Welcome
Trips provide our pupils with incredible opportunities to enhance their learning beyond the classroom, explore topics beyond the curriculum, and deepen their understanding of the wider world. They also help pupils discover new interests, form new friendships, and strengthen existing ones. Many of our alumni fondly recall their trip experiences, highlighting the lasting memories they create.
This guide aims to provide you and your child with as much information as possible to help you make informed decisions. While all details are correct at the time of publishing, please note that some specifics, such as flight times, are yet to be confirmed. Trip leaders will provide final details in due course. We look forward to offering more trips in the future and will update this guide as plans develop and details are confirmed.
How to book...
Introductory letters for all trips will be sent out from trip leaders via SchoolPost on a Thursday at 5pm. This letter will provide an overview of the trip, payment amount/schedule and consent reply slip. Trips fall into three categories:
Essential Trips – Attendance is expected. Directly linked to academic specifications and included in fees.
Desirable Trips – Attendance is encouraged and will support pupils’ academic or pastoral development. Proportional and reasonable charges may be made for desirable visits.
Optional Trips – Entirely optional. Recreational benefits that otherwise pupils may not experience. Fully funded by parents/pupils. For desirable and optional trips, places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis based on the receipt of payment/deposit via ParentPay (not by returning a reply slip). For Year 2 to Year 7 Year Group Residentials, sufficient places will be available for all pupils to attend.
Please note Year 13 pupils are not able to attend residential visits once they have completed their final exams. Trip leaders will share additional details via SchoolPost. Please note that prices may be subject to change due to external factors.
Click here to view the WGSF Education Visits - Terms and Conditions. (This can also be found on the policies page on all our websites)
YMCA Lakeside
Ipswich (Rugby)
Rome & Naples
Benalmadena
Val Thorens
Bletchley Park
Cranedale
Spain
Berlin
York
London (Rugby)
Caldicott (Rugby)
Sedbergh (Rugby)
Passo Tonale
Cliffe House
Health and Safety Statement:
YMCA Lakeside
Staff Lead: Mrs S Roberts
Dates: 14 - 16 October 2026
Price: £200
Tour provider/operator: YMCA
Learning Objectives: Develop team work, encourage resillence, social development and well-being
Trip overview
All of Year 7 are invited to the YMCA National Centre, Lakeside, hidden within 400 acres of private woodland along the south western shores of Lake Windermere. The purpose of the visit is to aid transition and help build a ‘team’ mentality within each form.This is the perfect opportunity for the pupils to get to know each other and us in a relaxed and informal setting.
Desirable Trip for Year 7 Pupils
Optional Trip for Year 11 - 13 Boys Ipswich (Rugby)
Staff Lead: Mr I Wolfenden
Dates: October 2026
Price: £200
This is a school-led trip.
Learning Objectives: Attendence in a national tournament, representing the school, developing aspirations with exposure to a high performance environment.
Trip overview
Our Rugby teams take part in the prestigious St Joseph’s Rugby Festival, an internationally televised tournament that brings together some of the biggest and most competitive rugby schools in the UK. This elite event provides a unique opportunity for our players to test themselves against toplevel opposition, pushing their skills, resilience, and teamwork to new heights. The experience not only challenges and stretches the pupils on the field but also helps shape them into disciplined, determined young athletes ready to compete on any stage.
Rome & Naples
Staff Lead: Mr J Hargreaves
Dates: October 2026
Price: £1750
Tour provider/operator: Nimrod
Learning Objectives: To enrich students’ understanding of the Roman world by studying primary source material relating to GCSE and A-Level Classical Civilisation and Latin courses; to enrich students of associated subjects with experience of the Roman world; to provide a European cultural experience for all students.
Trip overview
This is an eight day, two centre trip to visit ancient sites and museums relevant to the study of Key Stage 4 and 5 Classics courses, especially Classical Civilisation. While priority will be given to Classics students, those studying other courses who are interested in the itinerary are very welcome to attend and always contribute valuable insights to the trip.
Optional Trip for Year 10 - 13 Pupils
Optional Trip for Year 10 - 13 MFL Pupils Benalmadena & Andalucia
Staff Lead: Mr B Konopinski
Dates: October 2026
Price: £850
Tour provider/operator: SLT Tours
Learning Objectives: Language immersion whilst staying with host families, GCSE / A-Level speaking exam preparation, cultural experiences, opportunities to develop personal and social skills in a foreign country.
