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Two boys have won medals in the Junior Mathematical Olympiad – a competition for the finest young mathematicians in the country.

Year 8 pupils Nico Puthu and Max Shen both gained bronze medals and certificates of distinction after strong performances in the two-hour paper, while fellow Year 8 boy Kiran Aberdeen was also awarded a certificate of distinction.

They were among 16 boys from Year 7 and Year 8 who qualified for the UK Mathematics Trust’s élite Olympiad after scoring highly in the earlier Junior Maths Challenge round, which was entered by 255 boys at the School.

Bronze medals in the Olympiad go to entrants who answer the questions competently in section A of the paper and then go on to give three substantially correct solutions in section B. Certificates of distinction are awarded to the top 25% of scorers.

Wendy Fung, Assistant Head of Mathematics, said: “Only 1,200 students qualify nationally for the Olympiad from the 250,000 who sit the Junior Maths Challenge, so for QE to have so many boys among the 1,200 is a tremendous achievement. I offer my congratulations to all the participants, and I know that both Max and Nico were justifiably proud of themselves for winning medals.”

Boys at Queen Elizabeth’s School once again performed very strongly at A-level, with the proportion of  A*-B grades awarded reaching 96%.

There were only a handful of C grades among the 471 A-levels taken this year and no pupil received any grade lower than a C. Almost all the Year 13 leavers will go on to take up places at leading universities.

The results further cement QE’s reputation established over the past 20 years as one of the best-performing academic schools in the country, whether in the state or independent sector.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “I congratulate our boys on another excellent performance – 96% at A*-B grades is an impressive achievement by any standards. Among this year’s leavers, a near-record 37 boys have received offers of places at Oxford or Cambridge.

“I am particularly pleased at how consistent our A-level results are at a time when, as many national commentators have pointed out, there is considerable turbulence in the area of public examinations. I should add that 96% represents the position before any re-marks are requested: these typically result in a net increase in the total figure.”

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Top State School – The Daily Telegraph, Friday 15 August 2014

Top State School – The Times, Friday 15 August 2014

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Ofqual, the examinations watchdog, recently told pupils nationally to expect ‘particularly volatile’ A-level and GCSE results. The major change for A-level candidates this year is that the qualification is now linear; for the first time, there were no modules in January.

The Russell Group of leading universities has stated recently that too many state school pupils are not encouraged to take A-levels in ‘facilitating subjects’ – traditional academic subjects such as sciences and languages. Such subjects improve pupils’ entry chances to top universities.

“It is important to note that QE boys predominantly take facilitating subjects at A-level, rather than other subjects seen by some as softer options,” Mr Enright added.

There has also been concern that it is becoming harder for pupils from state schools to gain access to leading universities. A recent commission set up by the Sutton Trust, an education charity, to examine the impact of higher fees reported that young people from wealthy backgrounds are around 10 times more likely to get into such universities than those from poorer homes, with boys from disadvantaged backgrounds especially unlikely to obtain a university place.

“At QE we are very proud that we operate entirely as a meritocracy and thus contribute to social mobility,” said Mr Enright. “Our students come from very diverse social and ethnic backgrounds, but they have this in common: they know that they can go as far in their studies here as their abilities will take them.

“Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth’s School is no ‘exam factory’: our teachers and support staff all work to inspire a love of learning in the boys, rather than merely training them to pass examinations. Our academic success is due to the deep-seated interest in their studies that many boys evince and, of course, to a great deal of hard work and application on their part.

“We strongly encourage all our boys to broaden their horizons by engaging in School activities outside the classroom: indeed, many of our highest achievers are also heavily involved in sport, the performing arts or in other QE clubs and societies.”

The total of 37 Oxbridge offers represents a 28% rise on last year. The offers cover subjects ranging from Architecture to Philosophy and include Medicine, Law, Mathematics, PPE and Engineering.

The A-level results are in line with the School’s expectations based on this cohort’s AS results last year.

Mr Enright said: “I was also very encouraged to note that our AS-level results for our Lower Sixth are significantly up on last year. In fact, the 95.2% figure for A-B grades equals our best-ever AS results, in 2011.”

Abolition of AS-levels is among a number of further reforms planned by the Government, but opposed by Labour. Cambridge University, supported by Oxford, has emphasised the importance of AS results in helping it to reach the right decisions in offering places to Sixth-Formers.

“In my view, AS-levels are very useful in guiding our boys and their teachers, helping them to make wise choices in their university applications,” Mr Enright stated.

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A-level results 2014: results from 400 state schools, The Telegraph, Thursday 14 August 2014

Students across Barnet in high spirits after A-level results, The Barnet Times, Thursday 14 August 2014

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More than six out of every ten GCSEs taken at QE have been awarded the A* grade – for the third year in a row.

