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QE’s in-house Economics magazine has proved so popular throughout the School that it has been opened up to younger boys for the first time.

Issue 23 of The Econobethan, which has as its theme South America Uncovered, features contributions from boys in every year group from Year 7 right through to the Sixth Form. In addition to Economics, it includes articles related to Politics, History and Sociology.

Economics teacher Celia Wallace said: “It’s another brilliant edition – this time on all things South American. This magazine is entirely student-run – their topics, their ideas, their articles.”

Twenty submitted pieces, spread over 35 pages, are divided into two sections – on Economic Development and Economic Setbacks.

In their introduction, the Year 12 editorial team of Shuban Singh, Adithya Raghuraman, Shourya Garg, Zain Ahmed explain this division: “The continent of South America currently stands at a crossroad of economic transformation…South America’s attempts at growth have been both dynamic and challenging; shaped by the different policy experimentation and integration into the global market. [The Economic Development] section delves into this pursuit of economic expansion, where reforms have coexisted alongside certain vulnerabilities.

“Yet, despite progress, profound structural weaknesses persist as financial crises, inflation, corruption, and political instability continue to undermine long-term growth. [The Economic Setback] section examines the vulnerabilities that have held South America back, as well as the policy choices that may determine its future trajectory.”

The young writers range far and wide both in terms of themes and geography. For example, Year 12’s Amogh Pai looks at The Ecuador-Canada Trade Deal, while Mukunth Natarajan, also of Year 12, explores How the Metrocable Transformed Medellin (covering the impact of a gondola lift in Colombia’s second-largest city). From among the Lower School writers, Year 7’s Ibrahim Abbas digs into The Lithium Boom in South America.

Year 11 pupil Shubhay Chawla focuses on 20th-century history with his article, US Cold War Policy’s Impact on South America, as does Zain Ahmed in his study of a famous South American dictator’s economic policy, Pinochet and Chile’s Intro to Neoliberalism.

Others, however, fix their attention firmly on the years and decades to come: Azlaan Ali, of Year 8, asks How will Foreign Direct Investment Impact South America? and Mayank Jagetia, of Year 9, considers Is Dollarisation the Future for South America?

• Those with access to the eQE portal may read this and previous editions of The Econobethan here.

Sixth-formers Karan Somani and Samrath Sareen have won the FT’s Schools Champion Award after stirring up huge interest in the news organisation’s work among their fellow pupils.

Having been selected for the FT Student Advocate Programme, the pair threw themselves into the role, securing 94 sign-ups from other QE boys keen to read the FT and find out more about its work. This figure was the highest for any school worldwide.

Head of Economics Krishna Shah said: “Karan and Samrath are to be congratulated on the great commitment they showed to the FT programme. I know they have benefitted significantly from all that it has to offer.”

The Student Advocate Programme gives up to three pupils from each participating school the opportunity to develop ideas on how the FT can better engage with young people and to raise awareness of the benefits of reading it.

Karan praised the programme: “As a student with a great passion for economics, it’s been helpful to learn more about stylistic writing and the technique to create informative content at the highest levels.

“The interactive webinars and sessions with members of the editorial team have been a great way to expand my knowledge around current affairs and the general economic state of the country.”

As part of their involvement, Karan and Samrath gave a talk to the Gresham Society (QE’s Economics society), in which they critically analysed the impacts of the most recent decisions of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on the economy. Another focus of attention was the economic policy of President Trump.

“The presentation at the Gresham Society was a great success, and it was very interesting to hear different opinions about Trumpian politics and its impacts on the politics and trade relations across the world,” said Karan.

During the programme, the pair were set a series of tasks. These, said Samrath, “allowed us to deepen our understanding and interest of key economic and financial principles, such as the large-scale impact AI is currently having on the economy”.

Samrath added: “It was great to see how many students in our School regularly read the FT to aid and enhance their studies. My favourite part of this programme was interacting with like-minded students from around the world.”

The pair won a £50 gift voucher and a certificate as their prize for winning the award.

As part of the School’s involvement with the FT, its Head of Visual and Data Journalism, Alan Smith, came in to give a lecture earlier this year.

