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Queen Elizabeth’s School starts 2026 with a new School Captain, Tunishq Mitra, who took up his post this week, together with a 130-strong prefect team.

Tunishq will be assisted by the two Senior Vice-Captains, Peter Atanasov and Vu-Lam Le-Nguyen (pictured to the left and right of him) and ten Vice-Captains, who will be in post throughout 2026. All in the School Officials (prefects) team are drawn from Year 12.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My congratulations go to Tunishq, Peter, Vu-Lam and all the new team. Prefects are very effective role models to younger boys in the School, and these positions are well-deserved, having been earned through service over several years.”

Deputy Head (Pastoral) David Ryan gave this assessment of Tunishq, Peter and Vu-Lam: “All three are committed and loyal to the School.  They have accumulated a significant number of involvements in music, sport and debating, to name just three.

“Their QE journey has been a fantastically successful one; they have been chosen to be form captains, sports captains, junior prefects, and now senior prefects.  Their talents were obvious from their first year with us, and they have picked a number of prizes at our awards ceremonies over the years.”

Tunishq has been involved in drama productions and music ensembles (playing the electric guitar), and been a peer mentor. He is one of the editors of The Econobethan – QE’s pupil-run Economics publication.  He has been involved in VEX robotics, too, including qualifying with his team for the World Championships.

Vu-Lam is known for debating and public-speaking, which has included English-Speaking Union debating events, Model United Nations conferences, and Mock Trial competitions. He is one of the leaders of the Politics Society and an editor of The Arabella – a student-led literary journal at the School. He is also a musician, playing the violin in various ensembles. Like Tunishq, he has been involved in VEX Robotics and is a veteran of the World Championships.

Peter has been involved in representative sport, notably rugby and water polo, as well as acting as a peer mentor. He was in the Combined Cadet Force.

Tunishq, who was formally given the role towards the end of last term by the Headmaster, joins a long line of QE School Captains (head boys) dating back to at least 1876. He takes over from the 2025 School Captain, Simardeep Sahota and his cohort, who, the Headmaster said, enjoyed a successful year.

The 2026 Vice-Captains are: Advay Bhat; Aahan Shah; Ameen Elamin; Faaiz Adil; Ishaan Mishra; Jasmaan Sahota; Keeyan Shah; Rishi Watsalya; Rithwik Gururaj; and Tuhin Mitra.

Other roles include House Captains and Deputy House Captains for each of QE’s six Houses:

• Broughton: Paarth Aggarwal (Captain) and Oscar Kaltenbronn (Deputy)
• Harrisons’: Ahsan Rahman (C) and Noah Morley (D)
• Leicester: Soham Sapra (C) and Victor Varbanov (D)
• Pearce: Vivan Paul (C) and Kavya Amin (D)
• Stapylton: Jaydon Lad (C) and Olic Fan (D)
• Underne: Yash Mehta (C) and Vihaan Salunke (D)

Eleven QE pupils performed in front of more than 30,000 people for London’s Diwali celebrations in Trafalgar Square.

The 11 boys, drawn from Years 8–12, each portrayed various characters in Ramayana Musical Act as part of the programme for Diwali on the Square, one of the capital’s largest cultural events, organised by the Mayor of London’s office.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is an important celebration for Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic relating the life of Lord Rama.

The QE contingent made up more than half of the 20-strong cast for the performance produced by MAD House Production – a creative initiative by four QE parents, Abhinav Sahai, Deepika Banerjee Sahai, Mayuri Harish, and Priya Shivkumar, which was supported by the parents of all the other performers.

Speaking on behalf of the production team, Mr Sahai said: “The QE boys represented the School with remarkable poise, confidence, and creativity on one of the biggest stages in the city.”

“These young performers have done more than master choreography – they have embraced the timeless lessons of the Ramayana: courage, righteousness, loyalty, and compassion – and turned them into purposeful action.

“In the true spirit of giving that Diwali embodies, the children have also raised over £1,400 for Save the Children UK, spreading the light of hope not just here, but across the world.”

The performance was the culmination of months of dedicated practice and countless hours of rehearsals, where the boys balanced their academic commitments with artistic preparation.

“They thus demonstrated discipline, teamwork, and passion,” Mr Sahai added. “They not only brought the timeless story of the Ramayana to life but also created memories that will last a lifetime.”

“This remarkable feat stands as a testament to QE’s holistic approach to education — nurturing confidence, creativity, and leadership alongside academic excellence. The boys truly embodied the QE spirit.”

The QE performers were:

• Year 8: Atharv Shivakumar
• Year 9: Adhrit Dey
• Year 10: Rishabh Datta, Eeswar Manchikanti, Aaryan Prabhaker, Adyansh Sahai, Ryan Uppal, Pranav Yoganand
• Year 11: Aarnav Mahajan, Pranav Nayak
• Year 12: Shashank Pothuganti.

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Founder’s Day 2025 drew large numbers of visitors for the afternoon fete, who helped smash a £25,000 fundraising target.

