How did Neil’s day at Queen Margaret’s School go?
Late last year, Neil visited Queen Margaret’s School (QM), an all-girls’ school in the village of Escrick, near York, offering the full 7-day-a-week boarding experience.
This lovely British boarding school is located in a former stately home, surrounded by 75 acres of beautifully maintained grounds. QM prides itself on being a small school, which it is in numbers, but in terms of the options, facilities, activities, accommodation and space afforded to the girls it feels like a much bigger school. This balance was recognised last year, when QM was awarded Independent Small School of the Year 2023.
A high proportion of students choose to board. 84% of the girls live in 4 boarding houses with a well thought through horizontal set up, from cosy dorms of 5-10 in the early years, through to single-room accommodation in a row of former village cottages in the Upper 6th, as a transition to leaving school and entering adult life.
There are extensive academic options, with 29 subjects offered at A Level, and girls at this British boarding school tend to do well. 2023 A Level results were 20% A*-A and 47% A*-B.
Arts
The spacious, well-equipped and purpose-built Art & DT centre allows QM to offer Fine Art, Photography, Textile Design and Graphic Communication at A Level. For those more interested in music and/or the performing arts, the Centenary building houses a handsome, 400-seat multi-functional chapel/main hall, alongside the fully equipped 250-seat Chapman theatre with orchestra pit, and a dance studio. There is a broad range of music ensembles, bands and orchestras, and 14 practice rooms, each with a piano. All permanent music staff are performing professionals, who can pass their knowledge onto aspiring girls.
Sports
Excellent sports facilities include all-weather tennis courts, an all-weather hockey astroturf, a large sports hall with well-appointed cardio-suite, an indoor 25m pool and an outdoor pool for those warm summer days.
Neil’s day at Queen Margaret’s School left him particularly struck by the scope of the options available to the students and the ambition of the staff in delivering them. Gina recommends it as a great British boarding school for girls seeking a traditional full-boarding experience in England.
Please do get in touch if you think this could be the one for your daughter, or if you’d like to know more about any of our other partner schools.