He recounted to the boys his own educational journey. He had pursued A-levels and higher education when that was not the norm for those from his background, and he also seized an opportunity to study abroad, thereby gaining skills which he would not otherwise have learned.

Ahsan Rahman, of Year 11, said: “We heard about how technology and different forms of data analysis have helped Alan within his articles to display very complex information in a digestible form for their readers.”

Eesa Bhaijee, also of Year 11, added: “Alan stretched the boundaries of data presentation through his sonification [use of non-speech audio] of the US yield curve, making it accessible to a wider range of audiences, including the visually impaired community.”

Both Eesa and Ahsan were especially impressed by the work Alan and the FT team had done to bring to life the Moniac (Monetary National Income Analogue Computer). Designed as a teaching device, this was created in 1949 by London School of Economics (LSE) student Bill Phillips, using water to show how money flows around an economy. At least 12 were built.

In collaboration with Cambridge University, home of one of the last working original Moniacs, an FT project team created the FT Money Machine, which bridges the gap between the Moniac’s  historical analogue computing and modern digital learning, using the Apple Vision Pro headset to blend digital content with the physical world.

It was, said Eesa, simply “mind-blowing”.

A Year 13 team will be battling it out with some of the best school debaters in the country tomorrow at the grand final of the historic Mace competition.

The five students reached the final of the debating competition run by the English-Speaking Union after last month triumphing in the Greater London regional finals.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Our five sixth-formers have done extremely well to have reached the final of the competition: I wish them the best of luck! The ability to speak well is an essential skill for young people aspiring to thrive in high-level careers, which is why we have invested heavily here in creating The Robert Dudley Studio – our new venue for oracy and drama.

“Furthermore, debating is invaluable as a way of training young people in oracy. Through it, they learn to: put together arguments; express those arguments clearly and convincingly; and then think on their feet so that they can respond when those arguments are challenged.”

Following their triumph at the regional event hosted by Lady Eleanor Holles School, the five young Elizabethans – Chanakya Seetharam, Saim Khan, Zaki Mustafa, Koustuv Bhowmick and Rohan Kumar – will travel to the ESU’s historic home, Dartmouth House in London’s Mayfair, for the grand final on 30th April.

Founded in 1957, the ESU Schools’ Mace is this country’s oldest and largest debating competition for schools.

Open to pupils aged 11-18, it begins every year with heats in November, with around 300 schools participating, each fielding one team.

There are second-round heats in January and regional finals in March, before the national final, held annually in late April.

In the competition, participants are challenged to engage with wide-ranging cross-curricular topics, including controversial subjects and those relating to current affairs.

The grand final is a high-profile occasion, normally featuring high-ranking MPs, leaders of industry and other prominent figures.

English teacher and Enrichment tutor Lev Crofts wrote: “They’ve now won three rounds of this prestigious competition – fending off teams including St Paul’s, Merchant Taylors’ and South Hampstead High School – and they did an incredible job in the regional finals. They seem to be very much enjoying their title as Greater London Champions!”

Three Year 13 musicians holding offers of scholarships and places at Cambridge, Oxford and leading conservatoires were among the stars at this year’s Leavers’ Concert.

Performing for the last time alongside their fellow QE musicians were composer Harrison Lee, who has offers from the Royal Northern College of Music and Trinity College, together with vocalists Joel Swedensky and Nikhil Mark (pictured top), who have been offered choral scholarships from Cambridge and Oxford respectively.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This was another brilliant concert, showcasing our senior musicians’ varied talents to very good effect.

“There were some spectacular performances, whether it was Joel’s Maria from West Side Story, Nikhil Mark singing Five Nights at Freddy’s with the Jazz Band, or Jason Tao’s virtuoso playing as first-chair violin, not least on Harrison’s original composition for orchestra, Of the Essence. That was a truly amazing piece: stirring, moving, filmic, so professional-sounding – and written in about a month alongside all his A-level work.”

The concert, held in the Shearly Hall, featured some 15 ensembles, from smaller groups, such as the Barbershop and Electric Guitar Ensemble through to the massed ranks of the Orchestra and the School Choir.