The day, a traditional highlight of QE’s calendar, began with a service at St John the Baptist Church. That was followed by the formal Roll Call and Reading of the School Chronicle in front of QE’s Main Building.

Then it was time for the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s Fete to begin on Stapylton Field, where visitors could enjoy dozens of attractions, ranging from a plants stall and coconut shy through to barbecues and tents offering cuisine from around the world.

Headmaster Neil Enright: “Founder’s Day 2025 was a tremendous day from start to finish. The fete was very enjoyable, with great food and diverse cultural entertainment on the stage. Even the weather seemed to be on our side: although it was a hot day, we were blessed with a little cloud and even some (unforecast) light rain – it all helped keep everyone cool.”

“I am extremely pleased to be able to report that we have raised £40,904.50 – and still rising! That is a magnificent sum significantly exceeding both this year’s £25,000 target and the amount raised last year. My thanks to everyone who gave generously.”

“I congratulate and thank all those involved in making Founder’s Day 2025 such a terrific success – especially the FQE Fete Committee, who have spent countless hours organising the fete over many months, and their small army of parent volunteers who turned out on the day. I should also mention our prefect team, who also worked tirelessly throughout the day.”

The service at the parish church featured a selection of hymns and readings, as well as music from the School Choir, Junior Barbershop Group and three young organists – Arthur Wang, Year 7; Gabriel Ward, Year 8; and Zach Fernandes, of Year 9.

The guest speaker was 2015 School Captain Norbert Sobolak. He spoke powerfully to the Year 7 boys in the congregation, reminding them of the achievements of Old Elizabethans Demis Hassabis (1988–1990) and Mustafa Suleyman (1995–2002). The pair were among the three co-founders of leading AI company, DeepMind, while last year, Sir Demis won a Nobel prize for Chemistry.

“Dream so big it scares you,” Norbert said. “Build your own path, even when the world says no. Never, ever give up. And I promise you: you will not just change your life; you will change the world.”

After the service, the staff, dressed in academicals, made their way to the School with the rest of the congregation for the lunchtime Roll Call and Reading of the School Chronicle (a history of notable events in the School’s history) in front of Main Building.

The fete was well attended. The programme includes more details about the event, as well as articles and advertisements from the fete’s supporters.

Among the most popular attractions was the bowl-at-a-teacher stall, making use of the cricket cage. As well as music from QE ensembles, there were colourful displays of dancing on the stage, while the Main School Hall housed an archival display that included QE’s founding charter of 1573.

Among those who enjoyed the chance to examine the charter were representatives of the QE Global Schools programme, from Global Education (GEDU), who attended the celebrations and supported the day.

As well as takings on the day, the fundraising total was boosted by the sale of advertising, by giving online, and by sponsored House competitions held by both the Music and PE departments.

Funds raised will be put towards the complete refurbishment of two Biology laboratories, helping QE to respond effectively to the growing demand for subject-specific science laboratories as the numbers taking A-level sciences has risen in recent years. There is still time to donate: the dedicated Founder’s Day JustGiving page remains open.

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Year 11 pupil Paarth Aggarwal was among the winners at the London Borough of Barnet Civic Awards.

AI enthusiast Paarth won the sole 2025 Young Citizen of Barnet award for his work on the application of technology to bring about improvements in education and the environment.

Among his many competition successes, last year Parth took the national title in his age category in the Intel Global AI Impact Festival for his multi-lingual Navigate Ninja app, which offers personalised learning to children with autism.

Also in 2024, he spent three days at a European Space Agency base in Italy after being named the UK winner in the agency’s international competition: he had impressed competition judges with an AI-driven study into reducing waste in Barnet.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “I congratulate Paarth on winning a civic award – a very notable local success. He has taken the initiative to get involved in myriad competitions and sought out opportunities to develop his skills, while always at the same time seeking to provide public benefit from his proposed technological solutions.”

Parth was presented with his award certificate and medal at Barnet’s 25th annual civic awards ceremony in Hendon Town Hall by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vourou.

The citation for his award for Outstanding Service to the Community highlighted his “innovative use of technology to drive positive societal”. It continued: “His dedication extends to developing AI-powered solutions for reducing fly-tipping, promoting technological literacy, and supporting non-native English speakers, showcasing his commitment to inclusiveness and sustainability.”

In his introduction, Councillor Vourou said: “For a quarter of a century, the Civic Awards have been a beacon of recognition, shining a light on the extraordinary efforts of those who strive to make the London Borough of Barnet a better place. We honour their dedication and unwavering commitment to service.”

Queen Elizabeth’s School starts 2025 with this year’s School Captain, Simardeep Sahota, at the head of a new team of some 130 prefects.

Simardeep (pictured centre), who was appointed recently by Headmaster Neil Enright, will be supported by Senior Vice-Captains Adithya Raghuraman (right) and Keon Robert (left). The new team are all drawn from Year 12.

Mr Enright said: “My congratulations go to Simardeep, Adithya and Keon. Simardeep joins a long line of Captains of Queen Elizabeth’s School dating back to at least 1876. I am sure he will distinguish himself in the role and add lustre to our proud traditions.

