What is Queen Ethelburga's College like?

Set in a truly expansive campus in rural North Yorkshire, Queen Ethelburga’s has proven something of a disruptor over the past couple of decades.

It moved to its current site in the early 90s and has since invested heavily in facilities including a full-size theatre, modern boarding blocks, and its own sports village. The school feels more modern, international, and less-formal in comparison to some of its competitors, and you can sense a different atmosphere to that found at a more traditional school.

A major distinguishing feature of Queen Ethelburga’s is that its senior school is technically split into two senior schools: The “College” is for the more academically high-performing, and the “Faculty” caters for those who may benefit from less intense pressure and more support.

Is Queen Ethelburga's a good school?

As mentioned above, it is effectively a good two schools. Possibly the best thing about this arrangement is that an individual student can be offered the most appropriate intensity and environment for their studies. Queen Ethelburga’s can stretch the academically gifted, and support those who require it. It therefore is a school which has something for everyone.

IS it hard to get into Queen Ethelburga's?

Yes and no. The College is academically selective, though arguably not as selective as some of the big guns which also inhabit the upper reaches of the exam league tables. The Faculty, of course, is much less selective on academic ability, and entrance tests are considered more of a needs assessment.

What is boarding at Queen Ethelburga’s like?

Definitely at the more luxurious end of the scale. Everything is modern, purpose built, and it is clear that a lot of thought has gone into making the boarding houses as homely and relaxing as possible.

An added bonus is that the majority of students at QE board. A great mix of international and domestic students, coupled with the boarding houses’ layouts, creates something of an Olympic village feel to life there.

Curriculum and exam results

Queen Ethelburga’s is unconventional in that it offers two separate pathways from Year 10 (age 14+). The academic high fliers are funnelled into the “College” where the focus is on traditional academic subjects leading to the top universities. Students who don’t quite make the cut join the “Faculty” which combines more vocational courses with the traditional academic subjects. The Faculty has one of the widest and most flexible BTEC provisions in the UK independent school sector.

One of the inevitable outcomes of this set up is that academic results in the academically selective College outstrip those achieved in the Faculty. The College’s results usually place them at or near the top of the regional league tables, causing some consternation amongst local competitor schools. Regardless, this model undoubtedly benefits students by giving them the most appropriate platform to study at whatever level and pace suits them best.