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Eleven Year 12 pupils headed for Imperial College London for the Environmental Design Challenge – a competition that encourages young people to work collaboratively to design eco-friendly human settlements.

Joining the international challenge for the first time, the QE sixth-formers worked with some 70 pupils from other schools to produce ideas for “a sustainable transformation of Milton Keynes” on a trip organised by QE’s Physics and Geography departments.

One member of the group, Tanush Madadi, won an individual award for Best Leadership in a non-leadership position.

The Environmental Design Challenge (EDC) is organised by the Space Science and Engineering Foundation, organisers of a series of competitions connected with outer space, including the UK Space Design Competition (SDC), in which QE has a long and successful record.

Head of Physics Jonathan Brooke said: “The EDC takes the structure of the UK SDC and broadens its appeal to include Year 12 students with a breadth of interests linked to sustainability and public policy. It coincides with several of the priorities of our Boundless School Plan – especially nurturing pupils so that they become ‘sustainability literate’.”

“Working to a tight deadline, the boys had to cope with the stress of working under pressure,” said Mr Brooke, “It was a great opportunity for them to develop project work skills they will need at university and in employment, to get them out of their comfort zone, and to collaborate with people they were meeting for the first time.”

All three ‘companies’ formed on the day comprised pupils from several schools, with the QE contingent split between two of them. These two companies called themselves Milton Greens and Keen for Keynes.

The three companies worked on a presentation to find solutions to three tasks related to MK’s “sustainable transformation”:

• Reimagining Milton Keynes’ transportation
• Developing a strategy for sustainable growth
• Designing a climate-resilient development.

Keen for Keynes (pictured here on stage celebrating their win) won the competition on the day.

Geography teacher Elin Hopley said the boys drew on their knowledge from the GCSE and A-level courses, as well as from research done on the day: “I was hugely impressed by the significant amount of work all the participants had put into their presentations. The room was buzzing with excitement as groups prepared to present and answer the judging panel’s questions.”

Tanush, who won his award for his contribution to Milton Greens, said: “Pitching our socio-economic strategy to industry judges at Imperial College London was a fantastic, rewarding learning experience.”

Other QE participants equally reflected on a rewarding trip. Aarnav Mahajan enjoyed applying his interest in mathematics and science to some real-world challenges. Adithya Ananthakrishnan found it inspiring to work with “so many other like-minded young people”, while acknowledging that presenting to a large audience forced him out of his “comfort zone, which was extremely valuable”. And Danyal Rahim, who aspires to work in sustainability-related fields, said: “One of the highlights was collaborating with other schools in large teams, with never-ending pizzas sustaining us throughout the day!”

Year 13’s Noah Morley has become the third QE pupil this century to be offered an organ scholarship from Oxford or Cambridge.

His scholarship counts as a major success for QE’s three-year-old musical partnership with Barnet’s St John the Baptist Church, in which Noah played a pioneering role.

He follows in the footsteps of Cambridge organ scholars Peter Yarde Martin (OE 2002–2007) and Drew Sellis (OE 2013–2020).

Noah’s scholarship offer from Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, comes after he played a leading part in two recent landmark musical events for QE – the Chamber Choir singing evensong at Christ Church, Oxford, and a Royal College of Organists (RCO) concert at St Lawrence Jewry Church in the City of London.

Assistant Director of Music Jas Hutchinson-Bazely, who helped Noah obtain the Cambridge scholarship, said: “This is a wonderful achievement and is richly deserved following his enthusiastic involvement in our organ scholarship at the parish church for the past three years.

“He has fulfilled his duties both there and in School with distinction, and is a brilliant role model to our increasing number of young organists. Hopefully, he will inspire many more to follow his lead, and we wish him every success.”

Noah began learning the organ at QE in Year 9. Under the partnership with St John’s, Noah, who was then in Year 10, was named as an inaugural QE organ scholar, together with sixth-former Joel Swedensky (now singing as a choral scholar with the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge).

Noah is currently the Senior Organ Scholar in the scheme, with Year 9’s Arthur Wang as Junior Scholar.

If he secures the A-level results he needs to secure his place at Cambridge, Noah will have the privilege of playing the organ three times a week in the college chapel. He said: “Being awarded the scholarship is very important to me. My organ teacher is very proud.”

Noah is taught at QE by organ and voice teacher Adam Hope, who rehearses the School’s Chamber Choir. In the Summer Term, Noah played voluntaries at Christ Church’s Rieger organ before and after evensong at Christ Church, as well as accompanying the choir during the service [pictured top].

This term, he was among the star performers in the concert in the City church beside the Guildhall – the second time that QE, which became an RCO-Accredited Institution in 2025, has been invited to take part in the RCO Young Performers concert series. Also performing were 11 other pupil organists and singers from Years 8–13.

The historic venue, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, is the official church of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London. The church is home to a Klais organ, built in 2001 as a Millennium Project

QE’s concert was introduced by Madeline Smith, Director of Relationships at the RCO. The organists performed works by composers including Elgar, Bach and Vivaldi, while the singers presented pieces by Purcell, Torelli and Ireland.

