Parent

“Children are stretched because the teaching can be individualised to suit the needs of every boy.” Year 6 Parent

“The nurturing environment that QEH provides has enabled him to settle in so much faster than we ever expected.” Year 5 parent

We believe in the importance of the Creative Arts

“Nothing’s uncool – at QEH, he’s involved in stuff he would never have done before, he always held back before saying something wasn’t cool.” Current Parent

QE Award

The Extended Day

Head’s Welcome

We believe that, in the earlier years of school, boys learn best this way.

We aim to produce young adults who are well-educated not just well-qualified. Small classes, a positive work ethic and teachers with a real passion for their subject create a learning environment where students are stretched, not stressed.

We’ll give you lots of freedom and independence but we also recognise there may be times when you need support. If you do, we’ll be there to help.

From the outside QEH may appear daunting, especially for new boys to the school. On the inside, however, it is a totally different story.

Year 9 is distinctly defined at QEH, being between the Lower and Middle School and offering boys unique challenges and opportunities.

The transition through the Middle School is a pivotal period between the early years of secondary school and university preparation in the Sixth Form.

Medical and Health

Our contract caterers, Holroyd Howe, provide first-class lunches for our pupils. These offer a healthy, balanced, nutritious diet each day for our pupils. Holroyd Howe also provide excellent breakfasts, which are available for pupils to purchase, and catering for special functions.

QEH cares about the way our students develop as human beings. All pupils in Years 7 to 10 take part in an exciting and meaningful programme that ensures our students are equipped to live a responsible and fulfilling life.

Sport

The Performing Arts flourish at QEH.

Music is at the heart of school life at QEH and plays a key role both socially and academically. Our aim is to offer everyone the opportunity to get involved in the many varied musical activities we provide.

With our dedicated music studio, we offer workshops for pupils to learn the basics of how to use a recording studio and also give them the opportunity to record their own ensembles or solo performances.

QEH Theatre is a striking modern building, with a comfortable three-sided auditorium seating 220, creating an intimate and dynamic atmosphere.

Sometimes students learn as much out of the classroom as in it.