Six QE Year 12 pupils have won Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards after being nominated by younger pupils at the School for showing exceptional leadership.
Mr Petchey, a London entrepreneur and philanthropist, set up the awards for schools throughout London and Essex to help young people “raise their aspirations, believe in themselves and make a contribution to their society”.
QE Extra-Curricular Enrichment Tutor Martin Bassett-Jones said: “We value these awards because through them we are able to celebrate and reward the outstanding leadership that our Sixth-Formers give to their peers in younger years. It is especially valuable that the nominations are made by the younger boys themselves.”
Pupils made their nominations online at the eQE Learning area, with one for each month from January to June. They were asked to give their reasons for each nomination.
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As a gold-level participant in the awards, QE is able to offer nine awards each year – these six, plus up to three more in the autumn. Each award-winner receives £200 to spend on items that benefit other people.
QE first took part in the awards scheme during the autumn of 2014, when Alex Chinweze was the School’s inaugural winner, taking the award for November.
After compiling and evaluating the nominations and checking with QE’s Senior Leadership Team, Mr Bassett-Jones announced the latest winners and presented them with their award certificates. The names of the winners and the reasons given for each nomination are listed below:
- January: Sahil Handa – “Outstanding coach captain, peer mentor, drama and ‘lifestyle coach’. He has made a significant impact on younger and less robust pupils’ development, both physically and mentally, through his support in the above capacities.
- February: Matthew Norman – “Outstanding in Combined Cadet Force leadership and as House Captain; boys speak of him as being extremely helpful whilst maintaining high CCF discipline. He breaks in younger boys easily and is constructive when mistakes are made. He has also been looked up to as a House Captain, charity fundraiser and sports leader.
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March: Shiras Patel – “Outstanding coach captain, peer mentor and performing arts supporter. Shiras has been extremely generous with his time in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, largely behind the scenes but very visible to those he works with.”
- April: Akhil Shah – “An inspirational cellist who has given up much of his time helping out with junior strings and many other groups in the Music department. Not only is he a really kind person, but he is also an amazing representative for Underne House.”
- May: Sam Carling – “Sam has been an inspirational House Captain that younger boys look up to, as he 'helps people in trouble'. He has given freely of his time to encourage participation in charity events and sports. His achievements in water polo, representing GB, are encouraging others to participate in this sport.”
- June: Prahlad Das Patel – “For being a friendly face and role model for younger boys on the coach to and from School. Someone to whom they could turn for advice to help them with the big decisions at key points in School life. A real-life peer mentor.”
All six were invited to attend the award ceremony at The Arts Depot, Finchley, but only Shiras was able to be there. He is pictured carrying his Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards medal with the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Mark Shooter.