Page 3 | Went to Qe Boys Barnet, AMA

Terrberr · 2024-12-19T18:16:16+00:00

A tube passenger saw my Qe bag and wanted to ask about the school. It hit me that something like this might be helpful. I finished A levels about 4 years ago and went to Oxbridge. I’ve recently started working at an investment bank.

Nickwalker07101 · 08/03/2025 13:55

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longestlurkerever · 25/02/2025 15:25

I don't understand why everyone has to be so rude. You get plenty posts asking for experiences of particular schools- why be hostile to someone prepared to share theirs?

Hoppinggreen · 25/02/2025 15:11

My question would be WTF you would carry a bag with your old school name on it?

user149799568 · 25/02/2025 15:07

@Terrberr

I’d estimate about a third of my year group left for sixth form.

What fraction of the boys who started with you at Year 7 sat the GCSEs with you? Nearly all? Or had there already been some culling by that stage?

Jenkim · 24/02/2025 22:59

Not QE parents but know QE has some very good coaches，one of them is my DS’ club coach. Do you play any sports apart from rugby？

terrifiednewbie · 21/02/2025 10:31

How distracted do you think the current SLT will be with the set up of their 3 new global schools? Are current parents concerned that they will take their eye off the ball with things at QE in Barnet?

nyv · 30/01/2025 13:08

We are not Asian, and the cultural mix does not worry us :) saying that, i'm hoping that more like-minded people apply to this school so we have broader representation across cultures and this would in turn enrich the cultural diversity in the school.

If you look at the trend, this certainly won't be happening in the many years to come.

nouveaunomduplume · 29/01/2025 23:00

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argyllherewecome · 29/01/2025 20:11

OP what is your ethnicity? Just curious if you are from the majority Asian or minority white? There was a thread recently where a white mum was talking about the school and saying that there was a cultural difference between the two with regards to education/grades and you were either 'in' or you weren't. She didn't recommend it for non Indian students IIRC. Second question, is there religious diversity within the Asian cohort? Is it a mix of hindus/muslims/sikhs etc, or predominantly one? I don't know anything about the school as I'm nowhere near London, so just curious.

thesandwich · 28/01/2025 12:56

Hello op, v interesting post. You talk about how well school prepared you for testing/ exams etc……and you are now off work with burnout? Having started work at an investment bank a few months ago?
What are your reflections on resilience? And corporate culture?

Araminta1003 · 28/01/2025 10:14

“Oxbridge here, but attended a mixed state school. Parents who push and hothouse their poor kids into attending really competitive schools in order to give them a higher chance of being given a place at top universities - it’s always about their own ego and social status.
And I don’t believe for one minute that a 23 year old man who works in a City bank is hanging out on Mumsnet talking about his old school. Blatant PR job.”

Wow, you certainly picked up the Oxbridge arrogance, despite your state schooling. Perhaps have a think on that one.

SiobhanSharpe · 27/01/2025 23:18

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I thought that too -- but then I'm a grammarian and a pedant who despairs at the apparently poor grammar teaching in schools, if indeed it is taught at all.

Justabloodysandwich · 27/01/2025 23:14

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Justabloodysandwich · 27/01/2025 23:12

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catchastarx · 27/01/2025 22:58

@Terrberr Thank you for sharing your personal experience. As a parent of a potential QE boy ( my son did well in the most recent 11+ and we are quietly confident of a place on 2nd March 2025), I am grateful for all the insightful pros/cons of QE. If you are still checking your notifications from mumsnet, I 'd appreciate your take on the following:

my son is studying in a prep school and is a strong all rounder. He has varied interests, ia naturally curious, confident and sociable. I think his prep school environment has certainly helped nurture his confidence. I do not worry about his academic ability but wonder if he will find kids who seek a life beyond academics. My son is able to balance good grades with a healthy amount of hobbies . Will my son find like-minded friends at QE?

Does the school encourage compassion and kindness alongside competition ( with each other)?

Getting shouted at for a shirt untucked sounds a little unnecessary - why can't the teacher just said it in a normal voice? Was it the odd teacher or do the kids get shouted at regularly? Are parents/students listened to or does the school have a take it or leave it attitude?

How did you find the quality of teaching at QE? What % of your subject teachers would you say were knowledgeable and inspiring?

