The outstanding achievement of boys whose successes mark them out even in the high-achieving culture of Queen Elizabeth’s School were publicly recognised and celebrated at the Senior Awards evening.
Some 120 prizes for both academic and extra-curricular achievement were awarded at the event, which is one of the academic highlights of QE’s year.
They were presented to the boys from Years 10 and 11 and from the Sixth Form by the Guest of Honour, Professor Christopher Higgins, Vice Chancellor and Warden of the University of Durham.
Welcoming him and the other guests to the ceremony in the School Hall, the Headmaster, John Marincowitz, said: “Truly outstanding achievements warrant a measure and those who have distinguished themselves in a context where standards are generally very high are truly exceptional and worthy of our celebration. Such is the talent and commitment of the young men whom we celebrate tonight.”
Dr Marincowitz highlighted the public examination successes of QE boys, who typically achieve 10A*s at GCSE and three A grades at A Level – sufficient to place them consistently in the top 5% of their age group nationally. A total of 37 boys recently took up Oxbridge places.
However, Dr Marincowitz added that QE boys enjoy a “wide and rich educational diet,” which is by no means solely focused on examination performance. “Indeed, some of the best things in education are derived from enriching experiences that lie beyond the confines of examination board syllabuses and in all manner of activities that take place outside the classroom.”
Musical divertissements during the evening were provided by the School’s musicians, led by the Director of Music, Kieron Howe. The programme covered a wide range of styles, from JS Bach’s Prelude from the Sonata in C Major (featuring cellist Benjamin Yadin) to Gershwin’s The Man I Love, with Jin-Min Yuan at the piano. The processional and recessional were both compositions by Mr Howe. For both of these, Kalil Rouse played the trumpet and Nathanael Jackson played the trombone, with Mr Howe directing and also playing the trombone himself.