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At this unprecedented time for schools and for society, our primary concern at the School is the wellbeing of all those in the Elizabethan community.

I am very conscious of the dedication and sacrifice of the many Old Elizabethans working so hard in the NHS and in other front-line professions. We are proud of the contribution they are making to the national effort.

We are doing what we can, too. Our Head of Technology, Michael Noonan, is currently using our 3D printers to manufacture face shields (a vital part of medics’ Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE) for the NHS. We have also worked with Dr Ahmer Farooqi, Director of the Barnet GP Federation (and a QE dad), to donate our supply of 228 pairs of eye protection glasses for use by local GPs in Barnet.

We are rapidly adapting to a new way of working and have instituted remote learning for all of the boys. Of course, eQE is already well established as a platform for complementary independent learning, but in the current situation it has now become our primary method for delivering education to the boys. We are challenging ourselves as a staff body to make lessons and activities as interactive and exciting as possible, and we are taking the opportunity to advance the School’s digital development, not just in terms of delivering the core curriculum, but also by thinking about what outstanding extra-curricular and pastoral provision looks like in this context. I am currently holding all staff meetings via Zoom’s video-conferencing software, for example, and we are looking at trialling this for learning activities, too. As we grapple with how we can ensure that the boys not only remain on track with their studies, but access as many opportunities to enrich themselves as possible, we are at the same time trying to maintain QE’s sense of community.

The strength of that community across the generations was evident in the numbers who contacted me to say that they wished to attend the memorial service that we had planned for Eamonn Harris. Unfortunately, the service had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. I am pleased to say, however, that we have been able to include three profiles of School Captains from Eamonn’s time as Headmaster in this edition of Alumni News.

We have had to cancel all in-person alumni events, but I would emphasise that we want to be there for alumni, just as we are for current pupils and their families. In addition to this newsletter, we are continuing to publish content about old boys in the Alumni section of the School website. I also remind all Old Elizabethans that you can make useful connections through QE Connect, whether those are with current boys or with other OEs. At this difficult time, let us help each other.

Another cancellation arising from the current crisis has been of this summer’s public examinations. While I well understand the disappointment that many of our boys are feeling at being thus deprived of the opportunity to show their prowess, they are still to receive grades, so the transition to university should continue in a similar way to normal.

One undoubted highlight of this term was the news that 40 boys have been offered Oxbridge places. This is a new record for QE and represents a very considerable achievement, for the boys individually and for the School. Twenty-seven places are for Cambridge, the remaining 13 for Oxford.

For any school in pursuit of academic excellence, Oxbridge places constitute a useful metric. It is evidence that, as a state school and a meritocracy, QE is effectively providing pathways to world-leading universities for bright students, regardless of their social, racial or religious background.

As the speaker at our Year 12 luncheon, Sonita Alleyne OBE told our sixth-formers: “If you get the grades, you belong.” Since she is the first-ever black Master of any Oxbridge college and the first female Master at Jesus College, Cambridge, this message carries special resonance. During her visit, she also met the three final-year boys – Drew Sellis, Reza Sair and Bhiramah Rammanohar – who hold offers from Jesus College for the autumn.

Oxbridge offers should certainly be celebrated, and there has been great news for others, too, with many boys holding offers for courses such as Medicine and Dentistry, for example. There are interesting opportunities overseas, with 12 boys applying to US universities and one to Japan; one pupil has been awarded a $180,000 scholarship to study at the University of Toronto, based on academic merit – our first-ever offer from a Canadian university, as far as I am aware. Applications have been made across disciplines including Arabic, Classics, Criminology, Music, and Optometry, alongside subjects more commonly chosen by our boys.

Nottingham remains a popular choice of university here, with some 50 Elizabethan undergraduates currently studying there, not to mention post-graduate students. I was therefore pleased to welcome as our Senior Awards guest speaker, Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor at Nottingham. At the ceremony, we recognised the scholarship and endeavours of boys from Years 10–12. In a new departure, we had planned a special valediction later in the year for Year 13; we hope this will still be able to take place.

