Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet

Engineering Excellence for Year 11 Students - We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of seven students who have successfully completed the prestigious three-stage selection process for the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship and have been confirmed as Arkwright Scholars by The Smallpeice Trust

Our warmest congratulations to this : Ishan; Aarav; Sriram; Ethan; Nikhil; Soham and Aviral.These talented students will begin their Sixth Form journey with one of the UK's most respected STEM awards. The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship supports students throughout the final two years of secondary education, offering financial grants, industry mentoring, and access to exclusive STEM events.

Recognised by leading universities and employers across the UK, the scholarship provides scholars with valuable opportunities and a significant advantage as they pursue future careers in engineering, technology, and innovation.

We are incredibly proud of their achievement and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the years ahead.

Find out more here: https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/arkwright-engineering-scholarships/

Arkwright Engineering Scholarships - Smallpeice Trust Arkwright Engineering Scholarships exist to identify, inspire, and nurture high-potential young people aged 16–18 as they prepare to leave school and progress

Bringing Latin to Life in Provence - Our Year 9 Latin students recently embarked on an unforgettable trip to Provence, where they experienced the Roman world beyond the classroom.

From exploring the magnificent Roman theatre and museum in Orange to standing inside the awe-inspiring amphitheatre in Nîmes, students gained a real appreciation for the scale and grandeur of Roman civilisation. They also visited Arles, a town they recognised from their Latin studies, touring key sites including a Roman cemetery, amphitheatre and bath complex.

The adventure didn't stop there! Students practised their French while browsing a local market before spending the afternoon tackling a treetop adventure course – think Go Ape, French style!

Latin is one of three languages taught at QE and provides an excellent foundation for understanding vocabulary, language structure and many of the technical terms used in English, Science and Medicine.

As Emma Evans, Latin Teacher said:
"Trips like these are a fantastic opportunity to experience Roman history firsthand, develop language skills and create lasting memories. The students were excellent ambassadors for the school throughout and thoroughly enjoyed the experience."

A huge well done to all the students who took part and represented the school so positively.

A Vibrant Celebration of Music Making - There was a fantastic atmosphere at this year’s Junior Recital, as our talented musicians in Years 7–10 took to the stage for an evening of outstanding solo and chamber performances.

Despite its title, there was nothing “junior” about the quality of music-making on display. The concert opened with a rousing performance of Schubert’s Marche Militaire by the Piano Quartet and concluded with Eshaan’s impressive rendition of the first movement of John Ireland’s Sonata in G minor.

Other highlights included Adrian’s energetic performance of Poulenc’s Toccata and the Junior Saxophone Quartet’s characterful take on Baggy Trousers by Madness. The evening also marked a milestone for the Music Department, with the first student bassoon performance in the Friends’ Recital Hall (FRH), featured in the Double Reed Trio’s performance of Milde’s Trio No. 1.

Beyond the excellent performances, it was wonderful to see the encouragement, camaraderie and support shared amongst the musicians throughout the evening. We are incredibly proud of all the performers and the dedication they showed in preparing for such a memorable concert. Bravo to everyone involved!

Save the date for Founder’s Day 2026 on Saturday 20 June, when Queen’s Road will once again become the heart of a joyful community celebration and an important day of fundraising.

The festivities will unfold beginning with the Thanksgiving Service at 10.45am, through the Roll Call at 12.30pm, and into the ever-popular Fête from 1pm, bringing together students, families, staff, alumni and friends in a tradition that celebrates our part in Barnet life for well over 450 years. Months of preparation are now coming to fruition thanks to the dedication of the marvellous FQE volunteers, the energy of our prefects, and the generosity of supporters and sponsors who make the day possible.

It promises to be an occasion full of fun, with a vibrant mix of international food, live entertainment and light-hearted activities, including the much-anticipated return of staff in the stocks.

We warmly invite you to join us and to bring along friends, family and neighbours to enjoy what is always a highlight of the year.

Jack Petchey Award Success at QE - We are delighted to celebrate six QE students who have been recognised with the prestigious Jack Petchey Achievement Award. In Year 10 Pranav and Arnay; Year 11 Abishek and Roha; and in Year 12 Zane and Hasnain.

The Jack Petchey Achievement Award is especially meaningful because winners are chosen by their peers. Students vote for those who have made an outstanding positive contribution to school life, recognising qualities such as determination, kindness, leadership and a willingness to go above and beyond for others.

Among this year's winners, Pranav was recognised for his contributions to both robotics and sport. As a volunteer mentor, he supported Year 9 VEX Robotics teams that progressed to the World Championship and was part of the QE team that won the prestigious Innovate Award. He also enjoyed success in Eton Fives, helping QE finish top of their division at the National Championships.

Arnay was recognised for his dedication to mentoring younger students in VEX Robotics and helping to organise competitions, demonstrating both leadership and enthusiasm for the subject.
The awards also provide students with the opportunity to recognise inspirational staff. Congratulations to Biology Teacher Dr Sam Acors, who has received the Jack Petchey Leader Award. Students praised his good humour, encouragement and supportive approach to teaching.

We are incredibly proud of all our winners. Their achievements reflect the positive, caring and ambitious community we strive to foster at QE. Each recipient will a medal at an award ceremony and a £300 grant to support a project that benefits the school, helping them continue to make a difference.