In total, 98% of GCSEs in 2014 received grades A*-B, while 90% were at either A* (61%) or A (29%). All 176 Year 11 pupils achieved the Government benchmark of five A*-C passes including English and Mathematics, and 99% achieved either A* or A in Maths.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My congratulations go to the boys and their teachers on a truly excellent set of results, consistent with the pattern established here in recent years.

“Our 2013 results set new records, but this year’s figures are perhaps equally impressive. They were achieved in the face of significant changes in national GCSE arrangements. Furthermore, this year for the first time all our boys took the IGCSE in Mathematics and Geography – a decision we took because this qualification provides greater academic rigour.”

Earlier this summer, Ofqual’s Chief Executive, Glenys Stacey, wrote to all secondary schools and colleges warning of ‘more variability’ in results in 2014 compared with previous years, following sweeping reforms.

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Top Boys’ State School – The Times, Friday 22 August 2014

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The main changes included eliminating modules, so that all GCSEs were sat at the end of the two-year course, and the removal of a mark for speaking and listening in English GCSEs, following reports that some teachers nationally were over-marking.

A third national change was the announcement that only pupils’ first attempt at GCSEs would be counted in league tables, thus discouraging schools from entering candidates early or repeatedly. Mr Enright said this particular change did not affect QE, since it has never entered pupils early for GCSEs.

Tony Little, Head Master of Eton, this month warned against ‘measuring only the easily measurable, such as exam results’ and he reiterated his previous criticisms of the country’s ‘Victorian’ examination system. Mr Enright said: “I certainly concur with his emphasis on the need for schools to develop character and resilience in young people, instead of focusing solely on examinations.

“That emphasis is reflected in our own mission statement to ‘produce young men who are confident, able and responsible’. It is what lies behind our expectation that all our boys should take part in extra-curricular activities – whether that’s performing in the Big Band, playing cricket, joining the Chess Club or turning out with our Combined Cadet Force – and it is why all pupils in Year 12 undertake voluntary service.”

The Governmnent’s English Baccalaureate (EBac) performance measure was achieved by 99% of boys. The Ebac was introduced by the Department for Education in 2010 and is given to pupils who attain GCSEs or IGCSEs at grades A*-C across a core of academic subjects – English, Mathematics, History or Geography, the sciences and a language.

As well as Mathematics, there were also especially strong performances at QE in Biology (97 candidates, achieving 96 A*s and 1A) and Physics (97 candidates, 93 A*s and 4As).

With the School having now switched to Mathematics, Geography and Sciences IGCSEs, boys starting their GCSE courses next month will also follow the IGCSE syllabus for Languages.

The School’s rugby and cricket tour of Sri Lanka, organised to mark the centenary of the introduction of rugby at QE, proved to be both rewarding and challenging for the teams as they encountered talented opposition in hot and humid conditions.

The tour party, comprising around 50 boys from Year 10 to Year 13, took on a range of opposition, including local sports academies, junior district sides and an MCC-backed charity youth team during the 11-day tour. The tour also included opportunities for sightseeing and sampling local culture.

“Conditions throughout the tour were unfamiliar and asked questions of our boys’ fitness and mental strength,” said PE teacher Jonathan Morgan. “The heat and humidity led to dehydration, but all the boys played their hearts out, performing with total commitment.

“The trip got off to a smooth start, with the boys arriving at Heathrow looking extremely smart in their tour shirts and ties,” said Mr Morgan, who organised the visit. “We were greeted in Colombo with traditional necklaces made of fresh flowers, before transferring to Kandy for our first fixtures.”

With little opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions, all three teams (a rugby XV and two cricket XIs) were in action on the first day. In close matches, both cricket teams were beaten, but the rugby team won their opening game 19-5.

Cricket captain Seb Fesczcur-Hatchett was named man of the match in the A game, scoring 31 runs and taking four wickets. Man of the match in the B fixture was Mathew Norman, who scored 31 opening the batting. Highlights of the rugby included: an excellent performance by Asvin Ponnampalam, who scored two tries; a brilliant try scored by Luke Dee, and the strong overall team performance in difficult conditions.

During their time in Kandy, the boys enjoyed sights including the food market, silk and gem factories, a traditional dancing and fire-walking show, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth.

Both cricket teams had two more games in Kandy, played at the impressive Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. “I think the B team started the day slightly overawed by the occasion and took a while to get into their stride,” added Mr Morgan. In spite of some impressive batting and bowling the team lost by four wickets.  “The A team were then involved in a real spectacle: in 40 overs of play, the two opposing teams scored 350 runs. Sadly our team fell just short of the opposition’s 178,” Mr Morgan added.

