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Huge success at the top GCSE grades have made 2023 another vintage year for QE as it celebrates its 450^th anniversary.

With no GCSE examinations taken in 2020 and 2021, and last year’s results adjusted because of the pandemic, all eyes were on this year’s Year 11 to see how they would compare with the 2019 cohort.

They did not disappoint: no fewer than 1,556 of the examinations taken at QE this year were awarded grades 9 or 8 – equivalent to the old A* – a 3.5% increase on 2019. The increase took this measure to 82.9% of all results, comfortably breaking through the 80% threshold. For grade 9 alone, there was a 3.1% increase, and for grades 9–7 (previously A* and A), the increase was 2.5%.­­

Results from all departments were strong, with especially shining performances in Mathematics – where 84% of the 190 students gained a grade 9 (with no results lower than a 7) – and the sciences, with 86% of those taking individual Biology and Physics securing 9s, and 79% for Chemistry.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My heartfelt congratulations go to the boys for a highly impressive set of results: like our A-level candidates last week, they have done us proud in our 450^th anniversary year.

“GCSE results in recent years have been very strong here, so they had a lot to live up to, but thanks to their hard work and to the dedication and detailed approach of their teachers, they have not only held their own, but have made incremental improvements on the record of their predecessors.

“This consistency of excellence sets our Year 11 pupils up well for Sixth Form studies and for exciting future opportunities at university and in their careers.”

Figures in this article were updated following the outcome of re-marks in early October 2023.

The Association has just recently been advised of the sad passing of John Lewis (OE 1944-1953) on April 1st at the age of 88.  John played rugby for the OEs and later became a referee, which will no doubt feature in the tribute to be published in the next edition of the Elizabethan.

The Association was shocked to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of Ken Cooper on 2^nd July.

As a pupil in the latter years of the second World War, Ken went up to Oxford where he gained an MA in Modern History, after completing his national service and a commission in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  Serving his country with great distinction in many senior Civil Service positions, Ken was honoured as a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his work in increasing accessibility to employment offices.

His service continued long after retirement in a number of voluntary roles, on a whole host of committees, whilst he applied the same dedication to the school as a Governor, to the Endowment Fund as Chairman and to the Association as President.  His passing is a great loss to the whole Elizabethan community.

As A-level grading returns to pre-pandemic standards this year, QE is celebrating “brilliant” results that cement the School’s place in the very top echelons of the country’s academic schools – a proud pinnacle in its 450-year history.

At the highest possible grade, the School improved significantly on its 2019 figures, with 58.2% of A-levels being awarded A* – easily beating the pre-pandemic record of 46.9% set in 2018. It was a similar record-breaking performance for combined A–A*: 89.1% of A-levels had these grades, well above the equivalent figure in the pre-Covid years.

And at the benchmark A*–B, QE continues to shine, achieving 96.9% in 2023, the 18^th consecutive year in which QE has exceeded 95%.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “We are very pleased indeed with this brilliant performance. Like the record-breaking 47 Oxbridge offers made to QE boys in the spring, these A-level results demonstrate that, in our 450^th anniversary year, the School is thriving and continues to go from strength to strength.

“We recognise that this Year 13 cohort has not always had an easy journey: they were unable to sit their GCSEs because of Covid, so, like their peers across the country, this was the first time they had faced high-stakes testing.

“Ofqual, the examinations regulator, told examination boards to aim for the proportion of top grades to be in line with the levels recorded in 2019, so for our boys to have comfortably exceeded that level is really quite an achievement – one which demonstrates that the highest standards were maintained at QE throughout the pandemic. They should be very proud of what they have achieved.

“The pandemic has in fact helped us accelerate the technological development of the School; we have taken great strides in our digital strategy, whilst continuing to invest in our campus, its facilities and the further opportunities that this generates for our boys.”

Among many successes across the subjects this year, French stands out for its 100% performance – all five candidates achieved A*.

In purely numerical terms, Mathematics had the most A* grades, with 106, followed by Chemistry (44) and Further Maths (43).

“While examination performance certainly matters, what goes on beyond the classroom here, including all the many opportunities available through our QE Flourish enrichment programme, is of equal performance,” added Mr Enright.

“This cohort at QE have taken full advantage, making an impact on a national and international stage, not least in providing members of the team that won the VEX Robotics World Championships in 2018. We have many stars – one of their number, Rahul Doshi, won Channel 4’s Child Genius programme some years ago, for example – but he and his peers wear their intelligence, talent and ambitious aspirations lightly.

“They should be proud of the wider contribution they have made. Known for their kindness and empathy, they have supported each other as friends, and those lower in the School as peer mentors. They have also helped to establish and develop connections with the local Barnet community, such as our QE Together partnership with Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School.”

“We hope that these students take away from QE not only great results, but a broad range of experiences that will have shaped them into well-rounded young men of good character, ready to step into the world and make a positive difference to the lives of others, living up to, and perhaps even exceeding, the example set by many illustrious Elizabethans over the past 450 years.

“Congratulations to the boys and their families on their fantastic achievements.”

Figures in this article were updated following the outcome of re-marks in early October 2023.

The year 2022 ended with the sad passing on December 30^th of Peter Allen BDS (Lond), LDS, RCS (Eng) (OE 1946-1954) who achieved sporting distinction at the school, representing the 1^st XV at the age of 16.

Barnet born and bred, Peter then qualified as a Dental Surgeon at University College London, before being called up for national service, after which he acquired a dental practice in Newbury.  Sadly he succumbed to a recurring illness just before last Christmas and passed away shortly after.  A fuller tribute will appear in the Elizabethan.

Peter’s funeral will be held at The West Berkshire Crematorium, Bath Road, Thatcham RG19 4LD on Monday 13^th February at 1.00pm.