We are genuinely keen on QE as all the sixth formers we met were well mannered, charming and intelligent young men. We are not Asian, and the cultural mix does not worry us :) saying that, i'm hoping that more like-minded people apply to this school so we have broader representation across cultures and this would in turn enrich the cultural diversity in the school.

Original poster

Terrberr · 21/12/2024 20:48

Araminta1003 · 21/12/2024 08:41

OP do you think QE is best for naturally gifted kids who learn fast and like breadth? So will simply make the most of everything on offer, both academically and socially but may not suit a child who is not intrinsically competitive?

So natural competitive inherently bright go-getter?

I think this is true.

OP posts:

Araminta1003 · 21/12/2024 08:41

OP do you think QE is best for naturally gifted kids who learn fast and like breadth? So will simply make the most of everything on offer, both academically and socially but may not suit a child who is not intrinsically competitive?

So natural competitive inherently bright go-getter?

loveyal · 20/12/2024 16:31

Thanks @Terrberr for sharing your perspectives

As you know this is a parents forum so your views are naturally different with most posters as you're not a parent.

I wonder if your views about the school will change when you have children of secondary school age. Actually I do wonder how many QE alumni are so fond of the school that they want the same experience for their children.

Champagneandalmonds · 20/12/2024 16:20

@Terrberr - it’s great you had a wonderful time there and I’m not suggesting QE is a toxic school. It’s just interesting to me that a child who is super academic and already at a school that has a similar reputation to QE (results-driven, competitive, ‘pushy’ if we are being negative) really disliked it. You mention ‘not fitting with the culture’, but on the face of it the cultures at both schools sound quite similar, so I just question the environment itself. Obviously it’s dependent on a number of factors and this is just one child’s personal experience - but it seemed quite striking.

Original poster

Terrberr · 20/12/2024 13:22

nyv · 20/12/2024 13:07

@Terrberr Thanks for the reply.

Upon reflection, if your parents hadn't applied to QE for you or if you hadn't attended QE for any reason, do you think you would still be on the same path as you are today?

PS. I studied at Oxbridge many years ago, and my experience doesn't quite resemble the culture you mentioned during the college time. Perhaps things have changed now.

Edited

No. For me it was the best thing that could have happened, personally and now professionally. Qe definitely made me - I’m definitely a real life example of QEs progress8 stat

Not sure what it was like when you were there, but it was sort of split into 2 parts. The first were the people who thought they works enjoy 3 years and would be guaranteed a job at the end of it (either through family connections, or because they didn’t know any better). The second half were people from qe/ other similar schools who knew we had to do well. We ended up getting good jobs, while the first half are now either struggling or living off family connections/ money (neither of which I have). The job market has apparently become a lot more competitive that it used to be according to older bankers in my company - I ofc don’t have a reference point.

I’d you’re interested, a LinkedIn search of people who used to go to qe might be interesting.

OP posts:

Original poster

Terrberr · 20/12/2024 13:16

nouveaunomduplume · 20/12/2024 12:18

Do you think it's ethical that schools should have two bites at the selection cherry, i.e. that having been fully selective at 11, and able to take only the top 10% of applicants, they then manage out one-third of the cohort at 16. Doesn't that say they've spectacularly failed one-third of the cohort? Wouldn't many other schools be able to achieve just as high A level results if they aggressively managed out a similar proportion of their cohort? Don't you think a school that was ethically managed would put pastoral care and individual welfare before league table position?

Also, how often do you think someone comes on to one of the education forums claiming to be a parent or pupil and saying very positive things about a school, but actually turns out to be staff/management/proprietor of the school in question?

i don’t know about the ethics, but i can tell you what the rationale is. The idea is that the school wants students to do something they enjoy doing and also something they are good at. Essential skills tests are meant to demonstrate aptitude, not just at A level standard but beyond, and the idea is that you can look at your results and reflect on where your strengths lie academically.

my experience was everyone who stayed did very well, everyone who left to do subjects qe wouldn’t let them didn’t do so well comparatively. It isn’t life or death - think the difference between upper tier Russell group and lower tier Russell group.

league tables aren’t really talked about at school. Since graduating I’ve been in governing board meetings and they don’t come up there either. Conversations tend to be about the student experience. If you look at major investments the school has made in the last few years: a new music hall, better sports facilities- neither translate to league position. I’m sure pastoral care can be improved, personally I’m not sure what tangibly the school should do

On your last point - I’m not a regular on this forum and have no idea. There seems to be a negative bias against qe on this forum (I’m really not sure why) which has come as a surprise to me.

