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QE hosted some 42 robotics teams at this year’s Battle of Barnet – including three who flew in from Türkiye!

The VEX IQ robotics competition in the Shearly Hall not only saw 400 young people taking part, but also involved more than 70 volunteers, including many QE staff and sixth-formers.

It came after a busy term of action for QE’s robotics teams, including visits to competitions at Coventry and Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

Award-winners in Barnet included QE’s own Gear Squad, who took the Innovate Award, as well as Team Omega, who won the coveted Design Award.

Head of Digital Teaching & Learning Michael Noonan said: “The Battle for Barnet is now well established as one of the largest regional VEX tournaments – and this year’s event certainly drew in the crowds from near and far! Well done to our boys on their performance and many thanks to the volunteers, who did such a great job both before and during the event.

“These large-scale competitions provide QE students and other teams with the opportunity to qualify for four awards, which can them secure a place at the VEX National Championships in Telford next year, and potentially advancement to the VEX World Championship in the United States in April.”

Mr Noonan thanked OE Husain Alaswad (2017–2025), 2025 VEX Volunteer of the Year, who was Head Referee: “His expertise was instrumental in the success of the event.”

He also singled out Avi Goel, of Year 11, who “dedicated weeks of effort alongside his talented team to ensure an outstanding AV set-up, great music, and exhilarating lighting”.

QE’s Battle for Barnet was this year given the theme of Space Battle.

The event comprised the:

• Robot Skills Challenge: A single robot is evaluated on both autonomous and driver-controlled performance.
• Teamwork Challenge: two teams collaborate during a 60-second match to score as many points as possible by completing tasks such as stacking game objects;

The competition’s Teamwork Champions, were named as HABS Hornets and VEX Ninjas. VEX Ninjas included Alessandro Yu Spagnolo from Year 8 and his twin sister, who attends Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School.

QE competitor Vidyut Naryan said: “It was a really great experience, easily the best competition in the UK. Our Team, Gear Grinders, achieved 3rd in ‘skills’ with a score of 95, including 24 on ‘autonomous’.”

Vidyut’s fellow Year 8 pupil, Ehan Rattani, added: “Me and the rest of the Fusion Force team learnt a lot and enjoyed showcasing our skills at such a brilliantly organised competition.”

QE’s four older robotics teams have also been performing well in the V5RC competitions – one at Stowe, one in Coventry and two at the John Warner School in Hoddesdon.

Year 12’s Team Hybrid were Tournament Champions in the second John Warner School competition, were losing finalists at Stowe, and picked up no fewer than three Design Awards, as well as a Robot Skills Award.

Year 10’s Team Nova shone brightly, too, winning a Build Award at Coventry, where another Year 10 team, Z-TBC, reached the semi-finals.

• Click on the thumbnails to view the images.

Queen Elizabeth’s School has won no fewer than five different Sunday Times awards, including the highly coveted national State Secondary School of the Year title, it was announced today.

The 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 also reveals that QE has taken two other national awards – State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence and State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels – as well as two regional titles – State Secondary School of the Year in London and State Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence*. In addition, QE tops the Sunday Times’ State School Parent Power rankings, which combine weighted GCSE and A-level results.

Today’s success brings to four the number of times that Queen Elizabeth’s has  been named State Secondary School of the Year, the most recent occasion being in 2022.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “By any measure, this is a splendid haul of awards and accolades!

“I congratulate the boys, governors, my colleagues, parents, and Old Elizabethans of all generations – in fact, all those in our wide Elizabethan community who have played a part in this tremendous success.”

The State Secondary School of the Year award is based not only on academic results, but on a broader assessment of all that a school offers.

“Academically, we are second to none. However, our achievement in winning the State Secondary School of the Year award once again demonstrates that it is not all about exam results here at QE,” Mr Enright added. “Instead, what goes on beyond the classroom goes hand in hand with the academic outcomes. Our extensive co-curricular programme, delivered through QE Flourish, is not in tension with our academic high standards; rather, it complements boys’ studies.

“Similarly, the broader QE experience encompasses: QE Futures, which helps our pupils find their path into the best degree courses and careers; our bespoke programme of pastoral care to build and sustain wellbeing; and the guidance that boys receive from the QE Connect alumni network.

“All of this supports academic achievement and personal development, helping us to realise the boundless potential of our pupils.”

Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, highlighted the background against which QE and other award-winners announced today are working. “The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.

