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Alumnus Matt Houghton (OE 1997–2004) has won a BAFTA Award for the Best British Short Film 2026 with This is Endometriosis.

In his acceptance speech, he said: “This is a grass-roots film built by volunteers, and driven by a desire to make a small but significant change in the world.”

Blending present-day narration with memories, the documentary tells the story of how the gynaecological condition robbed sufferer Georgie Wileman of time.

Matt praised her as “brave beyond comprehension and an inspiration”. He told her: “Making this film with you has humbled me and taught me that to make films that matter, we must enter creativity with a strong soul and a soft heart.”

This Is Endometriosis had already received wide recognition before its BAFTA success, including a nomination at the 2025 Grierson Awards, a Gold Shark for Best Documentary at the Kinsale Shark Awards in Ireland, and honours at the Webby Awards.

The film has been screened at Everyman Cinemas nationwide.

Matt was in Pearce House at QE, where he was a standout athlete and played rugby for the School. He went on to study History at the University of York before embarking on his career in film.

On his website, Matt describes himself as a Londoner of mixed British and Indian descent “who makes films about outsiders and the unheard”. He was an associate producer for the Netflix Original feature Apollo Thirteen: Survival.

In advertising, Matt’s work has been nominated and won awards at the Kinsale Sharks, Webby Awards, British Arrows and 1.4 Awards, as well as being selected as part of Vimeo’s coveted Top Ten Best Of The Year twice.

• This is Endometriosis can be watched here.

Help was on hand when QE’s Music students had to perform their own GCSE and A-level compositions.

Not only did their fellow pupils turn out in numbers to play alongside them at the special concert, but two Old Elizabethans returned to the School to support them, too.

As well as the new works, the Chamber, Choral and Composition Concert featured Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert, together with pieces by lesser-known 20th-century luminaries, such as the Polish-Lithuanian Grażyna Bacewicz and Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů.

Adding to the entertaining mood in The Friends’ Recital Hall, there was a Barbershop rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing, not to mention sixth-former Leo Sellis’ quirkily titled piece, 7W Microwave (purportedly inspired by some of the random titles given to jazz tracks).

Director of Music Ruth Partington said: “It was a splendid evening, with a spectacular quality of composition and performance. The criteria for the GCSE and A-level compositions were that they should make full use of the instrument for which they were composed, so we had lots of virtuoso performances.

“It was lovely to see boys investing so much in playing the work of their friends and peers, and doing those works great justice.”

Miss Partington especially thanked Old Elizabethans Conor Parker-Delves (2015-2022) and Tristan Boldy (2013-2020) for returning to play the saxophone and trumpet respectively. Conor had travelled down from Manchester, where he is in his final year at the Royal Northern College of Music.

The final performance filled the floor of The Friends’ Recital Hall as the Chamber Choir and Orchestra combined for sections of Mozart’s Requiem. It was, said Miss Partington, “stirring, powerful, and a demonstration of the massed strength of QE’s singers and musicians”.  Those involved had attended a workshop with the Barnet Choral Society on this work back in January, and Miss Partington duly thanked the society’s Musical Director, Rory McCleery.

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Having spent the day with Her Majesty the Queen, the Chancellor of Birmingham University headed to QE, where she gave an inspiring speech during a memorable Senior Awards Ceremony.

Dr Sandie Okoro was guest of honour at the School’s showpiece annual celebration of excellence for Years 10–12.

She came to Barnet from St James’s Palace, after being invited there in her role as Chair of the Women of the World Foundation for an event linked to International Women’s Day.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This year’s Senior Awards was a wonderful night: we were thrilled to welcome Dr Okoro, who was a hugely engaging and inspiring speaker, bringing real energy to the role.

“Emphasising the central importance of the arts and of remembering human values and human judgment in the context of technological change, she encouraged our senior pupils to be part of hopeful change and to take pride in being the first – having broken numerous glass ceilings herself.

“She was very generous with her time, too, staying to speak with many families and other guests at the reception after the ceremony in our Main Hall.

“My congratulations go to all this year’s award-winners, whose recognition was very well deserved.”

Dr Okoro was installed as the eighth Chancellor of the University of Birmingham in 2024. A high-profile equality rights champion, she is the first female Chancellor of Birmingham since the university was established in 1900.

She has had a distinguished career as a highly respected lawyer, holding senior positions with the World Bank Group, HSBC Global Asset Management, Barings and Schroder. Most recently, she served for almost three years as Group General Counsel of Standard Chartered Bank.

