Extra-Curricular Activities

 

Business and Economics Competitions

Share Club
This activity is offered to any Lower Sixth girl who is interested in the Stock Market. It takes the form of an inter-school competition.
Each school is given an imaginary Ł100,000 to invest in the FTSE. The Club meets once a week to manage its portfolio. A monthly league table of results is published.
The Department also chooses a variety of other competitions which girls can enter, for example -
The Royal Economic Society's essay writing competition which in 2008 had the title 'Which economic idea or policy has the most power to improve our lives?'.
or
Target 2.0
The Bank of England's Interest Rate setting competition where school teams have access to on-line information and have to set the bank rate in much the same way as the Monetary Policy Committee.

City and Guilds
The Certificate in Culinary Skills

This course is offered as an extra-curricular activity to girls in the Lower Sixth and leads to a nationally recognised vocational qualification.

The aims of the course are:

• To develop a high standard of foundation cookery skills and good work organisation;
• To gain knowledge of safe and hygienic practices, including the correct handling and storage of food;
• To understand the contribution of a well-balanced diet to good health;
• To gain confidence and a discerning attitude towards the choice, cooking and presentation of food;
• To stimulate an interest in cookery and to provide employment opportunities.

The course is suitable for girls who have a real interest in food and nutrition and who wish to develop their practical cookery skills. The course is mainly of a practical nature but has a requirement for a portfolio that provides evidence of the work undertaken.

Girls also take a course leading to the 'Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering'.

Assessment is continuous and in addition there are three formal practical assessments, one at the end of each term. Full certification is achieved on the successful completion of each practical assessment and of a multiple choice written paper taken during the summer term.

Completion of the course can be useful for employment opportunities during a 'Gap' Year.

For girls undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Gold Level, completion of the City and Guilds Certificate in Culinary Skills, qualifies as a 'skill'.

Dance

The Dance Department follows the syllabuses of the Royal Academy of Dance, the Cecchetti Society for Ballet and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance for Modern and Tap. Girls are encouraged to take the examinations, held in school twice a year, but these are not compulsory. The primary objective is that girls should enjoy dancing and have the opportunity to experience different dance styles. Girls may also attend the popular weekly workshop in Jazz and Hip-Hop.

Drama

There is a full-scale, whole school production towards the end of the autumn term. Entry is by competitive audition open to all girls in the school. The production is staffed and produced by a team of girls, working under the guidance of the theatre technician. The production normally runs for 3 to 4 performances and is open to members of the public as well as the whole school community. Past productions have included 'A Christmas Carol' (2007), 'The Threepenny Opera' (2006), 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'(2005), 'She Stoops To Conquer'(2004), 'Les Miserables'(2003), 'As You Like It'(2002) and 'Kiss Me Kate'(2001).

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is available to girls who wish to participate at both Bronze and Gold levels. The Bronze Award is normally undertaken during Year IV and the Gold Award during the sixth form.

Both levels of the Award require girls to undertake activities including a physical recreation, a community service, a practice and a full expedition and to demonstrate a qualifying skill. At Gold level, girls have to undertake a residential project. At QM, girls have the opportunity to under take a school arranged horse riding expedition in place of the more usual walking venture for their Gold Level Award.

All the activities girls undertake for the Award must be voluntary, unpaid and involve the girls giving up their free time to participate. Many of the extra-curricular activities available at QM qualify for the Award. 

Film Society

The film society, which is for sixth formers only, meets six times a year.

Each season has a theme:

·         2003/4 - Post-War British Cinema Classics,

·         2004/5 - Classics of World Cinema

·         2005/6 - The European New Wave

Each screening is preceded by a brief contextual introduction.

The aim of the society is to develop its members' cultural knowledge and understanding in an entertaining way.

Films shown during the past two years include; Withnail and I, Get Carter, The Life of Brian, if, Citizen Kane, Throne of Blood, A Generation and Closely Observed Trains.

 French Ciné-Club

At GCSE and A levels foreign films are used as an aid to teaching and a French Ciné-club meets twice a term. Previous presentations have included:

Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles
Les Enfants du Marais
Les Choristes
Jeux Interdits
Amélie
Au revoir les Enfants

Modern Studies Society

This society, run by the History department and open to girls in the sixth form, meets five or six times a year. Invited speakers, who in the past have included Lord Norton and Peter Riddell, address the girls. Themed evenings on topics such as the USA or Europe are organised with the objective of raising awareness to issues but in a more informal setting.

