Elizabeth College, founded in 1563 by Queen Elizabeth I, is a broadly selective day school. We are a vibrant community with a challenging and stimulating academic and co-curricular programme for children between the ages of 2 and 18. Elizabeth College Junior School is co-educational and provides a pre-school, infant and junior school education for children aged 2 through to 11. The Upper School is phasing in co-education from Years 7 and 12 and works in partnership with The Ladies’ College at Sixth Form.
Buildings and grounds. The Upper School (for students over 11 years) with its imposing main building (1829) overlooks the town and harbour of St Peter Port. The classrooms and laboratories (all of which are equipped with appropriate modern teaching facilities), Refectory, the College Hall, design workshops, pottery, drama studios and Sports Hall are accommodated on this site. There are two large games fields, one of which includes an All-Terrain Pitch for hockey and other sports. Elizabeth College Junior School (ECJS) is co-educational and has its own site ten minutes’ walk from Elizabeth College. It comprises ECJS Queen’s Road, the Junior School (Years 3–6) and ECJS Kings Road, our infant school (Reception, Years 1 and 2) and our pre-school.
Perrot Court is the most significant change to the main College site since the main building was completed in 1829. Facilities include an accessible main reception, the Sixth Form Centre, the library, a second performing arts studio, student wellbeing hub and social sciences faculty suite of classrooms. There are also flexible spaces supporting a range of College activities.
Academic curriculum. In Years 7 and 8, students follow a broad curriculum which is common to all, covering English, Mathematics, Sciences, Creative and Performing Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, IT and Modern Foreign Languages. In Year 9, the Key Stage 3 curriculum remains broad, but choices are made from the Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative and Performing Arts. The core remains common to all: English, Mathematics, the Sciences and RS. In Years 10 to 11, the aim is to produce a high level of achievement and choice at GCSE by offering flexibility wherever possible. Three sciences are studied to Separate or Trilogy GCSE. At least one Modern Language is taken, although more are available as options. English Language, Mathematics and RS are also core subjects. English Literature is studied within the English teaching groups but is not compulsory for all and Additional Mathematics FSMQ is studied by some within their Maths teaching group. Other GCSE options combine the traditional with the contemporary: Art and Design, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, Computing, Drama, Geography, History, Music and PE are currently offered. The Sixth Form is run in partnership with The Ladies’ College with interchange of students between schools and shared teaching of many groups. The Sixth Form offers a very broad array of subjects across the two schools enabling a wide variety of choices, with all GCSE subjects carrying on into Key Stage 5 and new ones introduced: Economics, Film Studies, Further Mathematics, Photography and Psychology. Tutorial periods provide pastoral guidance while PSHE and Life Skills, which includes Futures Education (Careers and University courses), PE and Games are timetabled throughout Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.
Music. There is a lively extracurricular music programme which includes the College Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Pop and Jazz Bands, with numerous small ensembles running alongside these larger groups. There is a variety of choral groups ranging from the fun and inclusive College Choir to the more selective College Chapel Choir and the senior Close Harmony Group. The latter two groups appear regularly in events around the island and usually take part in visits to France to sing in Cathedrals and at concerts. Individual instruction is available in instrumental and vocal studies, catering for a wide range of interests including piano, organ and traditional orchestral studies as well as contemporary and jazz styles. The Junior School has its own choirs, orchestra, recorder group and steel pan band.
Games. The College boasts expansive sports grounds, covering approximately 20 acres. The Junior School is equipped with its own dedicated playing field and has full access to the extensive facilities of the Upper School.
The primary sports at the College include Association Football, Hockey, Rugby, Netball, and Cricket. Additionally, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cross-country Running, Golf, Motor Sports, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Outdoor Pursuits, and Swimming are all well established and thriving.
Physical Education is an integral part of the curriculum for all students up to the end of Year 11, with weekly PE lessons in addition to the Games programme.
Despite the Island’s size, the College enjoys a wealth of competitive opportunities. Fixtures are held against other local schools, with the performance sports teams competing in the island adult leagues for Hockey, Netball, Football, and Cricket. The longstanding rivalry with Victoria College in Jersey remains the highlight of our performance games programme. Additionally, the College embarks on frequent tours to the Caribbean and the UK mainland, while hosting return visits from UK schools, further enriching the students' sporting experience.