Reflecting afterwards on a “wonderfully joyful evening”, Dr Okoro had a final message for the prize-winners: “Remember, your education is the one thing no one can ever take away from you.”

During the ceremony, around 80 prizes were presented to the boys, watched by their parents, teachers and other guests including Councillor Edith David (Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet) and Martin Russell MBE (Representative Deputy Lieutenant). They were given for their academic studies, for their contributions to School life, and for co-curricular activities, such as music, chess and QE’s Combined Cadet Force.

The evening was punctuated by musical performances, including those in the interludes after the prize-giving for each of the three year-groups.  These were given by three music prize-winners: Year 10 violinist Jeremy Shi (playing Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances), Year 11 pupil Jamie Lam (also a violinist, playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre) and Year 12 vocalist Rishi Watsalaya (Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Vagabond).

“All the music was outstanding, but particularly the three interludes,” said Mr Enright.

In his speech, the Headmaster pointed out to the boys that the School’s first Speech Day took place in 1876: “So tonight, in addition to honouring your achievements, we mark a 150‑year tradition of recognising hard work, talent, and boundless potential.”

He went on to highlight the importance of, and connections between, empathy and reading: “Empathy is rarely built by scrolling, but it is often built by reading. Reading widely allows us to inhabit the perspectives, experiences, and inner lives of others… To be clear: digital media, visual storytelling, podcasts, and AI all have their place and their value. Concision is an art. Technology is a tool. But the ability to read deeply, think critically, and empathise with others is a human skill. A timeless skill. A leadership skill.

“And we aspire for you to be the leaders of your generation in your chosen fields.”

After the ceremony, refreshments were served by volunteers from The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s (“I must say the food was excellent, too,” said Dr Okoro).

There was also an opportunity for prize-winners to have their photograph taken in the Shearly Hall in front of a newly purchased QE backdrop.

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Thirty senior boys experienced the spectacular sights, sounds, shakings and smells of one of the most volcanically active regions on earth in a five-day trip to Iceland.

The Geography expedition saw the Year 11–13 pupils cross from one continent to another, savour volcanic mud pools and take an ice trek on a glacier – and all against the backdrop of 150 earthquakes detected during their stay.

There was a serious academic purpose: the group did extensive fieldwork on tectonic activity, geothermal features and glacial landscapes that will prove invaluable for case studies in their GCSE and A-level preparations.

Head of Geography Chris Butler, who led the expedition, said: “It was an unforgettable five days, during which we saw eruptions from a hydrothermal vent, stood beside the majestic part-frozen Gullfoss waterfall, and gazed in wonder at the breathtaking aurora borealis – the Northern Lights.

“For all the boys, I am sure it will not only have added to their stock of geographical knowledge and skills, but will have brought GCSE and A-level Geography to life.”

Mr Butler accompanied the party, assisted by Geography teacher Staycie Domzalski and Economics teacher Dr Celia Wallace.

After flying in to the country’s main airport, Keflavík, southwest of Reykjavík, the group headed immediately to the Grjótagjá fissure system, where widening fractures mark the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Pupils were able to physically cross the Mid-Atlantic Rift – a dramatic reminder of the immense geological forces shaping Iceland, and of the risks posed by ongoing magmatic activity beneath the island.

After a night in the Hotel Cabin, they explored the capital, before moving on to the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Here, they received a briefing about volcanic unrest at the nearby Sundhnúkur crater row, responsible for major lava flows in July 2025, and enjoying the geothermal waters and volcanic muds.

As they travelled on through Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, further highlights followed in quick succession:

• Visiting the town of Grindavík, evacuated in November 2023 after eruptions from the Fagradalsfjall fissures that saw lava flow into the streets. The boys spoke to residents who have begun to return, despite an uncertain future.
• Stopping at Seltún geothermal area, with its steaming fumaroles (vents emitting steam and volcanic gases) and bubbling mud pools.
• Travelling around Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle. They began at the Þingvellir rift valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where North America and Eurasia drift apart at several centimetres per year – before continuing to Geysir, observing the Strokkur hydrothermal vent reliably erupting every 6–10 minutes, before finishing at the Gullfoss waterfall.
• Staying at Hellishólar Cottages, beneath the mighty Eyjafjallajökull volcano –infamous for its 2010 eruption that grounded over 100,000 flights – with the terrain blanketed in thick snow.
• Touring the Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur, an interactive exhibition exploring Iceland’s volcanic systems.
• Treading the dramatic black-sand beaches of Reynisfjara.