OP posts:

nyv · 20/12/2024 13:07

@Terrberr Thanks for the reply.

Upon reflection, if your parents hadn't applied to QE for you or if you hadn't attended QE for any reason, do you think you would still be on the same path as you are today?

PS. I studied at Oxbridge many years ago, and my experience doesn't quite resemble the culture you mentioned during the college time. Perhaps things have changed now.

Original poster

Terrberr · 20/12/2024 13:03

YouDontNeedWarpaint · 20/12/2024 12:51

The no pastoral care comment sounds quite worrying, to be honest. Support of Mental health needs during adolescence is vitally important to create happy and well rounded adults leaving the school, and if that’s not the priority at QE then it’s failing to fully support a highly intelligent cohort: academic excellence is only part of a school’s role in promoting a lifetime of learning and achievement, mental wellbeing is just as important .

I’m sorry that transition to university (which is challenging for every student) has resulted in mental distress for those QE alumni who weren’t supported/prepared for the change by the school.

Hopefully that has improved since your cohort attended QE.

Edited

I imagine it has. A decade ago, mental health wasn’t really a thing (neither was MeToo, conversations about race, gender etc). A lot had changed in the last few years.

i mentioned earlier that the school is actually quite supportive of these things. The boys themselves are pretty conservative, perhaps as a result of families, perhaps because it is a boys school, perhaps other reasons. This social culture drives the need to achieve but also sort of downplays the need to think about mental health.

OP posts:

Original poster

Terrberr · 20/12/2024 12:59

YouDontNeedWarpaint · 20/12/2024 12:40

“ i don’t think you have kids over the age of 14. Parents don’t really influence university choices, we all applied because we thought we’d enjoy studying at either of two good universities- it was the natural next step. “

Bless you, sweet summer child, that answer just shows you have no clue how much your school and parental norms have influenced you going through your educational journey. I have DC at uni and I know of lots of parents who steered their children towards “worthy” degrees because some are more boastworthy than others. A highly selective school is much more likely to encounter this.

Oxford and Cambridge are not the “natural next step” for anyone and it’s quite arrogant to assume that other universities are automatically inferior, I hate to tell you that some other universities are actually quite good at what they do too….

I am glad, though to read that arts are also encouraged at your school and that it’s not all STEM and nothing else. What’s important and helpful to us is that you’re painting the school as a highly pressured sausage machine that guarantees 9s and Russell Group uni places.
Which is not the priority for many parents.

Not at all. My parents knew I was enjoying school and vaguely what I wanted to do at uni (I went from Medicine to economics to history to English). that was pretty much it. We had 1:1s with teachers trying to get a sense of what we might want to do and presentations talking about the importance of finding our own way, not our parents. I don’t know anyone who applied/ studied anything they didn’t want to - think the school would step in if they found this happening.

i don’t mean to be arrogant, just trying to explain our mentality at the time. Qe is a bubble, and it did feel like the natural next step. To be blunt, I only applied to Oxbridge and 2 schools in the US. I expected to get in because I’d been prepped well enough. This isn’t a dig at other unis - I’m sure they are really very good. I just thought I’d see a continuation of the qe culture at Oxbridge which is what i wanted.

if you conflate 9s and russell group with sausage factory, I think you have a bit of a narrow worldview. Having said that, I agree - ive said multiple times qe is absolutely not for everyone. It suits a certain kind of kid. Not every kid meets the bar and not every kid who meets the bar has the kind of personality and ethos which would mean they enjoy the culture. My uni friends from certain private schools had very similar experiences - I think you have a parent who wants to really stretch your kid. Plenty of schools which are better for other types of kids.

OP posts:

YouDontNeedWarpaint · 20/12/2024 12:51

The no pastoral care comment sounds quite worrying, to be honest. Support of Mental health needs during adolescence is vitally important to create happy and well rounded adults leaving the school, and if that’s not the priority at QE then it’s failing to fully support a highly intelligent cohort: academic excellence is only part of a school’s role in promoting a lifetime of learning and achievement, mental wellbeing is just as important .

I’m sorry that transition to university (which is challenging for every student) has resulted in mental distress for those QE alumni who weren’t supported/prepared for the change by the school.

Hopefully that has improved since your cohort attended QE.