Trip overview
A language immersion trip to the south of Spain. Students stay with host families, attending a language school in the morning and taking part in cultural activies in the afternoons. Language school lessons are tailored to the GCSE / A-Level course. Host families are vetted by the school. A-Level students will see their studies of cultural heritgae come to life in Andalucía.
Val Thorens
Staff Lead: Mr A Pesterfield
Dates: 12 - 19 December 2026
Price: £2,200
Tour provider/operator: Ski4less
Learning Objectives: Winter sports experience and challenge, developing independence. Social development in a foreign setting, developing cultural experiences.
Trip overview
This is a one-week visit for Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 students to explore the slopes of Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens. A compact and snowsure village in the middle of the French Alps, Val Thorens offers over 100 km of varied pistes that join up with the world famous Three Valleys Ski area. Staying in ski in/ski out apartments with meals taken at local slopeside restaurants, students on the trip will enjoy six days of intensive skiing and a varied apres ski program.
Optional Trip for Year 10-12 Pupils
Desirable Trip for Year 10 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mr P McWilliams
Dates: January 2027
Price: £190
Tour provider/operator: To be confirmed
Bletchley Park
Learning Objectives: Direct links to the computer science GCSE, historical links to Computer Science, relevance and exposure to computer science in a real world context.
Trip overview
This is a two-day visit to Bletchley Park (Home of the Code Breakers) and The Museum of Computer Science. Historical insight into the use of codes and cyphers, and the development of computers to crack the afore mentioned. Includes one night stay in a Premier Inn plus bowling and Nandos at Xscape Milton Keynes.
Cranedale, Malton
Staff Lead: Mr R Tribe
Dates: Feburary/March 2027
Price: £350
Tour provider/operator: Cranedale Centre
Learning Objectives: NEA preparation.
Trip overview
An immersive 3-4 day field studies course designed to give students the breadth of experience needed to design and execute an NEA project of their choice on any relevant topic from physical or human geography
Essential Trip for Year 12 Pupils
Optional Trip for Year 8 & 9 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mr B Konoplinski
Dates: Feburary/March 2027
Price: £750
Tour provider/operator: To be confirmed
Learning Objectives: Language immersion within Spain, speaking and language exam preparation, cultural experiences, opportunities to develop personal and social skills in a foreign country.
Trip overview
Trip overview to be added once more is confirmed.
Berlin
Desirable Trip for Year 10 - 13 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mrs H Cowan
Dates: Feburary 2027
Price: £1000
Tour provider/operator: NST
Learning Objectives: The opportunity to understand and speak German in a real-life setting and an insight into the history of Berlin.
Trip overview
A visit that includes return air travel and local transportation whilst in Berlin. Cultural excurisions to the Reichstag, TV Tower and the remains of the Berlin wall as well as various museums. Evening meals to be taken in restaurants to experience the local food and immerse in the culture.
Desirable Trip for Year 3 Pupils York
Staff Lead: Mrs V Hutchinson
Dates: Spring 2027
Price: £275
Tour provider/operator: YHA & York Time Travel
Learning Objectives: Direct History curriculum links to the Vikings, links to the Yorkshire and Geography Curriculum. Developing independence and social relationships outside of the school setting.
Trip overview
One-night, two day cultural and educational trip to York. The trip offers handson learning opportunities directly linked to the Key Stage 2 curriculum, bringing abstract topics to life. Pupils will gain a deeper, chronological understanding of history by visiting sites like the Jorvik Viking Centre to experience Viking-Age life and the York Castle Museum. Exploring the city, walking the ancient City Walls, and potentially taking a River Ouse cruise provides real-world context for mapping, physical and human geography, and links to our Yorkshire curriculum.
London (Rugby)
Staff Lead: Mr I Wolfenden
Dates: March 2027
Price: £200
Tour provider/operator: Edwin Doran
Learning Objectives: Attendence in a national tournament, representing school, develop aspirations with exposure to a high-performance environment.
Trip overview
Our rugby teams are heading to the world-renowned Rosslyn Park National School Sevens, the largest tournament of its kind on the planet. Facing elite opposition in a high-pressure environment, our players are ready to showcase our brand of rugby with pride and resilience. This iconic event is a true test of skill and teamwork, marking a significant milestone in our rugby programme’s development.
Optional Trip for Year 9 - 13 Pupils
Optional Trip for Year 8 Pupils
Staff Lead: TBC
Dates: March 2027
Price: £100
Tour provider/operator: NST
Caldicott (Rugby)
Learning Objectives: Attendence in a national tournament, representing school, develop aspirations with exposure to a high-performance environment.
