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QE’s Sixth Form comes top in a new national league table published by The Telegraph.

The Telegraph analysed data from more than 2,000 state-school sixth forms and sixth-form colleges, allocating them points according to A-level performance and leavers’ university destinations.

QE took first place after not only amassing the maximum 40 points – along with 21 other leading schools – but also emerging as the only school or college in the top ten to be awarded an A+ ranking for its average A-level score by The Telegraph.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “At Queen Elizabeth’s School, we now have our biggest-ever Sixth Form, and I am tremendously proud of the repeated successes of our pupils in gaining superb grades at A-levels and then going on to the best degree-level courses university or apprenticeship courses. Last month’s A-level results, which once again saw more than half of all grades at A*, represent another very fine achievement.

“However, the QE Sixth Form experience is by no means all about examination results. Boys typically throw themselves into an array of co-curricular activities through our QE Flourish programme. They can be found making significant contributions as prefects, peer mentors, and as the leaders of clubs and societies, while all Year 12 pupils help the wider community through voluntary service. And they prepare for their onward path through our QE Futures programme and University admissions Support Programme (USP), and through gaining from the experience of our alumni in the QE Connect network.”

In The Telegraph’s rankings, QE came in ahead of Kingston upon Thames’ The Tiffin Girls’ School in second place and Tiffin School in third.  The table was compiled by the data editor, Ben Butcher, and senior data journalist, Ollie Corfe.

The accompanying article said: “Overall, Queen Elizabeth’s School, a grammar school in Barnet, ranked best in the country. With an average grade of A+, the school sends 95 per cent of students to university, including 92 per cent to Russell Group and other top tier institutions.”

The Telegraph based its table on A-level performance from 2023–2024, and its university destination data on figures from 2021.

Eight separate criteria, with varying weightings, were used to arrive at the overall score. As well as those related to A-level grades and university places, these included the number of A-level subjects available (20 at QE) and the proportion of pupils who were retained after Year 12 to continue their studies in Year 13.

Year 11 pupils maintained the superb record of Queen Elizabeth’s School with another very strong set of GCSE results.

More than three-fifths of the examinations taken (61.4%) at the School were awarded the highest possible grade, level 9, while 95.4% received grades 7–9.

The 192-strong year group’s performance was strong across the board. Underpinned by truly exceptional results for Mathematics and the sciences, QE also has the top scorer nationally in GCSE English Language this year.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This is a very good set of outcomes indeed, reflecting the talent and hard work of our pupils, the expertise and commitment of QE staff, and the support of their families.

“My sincere congratulations go to Year 11, and we look forward to the boys beginning their A-levels in September, joining our largest-ever Sixth Form.

“Today’s results build on the excellent A-level outcomes last week, which saw QE placed as the top secondary school (state or independent) in The Times.”

The GCSE results show that:

• 85.5% of GCSEs taken were awarded grades 9–8 (both equivalent to the old A* grade);
• All 171 boys taking GCSE Chemistry achieved either a 9 (159 candidates) or 8 (12) grade;
• 50 boys sat Latin GCSE this year, well over twice as many as in 2024; 33 of them achieved grade 9.

Mr Enright added: “What is truly remarkable about these results is that they were achieved by boys who make time alongside their academic studies to take part in a huge range of co-curricular activities through our QE Flourish programme.

“It is the breadth of the whole QE experience which enables us to fulfil our mission ‘to produce young men who are confident, able and responsible’.”

Nine pupils won achievement awards for accomplishments in areas ranging from sport to robotics, while teacher Xiangming Xu took a Leader Award both for his dedication in the classroom and for his support of co-curricular activities.

The awards, which were given by the Jack Petchey Foundation, were given following a selection process open to all QE pupils.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My congratulations go to the boys and to Xiangming – ten very worthy winners. The award citations reveal strong leadership and great dedication. Furthermore, they reflect the true breadth of the QE experience, which encompasses both academic excellence and our extensive QE Flourish programme.”

The Jack Petchey Achievement Awards recognise outstanding young people aged 11–25 across London and Essex; Leader Awards are given for adults who show exemplary dedication at schools and youth organisations.

The selection process gave QE pupils the opportunity to cast votes: all boys could vote for one pupil and one staff member on two occasions in successive terms.

An awards ceremony took place at the Arts Depot in Barnet.

Enrichment tutor and Geography teacher Staycie Domzalski said: “It was a lovely opportunity to recognise and celebrate the nine students’ and Mr Xu’s achievements.”

Each pupil award winner received a certificate, pin badge and a book written by Sir Jack Petchey – a businessman and philanthropist who died last year at the age of 98. They also received a £300 grant for the School, to spend at their own discretion. Similarly, Mr Xu received a £1,000 grant for the School.

The boys chose to spend their grants on equipment including: rugby training tops; VEX robotics hardware; Eton Fives gloves; medical book and DVDs; and badminton shuttlecocks.

