Junior Awards: Celebrating individual excellence

Headmaster John Marincowitz gave the audience an insight into the secret of QE prizewinners’ success at the School’s Junior Awards Day. “We recognise that achievement at this level is not simply a matter of natural gift or talent; it is also the product of disciplined, sustained effort,” said Dr Marincowitz.

A total of 113 prizes were awarded during the event in the School Hall, including Junior Awards for Years 7-9 as well as Endowed Prizes and Special Awards.

In his speech, the Headmaster referred to the collective success of the School earlier this year when OFSTED inspectors judged it to be ‘outstanding’ against all 26 of their criteria. It thus became unique as the only school to have achieved four consecutive ‘outstanding’ OFSTED reports covering the 14 years since 1994. Similarly, he mentioned The Sunday Times’ recent naming of Queen Elizabeth’s School as State School of the Year.

“By contrast, our focus this afternoon is on those individual junior boys whose academic and extra-curricular achievements have been identified as truly outstanding in the context where standards are exceptionally high,” he said. “We celebrate their excellence in the humanities and sciences, in the performing and visual arts, sports and in leadership and commitment in the service of others.”

Guest of honour at the Awards Day was Stephen McCaffrey, an Old Elizabethan (1994-2001) who has achieved success as a lawyer, working in criminal defence and extradition law for the Magistrates and Crown Court. He has been appointed as a Researcher to a defence team at the Sierra Leone War Crimes Tribunal in the Special Court of Sierra Leone – an appointment that, coming so early in his year, represents a tribute to his ability.

Mr McCaffrey took a full part in School life during his seven years at QE, playing rugby at both House and School level. A talented musician, he played in the String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra with such distinction that he became lead viola when in the Sixth Form.

“For many years now, Stephen and his family have been loyal and staunch supporters of the School and it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege for us to welcome him here today,” Dr Marincowitz added.

The Awards Day featured a full programme of music, beginning with a Processional composed and directed by Director of Music Kieron Howe, with Nathanael Jackson playing the trombone and Ryan Murphy on the baritone saxophone.

Kazuki Kino performed The Buccaneer, from Sir Malcolm Arnold’s set of Piano Pieces. Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna’s Kathanakuthukalam, a composition of South Indian music for the carnatic (bamboo) flute, was played by Praveen Prathapan. Another piano composition, Loeillet’s Giga, was then performed by Vincent Cheung, before Mr Howe’s Recessional No. 5, with Nathanael Jackson on trombone again and Jonathan Bradshaw on trumpet, brought the proceedings to a conclusion.

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