Trip overview
The prestigious Caldicott Rugby Festival is a highly competitive and nationally recognised tournament that attracts some of the strongest school teams from across the UK. Last year’s event even featured academy teams from France and Dubai, highlighting the tournament’s growing international reputation. This elite competition will push our young players to step up, testing their skill, resilience, and teamwork against top-tier opposition. Pupils will embrace the challenge, growing both individually and collectively, and gaining invaluable experience on and off the field. It will be a fantastic opportunity that continues to shape their development as committed and ambitious young rugby players.
Sedbergh (Rugby)
Staff Lead: Mr I Wolfenden
Dates: March 2027
Price: £200
This is a school-led trip
Learning Objectives: Attendence in a national tournament, representing school, develop aspirations with exposure to a high-performance environment.
Trip overview
The renowned Sedbergh 10s Tournament is a prestigious end-of-season event that brings together some of the country’s strongest rugby schools. Played in a competitive ten-a-side format, the tournament will offer a fast-paced and physically demanding challenge, providing a fitting finale to the school rugby calendar. This tour will be a celebration of the squad’s commitment and progress throughout the season. Players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills, strengthen team bonds during the overnight stay, and reflect on their development both on and off the pitch.
Representing Queen Elizabeth’s at Sedbergh 10s will mark a proud and memorable conclusion to the U18s school rugby journey, an experience defined by quality rugby, camaraderie, and shared achievement.
Optional Trip for Year 10 - 13 Pupils
Optional Trip for Years 7-9 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mr A Pesterfield
Dates: April 2027
Price: £2,000
Tour provider/operator: Activ4
Learning Objectives: Winter sports experience and challenge, develop independence, social development in a foreign setting, develop cultural experiences.
Trip overview
This is a one-week visit for Key Stage 3 students to explore the slopes of Italy’s most popular ski resort, Passo Tonale. A traditional alpine town in the middle of the Italian Dolomites, Tonale offers a wide array of snow-sure pistes and access to the high altitude Aprica Glacier. Staying in a local hotel a short walk from the slopes, students on the trip will enjoy six days of intensive skiing and a varied apres ski program.
Passo Tonale
Cliffe House
Staff Lead: Mr A Sutcliffe & Mrs K Thomas
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £100
This is a school-led trip.
Learning Objectives: Develop team work, develop independence, experience challenge, social development away from the school setting.
Trip overview
Year 2 residential to prepare the children for the move into Year 3. At Cliffe House, pupils will gain a deeper understanding of their natural surroundings, step outside their comfort zones and work as teams to overcome challenges.
Desirable Trip for Year 2 Pupils
Desirable Trip for Year 4 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mrs V Hutchinson
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £200
Tour provider/operator: YHA
Learning Objectives: Outdoor Learning, direct curriculum links to coastal Geography and the Yorkshire Curriculum, developing social interaction with fellow classmates in a residential setting.
Trip overview
The dramatic landscape and rich heritage of Whitby provides an outdoor classroom for the Year 4 curriculum, specifically linking to our topics on coasts, rivers, and local history. Pupils will directly observe and record the physical features of the coast, such as cliffs, beaches, headlands, and the River Esk estuary.
Coastal Management: By studying the sea defences (e.g., groynes, sea walls) in Whitby, pupils will investigate the need for and different methods of coastal management and discuss the impact of human activity on the environment.
Desirable Trip for Year 5 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mr G Lewis
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £325
This is a school-led trip.
Learning Objectives: Develop team work, develop independence, experience challenge, social development away from the school setting.
Trip overview
The Year 5 residential trip to Edale YHA in the Peak District is encouraged to develop personal skills such as collaboration, risk-taking, resillience, confidence and perseverance through a variety of different outdoor and adventrous activities. These activities, such as canoeing, caving, abseiling and archery, include both individual and group challenges.
Desirable Trip for Year 6 Pupils Edinburgh
Staff Lead: Mr G Lewis
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: To be confirmed
Tour provider/operator: To be confirmed
Learning Objectives: Cultural experience, links to the Year 6
Humanities curriculum exploring a capital city and considering urban geography. Further curriculum links including mountains and volcanoes.
Trip overview
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Edinburgh provides an immersive and cultural experience for all who visit. Edinburgh’s wealth of landmarks offer real-world links to our History and Geography curriculum, deepening pupils’ understanding of government, monarchy, and historical periods. A walk up Arthur’s Seat allows pupils to observe a spectacular view of the city and its distinct urban geography. It provides a link to geology (studying the remains of an extinct volcano).
