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Regular meetings on academic progress and all-round wellbeing involving boys and their form tutors have long been an important part of the School’s pastoral programme.

This half-term conducting the bespoke tutorials online using video-conferencing technology was first trialled and then rolled out across all year groups. The aim has been to replicate, so far as possible, the benefits of the tutorials the boys enjoy when physically in School.

The tutorials will now be continued in order to keep up good communications between tutors and the boys, to aid collaboration, to enable social interaction with a pastoral focus, and to help identify where boys might need more intervention and support.

They have been adapted, where necessary, to fit the circumstances. For example, generally a number of boys are involved at the same time, so that they can have some social interaction among themselves and can share ideas, advice and what they are finding challenging.

Boys across the School say they have found the tutorials rewarding and enjoyable, while Head of Year 9 Rosemary Hall reports that boys, parents and teachers alike have stated how great it has been to see each other. “Akshaj Pawar, of 9H, even said that all of his questions had been answered!”

The use of video technology has been widely appreciated by teachers who had been eager to ‘check in’ with those in their charge. Oliver O’Gorman, who is form tutor of 9U, said: “It is much nicer to have a conversation with the boys via Zoom rather than in an online forum; you can really see how they are getting on and it was really obvious that they all enjoyed the experience and were looking forward to our next chat already.” Ugan Pretheshan, a member of that form, said: “It definitely makes it feel like a more normal morning – getting to see my classmates and my form tutor and just having a chat.”

Tom Batchelor, who is 7L’s form tutor, concurs with Mr O’Gorman: “The group bespoke Zoom meetings have a been a welcome opportunity for students to share their worries and concerns during this lockdown period. Students have benefited from listening to others’ experiences, and having structured discussions on strategies has allowed them to evaluate their own current method. It has also allowed them to reflect on their personal long-term targets, celebrate their successes and to set exciting targets for the challenging term ahead.” Mr Batchelor has also introduced some fun group activities, including a form quiz.

Danyal Talha and Yash Kedia are both in his form group. “During my online bespoke tutorial, I really enjoyed seeing some of my classmates and my form tutor, because we have not been able to see each other for a fairly long time,” said Danyal. “I feel that the ‘bespokes’ are a very good way of supporting us during these tough times by allowing us to speak to our form tutors and discuss any possible difficulties we are facing, or just to catch up with what we are finding useful. Overall, they are very useful, and I look forward to my next one”.

Yash said: “I have found them extremely helpful as they are ways of communicating to others while still separated. They are a way of socialising and still keeping in touch while in lockdown. I feel supported when we have these as we have someone to talk to, other than people at home. I have enjoyed these interactions as we are still able to talk to our classmates even if it might not be face to face.”

Year 10 form tutor Rebecca Grundy said: “It’s been really great to hear how the boys have been getting on with online learning, as well as how they’ve been keeping in touch with each other. Some of them have shown me drawings they have done and the baked goods they have made in their spare time. Mostly it’s just been lovely to hear their voices again!”

While both learning and friendships have continued to flourish during lockdown, the introduction of the video bespoke tutorials has, though, revealed one break with the recent past among young Elizabethans. “It’s been funny to see the hairstyles some of the boys are now ‘cultivating’ since the barbers have shut, taking advantage of not having to comply with the School hair regulations with regards to length and colour!” Miss Hall said.

The five weeks of the Summer Term thus far have seen a significant number of pastoral interventions that have allowed us to stay in touch with all our students and to provide support and advice where it is needed, writes Deputy Head (Pastoral) David Ryan.

Form tutors have been meeting their tutees for online bespoke tutorial sessions; in these, it has been great to see how creative the boys are being in dealing with the challenges of lockdown, and I know that they have enjoyed seeing each other, as well as their tutor. Alongside this, the morning registration process that we have set up has helped our students establish a good routine and allowed us to pick up on issues speedily and respond to them. It is right that the boys feel that their queries are responded to quickly, and I am pleased that we have been able to do so. In addition to bringing these two major areas online, there have been other pastoral interventions involving individual boys.

One of the realities of the current situation, of course, is that everyone’s experience of the lockdown is different: some of our boys are sharing PCs, others have their own; some are fasting, some aren’t; some have families that have not been badly affected by Covid-19, while for some of you the opposite is definitely the case. Our aim in pastoral sessions is to help the boys get through whatever the situation is for them and know that while we may currently be remote physically, we are not remote in a wider sense, as we can still do many things to help those who need assistance.

