From the Headmaster

QE wins string of prestigious awards, including national State Secondary School of the Year

I am delighted to announce that Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, has won no fewer than five different Sunday Times awards, including the highly coveted national State Secondary School of the Year title.

The 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 also reveals that we have taken two other national awards – State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence and State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels – as well as two regional titles – State Secondary School of the Year in London and State Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence. (The link above provides access for those who have a subscription to The Sunday Times. The guide is available in print in a 28-page supplement on Sunday 7th December.) In addition, QE tops the Sunday Times’ State School Parent Power rankings, which combine weighted GCSE and A-level results.

By any measure, that is a splendid haul of awards and accolades!

Today’s success brings to four the number of times that Queen Elizabeth’s has won State Secondary School of the Year, the most recent occasion being in 2022. Academically, we are second to none. Notably, however, the State Secondary School of the Year award is based not only on academic results, but on a broader assessment of all that a school offers.

Our achievement today thus neatly demonstrates that it is not all about exam results here at QE. Instead, what goes on beyond the classroom goes hand in hand with the academic outcomes. Our extensive co-curricular programme, delivered through QE Flourish, is not in tension with our academic high standards; rather, it complements boys’ studies. Similarly, the broader QE experience encompasses QE Futures, our bespoke pastoral care, and the guidance that pupils receive from the QE Connect alumni network. All of this supports academic achievement and personal development, helping us to realise the boundless potential of our pupils.

I congratulate the boys, governors, my colleagues, parents, and Old Elizabethans of all generations – in fact, all those in our wide Elizabethan community who have played a part in this tremendous success.

With best wishes, Neil Enright Headmaster

“The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.

“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”

Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide