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Victory went to the School in this year’s Dinner Debate – the Elizabethan Union’s historic showpiece event.

Combining formal elements with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of high-calibre debating, the 57th Annual Elizabethan Union Debate saw Year 13 gather in good spirits, enjoying the opportunity to socialise in a different context away from their normal day-to-day routine.

Year 13’s Anish Kumar and Shubh Rathod proposed the motion, This House believes governments are more responsible for climate change than citizens. They were opposed by Old Elizabethans Siddhant Kansal and Mark Markov (both 2015–2022).

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “The Dinner Debate is an event that intentionally bridges the gap from school to university. It blends the formality of black-tie dress, toasts and a traditional Extended Mace debating format with a relaxed atmosphere where the focus is primarily on enjoyment.”

The Elizabethan Union, QE’s debating society, is currently thriving, with debaters enjoying considerable success.

Proposing the toast to the Union, Siddhant Kansal (who was School Captain in 2021) reflected on his time at QE. Regaling his audience with a few anecdotes from his own Sixth Form experience, he also highlighted all the opportunities that were on offer within and beyond the classroom. Whilst QE can occasionally push you hard, it is all worth it and a time you will look back on fondly with great memories, he told the sixth-formers. Siddhant added that QE really does prepare you well for life at university, thanking staff for both pushing him and supporting him.

The debate itself was wide-ranging and packed with content. It was ultimately a victory for the proposition, but by a relatively narrow margin (45% to 37%, with 18% abstaining).

For the School, Anish and Shubh argued that governments have much greater ability to tackle climate change than citizens and should take responsibility for doing so. The role of governments is to protect their citizens, and they are failing in that task if they do not take more significant action. They stressed the importance of government regulation, and gave examples of how quickly action can be taken when there is determination to do so.

The opposition argued that the ability of governments is actually more limited and that big multi-national companies frequently have more influence and impact (and often more wealth). They spoke, therefore, about the power citizens have as consumers in a globalised, largely capitalist, world. Individuals can make choices about what they buy and from where. Mark stated that this power extended to what people eat: he stressed the significant impact of meat-eating on global emissions. The collective impact from these decisions could be profound. The alumni pair also highlighted the power of electorates to put into office people who care about the environment, and said that democratic participation is therefore crucial. They emphasised that, importantly, people do have agency – including everyone who had gathered in the Main School Hall for the debate.

However, the proposition pair noted that much of the world – including many of the largest polluters and contributors to climate change – is not governed democratically. People in those countries have no, or limited, choice in terms of the shape of their government. They argued that it is these governments, rather than their citizens, that have the wrong priorities and are choosing to promote projects and policies that worsen rather than lessen climate change, such as mega-building projects in the Middle East. There was discussion of the US Presidential Election and its potential consequences for climate action, and of the USA’s commitment to the Paris Climate accord.

The floor debate was finely balanced.

• Click on the thumbnails below to view the photos.

Investment sector specialist Mipham Samten (OE 2012–2019) may be among the 450 Club’s younger members, but he is clear-sighted about why he needed to buy into the club.

After taking full advantage of opportunities to get involved in debating and public-speaking while at the School, Mipham secured a place to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford.

“For me, joining the 450 Club is about supporting an institution that believes in meritocracy, as I do, recognising that without responsibility, merit is meaningless,” he says. “From those to whom much is given, much is required. In that respect, joining was an easy decision to make.”

While at university, Mipham spent a year running the Oxford Alpha Fund – a student investment society.

“The game is to find out what everyone is thinking, and identify their potential mistakes. The biggest opportunity and challenge was developing an environment where the society can stay calm when the market is panicking or exuberant. This meant choosing to work with independent thinkers, people who are comfortable being wrong publicly and who change their mind with the facts, not with the crowd. Interestingly, this is not always correlated with ‘intelligence’ per se: separating your ego from your ideas is hard, but ultimately rewarding.”

Mipham completed a summer internship with Man Group, a London Stock Exchange-listed active investment management business, in 2022, and then took up his present role with the firm in September 2023.