It is definitely worth adding one thing: we are a school and the people who work here have made that choice because we want to help young people. Therefore, seeing our students in online tutorials, knowing that they are well and trying to support them is not our ‘new normal’…it is very much our ‘normal normal’ – it’s what we do every day! We want to maintain this, whatever the weeks ahead may bring. We do so in the knowledge that our work, alongside that of all other key workers, can help our country get through the crisis and assist our students and their families in this challenging period.

While the coronavirus has had a profound impact on our lives, it is important to think ahead to the future and the world beyond the current situation – and that’s exactly what PDT sessions will be doing in the next half-term. Boys in some year groups will be undertaking research projects which seek to allow them to combine their knowledge with research skills in a way that will be necessary in their future careers.

Every societal problem can be seen as a problem to be resolved. And in response to the coronavirus, people in various sectors will be seeking answers to the question What should we do if there were to be another global pandemic like this one? Every profession needs new ideas, and in the next 5-10 years every current QE student will potentially be starting his career. So, it is important that they think widely and think ‘big’ about the careers they are interested in. They could perhaps link those thoughts to the current situation, according to their own abilities, interests and aspirations. Here are a few sector-specific pointers and topics for them to ponder:

• Prospective scientists – vaccines and treatments
• Prospective computer scientists – creating apps and other programs which allow a country to track the spread of a pandemic
• Prospective engineers – setting up a building for the best social distancing
• Prospective teachers – how best to provide learning through online platforms
• Prospective economists – what a future government should do to protect its economy
• Prospective lawyers and politicians – the laws a government should enact and how to lead in a political crisis

All the boys need to think positively about the future and to be part a community that develops and shares ideas; every global leader, every CEO, every entrepreneur and every innovator had to start somewhere, and that ‘somewhere’ was usually their home or their school where they learned, thought, reflected and then came up with new ideas. In undertaking a research project, that is what we want the boys to be doing in the weeks to come. We hope that they learn much and we will look forward to hearing about their findings.

Heads of Year find boys generally coping well with remote learning, while passing on expert advice to help them tackle the acknowledged challenges of life in lockdown.

Thomas Harrison, Head of Year 7

The vast majority of you are doing fantastically well during lockdown. You have produced a lot of great work, both as scans and in digital format. Now that our normal Year 7 PDT Mars Lander project is under way, I hope you enjoy planning your trip to the red planet, while also learning to reference the materials you use – a key aspect of researching ethically.

I have been pleased to see you continuing to use the forums to chat about work and about what you have been up to – and to set each other puzzles and riddles, too. We are getting to the end of our first cycle of ‘bespokes’ and shortly all of you will have met with your form tutor and other students. It’s been good to see you taking inspiration from the School’s use of Zoom to set up your own working groups in places – well done to Simi Bloom and Tristan Fink in 7U, and to Dharm Gajjar in 7B.

In our fortnightly assemblies, we have been focusing on your achievements as a year group during the closure, as well as sharing tips for managing work. Our focus this week on mental health is, I hope, a helpful reminder of the importance of looking after yourselves during lockdown.

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Sean Kelly, Head of Year 8

This half-term we saw a range of measures introduced to connect with each other, and I am so proud of how each and every one of you has risen to the formidable challenge of working from home. I love the way you use your work and social forums to discuss work and other interests and I have been very impressed by the maturity you have shown on these platforms. I hope you feel you have had a productive half-term, and, importantly, that you have made time to enjoy some of the beautiful weather we are having.

The morning registration has been a great way for you to get into a positive daily routine, and although [Body Coach star] Joe Wicks still causes some of you to register late, on the whole, I have been very impressed with how punctual you are. It has also been great to see so many of you keeping on top of your tasks – and reaching out to your teachers where you are struggling.

Finally, the bespoke tutorials have given you a chance to speak face-to-face with your form tutor and with other members of your form. The feedback from these has been overwhelmingly positive.

Thank you for persevering in very difficult circumstances. I hope you enjoy a well-earned half- term break. Stay safe everyone and we will talk soon.

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Rosie Hall, Head of Year 9

It is important to recognise the challenges that isolation and remote learning pose: it has not always been easy for a year group who thrive in learning collaboratively, are very sociable and love being in the playground playing football. It’s ok to acknowledge that you have found this hard: some of you have had days when motivating yourselves has been difficult. This reflects the feelings of the nation, if not the world!

Boys have been engaging in the Wellbeing 60 Day Home Learning Challenge to help them cope with the ‘new normal’ and to take their mind off the news, which can sometimes be overwhelming.

