On Friday 15 November we welcomed Nick Padgett (OS 02) back to QEGS as our guest of honour at Founders Day and our Senior School Prize Giving. 

Nick's mother Kath was a teacher at the Junior School, and he attended QEGS from 1988 until 2002, before going on to study International Business, Finance and Economics at the University of Manchester, where he also had the opportunity to be an intern at the European Parliament in the summer of 2004. 

After leaving university, he worked for EY-Parthenon for just over 12 years. Since 2017, Nick has worked at McKinsey & Co, where he is a Partner and Leader of the Private Equity Practice for UK, Ireland & Israel, supporting clients on strategy, transactions and implementation with a focus on technology companies. 

Nick's inspiring speech looked back at six 'hindsight's' from his time at QEGS, with some amazing stories and insights, including the time he was suspended! He demonstrated how you can carve out a great future with some hard work, and how, along with a bit of luck you can tread the best path for you. 

The ceremony also showcased the breadth of success achieved by QEGS pupils over the past academic year. Academic excellence was a key focus, with 53% of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7 (equivalent to A*/A) and a high proportion of A-Level pupils attaining A*-B grades. These results were complemented by outstanding individual performances, with many pupils surpassing expectations through their dedication and hard work.