Science teacher and form tutor Mr Xu, pictured top, showed “exceptional dedication to both academic and extracurricular life at QE” according to his citation. “…He consistently goes above and beyond –making lessons engaging, helping pupils grasp challenging concepts, and inspiring confidence. He has given up numerous weekends to support students in competitions such as the UKSDC [UK Space Design Competition] and has played a vital role in organising and mentoring teams. His kindness, empathy, and unwavering support make him a true role model, respected not just for his teaching, but for the care and encouragement he shows to every pupil.”

The pupils’ citations were as follows:

Year 10
Soham Bhatnagar: Soham is an exceptional student who consistently leads by example through his dedication, kindness, and strong work ethic. As A team rugby captain and form leader, he inspires others with his resilience, commitment to academics, and support for younger students—both in class and on the coach. Whether mentoring in the gym, attending extra clinics, or simply being a positive presence, Soham embodies the values of leadership, encouragement, and self-improvement, making him a truly deserving candidate for the Jack Petchey Award.

Arhan Panjwani: Arhan is a dedicated and inspiring student whose long-standing commitment to VEX robotics has empowered numerous younger teams through mentorship and support. His selfless guidance, leadership, and contributions across robotics, music, and school clubs make him a true role model in the QE community.

Ayaan Bhat: Ayaan is an exceptional role model whose maturity, kindness, and dedication to helping others shine through in every aspect of school life. As a peer mentor, rugby leader, and active contributor in class and form time, he consistently supports younger students, demonstrates resilience, and inspires those around him with his determination and humility.

Year 11
Jack Tan: Jack is an outstanding role model whose dedication to Eton Fives and support for younger students has made a lasting impact. As a committed captain and mentor, he consistently gives up his time to coach, inspire, and guide others – both on and off the court. His kindness, leadership, and willingness to help with both sport and academics make him a truly deserving recipient of the Jack Petchey Award.

Year 12
Viyath Wanninayaka: Viyath has shown exceptional leadership and generosity by running a challenging and engaging maths club that inspires younger students and stretches their thinking. He is not only highly knowledgeable and hardworking, but also kind, supportive, and always willing to help others – whether it’s giving academic advice or helping classmates with subjects like Latin, Maths, and Science.

Suhaas Sabbella: For being an outstanding leader of the medical ethics club, dedicating significant effort to expanding students’ knowledge beyond the curriculum and enhancing their understanding of medical dilemmas.

Aadam Aslam: For his support during rugby training sessions, both at lunchtime and after school, and for guiding younger students with their GCSE options. Many students find him to be a reliable confidant when it comes to school-related matters.

Year 13
Rayat Ferdous: This student has shown outstanding dedication to the Islamic Society through his consistent leadership in organising daily and Friday prayers, ensuring a respectful and well-maintained space for all students. He gives up his own time every day to set up and restore prayer rooms, supports charitable efforts, and acts as a role model and mentor for younger students. His commitment, humility, and reliability make him a highly deserving recipient of the Jack Petchey Award.

Shaurya Madan: For being an excellent role model and prefect, consistently exhibiting exemplary behaviour and attitude. Many students look up to him and aspire to learn how to improve themselves by following his example.

Year 13 pupils have maintained a formidable record of consistent A-level excellence, with the proportion of grades at A*–B hitting 98% – the 20th consecutive year this benchmark figure has been above 95%.

As in other recent years, leavers shone at the very highest levels: once again, over half of all grades (51%) were A*– up 4% on even the best pre-pandemic year. Among the 174-strong Year 13 cohort, which is QE’s biggest-ever, 51 boys – or 29% – achieved straight A*s. Eighty-five per cent of grades awarded were A* or A.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Huge congratulations go to our students on these brilliant results. At QE we see consistent excellence every year, with our boys turning in superb examination performances and duly securing places on highly sought-after courses at world-leading universities.”

Over the past three years, QE pupils have received 157 offers from Oxford and Cambridge, including 49 (28% of the year group) this year. More widely, 62% hold offers from QS World Top 10 universities (which include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and UCL); 22 of the 24 Russell Group universities offered places to QE boys.

The most popular choices of degree courses among QE leavers were for Mathematics, Medicine & Dentistry, Engineering, and Economics. In addition, 14 boys secured offers for computing courses: they include leavers who will be taking up confirmed places at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Warwick.

In a growing trend, QE students are winning places on prestigious degree apprenticeships: this year, offers have come from companies including Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover, and PWC.

And there is striking breadth in individual achievements, with one place secured at a music conservatoire (the Royal Northern College of Music’s joint course with Manchester University) and another at the highly competitive Foundation Art course at Central St Martins (University of the Arts London).