“I’m early in my career as an Investment Associate. Everyone wants to know, ‘What’s x fund’s ‘edge’?’ or its advantage over others. Generally, it’s pretty clear that an edge is the product of working hard now, or having worked hard before. It pays to stress assumptions others take for granted, to explore topics others ignore. Opportunities come and go, but those who are able to take advantage are those who prepared when something was unknown or unfashionable.

“I hope to continue investing professionally, learning a lot, and, hopefully, developing a little edge of my own.”

Mipham is pictured taking part in last year’s Elizabethan Union Dinner Debate alongside Saifullah Shah (OE 2013-2020).

Alan Rymer and Nicholas Warren are Old Elizabethans from different generations who worked together in the property finance industry for several years, never suspecting that they had both been to the same school.

On learning of their shared history, the pair recently paid a joint visit back to Queen’s Road, thoroughly enjoying the chance to reminisce together, while also observing how much QE has changed.

Alan said: “My background is that, having left QE in 1970, I went to work for Nat West where I studied the usual banking exams (Accounting, Economics, Law etc) to achieve my ACIB [Associateship of The Chartered Institute of Bankers], and gained promotion working at various large London branches, until I had the opportunity to specialise in real estate. I then spent much of my career working with property developers and investors to put in place their borrowing requirements – and learning a huge amount about their businesses by doing so. When I left in 2016 I set up my own business, ADR Funding Ltd, through which I focus on arranging finance specifically for the house-building sector.

“As a result, I now have contacts with a very wide range of banks and specialist funders. One of these is United Trust Bank, who I do quite a lot of work with, mainly via Nick Warren. We had already completed a number of deals when we happened to talk about where we had been brought up, and on learning that Nick lived near Queen’s Road in Barnet, I said ‘that’s where my old school is.’ The rest is history.”

For his part, Nick (OE 1991–1998), who obtained a first in Public Policy, Government & Management at the University of Birmingham, said: “Developing relationships with people is the crux of any business. Paths cross at all stages in life and it’s great to see how, like other Old Elizabethans, Alan and I have managed to connect years after leaving.”

Thanking the Headmaster, Neil Enright, and Head of External Relations, Matthew Rose, who hosted them on their visit, Nick said it had been a “fantastic few hours down memory lane”, adding: “I owe a lot to Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, as it was a place which instilled me with discipline, resilience and a fantastic start on my educational pathway.”

Alan (OE 1963–1970) reflected on how the School had gone from “strength to strength” in the past 50 years. His memories included “cross-country runs in Galley Lane and stone-picking on the Third Field (now a well maintained rugby pitch), followed by bread-and-dripping sandwiches in the refectory – but that was in the 60s!

“QE was and remains a superb school with a great academic history, and it is good to be able to connect/reconnect with past scholars who may now share similar interests and business roles.”

Both now look forward to meeting more Old Elizabethans working in property finance.

Alan also had some career selection advice for current pupils and recent leavers: “I would say make sure you choose something that you will enjoy. I always loved working for Nat West as it gave me plenty of variety, taught me new skills, and enabled me to meet and advise hundreds of different clients over many years.”

Leading theatre designer Alex Wardle (OE 1983–1990) has been advising QE how to get the very best out of The Robert Dudley Studio – the School’s new drama and spoken-word facility.

Alumni can still support the project – including helping to fund the all-important lighting and sound equipment – by joining the 450 Club. But, with the tiered seating due to be installed next term, time is running out if you would like your name on a studio seat!

Alex said: “I was keen to help the School make good decisions, as a well-planned drama space can be such an inspiration to young minds. As one of your alumni who hasn’t ended up being a multi-millionaire, I’m afraid all I can afford to give is advice!”

Work started this term on creating the 200-seat studio from two rooms towards the rear of Main Building. So far, a new roof has been installed and internal work done. The studio will come into use next term, with the tiered seating due to be fitted around the half-term break. The lighting and sound equipment has still to be purchased.

