Meet the heads: Stephen Holliday, QEH Seniors, Bristol
His approach received a resounding endorsement earlier this year from independent inspectors who described the school as providing "an outstanding educational experience for boys".
QEH was founded in 1590 and its longstanding success has been extended to younger boys following the recent opening of an 80-strong Junior School at the Clifton school site. Today QEH has 630 boys aged seven to 18.
While it is academically selective, QEH is not socially exclusive and a sizeable proportion of the boys who attend benefit from the school's financial assistance and support options. In addition, the competitive and inclusive fee structure ensures QEH is highly attractive compared with other city independent schools.
Mr Holliday said: "As Bristol's only independent school for boys we are uniquely placed to deliver the education that boys need to thrive.
"Year on year, QEH is one of the top schools locally and nationally for A-level results, with a large proportion of candidates going on to acclaimed universities including Oxford and Cambridge. But examination success is only part of the QEH story.
"We encourage the boys to extend themselves in a rounded way which I call 'effective intelligence'. QEH boys are high achievers in many ways – academically, in sport, music and drama, and in the many extra-curricular activities that are organised. Our approach ensures QEH boys are stretched – but not stressed."
Entry to the school is by assessment, usually at seven, 11, 13 or 16, but vacancies do occasionally occur in other age groups.
an open morning for both schools takes place, promptly at 10am, on Saturday, October 10.
Entrance examinations take place on a Saturday in January in 2010.
For more information or a prospectus visit www.qehbristol.co.uk, email admissions@qehbristol.co.uk or telephone Mrs Liz Bamber to arrange a visit on 0117 930 3068.