The rugby team came up against top Kandy independent school Trinity College – the number one-ranked side in Sri Lanka. Despite battling hard in tough conditions, the team lost 50-17. 

“I have to say that all the boys on tour behaved impeccably and made it a very special and successful trip,” said Mr Morgan. “They were polite, patient and good-humoured throughout.”

The later part of the tour was based around Colombo, with the highlights including a visit to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, where the boys enjoyed watching the elephants bathing and being fed.

The climate in Colombo proved, if anything, even hotter than Kandy. The cricket B team faced an uphill task in their first game, when the opposition posted a score of 274 off 35 overs. Mr Morgan reported that the boys tried their hardest with some good batting by Harry Webb and Mathew Norman, but lost by 110 runs.

The cricket A team again struggled in temperatures in the 30-plus degree heat; they batted first and posted a score of 124 all out in 34 overs. Notwithstanding some early wickets, they could not prevent the opposition from reaching the target, losing the game by seven wickets. The heat and the hard ground took their toll on the rugby team, who played well but were unable to score and lost a close game 6-0.

The cricketers received a boost with a special training session run by two former Sri Lankan cricket internationals. And all the tourists visited a local orphanage where they met the children and donated school supplies they had taken with them from the UK. The gifts included stationary, bags, paper, books, ties and a cash donation for the head teacher to put towards repairs to the school. “They were all extremely thankful and it was a very humbling experience for every boy involved and one that the boys and staff will not forget,” said Mr Morgan.

The final rugby match was against the Royal College Colombo, which is another team with the reputation of being one of the best school sides in the country. It took place at the college’s rugby stadium – another outstanding facility. The QE boys rose to the occasion and played with grit and commitment, going in at half-time with the score at 12-12. A late try and conversion gave QE the victory 19-12.

The A team secured their first victory of the tour in their penultimate game, a 20/20 match in which the hosts were contained to just 74 runs, which QE easily “knocked off”. The B team followed suit, albeit in a rain-shortened match of nine overs each. The hosts scored 82, which QE chased down with an over to spare.

On the final day of tour, the whole party visited the Foundation of Goodness, a charity based in Seenigama village, near Galle, which works to improve the lives of local people. One of the founders showed the tour party around the facility and also talked in detail about the effect the 2004 tsunami had on the charity and the local area. With sponsorship from the Marylebone Cricket Club, the charity developed the MCC Centre of Excellence, which is now at the heart of its work.

In the final cricket matches of the tour, the B team were bowled out for just 64 runs, which the opposition scored with overs to spare. The A team’s game was more competitive: QE batted first, scoring 130 from 20 overs. A hat trick from Niam Radia made the hosts work to reach the total, but they completed the task for the loss of seven wickets and with only one over in hand. 

The tour was rounded off in style with an awards evening. Awards were given to:

Cricket A

• Character of the tour: Milan Pindoria
• Players’ player: Omar Mohammed
• Teachers’ player: Seb Fezczur-Hatchett

Cricket B

• Character of the tour: Sen Thavanayagam
• Players’ player: Harry Webb
• Teachers’ player: Harshil Sumaria

Rugby

• Character of the tour: Daniel Pugh
• Players’ player: Asvin Ponnampalam
• Teachers’ player: Luke Dee

“Special prizes were also awarded to Rajul Bhikha and Callum Murphy our 'loveable rogues' on tour,” said Mr Morgan. “These were two boys who bridged the gap between years, always showing a positive attitude and keeping the tour in good spirits throughout.”

Next year’s QE leavers completed their university practice interviews over the summer, seizing the opportunity to experience questioning from senior academics.

The School arranges such practice interviews boys to help Year 12 boys prepare for their university applications.

Among the interviewers, this year, were:

• Professor Sarben Sarkar, of King’s College, London (the father of current QE pupil Robert Sarkar) who interviewed physicists
• Professor Stuart Sime, of The City Law School (formerly the Inns of Court School of Law), who interviewed seven boys
• Professor Dick Brealey (OE 1946-54), of the London Business School, who saw six QE economists.
• Consultant Dr Charu Deshpande, of Guy’s Hospital, who saw around 12 boys planning to become medics.

For the boys who visited Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry (part of Queen Mary University of London), Professor Trish Greenhalgh (pictured right, interviewing QE pupil Musaji China) not only “grilled them with some real interview questions”, but also arranged for them to be shown around the Centre of the Cell science education facility, which is located in the middle of a working biomedical research laboratory. In addition, during the visit, Dr Martin Carrier, Head of Queen Mary’s Graduate Entry Programme, met the boys.

Liam Hargadon, last year’s Head of Year 12 and now Head of Year 13, said: “These practice interviews have proved to be of considerable value to the boys in their preparation for university applications. We are most grateful to these interviewers for making time in their busy schedules to assist our pupils in this way.”