Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Early Years and Junior Schools.

HISTORY LESSON: A new era for Queen Elizabeth's began in September when the school welcomed its first Early Years pupils. Work throughout the summer had converted the Old Lawn Bank and Cliffe Mount premises which at one point had previously served as the headmaster's house. The new building is a bright, purpose-built facility for younger children. QEGS itself dates from 1509, with the school moving to West Park Road in 1884. The Junior School developed its own identity in 1925 when it moved.

WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?: More than 40 children aged 4, 5 and 6 have taken up their places in the three Early Years classrooms and have settled down under the guidance of Kym Marshall and her team. We currently have some 200 pupils all together. The number of girls is growing steadily, following our move to a fully co-educational entry in 2001.

SCHOOL ETHOS: We provide a broad-based education, with an emphasis on pastoral care. Our aim is to develop the whole child and celebrates his or her many and varied accomplishments.

SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT: Stability and continuity are important to young boys and girls. When Junior School head Ian Gordon retired this summer, he was only the second head in over 40 years! His successor Alison Wharmby is looking forward to taking up the Junior School reins in September, working with Head of Early Years, Kym Marshall.

PARENTS: Pupils come to our school from right across East Lancashire, so parents are not always physically close to the school. Nevertheless, our parents play an important role in their children's development, following through the work done in class and encouraging their sons and daughters. They are also immensely helpful in many practical ways, and made some amazing costumes for the Early Years Nativity play, and the Junior School's production of Oliver earlier this year.

WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND £100,000 ON?: We would love our Junior School and Early Years children to have their own Assembly Hall on site. This would give them somewhere close by to eat, perform, and be together as a whole school for prayer and other important gatherings. An Appeal has just been launched and £100,000 would put us well on the way to realising that dream.