Old Elizabethan help made a significant contribution to this year’s Oxbridge successes. Indeed, alumni now consistently play an important role in our senior boys achieving the best outcomes, lending their support through initiatives such as our USP (Universities Support Programme) and the inaugural Mock Interview Evening. Lectures and talks given by our alumni are also important in this regard: this term has seen Google manager Nikolai Donko (OE 2000-2007) enthusiastically championing ‘tech’ careers to the Upper School,  McKinsey Business Analyst Kiran Modi (OE 2007-2014) speaking to our aspiring economists, and Jordan Wan (OE 2004–2011) sharing with Year 9 boys insights into his work as an NHS Clinical Scientist Trainee. And when, during the winter, QE teams won two of the four main prizes (including the overall first prize) in the Institution of Civil Engineers’ #ICanEngineer competition in our first year of entry, another old boy, Karan Dewnani (OE 2006-2013) was on hand to greet them in the offices of engineering firm, Jacobs. Karan works for Jacobs as a Civil Engineer in the rail industry and, as a STEM Ambassador, was supporting the competition organisers on the day.

Very importantly, as I made clear in my speech at Senior Awards, the successes achieved by our senior boys are also the result of our emphasis on free-thinking scholarship throughout the entire School. Our focus is on the fundamental attributes that underpin scholarship, which include the nurturing of intellectual exploration beyond the bounds of the examination syllabus. We are open to expressions of scholarship which come in different guises and are inspired by different sources, such as the award-winning podcasts of George the Poet (George Mpanga, OE 2002–2009), or the work of another Old Elizabethan poet, Anthony Anaxagorou (1994–1999). We recognise that scholarship involves creativity (in the sciences as well as the arts), and that it can be emotional as well as empirical.

We are highly committed to excellence and to ensuring that it is evident in all the different facets of the School’s life. Our new Music School will be important as a venue for the creative arts and we recognise that the physical environment is a factor in the encouragement of scholarship. Alongside all the other ongoing improvement works taking place here, we are now out to tender for the build phase. We have ‘specced out’ the building, which will include a valuable social space (the atrium), and a recital hall.

While the operation of the School is inevitably disrupted at this time, as we look to the future, we are fortunate that the Elizabethan community is so strong. That strength will certainly see us through the present crisis, just as it has helped Queen Elizabeth’s School withstand other grave challenges in our 447-year history.

My very best wishes to you and your families. Thank you for your understanding and support, please stay in touch and, to repeat a widely used but nonetheless appropriate sentiment: stay safe.

Neil Enright
Headmaster

Having worked for one of the UK’s best-known companies for 18 years, Neil Trinnaman is quick to extol the advantages of staying with one employer.

A former School Captain under Eamonn Harris, he cherishes happy memories of his days at QE and highlights the impact his Headmaster had on the School and on him – including giving him a lifelong love of drinking tea!

Neil (OE 1991–1997) is a Senior Pharmacy Manager in Boots’ Digital Healthcare Programme and lives in Nottingham, where the health, beauty and pharmacy chain’s headquarters is based. He has worked for the company throughout his entire career to date.

“So why Boots for 18 years? Whilst it is popular to move companies frequently, with many believing that ‘the grass is greener’, working for a large company like Boots has given me great opportunity, with a great variation of roles, without the need to do this. I have been able to move to several different areas of the business, gaining experience of all its aspects, and along the way I have visited all corners of the UK, meeting with many great suppliers and discussing ways to partner with the NHS.

“What gets me out of bed every day and keeps me working for Boots is that whilst it is a commercial organisation, there is a real purpose beyond profit that unites the team, helping people feel better each day.”

Eamonn Harris was Neil’s Headmaster throughout his time at QE, while Mr Harris’s successor as Head, Dr John Marincowitz, was his Head of Sixth Form.