I have been really impressed with, and proud of, the boys who have found time to: create PPE masks (Soumil Sahjpall and Hussain Alaswad amongst others); learn different languages; get involved in the PE department challenges (many of you did this); win MFL competitions (Darren Lee and Patrick Bivol); submit videos for the Ravenscroft Nursing Home virtual concert (lots were involved in this, too); try out some home cooking; do some art, or build jet plane models. Many of you, I am pleased to say, are still receiving lots of Good Notes.

If there is one take-away message for the year group, it is this: in line with the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week, be kind. Kind to yourself, in giving yourself regular breaks when working, not spending too long in front of the screen and sticking to the timing guidance provided by subject teachers. Kind to those you are living with – consider how can you help out. And kind to your peers – who could you call to have a proper chat with, rather than messaging online?

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Tim Waite, Year 10

We all realise that the last few weeks have been a challenge for many of you, for many different reasons.

However, I have to say that I have been impressed overall by the amount of self-motivation which so many of you are demonstrating, and it has been good to hear how you are also making the most of the positives of the lockdown, whether that is in enjoying spending time with family, or in taking the time to read, to exercise, to play instruments, to do a little baking (when you can get hold of flour, of course…), or in very many other ways besides.

Be assured that your teachers and tutors are keen to get back in the classrooms with you all and to get you ready for Year 11.

Remember: communication is key to success, now as much as ever – do contact your teachers, tutors or me with any questions or issues you have.

Finally, enjoy the sun and have a great half-term break, with my best wishes to you all and your loved ones.

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Simon Walker, Year 11

With the main goal you originally had for the year now no longer there, I would like to draw your attention to two things: first, how you can stay purposeful; and, second, the mutually reinforcing relationship that staying purposeful has with good mental health.

Having a good mix of activities is key to staying purposeful. Try to balance: hobbies or personal projects; your GCSE–A-Level transition work, and the super-curricular or careers-related. As a School we are addressing all three areas. On Monday, for example, around a third of you joined a webinar in which Dr Ana Hastoy, of Christ Church, Oxford, provided an overview of the process of applying to Oxford. Time spent preparing for your future is not only beneficial in its own right, but will help maintain the direction and momentum that are part of staying purposeful.

Equally, at the moment, constructive activities done for enjoyment can be amongst the most important, helping you sustain good morale; it has been heartening to hear about Year 11 students’ activities, like learning a new language online, developing cooking skills, or even taking up horticulture. I encourage you to share ideas with one another and to collaborate in socially distanced activities, as some have already been doing. Beyond this, I urge you to continue to participate in the School community more broadly – I enjoyed the introductions that some of you gave to your GCSE music compositions for last week’s concert.

Good routines are a necessary foundation of remaining purposeful. Structuring your time is important: you will accomplish more by avoiding distractions. The sense of accomplishment thus derived is important in itself, helping you stay positive and optimistic. Another core aspect of good routines is good sleep patterns, given their close connection with good mental health. For Mental Health Awareness Week, charity Time to Change are focusing on this and have prepared an activity pack. I will be setting you an eQE task to complete one of these activities.

Finally, I wish you and your families good health and a restful half-term holiday.

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Helen Davies, Year 12

Firstly, a huge “well done” for everything that you have all achieved so far. I am extremely impressed with the way that so many of you have adapted so quickly and effectively to online learning and our remote school.

Not only has a large amount of academic work been completed thoroughly and to a high standard, a great number of you have also been involved in webinars and Zoom conferences with a variety of OEs and external providers, and I have also heard about a wide and varied range of super-curricular and extra-curricular activities that you have each individually been involved in. It is wonderful to see so many of you not only adapting but indeed thriving and continuing to lead your peers with your activities and achievements.

Inevitably, some of you have also come up against challenging circumstances and may not be finding the current situation so easy, for a variety of reasons. My greatest advice to you is to think about the long term. Our current situation, although very strange, is only temporary, and it is vital that you focus on long-term goals and consider how you can best prepare yourself for when the lockdown is lifted.

I hope that you all have a good break over the half-term holiday and that you use the time to get some exercise and sunshine, to rest and to catch up on any work that you are behind on, as necessary.

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Michael Feven, Year 13

It was fantastic to see so many of you at the Year 13 book return earlier this week. It goes without saying that the events of the past few months are not how we would have wished your time at QE to end, and I look forward to seeing you all again at a happier occasion once the situation permits, hopefully in the next academic year.

In the meantime, it was great to hear of all the wonderfully creative ways in which you have been spending your time since 19th March, be it an improvised version of table tennis, making furniture out of walnut shells, or learning a new language (who knew that there were so many budding Japanese speakers in Year 13?). And, of course, many of you have been taking the opportunity to consolidate your A-level learning and to get ahead with your undergraduate courses.

