Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate

Set in 220 acres of beautiful countryside between Harrogate and York, Queen Ethelburga's (QE) is an award‑winning day and boarding school (BSA Innovation, 2022) that welcomes girls and boys aged from three months to 19 years and boarders from Year 3. It is known nationally and globally for its consistently high‑ranking academic performance with QE College placing second nationally for A levels and 18th for all‑round Academic Performance. The QE Faculty school which offers modern BTEC qualifications as well as performance sport and performing art pathways climbed several places to rank seventh in The North for overall performance.

QE is a through school with many students beginning their QE journey in Chapter House Prep, King’s Magna Middle School or at the start of GCSE or A level study. Across all age groups, the Collegiate places its emphasis on growing students into resilient, caring, compassionate and confident adults with an ethos of ‘To be the best that I can with the gifts that I have’ underpinning everything.

QE takes pride in offering over 100 clubs onsite, making full use of its exceptional facilities with over 30 acres of elite grass and 3G artificial pitches, a 25 metre swimming pool, a 314‑seat professional theatre, and a new cricket pavilion. Health and fitness is central to student life. Students follow a sports programme with the core values of fair play, honesty and determination. All abilities are catered for, and students are encouraged to make the most of the fantastic opportunities on offer. QE has physical education teachers working alongside specialist sports coaches, many of whom are ex-professional sportspeople, which means there is no limit to the level students can train to.

Pupils can join our King’s Academy for Performing Arts, our Queen’s Academy for Creative Arts, our Performance Sport Pathway or our Performing Arts (ADA) programme. They can partake in academically focused clubs such as medicine, law, enterprise, politics, and psychology, and represent the Collegiate nationally in a variety of disciplines. We strive to offer the most enriching activities for our students, with large uptakes for our QE Motorsports and QE‑sports teams.

QE’s excellent pastoral team run a programme of activities and support to ensure student mental and physical health is a priority. The team are Muddy Stilettos Outstanding Pastoral Care Finalists and make sure they are available 24/7 to students. Our 2023 ISI inspection says that “Pupils feel that their opinions matter and that leaders are alert to their welfare needs, which promotes their self‑esteem.”

In addition to the pastoral team, the Collegiate has student buddies and peer leaders who show new students around, explain the school systems, introduce students to new people and help them to settle in. Trained peer mentors also offer one-to-one mentoring on academic progress, cultural understanding and day to day routines.  

A CEA‑accredited school, the Collegiate has a longstanding relationship with the Forces Community and offers discounts to CEA, non‑CEA and ex‑military families. We have our own Forces Club and Combined Cadet Force, and our specialist Forces Liaison Officers are trained in how to best support the 340 military children onsite.

QE has a boarding community unlike any other, a unique blend of cultures and nationalities, where friendships are formed that last a lifetime. QE prides itself on its quality accommodation. Students in Years 6 to 13 have ensuite bedrooms with TVs, desks and storage and every boarding house includes a modern, well-equipped common room for socialising and downtime. Sixth form students also have items like kettles and washing machines whereas younger students have specialised dorms and common rooms designed for little people. There are chill-out spaces, a wellness room and study pods in addition to a communal open plan kitchen dining space. At the heart of QE boarding there are three characteristics: opportunity, individuality, and a supportive community. Children are cared for by specialist staff who are separate to academic teachers and who promote independence. The aim for the whole student community is that QE feels like home.