“I was part of Broughton and took part in all the activities that School had to offer, including music (trumpet – unfortunately I don’t play anymore!) and sport, where I loved athletics and playing rugby; I have enjoyed the game ever since. Two sports teachers stand out: Mr [Robert] Relton (who co-incidentally was the Headteacher two years ago for a school my sister taught at in Abu Dhabi!) and Mr [David] Maughan. They were both great teachers in their inimitable way. I always remember the warm-ups – having to do 20 press ups and sit-ups at each corner of the pitch, and if you were too slow running around the pitch, Mr Maughan often repeating: ‘What are you waiting for – a stab in the back?’. That, and of course the infamous cross-country runs and the classic elephant dip that every QE boy will remember!”

He also remembers Mr Chandler – “a great inspiration for Design, and I remember taking part in a national competition with his support, coming in the top ten in the country”. He also recalls Mr [Colin] Price, praising his “great calmness and simple way of explaining maths which I benefitted from”.

Then, he says, there was Mr Harris: “Undoubtedly a great headteacher. The one thing that really sticks in my mind was his presence around the School. He didn’t have to say a lot for pupils to know he was there and for them to behave, as he was clear about what was expected of them – impeccable behaviour and demonstrating clear and adult responsibility as being part of the School.

“One of his trademarks was in assembly each morning. With the usual buzz of everyone talking, the prefects would try to hush the crowd, usually unsuccessfully. Mr Harris would never have to come in and shout or usher silence. Instead, he would walk in and sit at the table at the front and then wait and watch. Inevitably, it never took long for silence to follow, as no one dared to continue with their conversation knowing that he was watching.

“I don’t think I have ever since seen anyone hold an audience in the way that he did. And when he did speak, he spoke with real passion about the ethics of how a school should be run, which was jointly admired by parents – certainly one of the clinching reasons for my parents choosing to send me to QE.”

A particularly strong personal memory is of the day he was invited by Eamonn Harris to be the 1996 School Captain. “I remember it for a few reasons. I was nervous, having been summoned to his office unaware of the appointment, and then of course being immensely proud when he asked me to take up the position. But I also remember that he asked me what I wanted to drink when I entered the office, the choice being ‘tea or coffee’. I didn’t drink either, but being too nervous to refuse, or to ask for anything different, I went for what I thought was the lesser of the two dislikes and had tea. From that day, I have drunk it and it has continued to be a favourite ever since! “

Following QE, Neil went to Bath University for four years, successfully obtaining a Business Management degree. He undertook two work placements during the course. One of them was for Boots in Nottingham, where he was offered a permanent role. It was also there that he met his wife-to-be, Toni. “Two good reasons to return to Nottingham!”

He spent the first part of his time with Boots within the company’s extensive supply chain, working in a number of different roles in warehouse management, category management and in “significant supply-chain change programmes.

“During the second half, I have worked within Pharmacy, from store operations, to leading the running of our hospital pharmacies, to leading our electronic prescriptions growth agenda and now, as a senior business lead for Boots, leading our digital transformation at a really exciting and pivotal time for Pharmacy. Last year the programme that I am leading won Cross Functional Team of the Year, which was a really proud moment.

“In an industry that has seen relatively small changes in the last few decades and with the NHS consistently under pressure from an ageing population, Boots are perfectly placed to shape and create a new healthcare model, particularly with digital developments. This should fundamentally mean that customers and patients will receive better care in the future, whether this is preventative or curative, in a more cost-effective and convenient way.

“Outside of work, I have lived in Nottingham since I left university and have been married to Toni, my amazing wife, for nearly 15 years and have two incredible kids, Ralf, 11, and Lois who is nearly nine. We are a tight-knit and loving family and have spent many happy years together, recently extending our house to create a lovely family home. We all love music and holidays, travelling to as many different places as possible. Our favourite has been Italy, although fortunately we haven’t booked a holiday this year, given all that is going on.

“I still love sport and this has always been a big part in my life. I played rugby and football for many years, until recently where my knee has decided enough is enough! Recently, it has largely been watching and following the kids, getting involved in their activities. However I do still like to keep fit and have continued to run (not because of the cross-country at school!) and have run two London marathons in the last few years and a number of half-marathons, as well as completing a London-to-Paris bike ride.”

