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QE’s first-ever expedition to Borneo saw pupils exploring the island’s amazing wildlife, working on jungle conservation projects, and mixing with local children amid monsoon rains.

Their trip featured encounters with four of the Asian island’s ‘big five’ animals, as well as camping in the rainforest, snorkelling around coral reefs, and climbing a mountain.

The Year 10 & 11 expedition group even set a record – for the most species of trees spotted on a Borneo World Challenge trip.

PE teacher & QE Flourish tutor Nicholas Langley-Pope said: “On their trip to the third-largest island in the world, our boys experienced a new culture, challenged themselves thoroughly, and developed greater independence.

“With Borneo boasting over 400,000 square miles of rainforest and some 15,000 different plant species, they loved discovering some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife.

“It was a wonderful trip in so many ways and, for many, I am sure, an experience that they will never forget.”

The World Challenge company organises pupil-led school expeditions on which participants develop qualities of leadership, independence and resilience, as well as other life skills. Those involved have to raise their own funds.

The wildlife was a major attraction for the QE adventurers. They visited the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to see rescued wildlife. The boys enjoyed cruises along the Kinabatangan River, where they spotted crocodiles, birdlife and monkeys. They thus saw four of the ‘big five’, namely the proboscis monkey, rhinoceros hornbill, Bornean orangutan, and saltwater crocodile (the only one they missed being pygmy elephants). Snorkelling at Gaya Island and paddleboarding provided opportunities to discover the region’s spectacular marine life and coral reefs.

For some, camping in the rainforest for three days, sleeping in hammocks among the trees, was a particular highlight.

The physical challenges of carrying equipment and coping with the heat and humidity during a three-day trek through the jungle beneath Mount Kinabalu tested the boys, yet also helped them find their hidden reserves. Ryan Goyal, of Year 11, said: “We weren’t prepared for the amount of trekking due to our fitness levels, but after day 3 it felt normal.” Their trip included a hike to the 1,420m summit of Mount Nuluh Lingion.

The trip offered opportunities for the party to immerse themselves in local culture and undertake a cultural exchange – another highlight for many, including Year 11’s Noah Green. Meeting the locals, they sampled Malaysian cuisine and even played football with Malaysian children in the monsoon rain. “As part of the cultural exchange, we got to dance and sing Malaysian songs,” said Noah. “Year 10 made up a rap about English culture and school. Although we were nervous, once we performed it, it was a lot of fun – and very funny, too.” The cultural experience was, said Alex Bicar-Fields, of Year 10, “a doorway into a different world; and it was life-changing seeing how other people live”.

Conservation was another important aspect of the experience. The boys helped to support biodiversity by clearing invasive plants and vines, and replanting trees to support reforestation in the jungle.

Throughout the trip, every QE boy got the chance to lead, learn and listen. Year 10’s Sahas Sudhagar, who celebrated his birthday during the expedition, said of his fellow travellers: “They took on different roles and responsibilities throughout the activities. It helped them to develop confidence and independence.”

Ansh Hegde, of Year 10, summed up the expedition’s overall impact: “It was life-changing – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”  Krish Bhatia, also of Year 10, added: “The trip was a good integration of culture and learning experiences.” And for any QE pupils thinking about tackling a future World Challenge expedition, Ryan Goyal had this advice: “Just do it, as you only live once.”

Accompanying the boys were the following QE staff: Mr Langley-Pope; Mathematics teacher Matthew Tricker; Head of Library Support Services Jenni Blackford; and PE teacher Guy Ashby – supported by their World Challenge Leader and local guides.

• QE Flourish reporter Salaheldin El Seed, of Year 8, contributed to this report.

They may have won a prestigious environmental award, but QE’s army of gardeners are showing no signs of resting on their laurels.

This month is the Soil Association’s Organic September – and pupils are playing their part in supporting nature by getting busy with early-autumn jobs on the School’s new plot in the Byng Road community allotments.

The allotment and the boys’ organic approach to raising produce are in line with QE’s commitment to nurture pupils in becoming sustainability-literate and community-orientated – two of the six priorities in the Boundless School Plan. The School’s sustainability programme encourages the boys to think globally, while taking positive action locally.

