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This summer’s QE Sports Day saw record numbers of boys and staff taking part and impressive individual and team performances.

It also provided a high point on which to end the year, the Headmaster said. During the academic year, the School has won accolades in a wide number of subjects and extra-curricular areas, including Science, Mathematics, Art, Music, Economics, Engineering, Chess and Sport.

Recently, the School’s athletes recorded a number of successes at the Barnet Championships at the Allianz Stadium. The following boys triumphed over competitors from schools across the borough to be crowned Barnet Champions: in Year 7, Patrick Owen in the 1,500 and Yusuf Maududi in the long jump; in Year 8, Liam Hagley at 800m and Rakul Sri in the javelin, and in Year 10, Eddie Revell at 1,500m.

On Sports Day, these same athletes produced exceptional performances, with Patrick Owen recording victories in the 1,500m in both the Year 7 & 8 competitions and also the 800m. Yusuf Maududi won the 100m, 200m and long jump events, whilst Liam Hagley and Rakul Sri won the 800m and 100m and javelin respectively. Eddie Revell came first in the 1,500m. Other standout individual efforts included Luke Van Turenhout, of Year 9, who won the 300m and high jump, and Daniel Santosh, also of Year 9, who won the 1,500m and came second in the 800m. Eben Sarpong, of Year 10, won the 100m despite a season dogged by a hamstring injury which has prevented him from running to his true potential.

“I must congratulate the staff and boys for their contributions, and, of course, the winning House, Broughton, to whom I presented the cup,” said the Headmaster, Neil Enright. “It was a thoroughly enjoyable day in the blazing sunshine and it was pleasant to see the boys competing against each other but also working with each other in team events. The level of support was excellent and the 15 Sports Leaders, along with many more prefects, did an excellent job in organising events and motivating pupils throughout the day.”

Several new events were introduced this year, with the tug of war, Eton fives, table tennis and triathlon competitions adding new excitement to the day. The QE Mile was won, for the first time since its inception five years ago, by the staff team. The event is contended for by eight teams – one from each of the six School Houses, a staff team and a team made up from the Sixth Form boys working towards their Community Sports Leadership Award. Each team has 16 members, who each run 100m; the House teams comprise four boys from each of Years 7 to 10.

“I really think it was the best Sports Day that we have had since the development of the new programme several years ago,” said PE teacher and Sports Day Organiser, Nicholas Bird. “More staff than ever contributed towards scoring, measuring and general supporting of events than ever before. The number of boys who took part was amazing!”

Other events included the rowing relay. The rowing machines were moved to the side of the athletics track and teams of boys rowed a total of 110 kms during the two-hour race. The rowing relay, along with events such as the 4x400m running relay, enabled pupils from all years to work together for the good of their House.

Broughton House won both the Year 7 & 8 Competitions, contributing to its overall victory, whilst Pearce’s Year 9 team came out on top in the tug of war. The highest points total scored by an individual form was 174 – a total achieved by both 8B and 9U.

Year 7 boys faced a broad spectrum of challenges in this year’s House Mathematics competition. The event formed part of the department’s enrichment and extension programme, and was inspired by the UKMT Team Maths Challenge – a national competition for pupils in Year 8 upwards.

Stapylton took first prize after amassing 598 points; Harrisons’ scored 580 to secure second place, ahead of Underne in third with 562. Harrisons’ won the separate competition to create a poster on the theme of What is Mathematics?

“The boys took part in a carousel of activities,” said Assistant Head of Mathematics Wendy Fung. “Some involved more familiar mathematical problem-solving activities, such as cross numbers [similar to crosswords, but with numbers] and others were more practical, such as origami and tangrams [puzzles consisting of seven flat shapes].  The boys clearly enjoyed themselves using their Maths skills, often under time pressure, to aid their own House whilst trying to beat the others.”

After these activities, all the teams took part in a relay which required both speed of movement about the room and speed in solving Mathematics problems.

Old Elizabethan Tom Aggar (1995-2002) regained his best form to claim victory at the World Cup regatta at Eton Dorney.

In the para-rowing arms and shoulders single sculls, he finished six seconds ahead of the 2012 Russian bronze medallist, Aleksey Chuvashev, who came in second, ahead of Tom’s training partner and fellow Briton, Andy Houghton.

Tom has admitted to being “devastated” by his inability to retain his Beijing Paralympic title last year at Eton Dorney, but has regained his winning ways in 2013 with a victory in Italy as well as this most recent triumph. His next target is the World Championships in South Korea in August.

"I showed good strength and put together a good race and I'm really pleased with the result," he told British Rowing after the race at Eton Dorney, but said conditions had been tough. "About halfway through, I noticed I was edging through and after that I felt confident and strong. Last year I underperformed and it is special to win here after the disappointment of last year and it makes up for it a little."

Tom and his wife, Vicky, became parents in 2013 with the birth of their son, Daniel.

Professionals from disciplines including Law, Management Consultancy, the RAF and Creative Media were on hand to advise Year 9 pupils during a special careers day.

The boys had been asked to consider what they thought they might be interested in,but were also allocated to a group led by someone from an industry in which they hadn’t expressed an interest.

“We believe it is helpful for boys to start thinking about possible careers at an early stage, so this day is aimed at boys as they prepare to start their GCSE studies, to help them to clarify their thoughts,” said organiser Dr Sarah Westcott, Head of Pupil Progression. “We were particularly keen to challenge their preconceptions and encourage them to think more broadly about how they could employ their talents in a range of professions.”

Pupils were faced with real-life scenarios from each of the industries represented and participated in a number of activities designed to demonstrate the skills each type of career requires. These activities included constructing scrap towers or rockets.

This year’s Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s main social event had a Latin theme running through both the menu and entertainment.

Entitled Viva la Fiesta, the evening included a three-course dinner of authentic South American dishes, as well as Latin American music and dance.

“The evening was very well attended and the occasion was enjoyed by all,” said Headmaster Neil Enright. “We value very much the contribution FQE make to the life of the School.”

The guests were welcomed by Mariachi El Mexicano, a band based in the UK who perform traditional music, dressed in Mexican attire. 

Choices for starters included mojo potatoes, bean dip, gazpacho and chorizo, eaten to the accompaniment of Conjunto Sabroso, a London-based band specialising in salsa.

The main course included choices of traditional or vegetarian chilli and chicken or vegetable empanadas, served with taco boat shells, sour cream and guacamole, during which Mariachi El Mexicano played again.

Following the main course, guests were treated to a performance by dancers from the Dream of Dance School, which led in to a dance session for the guests, accompanied by Conjunto Sabroso.

Deserts included chocolate chilli mouse, mango fool and pineapple platters. A further opportunity to dance followed on to round off the evening.

Culture and religion were the focus of a Year 7 trip to the Museum of London. Thirty boys toured the galleries, which cover the history of London from pre-Roman times through to the modern day.

“The boys enjoyed the opportunity to discover what London was like during the Pre-historic, Ancient, Mediæval, Early Modern and Modern periods,” said History teacher Kristina Lewis, who organised the trip. “They were told to choose an object to illustrate one key feature of any of these periods and selected a number of interesting artefacts, including mediæval knives. They were also asked to describe and explain the item’s significance and its value to the museum.”

In addition to the permanent galleries there were a number of exhibitions, including one on the history of bicycles in London and another on royal children.

“We were able to sit outside for lunch – directly next to the remaining parts of the Wall of London, construction of which was started in the 1st Century. It was a very enjoyable day, which combined educational opportunities with fun!” added Miss Lewis.