Combined Cadet Force. This is voluntary and optional from Year 10 and is Tri-Service. Cadets commit for two years with the option to extend their service for a further two years in Sixth Form. Cadets can also join us in Y12 and will commit for two years alongside their recruit counterparts. Cadets travel regularly to the UK and beyond for proficiency training, camps, courses, qualifications, flying and competitions, as well as adventurous training. Competition shooting forms a major part of the CCF and there is a long and distinguished record at Bisley. The CCF has an important role in providing Guards of Honour for Island ceremonial occasions. Outstanding cadets have the option to be selected as Lt Governor’s cadet where they will assist the governor closely on state and ceremonial occasions.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Students are encouraged to participate in this scheme. Both Bronze and Gold Awards are offered as extracurricular activities. Bronze expedition work takes place locally in the Channel Islands while the expedition work necessary for the Gold Award takes place on the UK mainland during Investigation and Discovery Week.
Community service. We encourage students in all year groups to support our regular charity days that are led and run by a Sixth Form team. All students in Year 9 will take a five-week activity on conservation and eco awareness, including a visit to the school allotment. From Year 10 onwards, students can opt to serve in the CCF, where they will be involved in numerous island parades and ceremonies; Sports Leadership, whereby students are encouraged to coach and take charge of sports fixtures and games for younger teams on the island; and conservation, in which students are involved in growing crops that can be used by themselves, the College kitchen and others; or working with a local charity such as Health Connections and Les Bourges. The College also runs an annual trip to Kenya where Year 13 students spend some time teaching in local Primary schools, working with a local charity for children; there is also an educational bursary linked to this charity, that has been set up and organised by students from the College.
Scouts. There is an active Elizabeth College Scout and Explorer Group, which meets on Friday evenings at the College Field. There is a Cub Scout Group for ECJS students, also based at College Field.
Clubs and societies. The College stresses the importance of co-curricular activity. The Friday afternoon activities programme involves the whole College learning through activities and non-examined subjects at the end of each week. Years 7 and 8 students participate in three separate activities each year and choose from a wide range of activities from Global Cooking to Futsal. All Year 9 students complete schemes of work in Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, Coding, Shooting and First Aid. Many of the students complete the Bronze DofE qualification during the Investigation & Discovery co-curricular week at the end of the Trinity term. Years 10 to 13 students select their Friday activity and choose to join the CCF, complete a Sports Leaders Award, involve themselves in the College’s conservation project, support a local charity, or support Years 7 and 8 activities.
The student’s commitment and achievement towards the co-curricular life at the College are recognised in Years 7 to 9 through the Elizabethan Award, Years 10 and 11 with College Colours and Years 12 and 13 with half and full colours.
Clubs and societies help students to achieve these awards and there is an extensive selection that take place before and after the College Day and during the lunch break. Over 40 clubs are available for the students to participate in and range from Bell ringing Practice to Mixed Netball.
Pastoral care. At Elizabeth College, each year has a Head of Year assisted by four Tutors. Students attending Elizabeth College Junior School also have Form Tutors. All these staff provide pastoral care and academic guidance for their own sections of the College. They are supported by a School Listener who offers emotional support for the school and a Chaplain who conducts services in all three schools as well as preparing students for Confirmation.
Parental involvement. Parents are strongly encouraged to take an active part in their child’s education. There are regular assessments and reports, parents’ evenings, pastoral information evenings and parent workshops. Heads of Year keep in regular contact with parents through newsletters and email. The Heads of Year and students’ tutors are always available to meet with parents to discuss any concerns.
Admission. The principal ages for admission into the school are 4, 11 and 16, but there are sometimes vacancies for entry at other ages. Entry is by means of assessment and/or interview which are adapted to the age of the applicant. There is a £150 non-refundable registration fee. Applications for entry should be addressed to the Registrar.
Scholarships to the College. The Gibson Fleming Trust provides Awards on a means-tested basis for current students to support them in their involvement with co-curricular activities and educational trips.
Foundation bursary scheme provides means-tested bursaries to students who would not be able to access a College education without additional financial support. We currently offer the equivalent of five full bursaries for entry into Year 7 and three full bursaries for entry into Year 12. We welcome applications from children with enquiring minds who would benefit from our broad curriculum, outstanding extracurricular and enrichment activities, diverse community and inspirational environment.
Choral and instrumental scholarships. The Gibson Fleming Trust provides Choral and Instrumental Scholarships to current students with some financial assistance available alongside the awards. Details of the scholarships may be obtained from the Director of Music.
Scholarships to the universities. The College Exhibitions, Scholarships and Prizes include the Queen’s Exhibition, the Lord de Sausmarez Exhibition, the Mainguy Scholarship, the Mansell Exhibition, the University of Winchester prize.