Assistant Head (Co-curricular & Partnerships) Crispin Bonham-Carter, who heads the QE Flourish co-curricular programme, said: “It’s only been a few months since we started work at the allotment, but we quickly progressed from Level 1 to Level 2 in the Royal Horticultural Society’s School Gardening Awards.

“More recently, we won the Eco-Schools Green Flag, with Distinction – a fitting tribute to the hard work of Maths teacher & QE Futures co-ordinator Nadeem Kydd, of Head of Biology Gillian Ridge, and of her Biology colleague & QE Flourish tutor Sam Acors, whose enthusiasm and commitment have been key to the success of the project.”

The allotment, which was central to the granting of the Green Flag, has become a living classroom. Through practical, hands-on activities, pupils are learning about community growing, biodiversity, organic food production, plastic pollution, and other key environmental issues.

Having already gathered in a harvest including potatoes, carrots, courgettes, chilli, tomatoes and marrows, this term they will be getting ready for spring by flattening the ground, preparing beds, and removing unwanted plants, while also planting some winter crops, such as onions and garlic.

The Green Flag award recognises QE’s commitment to sustainability and environmental education. To secure it, the School completed the Eco-Schools Seven Steps framework, an internationally recognised programme that empowers young people to lead environmental initiatives in their schools, local communities and beyond.

The RHS Level 2 award came with a £50 National Garden Gift Voucher, which will help support the continued development of the allotment and expand opportunities for outdoor learning.

For further information on Organic September, click here.

• Click on the thumbnails to view the images, where Dr Acors (among the sunflowers) and Mr Kydd are pictured showing some of the produce.

Five QE sixth-formers have scored multiple successes in Cambridge University competitions.

Wen Lee, who has just started Year 13, was named runner-up in the Homerton College Essay Programme for his composition on Can renewable energy save us from a climate catastrophe?

Four other students were among the top-ten winners in the Cambridge Biology Challenge – also associated with Homerton – after impressing the judges across the competition’s four rounds. Shashank Pothuganti, of Year 13, entered as an individual and came fifth out of 941 entries, while a Year 12 team comprising Akein Abeysinghe, Felix Chen and Pranay Thokala finished just behind him, in sixth place.

Deputy Head (Academic) Anne Macdonald said: “The success of our five students in these highly demanding competitions is due reward for their intelligence, their thoughtful approach, and their impressive degree of commitment. At QE, in the words of our Boundless School Plan, we seek to nurture ‘deep thinkers and compelling communicators’: what better example of that could there be than these pupils? Our congratulations go to them all.”

After applying to the essay programme because of his interest in the topic and the opportunity it gave him to bring together his A-level studies in Economics and Geography, Wen’s first success was in being selected to take part. For his essay, he researched the complex relationship between energy, economics and climate change.

One of only 50 young people selected to take part in the conference held for the parallel essay and design programmes, he enjoyed a tour of Homerton College and the insight he was given into life there.

He took part in a series of activities designed to encourage students to think critically about global challenges. One of the highlights was a ‘mini Model United Nations’ activity, where conference delegates worked in groups representing different countries and considered how global warming could be addressed from their country’s individual perspective.

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony, where Wen was only one of two students to receive a prize for his essay category. He received a plaque, certificate and a book.

In the Cambridge Biology Challenge, Shashank took part as an individual, which meant he was competing against teams of up to five. He was awarded a distinction in all four rounds, as well as a badge of merit in three rounds. In the third, he was overall runner-up.

The demanding challenge required teams to respond to four questions over the course of eight months:

1. Can new life be created?
2. Why is Maths a gift for biologists?
3. What does it mean for a non-human organism to be intelligent?
4. What skills are needed for success in Biology?

Not only did Shashank contribute essays, he also submitted videos and a visual novel. The latter two media were a new departure for him, involving him “stepping out of his comfort zone”, as he put it.

As well as all the research, critical thinking and problem-solving he deployed across the rounds, Shashank faced the added challenge that the final round came just before his AS exams, so he had to juggle his entry with his School studies.

It was his debut in the challenge, whereas his three fellow QE entrants had all entered the previous year. Determined to build on their previous performances – when Pranay’s team finished 11th and Felix and Pranay’s team placed 17th– their combined approach this year saw them rise up the leader board to take their sixth spot.