Neil also manages to keep up with a group of School friends a couple of times a year: “As Alex Gilbert has suggested, this is the group named the ‘QE exiles’ and has been going for many years! It is great to catch up over a drink when I am down in London and to see the variety of jobs that everyone is doing. It’s good that we live close enough to be able to do this on a regular basis, although not as regular as I would like.”

James Slessor is a world expert in public safety who leads teams that help police, law enforcement, justice and national security departments become more efficient and respond effectively to ever-more complex challenges.

James was at QE from 1988 to 1995 and says his time as a pupil – and especially 1994, when he was School Captain – proved to be a good foundation, giving him leadership, organisational and public-speaking skills that he still uses in his job today.

He went from QE to read Geography at Bristol, from where he graduated with a First in 1998. After spending some time travelling through Africa, he went on to join Accenture (then still known as Andersen Consulting), where he has built a career in the firm’s Government practice. He has now been with Accenture for more than 20 years.

He has worked extensively across the UK criminal justice system with organisations including the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. Today, he supports a number of Accenture’s public safety engagements across the US, Europe, South Africa and Asia Pacific.

He continues to be based in London and now as a Managing Director, James leads Accenture’s Global Public Safety practice. This covers Accenture’s work in policing, law enforcement, justice and national security, and draws together the latest international insight to build new strategies, operating models, processes and technology solutions, and helps to drive innovation for public safety agencies.

“Overall, I help these organisations enhance operational performance, increase efficiency and deliver improved outcomes to the public. I have worked across strategic consulting engagements such as efficiency and effectiveness reviews, workforce transformations and system requirements analysis, through to stakeholder and programme management on large-scale transformational programmes.

“This is a unique and fascinating role – where I get to both look at the common challenges public safety agencies face (pace of change, new types of threat risk and harm, increasing citizen expectations and increased levels of digitisation), but also have an understanding of local and cultural differences.”

He helps local teams develop solutions which take both these common challenges and differences into account. Increasingly, the threats which public safety agencies have to deal with are global in nature, and almost all crime now has a digital component, he says, so Accenture’s clients are having to evolve to meet this and to become increasingly proactive.

“For example, at the moment I am very focused on balancing the need to help public safety agencies make the most of new technologies and innovations to keep up with, and ideally stay ahead of, the threat, but at the same time making sure that public privacy is respected and public trust and confidence in public safety remains high. I find that when you operate in a global role, it generally requires considerable levels of empathy and understanding so that these commonalities and differences are understood.

“I also think this is a skill I started to develop at QE in general – and especially during my time a School Captain – where the art of understanding others and developing the power of persuasion were critical.”

James adds that his schooldays have brought him benefits in other ways, too. One example is that those years equipped him for his work leading teams made up of a diverse range of people tackling an equally diverse range of objectives.

“The opportunities which I was lucky to have at QE, for example being in the CCF, have all helped  and allowed me to develop these skills.”

“I am often asked to speak at conferences and industry meetings – and continue to feel that the many opportunities QE afforded me to develop my public-speaking and debating skills have assisted me with this – and I still use many of the tricks and techniques I learnt back at school.”

James has written extensively in leading industry publications on a range of policing topics, including the use of social media, police information management, analytics and digital disruption. “The development of thought leadership, looking to the future and what this might mean for public safety is a large part of my role,” he adds.

“I am married to Nikki, and whilst I am lucky to travel quite lot with work, I also enjoy travelling in general and have driven across India in a Tuk-Tuk and climbed a volcano in Sumatra. However, that has reduced in the last couple of years as I now have a young daughter – which I think, as every parent will know, means quite literally every day is a learning day and generally you don’t get it right first time round!”

Year 9 pupils not only found out about careers in STEM and had lots of fun on a special three-day course, but also gained a new qualification, too.