“The climax of the trip was an ice trek on the Sólheimajökull Glacier, complete with crampons,” said Mr Butler. “Pupils spent two hours investigating supraglacial and englacial features, observing blue ice and dirt bands, meltwater channels and sediment layers.”

The glacier’s rapid retreat — up to 50 metres per year since the mid-2000s — has produced a growing proglacial lagoon now almost 1.5 km long and 60–70 m deep.

“In 2010, the lagoon was barely visible; in the coming decades it may reach 4 km in length. This provided powerful, first-hand evidence of contemporary climate change,” Mr Butler added.

A brief stop had been planned at Seljalandsfoss to get a group photograph before the boys returned to Heathrow. But the Land of Ice and Fire had one final spectacle for them: the glorious colours of the aurora borealis lit up the evening sky to bid them farewell.

Mr Butler thanked both his colleagues and the boys, “who were enthusiastic, inquisitive and intrepid throughout”.

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After joining the 50th Annual QE Rugby Sevens at the last moment, Maidstone Grammar School went on to set the tournament alight, beating last year’s winners in a thrilling final.

The Kent school received their place less than two days before the event, after another school dropped out. They certainly made their mark, triumphing 31-29 over Ipswich School, who were going for the ‘double’, having won the U14 title last year.

QE’s own U14 squad acquitted themselves well, playing brilliantly in the group stages (in which Maidstone were one of their competitors) and reaching the Plate quarter-final.

And for the 50th year of an event which has long attracted some of the country’s best-known rugby schools, there was a special presentation for legend of QE rugby, David Maughan – the tournament’s founder and a highly respected former national coach who was QE’s Head of PE from 1974 to 2003.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It was a great day overall, with a very high quality of rugby played and a splendid atmosphere. The bonus was an exciting final worthy of our fiftieth-year tournament.

“Our U14 squad should be proud of their performance and it was lovely to see many of their parents cheering them on.

“It was also fitting to celebrate David Maughan’s stellar contribution to QE Sevens over its first half-century – what a record he has!”

Like the main Cup competition, the Plate contest was an exciting affair. Plate finalists Gordon’s School from Surrey were late entrants like Maidstone, promoted from the reserve list. Having knocked out the QE team in the quarter-final, they lost to Tonbridge School in the final. This meant that Tonbridge retained their Plate title from 2025.

In the group stages, the QE team won two of their matches and lost only to eventual tournament champions, Maidstone. They defeated Robert Clack School, from Barking and Dagenham borough, by 24-5, and eased out Norwich School 10-7, thus earning their progression to the Plate quarter-final, where they lost 26-0.

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “Our QE line-up gave a real squad performance, ably led by captain Husain Jassim, and played some very good rugby.”

Marcus Ingal carried the ball brilliantly, his strength and speed making it very difficult for the opposition to stop him making significant yardage, ball in hand; Alex Fields-Bicar used his pace and footwork in the wider channels to finish off opportunities well; Rohan Mukherjee brought great physicality in attack and defence; and there was some good steering of the games from Andy Hasanaj, usually at first receiver.

Mr Maughan was presented with an engraved shield by the Headmaster in recognition of his founding of the tournament and the School’s appreciation for his ongoing support.

He has remained a constant presence at QE Sevens since his retirement back in 2003. He is also still seen in School most weeks, attending rugby and cricket for the lower years and also rarely missing a First XV game. He managed England U16s for a decade beyond his retirement from QE.

Mr Hart thanked: inspiresport, who sponsor the tournament; the referees; the catering team and Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s helpers; pupil helpers from Year 7, who faithfully delivered the scores from each pitch back to the operations hub; first aid crews; supporters from all schools; and, of course, his own PE department, including Head of Rugby Ollie Di-Lieto.

The QE U14 (Year 9) squad was:

1. Husain Jassim (captain)
2. Rohan Mukherjee
3. Saami Mansur
4. Alfie Enderby
5. Marcus Ingal
6. Emile Uju
7. Andy Hasanaj
8. Jerry Ju
9. Ishaan Bhosale
10. Alex Fields-Bicar
11. Leon L. Kariuki
12. Aryamann Wadhwani Sharma
13. Raphael Gbadebo

Coach: PE teacher Sam Marks (who is also their Head of Year).

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