Musical Performance Activities

Concerts and productions are given both within and outside school. Regular informal concerts and a Junior Concert are arranged to give younger and less experienced performers a platform. Of major importance is the music offered in our Chapel services, special services inside and outside school and the Carol services.

The school's many musical ensembles rehearse each week and perform at selected school events.

Senior Choir (thrice weekly)
Junior Choir (twice weekly)
Vocal Group
Symphony Orchestra
Concert Band
Sinfonia
Fiddle Band
Junior Ensemble
Brass Group
Percussion Ensemble
2 String Quartets
String Trio
Cello Ensemble
Senior Flute Group
Junior Flute Group
Junior Wind Ensemble
Saxophone Ensemble
Senior Rock Band
Junior Rock Band
Jazz Group
Poston Ensemble (a mixed ensemble of music scholars)
Poston Piano Trio
E.P.I.C (a student composer's ensemble)

The Music department arranges a number of musical events including:

The annual Junior Music Open Day (a collaboration with musicians from prep and local primary schools);
A major senior music/theatre production every two years;
An annual junior music/theatre production;
Collaboration with other choirs, including from abroad;
Visits by pupils from specialist music schools, e.g. Chethams (collaboration in musical workshops);
Visits by professional musicians and ensembles (girls may participate in workshops and master classes);
Speech Day performances;
The provision of music outside school e.g. Evensong at York Minster, weddings and formal dinners.

House Music Competitions

There are three annual music competitions for which house points are awarded. These are collated and the house with the most points is awarded the Queen Margaret's House Music Trophy

Fun Song

This is a whole school event that takes place at the end of the first half of the autumn term. Each of the six houses presents a song, accompanied by a backing track, that supports a performance in costume, with props and simple choreography. The Headmaster, Deputy Head, Director of Music and another member of the music staff award marks and a winning house emerges.

The House Music Festival

This is a week of informal workshop style events during the second half of spring term when girls, representing their houses, perform to each other and to music staff. Written reports and encouragement are given to each participant and house points are awarded.

Girls also have the opportunity to listen to staff performing instrumental or vocal pieces and giving master classes.

At the end of spring term, girls who have done particularly well in the House Music Festival, perform in a short concert before an audience and an external adjudicator who gives a verbal report on each the performances.

Soft Song

Small vocal ensembles, one from each of the six houses, perform a short choral item, traditionally known as a Soft Song, in front of the whole school. An external adjudicator awards points and a winning house is declared.

QMPT

QMPT is the Queen Margaret's Prince's Trust Challenge. Participating girls will be given the challenge of raising a minimum of £500 for The Prince's Trust. A group of 8 to 10 girls will form a 'company' in which each girl will be given a specific role. Funds will be raised by selling products/services within the school. The activity will give the girls an insight into running a business and in addition they will gain experience of a variety of management roles. The QMPT group will meet formally each week and be guided by business advisers and a link teacher.

The group has to research and choose a product(s), analyse its market, promote and trade the product(s) and finally wind-up the company. 

The funds raised will be allocated by the Prince's Trust to help young people in Yorkshire, just £500 can help a young person set up and start his/her own business.

 The activity, which has to be completed over one term, requires commitment and dedication but is rewarding for those who become involved.

Spanish Cine Club

The Spanish Cine Club meets once a term and is open to girls studying AS and A2 Level Spanish. It is an opportunity for them to see the work of contemporary Spanish directors such as Alejandro Amenábar, Guillermo del Toro and Pedro Almodóvar as well as to widen their knowledge of the Spanish language and culture.

Science Society

Each term, outside speakers are invited to address the sixth form, and interested members of Years IV and V, on a range of topical scientific issues. The talks introduce the girls to the careers of practising scientists and help girls to develop a broader appreciation of the application of science and its relevance in today's society.

Recent speakers have included:
Dr Paul Genever - York University 'Stem cells and skeletons; from the hospital bed to the space shuttle'
Dr Sally Thorpe - British Antarctic Survey
Dr Ranti Fayukan - Aura-Soma Products Ltd
Dr Jeff Hardy - York University
Dr Andrew Jones - York Archaeological Trust 'Science in Archaeology'