The QE entrants were invited to a special conference and awards ceremony at Homerton, where they attended a lecture, toured the college and took part in a series of activities and puzzles.

Like their fellow competitor Shashank, Felix, Pranay and Akein are passionate about Biology, with Pranay and Akein hoping to pursue careers in medicine.

Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, is today celebrating the publication of a glowing Ofsted report that comes with a complete set of seven ‘exceptional’ ratings – the new top grading.

Inspectors praised every aspect of education at the School, which is the current holder of The Sunday Times’ State Secondary School of the Year award.

Describing QE as a “remarkable school”, the report stated: “Pupils love coming to school. They enjoy being academically challenged and embrace the extraordinary amount of wider opportunities that they access.”

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This tremendously positive inspection report is testament to the dedication and expertise of my colleagues in unlocking the boundless potential of our very able pupils. Behind our success also lie the hard work and free-thinking scholarship of the boys, and the constant support of the whole Elizabethan community, including parents, governors and alumni.

“The inspectors identified so much of what makes QE a state school like no other, from the breadth and high quality of our co-curricular activities delivered through the QE Flourish programme to the detailed and inspirational careers and university guidance provided to pupils of all ages by QE Futures. Through our bespoke pastoral and tutorial system we place great emphasis on creating a happy community that supports boys’ wellbeing, so I was delighted to read the inspectors’ comments about the kindness shown by pupils and their ‘exemplary’ behaviour’.”

Lead inspector Simon Conway and his four-strong team visited the 1,320-pupil School in the Summer Term, attending classes, interviewing selected individual pupils (especially those with special educational needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds), and meeting staff. Their report gives ‘exceptional’ ratings for all seven rated categories, namely achievement; attendance and behaviour; curriculum and teaching; inclusion; leadership and governance; personal development and wellbeing; and post-16 provision. The inspectors also find that safeguarding standards are ‘met’ (with the only other possible rating being ‘not met’).

In their report, they used a string of superlatives – including ‘remarkable’ no fewer than eight times – to describe the School’s provision. The document contains no suggestions for what QE could do better, instead stating: “Leaders are absolutely relentless in identifying any small areas in the school that can be improved.”

Here is a further selection of comments from the report:

• “Pupils’ achievements in national examinations at both GCSE and A-level are exceptional. Their academic outcomes have been among the very highest nationally for several years. Although pupils are very able when they enter in Year 7, the school accelerates their progress through the curriculum to ensure that they are extremely well prepared to thrive when they leave the school.”
• “The curriculum is remarkably ambitious…Teachers are subject experts. They carefully design opportunities in lessons to ensure that pupils gain an in-depth understanding of the curriculum. Any gaps in knowledge or misconceptions are precisely identified and swiftly addressed.”
• “Achievement at post-16 is extraordinary…Students apply and synthesise knowledge fluently and articulate their learning with authority…”
• “Students are equipped with the knowledge, resilience and flexibility of thought to succeed in some of the most academically challenging environments in the world.”
• “The careers provision is extremely thorough. Pupils develop very high aspirations. They access a wealth of external speakers and work experience opportunities.”
• “The programme for personal development and wellbeing is remarkable. Every single pupil across the school takes part in a plethora of élite-level co-curricular activities each week.”
• “Pastoral support is extremely precise. Pupils receive bespoke support with their wellbeing. Any concerns are identified extremely swiftly, and highly impactful support is put in place to ensure that pupils continue to thrive.”
• “Leaders rapidly identify any barriers to learning and wellbeing that pupils may have. Leaders put in place highly bespoke packages of support to ensure that barriers are overcome and that all vulnerable pupils achieve and thrive in all areas of school life… Pupils with SEND and other vulnerabilities, such as those known to social care, absolutely flourish in this school. They achieve remarkable outcomes and progress to very impressive destinations when they leave the school.”
• “The pupil premium funding is skilfully used to ensure that every disadvantaged pupil has complete equity of experience.”
• “Behaviour in the school is exemplary. Leaders and staff have extremely high expectations for behaviour, conduct and attitudes to learning. Pupils continuously meet these expectations…Younger pupils speak of the kindness and support shown by older pupils. They are proud of their community and look after each other.”
• “Pupils’ attendance is extremely high… Leaders place the highest standards of attendance at the heart of their work…setting uncompromisingly clear expectations around attendance.”
• “Every single decision is taken in the very best interests of pupils. Leaders know each pupil in the school remarkably well. They regularly meet with them one to one and check the impact of all areas of their work with former pupils to ensure everything they do supports pupils to thrive.”
• “Leaders have extremely high expectations of all staff…Staff are highly appreciative of the support for their workload and wellbeing.”
• “Governors have a deep understanding of the school’s strengths and priorities.”