The performers were supported by Year 9 pupil Hoting Tan [pictured in the blue shirt], who acted as the organists’ console assistant for the day. Having recently started learning the organ himself, Hoting was able to observe and learn from more experienced musicians.

Year 8 organist Hercules Li said: “I enjoyed playing on a new organ and I liked the large variety of sounds. I also enjoyed being able to walk through the organ and see all the pipes inside it.”

Robin Peng, of Year 9, added: “I really liked the immersive sound and atmosphere the organ produced, and how I could feel the mechanisms working behind the keys and creating the sound almost magically.”

Thirty-four GCSE and A-level musicians enjoyed a memorable evening in the Victorian splendour of the Royal Albert Hall at the 80th Anniversary Celebration Concert of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

For many, it was their first experience of hearing a professional orchestra play live.

The RPO served up an 80th birthday treat for their ears, opening the concert with the world premiere of a piece by Errollyn Wallen, Master of the King’s Music, before delivering consummate performances of works by Beethoven and Richard Strauss.

Assistant Director of Music Caroline Grint, who led the trip, said: “Such first-hand experiences are deeply enriching for those studying at GCSE and A-level, helping to deepen their understanding of the context of the music they study, while also providing a valuable cultural experience.

“We’re very fortunate that QE is within easy reach of world-famous venues like the Royal Albert Hall – and, as our Boundless School Plan sets out, we seek to take full advantage of that proximity.”

The performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto was “technically dazzling”, Miss Grint said, while the concert’s concluding piece, Richard Strauss’s epic tone poem Ein Heldenleben, featured “an impressive nine French horns”.

Errollyn Wallen’s piece, entitled FLARE, had been specially commissioned by the RPO for the concert. The Belize-born British composer was appointed by King Charles in 2024.  She was awarded an MBE in 2007 and CBE in 2020, both for services to music.

Founded in 1946 by conductor and impresario Sir Thomas Beecham, the RPO has grown from its first concert in Croydon to become an internationally acclaimed orchestra, performing across London, the UK and around the world, as well as reaching audiences through digital and media platforms.

“Our students were particularly struck by the extraordinary technical skill of the internationally acclaimed soloists, pianist Julia Fischer, cellist Pablo Ferrández, and pianist Jan Lisiecki in the Beethoven concerto,” Miss Grint added.

Year 13’s Paarth Aggarwal presented his AI-powered app designed to help elderly and visually impaired people to an education summit at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Paarth’s invitation came after his smartphone scanner app, SafeEat, won an ‘honourable mention’ earlier this year in the Global Appathon – an online event that encourages entrants to build mobile apps for a worthwhile cause. Today’s report on his success comes on the UN’s World Food Day 2026, which is on the theme of Innovate today, nourish tomorrow.

The invitation to showcase his app at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit 2026 was a rare privilege: of the 2,176 entries in the Global Appathon, only the winners and the seven people receiving honourable mentions were asked to present.

QE’s Head of Technology, Bilaal Khan, said: “Our congratulations go to Paarth on this outstanding achievement and on representing QE on the international technology stage.”

The Global Appathon is a free, online event run jointly by MIT App Inventor and appinventor.org. MIT App Inventor is an app development tool for global education, while appinventor.org is a non-profit organisation with a mission to empower people to solve problems and make a positive impact in their lives and communities. Both were founded in 2007 by educators and researchers at MIT and Google.

The summit took place at MIT’s iconic Stata Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was designed by architect Frank Gehry.

The three-day event brought together innovators, educators and technology experts from around the world. Speakers and representatives from organisations including MIT, the App Inventor Foundation, Raspberry Pi Foundation and Harvard University explored topics ranging from responsible AI in education to accessibility and inclusive learning.

On day two, Paarth took to the stage to explain how SafeEat can help elderly and visually impaired people make safer and more informed food choices. By scanning ingredient labels, the app identifies potential allergens, intolerances and dietary restrictions, transforming complex ingredient lists into clear, accessible information.

He received feedback from educators, researchers, and innovators from around the world, while also making the most of the opportunity to forge connections with others.

Reflecting afterwards, Paarth said the summit had given him “plenty of new ideas”. He added: “It was inspiring to hear diverse perspectives and see how collaboration across disciplines can drive meaningful impact. As someone passionate about applying AI to improve educational accessibility, I found these conversations particularly valuable.”

Fifty of QE’s younger pupils joined four sixth-formers to learn together about the Normandy landings in a new activity arranged especially for their summer visit to France.

The Lower School boys and French A-level students were on the School’s long-running trip to the Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy – an action-packed week of French language, culture, history, and adventure.

In previous years, QE groups have visited the Bayeux Tapestry, but since that is currently on loan to the British Museum, this year’s trip organisers seized the opportunity to take a close look at D-Day – the Allied landings on 6 June, 1944 – and other aspects of France’s World War II history.

Their excursion day started with a visit to the Mémorial de Caen museum.

