From Queen Camilla to Queen Elizabeth’s! A “wonderful” Senior Awards Ceremony marks event’s 150th anniversary

Having spent the day with Her Majesty the Queen, the Chancellor of Birmingham University headed to QE, where she gave an inspiring speech during a memorable Senior Awards Ceremony.

Dr Sandie Okoro was guest of honour at the School’s showpiece annual celebration of excellence for Years 10–12.

She came to Barnet from St James’s Palace, after being invited there in her role as Chair of the Women of the World Foundation for an event linked to International Women’s Day.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This year’s Senior Awards was a wonderful night: we were thrilled to welcome Dr Okoro, who was a hugely engaging and inspiring speaker, bringing real energy to the role.

“Emphasising the central importance of the arts and of remembering human values and human judgment in the context of technological change, she encouraged our senior pupils to be part of hopeful change and to take pride in being the first – having broken numerous glass ceilings herself.

“She was very generous with her time, too, staying to speak with many families and other guests at the reception after the ceremony in our Main Hall.

“My congratulations go to all this year’s award-winners, whose recognition was very well deserved.”

Dr Okoro was installed as the eighth Chancellor of the University of Birmingham in 2024. A high-profile equality rights champion, she is the first female Chancellor of Birmingham since the university was established in 1900.

She has had a distinguished career as a highly respected lawyer, holding senior positions with the World Bank Group, HSBC Global Asset Management, Barings and Schroder. Most recently, she served for almost three years as Group General Counsel of Standard Chartered Bank.

Reflecting afterwards on a “wonderfully joyful evening”, Dr Okoro had a final message for the prize-winners: “Remember, your education is the one thing no one can ever take away from you.”

During the ceremony, around 80 prizes were presented to the boys, watched by their parents, teachers and other guests including Councillor Edith David (Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet) and Martin Russell MBE (Representative Deputy Lieutenant). They were given for their academic studies, for their contributions to School life, and for co-curricular activities, such as music, chess and QE’s Combined Cadet Force.

The evening was punctuated by musical performances, including those in the interludes after the prize-giving for each of the three year-groups.  These were given by three music prize-winners: Year 10 violinist Jeremy Shi (playing Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances), Year 11 pupil Jamie Lam (also a violinist, playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre) and Year 12 vocalist Rishi Watsalaya (Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Vagabond).

“All the music was outstanding, but particularly the three interludes,” said Mr Enright.

In his speech, the Headmaster pointed out to the boys that the School’s first Speech Day took place in 1876: “So tonight, in addition to honouring your achievements, we mark a 150‑year tradition of recognising hard work, talent, and boundless potential.”

He went on to highlight the importance of, and connections between, empathy and reading: “Empathy is rarely built by scrolling, but it is often built by reading. Reading widely allows us to inhabit the perspectives, experiences, and inner lives of others… To be clear: digital media, visual storytelling, podcasts, and AI all have their place and their value. Concision is an art. Technology is a tool. But the ability to read deeply, think critically, and empathise with others is a human skill. A timeless skill. A leadership skill.

“And we aspire for you to be the leaders of your generation in your chosen fields.”

After the ceremony, refreshments were served by volunteers from The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s (“I must say the food was excellent, too,” said Dr Okoro).

There was also an opportunity for prize-winners to have their photograph taken in the Shearly Hall in front of a newly purchased QE backdrop.

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