The music played ranged from Grieg, Mozart & Mahler through to Irving Berlin, Kenny Loggins & Metallica. The Indian Ensemble played three pieces, starting with Hindustani piece: Balama Re More Mana Ke by Raag Bihag.

In addition to Harrison’s composition, the programme also included original works by Year 12’s Ryuki Watanabe and Joseph Donovan, of Year 10.

The evening included the presentation of Music Colours by the Headmaster.

Director of Music Ruth Partington celebrated all that Year 13 had contributed, noting their selflessness and kindness as a group. They in turn thanked the music teachers and presented them with gifts.

Joel and Nikhil were among 49 boys offered Oxbridge places this year – a figure second only to last year’s all-time QE record of 62. Joel has been offered a place to read Computer Science at Trinity College, Cambridge; Nikhil’s offer is for Materials Science at The Queen’s College, Oxford, with a choral scholarship at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Choral scholarships, or ‘choral awards’, are offered, following auditions to strong candidates who have also received an academic offer from Oxford or Cambridge. Choral scholars are expected to sing with their chapel’s choir. They receive some annual financial support.

Harrison has secured offers to study:

• Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music
• Composition at Trinity College of Music
• On the GRNCM/MusB joint course between the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University.

Miss Partington said: “Receiving multiple offers to study at Music conservatoires is an absolutely superb achievement – there is fierce competition.”

In his inimitable fashion, Harrison thanked his Music teachers for their support – “one of the best parts of my experience at QE. When I’m a famous composer, I will always be grateful!”

• Click on the thumbnails to view the images below.

Two major events took place under the QE Futures programme, with one giving Year 9 pupils insights into entrepreneurialism and the other providing sixth-formers with up-to-the-minute information on what to expect from university.

Education technology entrepreneur Amanda Slavin paid a return visit to QE to lead an interactive day for the whole of Year 9 on Developing Employability Skills through Entrepreneurship.

And Year 12 enjoyed the opportunity to hear from last year’s leavers, who returned to the School to give their first-hand experience of life as an undergraduate in QE’s University Convention.

Assistant Head (Pupil Destinations) James Kane said: “These two events demonstrate the breadth of QE Futures. I am grateful to Amanda Slavin for delivering such a stimulating day – one which helped the boys strengthen their communication and teamworking skills, as well as developing their creative and critical thinking.

“The main point of the University Convention was that last year’s leavers share their experiences and pass on advice to current QE students who will be making choices as to where to apply. But it was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with them and hear how they are getting on in ‘the real world’. They seemed to enjoy the opportunity to see each other and to catch up with their ‘old’ teachers over lunch.”

For the Year 9 event, pupils worked together in teams of five to create, and then pitch, a sustainable product that would appeal to young people. The day culminated with groups presenting their work to Amanda Slavin in a bid to win a hypothetical investment.

Amanda Slavin, who was named as a person of influence in a Forbes 30 under 30 list, specialises in helping brands measure and grow engagement with customers and employees.

The author of a best-selling book, The Seventh Level, she is the co-founder of multiple businesses, including  CatalystCreativ, which worked with brands including Google and Coca-Cola, and LearningFREQUENCY, which aims to help young people develop a love of learning by increasing engagement.

She reflected afterwards on how the boys had responded when given the opportunity and space to “collaborate, create, and communicate” during the day.

“The students’ ability to think critically, present boldly, and support one another was truly impressive. It was a joy to witness their ideas come to life and see their confidence grow throughout the day.”

Among the participants were Artem Batyukov and Arav Mishra, who, together with their teammates, presented their fruit-bush planting business, which they named Fruiture.

“I really enjoyed the QE Futures day,” said Arav. “It was extremely useful in building up our public speaking and presentation skills, as well as teamwork. As we progress into a new digital age, these skills, currently unable to be possessed by AI, will be extremely important to progress our CVs.”

Artem added: “The project was a masterclass in working in teams under time pressure, really pushing our skill in leadership, teamwork and communication. I think that it has helped our future workplace interaction, and given us a sample of what working to meet a deadline together is like.”

• Click on the thumbnails below to view the images.