Matthew Slater, the Principal of the Drapers’ Academy says that the “students will be the focal point” of the Queen’s visit to Harold Hill next week.

Staff and students at the school in Settle Road are gearing up to give the Queen a huge welcome next Friday October 26.

He said: “The new building is wonderful, the results are wonderful but we do this all for the children and the school is here for the children not for the staff, so we want to make them the focal point of the visit.

“They are all going to be in close proximity to the Queen, we can’t guarantee which children she is going to speak to but we would be delighted if she spoke to as many of them as possible.”

The Queen is due to arrive in Harold Hill in mid morning and her visit will start off with a tour of the academy, then a visit to the school’s new sports hall where she will see the students using the climbing wall for the first time since it was built.

The Queen will then be treated to a performance of Little Shop Of Horrors, which the students performed to rave reviews in the summer.

The visit will then continue into the learning support department where the Queen will be able to meet students and staff who are given additional assistance in developing literacy and numeracy skills.

This will be followed by a trip to the Science department, where the students will be doing experiments on electric circuits and magnesium.

There will also be a number of attendees present including Leader of Havering Council Michael White, Deputy Leader Steven Kelly and all of the school governors.

The school choir will then keep the Queen entertained with a performance of Something Inside So Strong.

The Queen will sit down for lunch with sixth form students at the academy and ten representatives from the rest of the school.

After lunch, the Queen will be unveiling a plaque marking the official opening of the school.

Year ten student Grace Taylor will be presenting a posy to the Queen marking the end of her visit to Harold Hill.

Matthew said: “Its difficult to put my feelings in words but we are so delighted that she has found the time to visit.

“Its a proud moment for us to have a monarch visit in what is such an important year for her and a pivotal year for us.”