French & German teacher Fiona McAndrew, who led the trip, said: “This provided a useful introduction for the Year 7s, and gave valuable context to the A-level students, who study Un sac de billes by Joseph Joffo, a novel set during the Nazi occupation of France.”

In the afternoon, a museum guide accompanied them to see the American Cemetery – which is close to one of the landing beaches – and a German gun emplacement, where the pupils learned more about the German defences.

“Having a guide with us really brought this critical period of modern history to life for the students and gave them a better understanding of the importance of the Normandy landings to the outcome of World War Two and of the human sacrifice that required,” Mrs McAndrew added.

Set in 100 acres of beautiful woodland and countryside, the château provided an immersive environment in which boys could practise their spoken French while taking part in a wide range of activities and working together as a team.

The pupils were encouraged to challenge themselves. The programme included raft-building, archery, and climbing.

There was also the somewhat infamous assault course, offering opportunities aplenty to get wet and muddy. Jason Xu, who has just entered Year 8, said: “There were moments when it was tempting to give up, but everyone encouraged each other and kept going. Finishing the course felt like a real achievement.”

Naturally enough, the trip featured French cuisine, including croissants, baguettes, cheese and even snails.

Beyond developing their confidence in French, the week encouraged the boys to work collaboratively, experience a different culture, and live communally with their peers. For the younger boys, it was an introduction to learning beyond the classroom, while the Year 12 students were able to put their A-level French into practice in an authentic setting.

Lele Cen, of Year 8, said: “It is very different using French in a classroom compared with hearing people speak it in France! I tried to listen carefully, recognise familiar words and use French whenever I had the opportunity. Even when I was not completely sure what to say, it was good to have a go.”

Afterwards, Kush Thakore, also of Year 8, reflected on the whole experience: “The Normandy trip proved that a challenge does not always have to be something huge. Sometimes it is about stepping outside your comfort zone, trying something difficult and being willing to make mistakes.”

The pupils were accompanied by Mrs McAndrew and by: Assistant Head (Destinations & Progress) Robert Hyland; French & German teacher Elisa Perra; QE Flourish tutor & Biology teacher Sam Acors; and Biology teacher Darren Goffin.

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Five QE sixth-formers have scored multiple successes in Cambridge University competitions.

Wen Lee, who has just started Year 13, was named runner-up in the Homerton College Essay Programme for his composition on Can renewable energy save us from a climate catastrophe?

Four other students were among the top-ten winners in the Cambridge Biology Challenge – also associated with Homerton – after impressing the judges across the competition’s four rounds. Shashank Pothuganti, of Year 13, entered as an individual and came fifth out of 941 entries, while a Year 12 team comprising Akein Abeysinghe, Felix Chen and Pranay Thokala finished just behind him, in sixth place.

Deputy Head (Academic) Anne Macdonald said: “The success of our five students in these highly demanding competitions is due reward for their intelligence, their thoughtful approach, and their impressive degree of commitment. At QE, in the words of our Boundless School Plan, we seek to nurture ‘deep thinkers and compelling communicators’: what better example of that could there be than these pupils? Our congratulations go to them all.”

After applying to the essay programme because of his interest in the topic and the opportunity it gave him to bring together his A-level studies in Economics and Geography, Wen’s first success was in being selected to take part. For his essay, he researched the complex relationship between energy, economics and climate change.

One of only 50 young people selected to take part in the conference held for the parallel essay and design programmes, he enjoyed a tour of Homerton College and the insight he was given into life there.

He took part in a series of activities designed to encourage students to think critically about global challenges. One of the highlights was a ‘mini Model United Nations’ activity, where conference delegates worked in groups representing different countries and considered how global warming could be addressed from their country’s individual perspective.

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony, where Wen was only one of two students to receive a prize for his essay category. He received a plaque, certificate and a book.

In the Cambridge Biology Challenge, Shashank took part as an individual, which meant he was competing against teams of up to five. He was awarded a distinction in all four rounds, as well as a badge of merit in three rounds. In the third, he was overall runner-up.

The demanding challenge required teams to respond to four questions over the course of eight months:

1. Can new life be created?
2. Why is Maths a gift for biologists?
3. What does it mean for a non-human organism to be intelligent?
4. What skills are needed for success in Biology?

Not only did Shashank contribute essays, he also submitted videos and a visual novel. The latter two media were a new departure for him, involving him “stepping out of his comfort zone”, as he put it.

As well as all the research, critical thinking and problem-solving he deployed across the rounds, Shashank faced the added challenge that the final round came just before his AS exams, so he had to juggle his entry with his School studies.

It was his debut in the challenge, whereas his three fellow QE entrants had all entered the previous year. Determined to build on their previous performances – when Pranay’s team finished 11th and Felix and Pranay’s team placed 17th– their combined approach this year saw them rise up the leader board to take their sixth spot.

The QE entrants were invited to a special conference and awards ceremony at Homerton, where they attended a lecture, toured the college and took part in a series of activities and puzzles.

Like their fellow competitor Shashank, Felix, Pranay and Akein are passionate about Biology, with Pranay and Akein hoping to pursue careers in medicine.