Select Page

Viewing archives for Uncategorized

QE, which has Specialist Music College status, is to extend its programme allowing students from partner schools to learn an instrument at no cost. All the spaces for September were easily filled, so the decision was made to offer an additional 25 places – five to each partner school.

The extension to the programme follows a successful Partner Schools’ Concert in May. More than 200 pupils from St Andrew’s in Totteridge, Frith Manor in Woodside Park, Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’, Foulds and Christchurch took part, along with QE’s own Big Band, Wind Ensemble and String Quartet.

Queen Elizabeth’s School has further demonstrated its strength in chess, with boys participating in regional, national and international competitions this term. Two QE boys were this month taking part in the Dubai Junior International U14 Chess Championship.

Tharshan Kanagaraj who is in 9B, and Kushal Shah, of 9S, have been invited there to face some of the world’s best young chess players. “This is a prestigious, week-long tournament involving some of the best chess players in the world held every July: the invitation to Tharshan and Kushal is a sign of the School’s growing reputation in chess,” said Mathematics teacher Geoffrey Roberts.

Also this term, the School chess team of Akshaya Ahuja, Jonathan Hoong, Thanurshan Mahentran, Amit Desai, Anup Desai, Luka Sugita and Gabriel Gendler progressed to the quarter-final of the English Chess Federation Schools’ Championship.

And nine boys reached the Southern Final of the UK Chess Challenge after excellent performances in the regional finals. In the Middlesex regional final, Reyvanth Varathan won the U13 age group category, Jerome Singh finished runner-up in the U15 section and Ethan Singh finished third in the U13 section. In the Hertfordshire regional final, Akshaya Ahuja won the U16 section, with Jonathan Hoong in second position. Finally, in the U15 section Anup Desai, Amit Desai and Luka Sugita all finished in joint-second place. Madhi Elango finished second in the U12 competition.

Founder’s Day is always one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth’s School’s year – and the 2008 event was no exception, in spite of the inclement weather.

The Founder’s Day Fete is an important part of the day and is also the most significant event in the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s calendar. Staplyton Field is transformed into a vibrant and colourful fete ground with numerous attractions, which this year ranged from a laser game to an international food marquee.

The 2008 fete raised a total of nearly £19,500 – a £1,500 improvement on last year.

“Thank you so much to everyone who supported the FQE Fete, especially to those brave ones who went in the stocks! The parents really appreciated seeing the staff there,” said FQE Secretary Diane Mason.

The Headmaster also paid tribute to those who organised the “logistically challenging event” so successfully.

Year 12 student Promit Anwar has been shortlisted for the Royal Economics Society’s Young Economist of the Year essay competition with an essay on the subject of ‘A global banknote’.

The other pupils on the shortlist came from some of the country’s best known schools in both the independent and state sectors.

All 180 boys in Year 9 spent a day off time-table near the end of term to take part in an exciting careers advice event based on the BBC’s The Apprentice.

The pupils each submitted a CV beforehand and, when these were considered, a managing director and deputy managing director were chosen for each of the 15 groups located around the School. Each group had a facilitator from the world of industry to lead them on their tasks. Four assessors looked at the work of each group and four groups were chosen to present their ideas at the end of the day. The winners were to be deemed The Apprentices 2008.

“They had to justify their decisions and underwent a grilling from the panel of judges, who were just as harsh as Sir Alan, Margaret and Nick from the TV programme,” said David Ryan, Head of Careers Education and Guidance.

The aim was to introduce students to the world of work, ethics, sales approaches and team responsibilities. The boys had to complete a major task of deciding how to manufacture, promote and sell a chocolate bar over a notional eight-week period. They also had two minor tasks: one focused on deciding the questions to ask or not to ask in interviews; the other presented a range of ethical business scenarios.

“The day is an excellent opportunity for the School to work in partnership with business and industry in order to present a clear view of what the world of work is to our students,” said Mr Ryan. “Students at QE will go on to work in highly competitive environments like the one created on this day, and the skills that they learn in this respect will be highly beneficial to them as they progress on their careers pathway.”

QE boys have excelled this year in the various UK Mathematics Trust Maths Challenges.

In the Junior Challenge, 211 boys from Years 7 and 8 took part, with 71 receiving Gold certificates. Akshay Shah of 8B was awarded the best-in-School certificate. Eight boys qualified for the Olympiad.

Ten QE boys were awarded Certificates of Merit at the UK Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad. Yew Hone Cheung performed particularly strongly and has been selected to attend a summer school. Four boys also gained Merits in the follow-on European Kangaroo Mathematics competition.