Queen Visits Drapers Academy

The local headteachers had a special treat on Friday, when we were all invited to meet the Queen. At first we thought it just involved lunch. However we were then told that all of us would be introduced to Her Majesty! After her tour of the school, the Queen came into the staff room and met with Governors, local Councillors, the headteachers and contractors (who had built the new school).

Although it was difficult to take photos, we managed to get some behind the scenes video footage which you can see below.

The Queen officially opened Drapers Academy - unveiling the foundation stone at the end of her visit. She toured the £250 million site of the Drapers Academy, which staff and students moved into last month. Year 10 students showed the Queen their science projects and the arts department also performed a scene from The Little Shop of Horrors.

At lunchtime the royal visitor and special visitors were served a sumptuous meal in the school canteen, which had been transformed specially with linen tablecloths and flowers. Amazingly the food was cooked by our very own Mr Borrell!

The diners enjoyed a starter of ham hock terrine, with baby plum tomato relish and basil dressing, followed by a canon of lamb, Dauphinoise potato, buttered spinach, beetroot puree and pinot noir jus. For dessert roasted rhubarb and ginger creme brulee was served up with tuile biscuit. And, for the adults, it was all washed down with wine - Montagny 1er Cru La Grande Roche Latour 2010 and Chateaux Beaumont 2005.

The Queen is Freeman of the Drapers Company, which provided the majority of funds to build the school, together with Queen Mary, University of London.