The report may be read in full here.

QE boys have been flexing their intellectual muscles in pupil-run publications tackling everything from the risks and opportunities presented by AI through to in-depth looks at the latest medical advances.

New editions of Artificial Times, Bioquest and The Political Times – all of them both written and edited by pupils – have just been published.

The first of these contains a wide range of perspectives on AI, examining its impact on education, society, industry, sustainability, and ethics. Its publication comes as industry experts speak out about the risk that AI could pose. They include Microsoft AI’s chief executive, Old Elizabethan Mustafa Suleyman (1995–2002), who warns that unless AI is properly controlled, it could lead to the emergence of a “silicon species” that would compete with humans for resources.

Mustafa co-founded DeepMind with his fellow OE, Sir Demis Hassabis (1988–1990), who in 2024 won a Nobel prize for Chemistry after deploying AI to predict complex protein structures. Demis has also spoken of the risks posed by AI.

Assistant Head Crispin Bonham-Carter said: “With the public discourse on artificial intelligence reaching new levels of intensity, it is good to see current pupils engaging in the debate. Our current School Plan, Boundless, prioritises our pupils becoming ‘deep thinkers and compelling communicators’ who are ‘future-ready’.

“Artificial Times, Bioquest and Political Times – and other regular pupil-run magazines, such as the Economics journal, The Econobethan, and The Arabella, covering the arts – are great examples of free-thinking scholarship in action.

“The boys’ writing in these publications demonstrates not only that our students follow the big issues of our day, but that they are also ready to grapple with them on their own initiative.

“Furthermore, through writing their articles and taking part in the publications’ editorial teams, they not only develop their written communication skills, but also show that they are well on the way to becoming ‘leaders of influence and valued collaborators’ – another of our Boundless priorities.”

Artificial Times was founded last year by Olic Fan and Hussain Hashmi, who are now in Year 13. This term’s edition – the third – features an introduction from Trudi Barrow, a specialist in design education named as AI Specialist Edufuturist of the Year 2026. It includes pupils’ detailed examinations of various aspects of AI and its implications, from Year 13 pupil Dev Malde’s The Hidden Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence to Year 11’s Arihaant Venuraju take on Bias in AI: How it Occurs, How it’s Dangerous, and How it can be Avoided. Separately, the risks of AI inspired one Year 11 pupil, Aaryan Prabhaker, to spend part of his summer penning a work of fiction on the subject: he has now presented the book to Headmaster Neil Enright.

The theme and title of the new Bioquest QE pupil publication is Sports, Driven By Biology, a set of articles highlighting biological issues across a range of different sports.

The topics covered include: How are Injuries Caused and How Do They Heal? by Year 13’s Samir Cheema; ADHD: A Curse or a Blessing, by Savya Gupta, of Year 12; Fast and Slow: The Biology of Athletics, by Zoheb Haq, of Year 13; and The Biology and Biomechanics of Mouthguards in Sport, by Taha Sebbar, of Year 13. Sushan Naresh led its eight-strong editorial team, all drawn from Year 13

In its 19 pages, The Political Times reflects on this year’s change of Prime Minister, with Year 8’s Praanaj Rai tracking Andy Burnham’s Road to PM and Adam Ahmed, of Year 9, asking the question, King of the North, or Political Chameleon?

It tackles wider topics, too. In The Political Times‘ biggest section, entitled Westminster Watch, Ehan Rattani, of Year 9, writes about The Politics of Decline and Year 11’s Sri Koustubh Yallambhatla asks How Short-Termism is Plaguing Britain. 

And while most of the publication engages with domestic politics, Year 13’s Vu-Lam Le-Nguyen looks at How Washington Lost Iran, while Year 9’s Hridhaan Joshi explores political aspects of the FIFA World Cup.