“Such widespread success among our boys is made possible by the whole QE experience,” said Mr Enright. “All our leavers have benefitted from our emphasis on free-thinking scholarship; and from the support in finding their future career and university path offered through our QE Futures programme, which benefits from the backing provided by our alumni network. Through a detailed programme of bespoke pastoral support, and through the broad co-curricular opportunities offered by our exciting QE Flourish programme, boys grow into confident, able and responsible young men. It is the combination of all these elements that is enabling our students to realise their boundless potential.”

“All our leavers take with them our very best wishes for the future. Today, and in the coming weeks, support will, of course, be available from the School for any who need it.

“Looking further ahead, we look forward to seeing the cohort become active members of our alumni community, QE Connect, joining the ranks of thousands of other alumni who are Elizabethans for life.”

Junior Awards formed a happy highlight of the final days of the School year at QE, with some 80 prizes presented to boys in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Prizewinners, their parents, staff and VIPs gathered in the School Hall for the afternoon ceremony, which was punctuated by musical interludes performed by recipients of the Music prizes in the three year groups.

And the Guest of Honour, Old Elizabethan Ramesh Pari, had some stirring advice for the boys after presenting them with their prizes: they should both “fail brilliantly” (by aspiring to wildly ambitious goals) and “celebrate loudly” their successes.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This was a very enjoyable celebration of those who have most excelled in their academic and co-curricular pursuits, and those who have shown a substantial commitment to the School over the past year.”

After a six-strong ensemble of young musicians began proceedings by playing as a processional Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Mr Enright welcomed everyone.

The musical interludes were performed after each year group’s prizewinners had been presented with their awards. Pianist Youer Chen, of Year 7, played Columbine by John Ireland; vocalist Krish Bhatia, of Year 8, performed Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Bois Épais; and violinist Jeremy Shi, of Year 9, played Dimitry Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto, Movement 1.

The recessional, played after Youer gave the vote of thanks, was Mozart’s A Musical Joke.

Guest of Honour Ramesh (OE 1997–2004), who is Head of Delivery Services for Ocado, advised them both to “fail brilliantly” (by aspiring to wildly ambitious goals) and to “celebrate loudly” their successes.

After leaving QE, Ramesh spent a year at Central St Martins art school before reading Architecture at Nottingham. He then worked as an architect for some years, before joining Ocado in 2018. In his current role, he applies “strategic design thinking” and is dedicated to “driving automation, value and efficiency within the complex world of fulfilment.

Mr Enright said: “I am so proud of the person Ramesh has become, having taught him in the QE Sixth Form from 2002 to 2004, when I first joined the School.”

Ramesh was accompanied by his wife, Millie. Reflecting on the day afterwards, Ramesh said: “To stand on that stage, as Guest of Honour, was not just a personal milestone – it was a moment of full-circle gratitude. It affirmed that the School that made me is proud to be associated with me, that the values and ethos nurtured in those classrooms still live in my actions today. QE gave me more than I could ever repay.”

Mr Enright also celebrated the presence of another special guest. It was, he said, also “lovely to have former colleague, Deborah Rivlin Bardou, a pastoral leader and history teacher at QE during Ramesh’s time as a pupil, with us to see him present the Rivlin Award for Outstanding Commitment in Year 8”. The award went to Emile Uju.

After the ceremony, all present enjoyed afternoon tea on Stapylton Field.

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Queen Elizabeth’s School Headmaster Neil Enright met the King when he attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Enright was representing QE at the afternoon event, hosted by the King, accompanied by Queen Camilla. It was organised to ‘celebrate and recognise those working in Education and Skills’. Mr Enright was nominated to attend by Martin Russell, Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the London Borough of Barnet, and a former QE parent.

Mr Enright said: “It was an honour to represent my exceptional colleagues – present and past – at the garden party. It was particularly special to share a moment with His Majesty on the lawn when he made a slight detour from his route to the Royal Tea Tent.

“I had the opportunity to shake hands and tell him something about Queen Elizabeth’s School. He seemed delighted to know that The Duke of Gloucester had visited us in High Barnet during our year celebrating 450 years since our foundation. As we parted, the King generously wished the School a (belated) Happy Birthday!

“It was really good fun and I was very lucky to speak to the King. The weather was perfect, too!”

Every summer, the Sovereign holds three garden parties at Buckingham Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Having originally begun as a replacement for presentation parties attended by debutantes, the garden parties have evolved into a way of recognising and rewarding public service. They provide an opportunity for members of the Royal Family to meet people from all walks of life who have made a positive impact in their community.

The Headmaster thanked Mr Russell both for the nomination and for all that he and his family have contributed to support the School’s work in the past 23 years.

Mr Enright joined the Geography department at QE in September 2002. In September 2011, he was appointed the 40th Headmaster of the School. Before that appointment, he held positions as Deputy Headmaster, Assistant Headmaster, Head of Year and Head of Geography.

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