“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools, it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”

*The link above provides access for those who have a subscription to The Sunday Times. The guide is available in print in a 28-page supplement on Sunday 7th December.

QE’s First XV last night beat friends and traditional rivals, Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, in a thrilling encounter under the lights at Saracens’ StoneX stadium. 

With a gritty, disciplined performance, the QE team secured a hard-fought 12-5 victory. 

Congratulating them, Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It was an inspiring experience for our students to play in the stadium of one of the world’s best club sides, and the match befitted the setting in its fierce but sporting competitiveness. 

“The support for both schools – including many current pupils, alumni, staff and other friends – added to the atmosphere and sense of occasion. We are proud of the performance of our players and are delighted that they secured the win.

“Many of those from Year 13 have committed themselves for seven years, with most having been new to the game when they started at QE. They have developed athletically and technically, but also as teammates and young men: their mutual supportiveness and their camaraderie has been notable.” 

QE’s Head of Rugby, Oliver Di-Lieto, reported that the game had been intense from the first whistle, with both sides showing determination and skill.

“QE struck first, when Victor Varbanov produced a brilliant show-and-go [dummy pass] to break the defensive line and score. He calmly converted his own try, giving QE a deserved early 7-0 lead. 

“Habs responded strongly, crossing the line for their own score. Although they missed the conversion, the gap narrowed to 7-5, setting up a tense contest. 

“Momentum swung back to QE when Timi Banjo delivered a moment of magic, slicing through the defence for a superb solo effort. The try extended QE’s advantage to 12-5. 

“From there, the match became a defensive battle. QE’s backline and forwards worked tirelessly, with Jake Owens and Yashwant Sunkara leading an outstanding defensive shift that kept Habs at bay. 

“In the dying moments, Habs mounted a final attack, but QE’s captain Krutarth Behera produced a heroic effort to hold up the ball over the line, denying what would have been a game-changing try. 

“Having combined attacking flair with resolute defence, our boys secured a memorable victory.”     

Fresh from that victory, captain Krutarth said: “It was an incredible performance from all the players and a fantastic last match for all the Year 13s. A game we will never forget.”

Player of the Match Yashwant Sunkara said: “It was a very physical game and we knew we had to play at our best. Every player worked their socks off and I am so proud we managed to get the win.” 

Before the First XV took to the field, the two schools’ U15 sides also played, with Habs winning 31-20. 

 First XV squad 

1. Alvin Xu, Year 12
2. Krutarth Behera (Captain), Year 13
3. Simardeep Sahota, Year 13
4. Edward Muscat (Vice-Captain), Year 13
5. Abubakr Shofolahan, Year 13
6. Sharvesh Sudhagar, Year 13
7. Oscar Kaltenbronn, Year 12 
8. Thinuka Kapugama Geeganage, Year 11
9. Victor Varbanov, Year 12 
10. Aadam Aslam, Year 13 
11. Ubaidah Rahman, Year 13
12. Jake Owens (Vice-Captain), Year 13
13. Yashwant Reddy Sunkara, Year 12
14. Louis Miller, Year 12
15. Thomas Young, Year 12 
16. Akira Norimura, Year 12 
17. Kyaan Syed, Year 12 
18. Ishan Nakadi, Year 12
19. Martin Machytka, Year 13 
20. Esa Aslam, Year 11 
21. Timi Banjo, Year 13 
22. Yashinth Sivananthan, Year 12
23. Faaiz Adil, Year 12
24. Tristan Fink, Year 13

• Click on the thumbnails to view the images.

A parent led Year 12 students in a special QE Futures workshop that was geared towards degree apprenticeships. 

Sumeet Bhatia, from global technology giant Cisco, facilitated the last Futures session of 2025 with his colleague, Luke Brophy. 

QE leavers this year enjoyed record success with securing Degree Apprenticeships, which allow participants to gain a degree while also working for an employer. Companies offering places to Elizabethans this year included Goldman Sachs, Amazon and Deloitte. 

Assistant Head (Pupil Destinations) James Kane, who heads QE Futures, said: “This was a tremendously energising session on building communication skills and preparing for degree apprenticeship assessment centres. QE Futures often brings in the skills and experience of our alumni, and, on this occasion, it was great to be able to welcome a current QE parent and his colleague. 

“Yet again, our speakers emphasised the importance of developing the transferable qualities listed in our QE Futures Employability Skills for future success.” (These include communication, resilience and teamwork.) 