“I also congratulate all the prefects: this year group as a whole are notable for being pleasant to deal with, kind and full of character.”

Head of Year 12 Akhil Gohil gave his own assessment of the top three. “Simardeep is a natural leader; he’s impressive, courteous, confident, and well-respected among his peers. Adithya is intelligent, empathetic and creative. Keon is thoughtful, hard-working and has a strong moral compass.”

The appointments reflect the positive contribution the pupils have made to QE and the regard in which they are held by classmates and the School staff.

The prefects not only play an essential role in the smooth running of the School, but they are also inspiring role models for younger boys.

The top three are supported by five pairs of Vice-Captains as the most senior prefects. They are pictured here, together with Simardeep, Adithya and Keon. The 2025 Vice-Captains, with their areas of responsibility, are:

• Samrath Sareen and Sasen Kankanamge Don – charity & community engagement
• Felix Calder and Suhaas Sabbella – equality, diversion & inclusion
• Aadam Aslam and Oscar Ayodele – enrichment & involvement
• Akhilesh Karthikeyan and Ved Nair – environment
• Krutarth Behera and Simi Bloom – student voice.

Reacting to his appointment, Simardeep wrote: “I am deeply honoured and grateful to Mr Enright for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. Knowing that both my peers and the staff see me as worthy of this role is truly humbling—and it inspires me to give it my absolute best. With such a talented and committed team by my side, I am confident that we’ll accomplish great things together in the year ahead. A big congratulations to everyone who’s part of the prefect team!”

Queen Elizabeth’s School remembered its war dead in traditional fashion with a wreath-laying ceremony, the 11am two-minutes silence, and the participation of the Combined Cadet Force in the High Barnet Remembrance Sunday parade.

But this year has also seen some of the youngest boys wax lyrical in a poetry competition, one Old Elizabethan publish a novel based on the experiences of a soldier in the two world wars, and hundreds of pupils and staff take part in a Remembrance Day quiz.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “We reflected with gratitude on those whose service in sacrifice in the two world wars and other conflicts paved the way for the peace and freedom we enjoy today, while also being mindful that wars are raging today in various places around the world, with all the horrors that that entails.”

At the School, the Armistice Day wreath-laying took place at the memorial to Elizabethans lost in the First World War. The CCF led the proceedings, with the Last Post and Reveille played by Year 13 trumpeter Joel Swedensky.

The School observed the national silence, with a silence also held before each of the weekend’s rugby fixtures.

On Sunday, the parade took the CCF members from the Army Reserve Centre on St Albans Road to the parish church. After the church service, Last Post and a wreath-laying ceremony, the boys joined in the march-past, with the Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the London Borough of Barnet, Martin Russell, taking the salute.

More than 600 pupils and staff took part in QE’s Remembrance Day quiz. Presented to the boys in a colourful PowerPoint presentation, its 18 multiple-choice questions included both some relating to international matters and others directly connected to the School. Here are three examples (scroll to the bottom to see the answers):

1. After the outbreak of war in 1914, QE offered scholarships to refugees from which country?
2. On 11^th November 1941, QE was hit during the Blitz. The bombs damaged the old refectory and which other area of the School?
3. Where did QE’s loyalties lie during the English Civil War (1642–1651), and why?

The quiz was fiercely contested by the boys: none got full marks, but Krithin Jaichandran, of Year 12, achieved 15/16. The staff winner was English teacher Yioda Menelaou.

One 2024 leaver, Tharun Dhamodharan, has recently published a novel that spans both the First and Second World Wars. It tells the story of a former soldier at the Somme who later becomes a teacher and has to confront his memories in the classroom during the Second World War. A copy of the novel, entitled The Forgotten Warrior, is available in The Queen’s Library. Tharun thanked Jenni Blackford, Head of Library Services, for her help and guidance.

Earlier this term, to coincide with International Day of Peace, pupils in Year 7’s Underne form wrote poems about peace. The winning poem was written by Vivaan Karalkar. It was picked by Head of English Robert Hyland, who described it as “very good indeed”. He praised its “creative use of perspective and form, using the 1st person to tell the story with imaginative use of rhyming, and presenting peace in an original way through the imagery of strength”.

The poem, set out below, was also the popular choice among the boys.

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I fly through the breeze, a wave of calm,

I lurk in the tides, tranquillity my psalm,

Warm and comfortable, I surround you, a fleece,

I protect you from war, for I am peace.

 

I live in the soul, free and untouched,

Unrest and violence, my power has crushed,

In frightened hearts and minds, my strength will soothe,

For I am peace, bound to protect you.

 

I flow through all blood, an endless force of qi,

I thrive in all places, whatever there is to see,

I am passed down from generations, a young face looking into an old,

For I am peace, a fire against the cold.

 

Life can be a struggle, a perpetual night,

But war and unrest can truly make light flight,

But fear not now, I’ll tug you from quicksand,

For I am peace,

Ready to make a stand.

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Remembrance Day quiz answers

1. Belgium
2. Rooms L and Y
3. The School was on the royalist side because many of the Governors had royalist sympathies.

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