North Wales
Staff Lead: Dr S Barber
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £200
Tour provider/operator: To be confirmed
Desirable Trip for Year 12 Pupils
Learning Objectives: Carry out required practical objectives of the A-Level Biology specification. These can be used to form part of the practical skills endorsement.
Trip overview
A three-day field trip to North Wales led by Queen Elizabeth’s Biology staff. Year 12 students learn ecological sampling techniques before designing and carrying out their own ecological investigation. Accommodation at Bangor University halls of residence. Exact dates to be confirmed dependent on tide times and Year 12 commitments.
Optional Trip for Year 7 Pupils
Staff Lead: Mrs D Walker & Mrs E McGlone
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £750
Tour provider/operator: PGL
Learning Objectives: Language immersion within France, speaking and language exam preparation, cultural experiences, opportunities to develop personal and social skills in a foreign country.
Trip overview
A long weekend away, travel by coach and ferry staying at Chateau de Grande Romaine where all meals are provided. Includes one day of sightseeing in Paris and a day at a theme park.
Paris
Rhineland
Staff Lead: Mrs H Cowan
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: £800
Tour provider/operator: NST
Learning Objectives: Language immersion and language exam preparation, cultural experiences, opportunities to develop personal and social skills in a foreign country.
Trip overview
A cultural introduction to Germany which offers pupils the opportunity to understand and speak German immersed in a real life setting. The visit includes travel from school by coach and ferry. Pupils will stay at a small family run hotel (on a half board basis), Im Rheintal in Kamp Bornhofen, on the banks of the picturesque river Rhine. Students will be given money to buy lunch every day and will be encouraged to speak German when doing so. The visit will include various cultural excursions including a visit to the famous Burg Eltz castle, a boat trip past the Lorelei rock on the river Rhine, a cable car ride and exploration of the town of Rüdesheim, a visit to Cochem and the wonderful open air swimming pool there. We will also spend a whole day at the Phantasialand Theme Park near to Cologne.
Optional Trip for Year 9 Pupils
Optional Trip for Year 11 & 12 Boys Sports
Tour
Staff Lead: To be confirmed
Dates: Summer 2027
Price: To be confirmed
Tour provider/operator: To be confirmed
Learning Objectives: To develop resilience, teamwork, communication skills, enjoyment.
Trip overview
Our Senior School sports tour is designed to be transformative experience, fostering elite skill development alongside a deep sense of cultural awareness and personal maturity.
Duke of Edinburgh About the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Your DofE Co-ordinators are: Mrs D Walker and Mr P McWilliam
Empowering Young
People:
The DofE Journey
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a life-changing experience that helps young people build a lifelong belief in themselves. It is about more than just outdoor adventure; it is a journey of self-discovery that fosters resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
By participating in the DofE award scheme at Queen Elizabeth’s, pupils create their own bespoke program of activities. Whether they are volunteering in the community, mastering a new skill, or navigating the Yorkshire Dales during their Expedition section, they are gaining the ‘soft skills’ that employers and universities value most. It is an opportunity for our pupils to achieve something truly extraordinary.
Dalesbridge, Yorkshire Dales
Staff Lead: Mrs D Walker / Mr P McWilliam
Dates: April/May 2027
Training Expeditions
These visits are designed as vital practice expeditions, providing pupils with the foundational skills needed for success in the field. The program begins with an initial night at Dalesbridge, followed by a series of navigated walks and overnight camping within the Yorkshire Dales.
Bronze Level: One-day training session in May 2027
Silver & Gold Levels: Three-day, two-night residential in April 2027
Woolley Edge, Wakefield
Staff Lead: Mrs D Walker
Dates: June 2027
Bronze Expedition
This visit forms the assessment expedition element of the DofE specification. It will include 2 days walking and one night camping at Woolley Edge Scout campsite.
Kettlewell, Yorkshire Dales
Staff Lead: Mr P McWilliam
Dates: July 2027
Silver Expedition
This visit forms the assessment expedition element of the DofE specification. It will include an initial night at Kettlewell Youth Hostel followed by 3 days and 2 nights walking and camping in the Yorkshire Dales.
Whitby, North Yorkshire Moors
Staff Lead: Mr P McWilliam
Dates: August 2027
Gold Expedition
This visit forms the assessment expedition element of the DofE specification. It will include an initial night at Helmsley Youth Hostel followed by 4 days and 3 nights walking and camping in the North Yorkshire Moors.