Don’t forget there are a number of important deadlines coming up. Remember: to apply for student finance by this Friday, 22nd May (it’s possible to apply later, but your funding won’t be guaranteed for the start of term); to confirm UCAS decisions by 18th June, and of course, don’t forget A-Level results day, which takes place on 13th August (more details to follow).

Most importantly, remember that we are still here for you, and are able to provide you with as much guidance and support as you need: just get in touch. In the meantime, take care, look out for one another, and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

After two life-changing years in Shanghai, Anand Dattani is back in London, with a new job, a fresh perspective on his career and his own reflections on what a post-pandemic world will mean for business.

His current professional life as a Business Development Specialist with start-up PowerPay – a company offering Chinese e-payment services to European shops so they can attract high-spending Chinese tourists – is very different from the six years he spent with Deutsche Bank.

“Having worked at a global investment bank, and for small/medium-sized start-ups, I’ve realised that for me, it is not about the company size anymore, or the ‘thrill’ of the start-up, but about finding a role where, firstly, my particular contribution is making a genuine difference to the company’s success, and secondly I can see where it is taking me in 3-5 years. (I learned from my first manager never to fixate on something beyond five years because a lot can change in that time.)”

In fact, neither his time with Deutsche Bank nor his current role bear much resemblance to the career path he originally embarked upon. Anand left QE in 2006 and was, he believes, the only leaver at that time who chose to study Optometry at university. “This was something I’d looked at doing since I was 15 and did the two-week voluntary work experience at an optician’s. But when doing the UCAS applications, I was torn between Optometry and a business-based degree, largely down to being good at, and enjoying, A-level Economics.”

In the end, although he enjoyed the course at Cardiff and made friends there, after a year, he switched to Cass Business School, where he gained a first-class degree in Investment and Financial Risk Management.

This led to a summer internship and, eventually, a graduate offer at Deutsche Bank. At this point, still not knowing exactly what he wanted to do, he, like many other graduates at Deutsche Bank, followed the well-worn path of undertaking graduate programmes in banking, accounting and consultancy.

“Only after rotating at different desks did I realise what areas and which job role suited me most: I chose the Strategy & Business Management division. My reasons at the time were that I enjoyed building relationships, especially with senior management, and wanted to become comfortable at giving professional presentations that could impact strategic decisions – plus, the numerical skills that QE’s excellent teaching gave me proved very handy in this role.

“After six or so years, I’d experienced periods of loving my role and career progression, and also periods of being stagnant and feeling this wasn’t my long-term vision. And while I could have comfortably stayed at Deutsche Bank and been part of a team that valued me, I had a strong desire to work abroad and also understand the growing start-up space. So I was going to networking events just to connect with some of the bright minds behind upcoming start-ups.

“Eventually I took a big risk and chose international exposure over job security and moved to Shanghai.”

For Anand, having to “start again”, both professionally and socially, involved frequent attendance at networking events, volunteering to help where possible, as well as joining sports teams. In fact, Anand has this advice for anyone interested in working abroad: “You have to be prepared to put in the time to proactively and independently get your name and face ‘out there’ (especially if there is any sales element involved).

“The biggest thing I noticed was how quickly I was able to build a strong network there – even my close friends would say that in six months I had got to know more people than they had in three years. One of the reasons is that in such a global city with a large expat community, people are much more open to broadening their network and making new connections.”

And it was through growing this network that I found a job at the China-based tech startups. His work while based in China’s biggest city included a post as a private wealth consultant for the deVere Group, as well as roles with blockchain platform Younus and with No NDA (nonda), a leader in app-enabled automotive accessories.

There were also a number of ‘side projects’. “One of my friends had recommended me to fill her place on a panel to judge a Dragons Den-style two-day workshop for 400 Chinese students to present their ‘air pollution improvement’ solutions. Following this, other opportunities came, including one to present on cross-cultural communication differences to 50 local teachers. While I only ever reached intermediate level in speaking Mandarin, it certainly served as a bonus. (But the power of being fluent in the language opens up a lot of doors.)”

In the end, Anand concludes, the move to the other side of the world was well worth the risk. “The experiences I have gained professionally and personally in two years were far more than I had gained in the six years at Deutsche Bank.”

Anand returned to London a few months before the pandemic was declared. “The crisis has been a great time of reflection. Working in a business development role for a payments start-up meant that the lockdown has closed out any new business. So life has become very different to if I had still been at Deutsche Bank.

