Went to Qe Boys Barnet, AMA

[Terrberr]

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.

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.

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.

@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.

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.

“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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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？

@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?

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

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?

Unfortunately all the very selective schools, whether state or private, get posters who are somehow envious. It is quite flattering that this now extends to QE and isn’t just Eton/Westminster/St Paul’s etc anymore. Shows QE is doing something right!

How amusingly narrow-minded to assume that all criticism aimed at highly selective schools stems from envy. The highly selective school as QE, by their very nature, come with their own deep-rooted flaws and principles—flaws that plenty of people find genuinely problematic against their education beliefs, not enviable.

WTF would I be envious of a school hundreds of miles away?

This selective state school has the best GCSE and A level results in the country and most leavers go to top universities and into very gainful employment thereafter. It rivals the top private schools in results and uni participation on much less funding and it is full of children from households from first and second immigration background. It is to be celebrated, not criticised.

The bold strategy of celebrating top results when being the most selective school based on exam results, and maintain a narrow demographic. It's less "educational achievement" and more "statistical inevitability." Truly redefining what it means to set the bar—for others, obviously.

Thanks for proving my point - crabs in a bucket mentality, the sickness of our society.

I see— your"bucket mentality" more about dismissing criticism while turning a deaf ear.