Former pupil Alison Mihail presents prizes at QE Girls' school

Alison Mihail, a former pupil of Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School in New Barnet, presented prizes at the school’s annual celebration of excellence in September 2026. Ms Mihail, who was awarded an MBE in 2015 for her contribution to young people in the Thames Valley area, encouraged the assembled students to embrace challenges and opportunities.

Ms Mihail attended Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Girls, as it was then known, after passing the 11-plus exam in 1957. She recalled a commendation in school records from 1963 for decorating Christmas cakes baked for the school’s 75th anniversary. After leaving the school in 1964, she trained as a home economics teacher.

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Voluntary Work and Recognition

Following a career as a deputy headteacher, Ms Mihail began volunteering with the Prince’s Trust in 1996. This organisation assists young people in building confidence, developing work skills, and finding employment or starting businesses. She described her 30 years with the trust as providing great job satisfaction.

Her voluntary work led to her being awarded an MBE in 2015 for her outstanding contribution to young people in the Thames Valley. During her time with the Prince’s Trust, she helped raise £3 million, which supported 3,000 young people. Ms Mihail stated that being recognised with an MBE was "absolutely brilliant".

Ms Mihail was invited to present the prizes by Violet Walker, the outgoing headteacher, who retired at the end of the summer term. Ms Mihail noted that some of the school's features, such as parquet flooring and wall tiles, remained the same as when she was a pupil in the 1960s.