Travel. There are several flights each day from Southampton, Gatwick and Stansted. There are also regular flights to the West Country and to the Midlands and northern airports. There are frequent sailings to and from Portsmouth and Poole, which offer vehicle transportation.
Alumni. The Honorary Secretary of the Old Elizabethan Association is Kin Tang who may be contacted via www.oea.org.gg. Fees per term (2024-2025). Acorn House (Pre-Prep): £4,614; Beechwood (Prep): £4,973; Upper School (11–18): £5,216.
Governors & Staff:
Directors:
The Very Revd T Barker, Dean of Guernsey (Chairman)
Mrs R Bowyer
Mrs K Bray
D Crook
M Ferbrache
Mrs M Galpin
M Helyar
A Knowelden
K Lord
B Molloy
J Ovenden
J Roche
Principal: Mrs J M Palmer, BA
Head of the Junior School: R I Fyfe, BA
Vice-Principal (Academic): T I Addenbrooke, BEng, MSc, PhD
Vice-Principal (Pastoral): C D Eyton-Jones, BA Ed
Assistant Principal (Sixth Form): Mrs J A Dittmar, BSc
Assistant Principal (Training, Development and Engagement): Mrs J F Roberts, MA, MA, PGDip
Assistant Principal (Co-Curricular): W T D Hanson, BA
Head of Development and Marketing: Miss K M Earl, BA
Bursar & Clerk to the Directors: J G Couchman, BA
Members of Teaching Staff:
E C Adams, BA
Ms M L Adkins, BA
B E H Aplin, BSc
D Aughton, BSc
C R Bentley, BA
Mrs E F Blazina, BA
D M Bolt, BA
Mrs C S Buchanan, BA
M A M Buchanan, BA
J J Burbidge, BA, MA
Mrs E A Burbidge, BA
R G Campbell, BSc, MSc
Mrs E J Chamberlain, BSc, PGCert
T H Cheshire, BA
M R Copeland, BA, MA
Mrs P S Copeland, BA
D J Costen, BA
Mrs G Dallin, BSc
P G Davis, BSc
R M Davis, BA
Ms F De Garis
Miss A C M Demongeot, BA, MA
J A Depnering, MA, DPhil
T R de Putron, BSc
C Du Feu, BA
T P Edge, BA, MA
Mrs E K A Field, MSc
L R G Garland, BSc, MA
A J Good, BSc
S J Huxtable, MA
D R L Inderwick, BA, MA
Mrs S Jamieson, BSc
Miss E K L Jarvis, BA
Ms D Joshua, MA
Mrs G Laird, BMus, MA
Mrs R Lee, BA
Mrs S Lee, Mgr
A D Leece, BSc
R G Le Sauvage, BSc
Ms E A Loveridge, BA
D R Loweth, MA, MEd
Mrs H M Mauger, BA
Miss R E Merrien, BSc
Mrs S A L Moores, BA
R A Morris, BA
Miss C B Newall, BA
Mrs K A Norman, BA
Mrs S Ozanne, BA
Ms J M Pendleton, BA
Mrs P J Read, MSci, MA
Miss M Schofield, BA
D Scott, BA
Miss R L Seymour, BSc
T C Slann, Dip NEBSS
Ms T L Smith, BA, MA
M A G Stephens, BA
A G Stewart, BSc
Ms S L A Tribe, BA
Chaplain: The Revd P A Graysmith, BSc
Director of Music: A J Morley, BMus
Games and Physical Education: T P Eisenhuth, BPhysEd
Prep:
Deputy Head Pastoral: Mrs E Bott, BEd
Deputy Head Academic: Ms J A Lavery, BSc
Mrs C Bowden, BEd
Mrs E Chapman, BSc
Mrs D Dowding, BA
Mrs S Ellis
Mrs R E Hern, BA, MA
Mrs L Le Lievre, BA
Mrs C Martel, BA Ed
Mrs E Parkes, BEd
Mrs A M Pollard, BEd
Miss E Randall, Bsc
Mrs K Reed, BA
Mrs J Ricketts, BA
Mrs B Santi, BSc, MA
P Sargent, BA
Mrs N Stevens, BEd
M Stokes, BA
R Sutton, BA
Pre-Prep:
Deputy Head: Mrs J Atkinson, BEd
Miss R Curtis, BA Ed
Mrs S Bridle, BEd
Mrs E Brookes, BA
Mrs L Du Port, BA
Mrs J Hamilton, BA
Miss A A Higgins, BA
Mrs E Jones, BA Ed