All five boys who attended the Engineering Development Trust’s Routes into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) course in London, prior to social distancing measures, qualified as EDT Bronze Industrial Cadets.

Assistant Head Sarah Westcott said: “This was a valuable opportunity for these boys to discover the breadth of STEM careers open to high-calibre candidates and to find out about pathways such as apprenticeships. The organisers successfully inspired them and made it an enjoyable experience by devoting time to some exciting and creative aspects of STEM.”

The five boys were: Aadi Goel; Ajand Sasikumar; Laksh Sharma; Paras Mehrotra and Pranav Jayakumar.

Over the three days, they attended sessions which included computer science activities, a presentation skills workshop and groups looking at film-making, coding and forensic science.

The Engineering Development Trust, a national charity with more than 30 years’ experience, offers young people learning experiences in STEM-related careers. Its Industrial Cadets framework, with levels from Challenger up to Platinum, allows participants to demonstrate experience and progress in STEM activities.

After the course, the boys produced short reviews of the three days.

Paras wrote: “Overall I found this course to be a very enjoyable experience, as it was a perfect balance between learning and having fun, which was evident in all three days. For example, on the first day at New City College [in Tower Hamlets], we practised drawing on Photoshop and also learnt how to do HTML coding.

“Moreover, on the second day we played many VR games, but also learnt how to make them, teaching me that there is a creative side to STEM jobs. One key thing which I learnt was the variety of jobs that come under STEM, such as the many career options within engineering, including mechanical and software engineering, inspiring me to be open… the possibilities are endless.”

Pranav likewise found that the course gave him fresh insight into the many options available to him. These included apprenticeships: he confessed to not having previously considered these because his understanding of them had been “blurred”.

“The course helped me comprehend the wide range of jobs just in one sector,” he said, adding that it had been a “fantastic experience” which he would highly recommend to others.

Similarly, Aadi acclaimed the course as “an extremely fun experience”, praising the wide variety of activities in which he was able to participate. “My favourite one was the virtual reality experience and the game-coding using the Unreal game engine, because it was fun and also interesting to see the level of work that goes into designing the games we play regularly. Another interesting activity was learning how forensic science works and the different techniques that police officers use, such as heating water and superglue to show any residual fingerprints.”

Aadi particularly appreciated the information and guidance on finding an appropriate apprenticeship.

“All in all, the Routes into STEM course is one that I would definitely recommend for others as it was an interesting and eye-opening experience,” he concluded.

QE’s water polo players are celebrating a successful end to a season which saw both the senior team and U15s storm through to their national finals.

The U18s enjoyed convincing wins over Bedford School, Marlborough College and Harrow on their way to the English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) National Plate Final, with their U15 counterparts following a similar path. Both finals were held at Northampton School for Boys.

Head of Aquatics Richard Scally said: “All the players in these teams should be congratulated on their outstanding performance this season, as should our talented U13s, who show great potential and enjoyed a long unbeaten run.”

ESSA’s schools’ water polo competitions are run for U18, U15 and U13 age groups. After the first phase of mainly regional competitions, the teams are split into three levels, with QE competing in the Plate competition for intermediate schools.

The School’s U18 team qualified for the National Plate Final by recording semi-final victories of 7-4 against Bedford, 7-1 against Marlborough and a 7-0 whitewash against Harrow.

In the finals, they beat St Peter’s 8-3, but lost 5-3 to Dulwich, 5-4 to Birmingham’s Camp Hill and 3-2 to St Paul’s.

“Unfortunately, therefore, the senior side lost a couple of games by a single goal. Although it is a sign of just how close they were to victory, it only added to the disappointment. Nevertheless, the effort shown was very commendable, and, with many of the senior players still around next year, it augurs well for next season.”

In their final, the U15s played The King’s School Grantham (lost 4-5), Brentwood (won 6-2) and St Bede’s from Bradford (lost 3-4). “The under 15s came second in their group and lost – again by a single goal – to the overall winners, King’s” said Mr Scally.

“The competition in all these games was evenly matched and both our sides performed very well.”