Mr Bhatia, Lead Business Development Manager (Innovation) at Cisco, delivered the session as part of the company’s Time 2 Give programme, through which employees can dedicate time each year to giving back to the community. 

The session was entitled Find Your Path to Degree Apprenticeships (drawing on the Futures slogan, Find Your Path).  

The boys taking part explored the art of inquisition and the power of asking great questions. They looked at the traits of a successful apprentice, and how to stand out in degree apprenticeship assessment centres. And they considered the importance of effective speaking and listening as core employability skills.  

The session included interactive discussions that encouraged unconventional thinking and curiosity.  

Key ‘takeways’ for the participants were that:  

• Curiosity beats cleverness – great questions unlock understanding; 
• Assessment centres value teamwork, resilience, and structured problem-solving;
• Communication skills are vital and cannot be overlooked. 

One of those taking part, Vu-Lam Le-Nguyen, of Year 12, said the session was “wonderfully insightful” and that “interactive discussions encouraged me to think unconventionally”.   

Mr Bhatia himself reflected on an “incredible afternoon”, adding that it was “truly rewarding to engage with students, share insights about Cisco’s apprenticeship programme, and guide them on navigating early career stages”. 

The festive season came early at QE this year, with the production of Twelfth Night for the Shakespeare Schools Festival bringing mirth, merriment and a strong measure of tenderness to the stage.

Two after-school performances of the romantic comedy in the School’s Robert Dudley Studio were followed by the main festival event at the Arts Depot in Finchley.

The play derives its name from the day before Epiphany (6 January); Shakespeare wrote it as an entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. It is the favourite Shakespearean comedy of Assistant Head (Pupil Involvement) Crispin Bonham-Carter, a former professional actor who once played Twelfth Night’s Sir Toby Belch at the Edinburgh Fringe.

He hailed “another outstanding QE Shakespeare production” from the senior school cast and their director, Penny Gkritzapi. “Our production of Twelfth Night was a musical reminder that the season of good cheer is about to be ‘thrust upon us’, said Mr Bonham-Carter.

“The play is a wonderful reminder (especially for all our high-achieving young men) that however important it is to be organised and sensible, we must never forget our humanity, our humour and our need for a good party!

“Some of these senior boys have acted in QE plays since Year 8, and it is fantastic to see how they have come on over the years.

“Year 12’s Nittant Moudgil and Bharath Jayakumar, of Year 10, played alarmingly good drunkards while Felix Calder (Year 13) and Daniel Kollo (Year 12) perfectly caught the frustrated longing of Orsino and Olivia. Namish Thakur wore Malvolio’s yellow stockings (and painful cross-gartering) with comic relish. Meanwhile his fellow Year 11 pupil, Akshay Shah, was brilliantly convincing as the scheming Maria, holding it all together. The gentle heart of this tender play was beautifully captured by Year 13 student Suhaas Sabella’s sweet Viola.”

Suhaas himself described performing in Twelfth Night as “one of my pinnacle moments in my time at QE”. He added: “Acting as Viola being disguised as Cesario pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it was incredibly exciting to take on a new role and get a fresh perspective.”

The Shakespeare Schools Festival involves abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays. QE performed alongside other schools at the Artsdepot.

Final-year pupil Felix said: “A 30-minute abridgement of a script is really hard to work with, but with the help of our wonderful director, we were really able to bring out the best moments in this play. In my six years of doing QE drama I’ve made countless amazing memories and friends, and I have no doubt I will remember this play and all the other ones for the rest of my life!”

Akshay Shah, too, paid tribute to the director, Ms Gkritzapi. Originally from Athens, she has been based in London for more than a decade. She has written and directed performances at Southwark Playhouse, Park Theatre and Riverside Studios. She is the founder of Paradigm Productions, the resident company at The Drayton Arms Theatre.

Akshay said: “With Twelfth Night, I was able to take on a challenge with some of my closest friends, about one of my favourite plays. It was an incredible experience to be a part of, and I learned so much from the cast, our director and so many more people.”

The play’s music was composed and performed by: Akshay Shah; by Noah Green, of Year 10; and by Kelvin Chen, of Year 11.

Famous quotations

Twelfth Night is replete with sayings that have become famous. Here are just a few:

• If music be the food of love, play on.
• What country, friends, is this?
• I was adored once too.
• Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.
• I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you.

Click on the thumbnails to view the images.