School Performance

At home at Harvard

Che Applewhaite represents a growing trend for QE sixth-formers to win places at leading international universities, particularly in the US. The former Senior Vice-Captain took up a place at Harvard in the autumn, having secured an unconditional offer from the Ivy League university. Che will be reading for a Liberal Arts degree, having chosen Harvard in part for its strengths in the arts, humanities, economics and politics.

His extra-curricular involvement at QE spanned debating to the School Choir. He set up QE's Forward Thinking Society, where boys discuss new ideas or current social issues, and was instrumental in establishing a Food Bank at the School. At Harvard he is hoping to get involved in the Harvard Crimson student newspaper and the international relations committee.

Che pays tribute to the extensive assistance he received from the School in making his university application, which included an information session on US universities attended by QE alumni already studying stateside.

Passion for politics

Adrian Burbie was prominent in the Sixth Form for his role in securing speakers – including such luminaries as journalist Evan Davis, politician Sir Vince Cable and retired Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe – for the School’s lecture programme and its thriving Politics Society.

Having achieved straight A* grades at A-level, he won his place to read Law at Merton College, Oxford. Adrian plans eventually to enter politics, but only “when the time is right”. In the meantime, he will pursue his interest in music at university: a long-time member of the School Choir, he also enjoys playing the piano.

The sky's the limit

Stars featured prominently in Aadil Kara's final year at QE: not only did he shine at A-level with four A* grades, but he also enjoyed a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after being selected, alongside classmate Brian Kong, for a European Union team in a space design competition – “a brilliant, fantastic experience”.

Aadil has now started his Physics degree at Imperial College, London. All this was achieved despite his suffering for several years from a chronic illness that flared up during his examinations. “The School have been tremendously helpful, especially my head of year and form tutors,” he says.

The architect of his own success

Having secured his place at Jesus College, Cambridge, Nabil is relishing the “holistic challenge” of studying Architecture there: he deliberately chose “quite an eclectic mix” of A-level subjects, namely Art, English, History and Mathematics. “Being able to think both logically and creatively was absolutely imperative,” says Nabil, who undertook work experience at the world-famous practice of Richard Rogers.

Nabil excelled in his studies – for example, he won a place on the Royal Academy of Arts’ attRAct programme for A-level Art students – and also on the sports field, where he was captain of QE’s rugby First XV.

Constructing excellence

With A* grades in all his A-levels – Art, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics – Tochi Onuora secured his place to read Architecture at Churchill College, Cambridge. He appreciates the high expectations set for him at QE: “You take the advice and you work hard – and then you do get the reward.”

Tochi immersed himself fully in school life. He was part of an Engineering Education Scheme team that won national acclaim for its project; he excelled in the British Mathematical Olympiad; he sang in the School Choir; he took part in public speaking; and he mentored younger pupils in Mathematics.

The clean sweep

For the Basheer family, the summer was a double dose of success with Bushry obtaining 4 A*s at A-level and younger brother Bashmy (pictured with Akshat Sharma) gaining a clean sweep of 8 A*s and 3 9s (the top level in the reformed English and Maths GCSEs). "There may be a small family celebration" Bashmy conceded. "We are both ecstatic, having worked so hard for this."

Akshat also achieved A*s and 9s across the board. “I was hoping for results like these, but with the new GCSEs and syllabuses I was unsure how it would play out. We were all in the same boat, though, and our teachers prepared us so well – I’ve got to give it to them! My experience at GCSE and at QE in general has been brilliant thus far and I’m excited about what comes next.”

A leading all-rounder

Aashish Khimasia gained all A*s in his GCSEs and has now begun A-levels in Maths, History, Chemistry and Biology. He is also a talented sportsman (rugby and water polo) and post-grade 8 musician, having gained a Distinction in the Associate of the Royal Schools of Music exam last year.

“I did not expect this, so am pleased. Grades don’t determine who I am, but this is a great stepping stone to what’s next. I had my diploma for flute a week before my first GCSE exam and prepared equally for that. Everything is important together, music, sport and academics. What’s great is that you get a fully rounded experience at QE; it develops you as a person.”

It was no surprise when Aashish was appointed as School Captain for 2018.