“I did have a good time at QE – but spent my time with music rather than drama,” said Alex. “Hopefully my suggestions help to nudge the new drama studio in the right direction, supporting student drama and creativity, and perhaps producing some directors, actors or designers in the future.”

Assistant Head (Pupil Involvement) Crispin Bonham-Carter said: “Alex has been an invaluable source of information for our design of The Robert Dudley Studio. He has visited the site and offered us lots of practical advice, even drawing up detailed sight-line diagrams showing the effect of different seating choices. He was delighted to come back to QE and was thrilled to see how much theatre and performance is taking place.”

QE theatre trips this term included 40 boys in Years 9 and 10 going to see Red Pitch, an award-winning play at Soho House Theatre, which was  built by Alex’s company, Charcoalblue.

Alex provides planning and consultancy on all aspects of theatre design. During more than 15 years of theatre consultancy, he has worked on high-profile projects including: the award-winning Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre; the new Sadler’s Wells Theatre at London’s Olympic Park; and the first new London West End theatre since 1973, at Soho Place. In addition, he has 25 years’ experience as a lighting designer, production manager and technical stage manager.

• Among other OEs supporting the creation of The Robert Dudley Studio, is Jay Shetty (OE 1999–2006), the podcaster, author and life coach with a huge global online following. Watch Jay’s appeal for The Robert Dudley Studio here.

QE’s young composers demonstrated both their creativity and their virtuosity in a special concert showcasing their work.

The Chamber, Choral and Composition Concert featured pupils’ own compositions for their GCSE and A-level courses, which accounted for ten of the 16 pieces in the programme.

The breadth of style and genre was huge, from, for example, sixth-former Indrajit Datta’s opening piece, Sonata for Live Piano and Electronics, which introduced technology in a way not seen at QE before, to A Slave-Driven Fishing Trawler, by Ryuki Watanabe, of Year 11, who combined influences from heavy rock and sea shanties.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Some of the concepts may perhaps sound  a little unusual, but there was wonderful variety, and what was striking was that the pieces were crafted with accomplishment, demonstrating real musical understanding and allowing the boys to playfully inject their personalities.

“Furthermore, it is remarkable not only that students can compose such inspiring, evocative and professional-sounding pieces, but that other boys (often in different year groups) have the skill to perform them so expertly. To invest time and care in learning and performing another student’s composition demonstrates the supportive culture that exists within QE’s musical community: the mutual respect was evident.”

The evening featured:

• Final-year student Isher Jagdev’s Chardikala – a word which in Sikhism denotes a state of eternal optimism. This piece was inspired by the eternal hope of the warrior in the face of battle;
• Revenge is a Virtue, by Tharun Dhamodharan, of Year 13, which continued the battle theme and featured a fast-moving narrative involving Leonardo di Caprio and Darth Vader in a lively action caper;
• A Jazzy Slapstick Comedy, by Aarav Agarwal, of Year 11, which evoked the era of the silent movie;
• Themes and Variations in B-Flat Major written for violin by Year 11’s Leo Sellis – one of a number of pieces that the boys wrote for instruments they do not themselves play.

There were also contributions from some of the younger ensembles taking part in this year’s Pro Corda competition, as well as a pair of well-known songs from the Barbershop and, as a rousing finale, Zadok the Priest, Handel’s coronation anthem played last year at the crowning of King Charles.

“Every composition performed was very strong, and many staggeringly so, but a special mention for [Year 12 pupil] Harrison Lee’s Magnificat, which was performed by a full orchestra and Chamber Choir,” the Headmaster added. “It was incredibly powerful, filling The Friends’ Recital Hall with sound. Like a number of other boys who composed for ensembles, he conducted the piece himself.

“Overall, the evening was a great credit to the pupils and the Music department. The musical output of the students seems to go from strength to strength. Across a significant stylistic range, the music was at a very high level, confidently introduced, produced and performed.”

Click on the thumbnails below to view photos from the concert.