Congratulations to all our award winners!

Outstanding Maths Olympiad Success for QE Mathematicians - Huge congratulations to Liam on winning a Gold Medal in this year’s Intermediate Maths Olympiad, placing in the Top 20 nationally. Akshaj, Heng and Ryan also achieved fantastic Silver Medal awards, putting them in the Top 50 in the UK.

The Intermediate Maths Olympiad is a highly demanding nationwide competition for Years 9–11, with entry by invitation based on exceptional performance in the Intermediate Maths Challenge (IMC) or by discretionary entry.

With 1,800 students participating from the IMC, this was no easy feat for Liam to be able to sit the Hamilton Mathematical Olympiad; and Akshaj, Heng and Ryan the Cayley Mathematical Olympiad.

After tackling six Olympiad-style problems in just two hours, our students achieved truly exceptional results. All students also received the prize book ‘Introduction to Algebra’ by Jeremy D. King for their outstanding performances.

A brilliant achievement and a wonderful celebration of the QE community who continues to inspire confidence and excellence in mathematics.

UK Mathematics Trust

Year 8 Host French Students from Institution Saint Pierre- We were delighted to welcome 24 students from Institution Saint Pierre in Bourg-en-Bresse, France for an incredible 7-day exchange visit at QE with our Year 8 students!

During their stay, students experienced full immersion in British culture through homestays with QE families, attending lessons with their correspondents, and taking part in a wide range of exciting cultural activities.

Highlights included: visiting the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour; exploring iconic London landmarks; outdoor team-building activities; English Literature & Poetry with Dr Hyland; a fun and expressive Hip-hop workshop; and of course, a traditional hearty English breakfast before heading home!

Friendships were formed, memories were made, and we are now looking forward to visiting our French peers in France this June.

World Math Hackathon 2026 Winner at QE - Aaryan Prabhaker (Year 10) won the World Math Hackathon 2026, organised by Explorer Hop!

The global competition tasks students aged 11–17 to use mathematics to solve real-world problems linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s focus was poverty reduction, with students asked to develop solutions for real-life challenges faced in Ethiopia.

Aaryan rose to the challenge by producing an outstanding essay on how education and training could help reduce poverty in Ethiopia, applying mathematical thinking and problem-solving throughout.

After narrowly missing out last year, his perseverance, resilience, and dedication paid off as he was crowned the UK winner of the Hackathon, with students from Canada taking second and third place.

An incredible achievement and a testament to the power of hard work, growth mindset, and determination.
Congratulations, Aaryan — we are immensely proud of you!

QE Pupils Take Centre Stage at Dance Showcase - After weeks of classes, intensive workshops, and rehearsals, QE pupils in Years 7–10 proudly debuted their Hip Hop routine at the annual Step Around Town dance showcase hosted at Acland Burghley School

Co-presented by the Royal Academy of Dance and the Jack Petchey Foundation Step Around Town celebrates the achievements of students involved in the inclusive Step into Dance programme — which QE is proud to be part of.

The showcase gave pupils the opportunity to perform alongside other talented school groups, build confidence, develop their skills, and make new friends through dance.

Year 7 pupil Logan Le said:
“Each rehearsal was extremely fun and it was a really great experience. I hope we get to dance together again.”

Year 8 pupil Youer Chen added:
“It was an amazing chance to see some really high-level dances and perform our own routine. Everyone was very friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Atharv Sharma in Year 8 described the event as:
“A magnificent opportunity to showcase our dance abilities and make our teacher proud.”

With dance set to become part of the PE curriculum and our dedicated Robert Dudley Studio providing space to rehearse and develop their talents, it was fantastic to see our pupils shine on stage.

Congratulations to all pupils involved!

Amsterdam Rugby Tour 2026 - Forty-six enthusiastic Year 9 and 10 pupils recently headed off on an unforgettable rugby tour to Amsterdam — a fantastic experience packed with competitive rugby, team bonding and cultural adventures.

The tour began with warm-up fixtures against RC Bulldogs, where both QE teams secured impressive victories. Despite RC Bulldogs taking an early lead in both games, our boys showed great character to respond brilliantly.

A huge thank you to RC Bulldogs for being such fantastic hosts — it was brilliant to see all the players mixing and socialising together after the matches.

On Sunday, the squads competed in the prestigious Hilversum Rugby Festival, one of Europe’s biggest youth rugby events. Facing strong opposition from across the continent, the boys represented QE with pride, resilience and maturity throughout the day.

The Year 9s enjoyed some excellent victories, including a memorable win against the host team, while the Year 10s battled hard against tough competition, playing some outstanding rugby and scoring some superb tries.

It wasn’t all about rugby though! The boys also enjoyed bowling, a 5D experience and plenty of time together off the pitch — helping to strengthen friendships and build lasting memories.

A brilliant tour from start to finish — well done to all involved!

U15A Captain Kevin Gajera summed it up perfectly:
“It was a great tour and having the opportunity to play in such a big international tournament was brilliant. This experience will definitely make us stronger as a team and we are looking forward to next season already.”

Tour Awards:
Year 9 Player of the Tour – Andy Hasanaj
Year 9 Best Tourist – Aryaman Sharma
Year 10 Player of the Tour – Abbas Rajvani
Year 10 Best Tourist – Tianche D**g