“But it’s also meant I’ve been forced into this huge chunk of free time that you never expect to get once you leave university. It has allowed me to look into some of the long-list of ‘to-do’s’ that build up over the years that you never seem to be able to find time to do, including online courses on programming, fitness goals and looking into a side business that I’d thought of over two years back.

“My realisation is that it’s very easy to become dependent on the job you have – it takes up the largest part of your time, leaving you normally with evenings and weekends to pursue your non-work objectives.. during which time most are tired from working all day.

“The pandemic has greatly sped up a change that was slowly happening, where certain jobs were no longer as safe and dependable (and well paid) as they once were, and people need to be able to know what else they want to explore and achieve in case things don’t go as planned for them. It’s important that people are always working in some capacity towards their goal – and if that is already happening through their job and free time, then they are in a good place.

“My educational and career path certainly hasn’t been one straight line, which may give some of the current and former Elizabethans some comfort that it is ok to explore options, and understand what it is you really want to do and are good at along the way.”

In his spare time, Anand has completed a number of solo trips across Central and South America – “a huge eye opener and character-builder, which definitely helped me with my move to Shanghai” –and is keen to visit more countries once the pandemic has subsided, including South Africa and Australia.

As for memories of School, Geography classes with current Headmaster Neil Enright “never disappointed”, says Anand (OE 1999–2006). “I would be interested to know if he’s ever had a class like ours.* A fond memory is the day he told us ‘I have some good news for you all: instead of you having the free period shown on Wednesday afternoon (which would have meant us going home early), I’ll teach you for the extra half-hour.’ It looked like he genuinely thought the class would be pleased to hear this.”

He is still in touch with several Old Elizabethans, including his contemporaries Jamie Wolfson, Dominic St George and Fabio Castagno, as well as Jay Shetty.

*  The Headmaster replies: “Anand’s class was certainly a memorable one. It was a large group full of lively minds. Teaching them was great fun and I recall lots of laughter. They were outstanding geographers who did really well and I am not surprised that they have gone on to secure stellar careers.”

Old Elizabethan George Mpanga’s podcast has been nominated for a Peabody Award – one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious media prizes.

Have You Heard George’s podcast?, which last year swept the board at the British Podcast Awards, is the first British podcast ever to receive a nomination for a Peabody Award, a prize which recognises excellence in storytelling in broadcasting and digital media.

News of the nomination comes as George (OE 2002–2009) continues to garner media attention for his work during the Covid-19 crisis. Having introduced BBC Television’s coverage of the global One World: Together at Home concert last month, George has now spoken of his own lockdown experiences on BBC Radio Four’s World at One programme.

Interviewed by presenter Sarah Montague, George was on buoyant form, mentioning school twice as he set out how stimulating his time during lockdown has been and how the “group prayer sessions” set up by his mother were helping his family stay in touch with each other.

He explained that, whereas if he were to speak of his time at school, that would necessarily exclude some people, the current crisis was affecting everyone and was therefore creating a “common language” to which all could relate.

George then read out the first poem that he wrote about the coronavirus, which examines the opportunity for creativity as we are forced “indoors with our phones beside us – literally left to our own devices”.

The poem continues: “We are internationally connected and this brings us closer, as can be expected. That is why I am still in touch with my old schoolteachers: human beings are social creatures.”

Asked in conclusion if there was a sense in which, notwithstanding the terrible consequences of the pandemic for many, he was in some sense enjoying the lockdown experience, George concurred: “I do try and squeeze all the enjoyment I can out of life’s challenges: I think that has been the basis of my career.”

Have you heard George’s podcast? includes a mix of storytelling, music and fiction, with an original score by collaborator Benbrick (the songwriter, producer and composer also known as Paul Carter). George has explored themes and issues including education for disadvantaged young people, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Libyan slave trade and his personal relationship with Uganda and Britain.

Commissioned by the BBC, two chapters are currently available to listen to on BBC Sounds, with the third coming later this year. On receiving news of the nomination, George said: “It says a lot that the Peabody Awards have endorsed our podcast with a nomination – it’s the most experimental, creative thing we’ve ever done. People work their whole lives for this recognition, and we’re blessed to receive it so early – especially as the first British podcast nominee ever!

“We’re deeply grateful for every single listener who has brought us to this point, and honoured to be in the company of so many greats from across the media. Thank you to Benbrick, my team and the amazing people at BBC Sounds. If I sound like we’ve already won, it’s because this nomination is a victory.”

Out of nearly 1,300 entries, George’s podcast was one of the 60 that were nominated by a unanimous vote of the board of jurors. Thirty of the nominees will be announced as winners at a later date. The Peabody Awards, which were first awarded in the 1940s, were named after American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody.