The Queen’s School (Rheindahlen )Association
Rheindahlen, the Joint Headquarters of RAF (Germany) & British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) - the small British town in Germany- was built from nothings in the early 1950s Work started in early November 1952 and the camp was ready for occupation in October 1954 despite the coldest winter for 50 years.
Schools were part of the early plans but the building programmes were subject to the inevitable delays - even in those days!! On 10th January 1955, 50 secondary school pupils assembled in the Army Education Centre and were taught there for a term. At Easter, a primary school (St George's), then without pupils, became their home and in September 283 pupils finally moved into the purpose built Queen's School.
A year later, after the official opening by the Earl of Bandon (CinC 2 ATAF), there were 420 pupils and temporary extra accommodation was needed. The Education Centre, a canteen, St David's School, the church centre, the RAF Amenities Centre, the Royal Signals Block, RAF trailers, the Scout hut and the youth club were all used at some stage!
In 1963 the school was at its largest with 1100 pupils aged 11-18 years. They were then accommodated on 4 main sites until the years 1975-78. An excellent new block was completed adjacent to the original building and 900 pupils had "one home" opened by Sir William Scotter (CinC BAOR).
Two boarding houses were established in 1982 & 83 but continuing falling numbers reduced the school to 666 and the decision was taken to amalgamate Queen's School with the neighbouring school in the old military hospital site at Hostert.
A brief history of our school