Queen Margaret's School, York
Address
Escrick Park

York
,
North Yorkshire
,
YO19 6EU

England
Coordinates53°52′22″N 1°02′25″W / 53.87291°N 1.04040°W / 53.87291; -1.04040
Information
TypePrivate boarding school and day school
MottoFilia Regis (Daughter of the King)
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Established1901 (1901)
FounderWoodard Foundation[1]
Department for Education URN121749 Tables
Chairman of the Board of GovernorsTerry Burt
HeadSue Baillie
ChaplainRobert Owen
GenderGirls
Age11 to 18
Enrolment215
Houses6
Former pupilsOld Margaretians
Websitehttps://queenmargarets.com/

Established in 1901, Queen Margaret's (QM) is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18 set in 75 acres of parkland, six miles south of York. The Good Schools Guide says "QM is small but perfectly formed and has everything you could wish for." In 2023 QM won the award of Small Independent School of the Year.

History

Queen Margaret's School for Girls, Escrick Park, York, North Yorkshire
Queen Margaret's School

Queen Margaret's was established in 1901 in Scarborough mainly by Jane Leeke Latham of the Woodard Foundation.[2] Woodard are an organisation committed to the establishment of boarding schools where teaching would be firmly based on the Christian religion. The founding head was Agnes Body who arrived from Lincoln with some of her former staff. In 1913, when ill health made her retire, it was said that QM was known as "Miss Body's School".

Rosalind Fowler became the second Head and she supervised the evacuation of the School to the Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry during the First World War.[3] Following another evacuation to Castle Howard in the Second World War, QM finally came to Escrick Park, six miles south of York, in 1949,[4] where it remains today. Mrs Sue Baillie commenced her headship in September 2019, taking over from the previous Head Mrs Jessica Miles.

Today

Queen Margaret's School for Girls Logo
Queen Margaret's School for Girls Logo

QM serves the local, national and international market with its secondary school and sixth form provision. The school accommodates a mixture of full boarders, bespoke (flexi) boarders and day students.

QM is a relatively small school of circa 220 students, meaning it offers a high staff/student ratio, small class sizes, exceptional student support, individualised learning, and a plethora of sports and extra curricular activities. The school has its own stables on site offering riding lessons, livery, and husbandry.

In 2023, The Good Schools Guide 2023 summarised QM as "Lively, good facilities, great extra curricular offer, spot on pastoral care and a very committed set of staff; Queen Margaret’s is small but perfectly formed and has everything you could wish for, unless you crave anonymity and getting lost in the crowd."

QM won the Small Independent School of the Year award in 2023, and was awarded the Gold standard accreditation of the School Mental Health Award by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.

Tatler Schools Guide 2011 stated: "QM is one of those all-girls country boarding schools that is quietly doing great things. Girls are playing lacrosse for the England under-19s, representing Great Britain at skiing, getting ace grades at A-level, performing for the National Youth Theatre and winning places at the London Contemporary Dance School."[5]

Queen Margaret's School Crest
Queen Margaret's School Crest

Awards

Small Independent School of the Year

In 2023 Queen Margaret’s School for Girls was named ‘Small Independent School of the Year’ by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards, beating off both local and national competition.

The Independent Schools of the Year Awards are the sector’s leading awards programme and receive hundreds of nominations from the best schools across the UK. Despite strong representation from other schools in York, Queen Margaret’s was the only North Yorkshire school to win an award.

The school won thanks to its personal tutoring system for each student, the opening of our brand-new Sixth Form study centre, its bespoke boarding arrangements and because it recently achieved a gold mental health accreditation.

Head, Sue Baillie, said “We are delighted to win this award as it recognises the truly unique nature of QM and the transformational impact it has on our students. In our small school we have been able to build a very special community spirit which underpins our success. We know our students well, we care about their welfare, and we support their ambitions. They never get lost in the crowd.” [6]

Gold standard School Mental Health Award

In 2023, Queen Margaret's achieved the Gold standard School Mental Health Award, delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.

QM provides a wide range of activities to boost the wellbeing of pupils and staff; mindfulness, meditation and focus days which put mental health and wellbeing at the forefront are commonplace in the timetable. Each year group has student Wellbeing Champions who take the lead in encouraging positive mental health amongst their peers. The school also invites external speakers to run sessions for parents, ensuring that the whole school community is factored into its mental health strategy.

Tania Davidson, Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Queen Margaret’s School for Girls said: “Achieving the Gold Status School Mental Health Award has recognised QM’s ability to weave mental health and wellbeing into every aspect of school life. A critical part of the Award is ensuring that mental health is fully embedded through policy and strategic planning”.

Mrs Davidson added: “A key part of working towards the award was working closely with our Deputy Head Girl (Wellbeing) and the student-led Wellbeing Council to ensure wellbeing is ingrained into everything we do, from the pupils’ perspective. We have truly been able to put our pupils’ wellbeing at the centre of our practice.” [7]

Best Independent School for Student Wellbeing

In 2021 Queen Margaret’s was named as the winner in the Student Wellbeing category of the Independent Schools of The Year (ISOTY) Awards 2021, held by the Independent School Parent magazine. The award was chaired by Dr Helen Wright, International Education Adviser and past Vice Chair of the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Dr Wright commented, "As we navigate our way through the challenges of the pandemic, I hope that the awards will provide schools an opportunity to take stock of all they have achieved in 2020-21 – often against the odds – and celebrate the amazing student experience they have continued to be able to provide... Great schools believe in their students’ ability to grow and develop and become the best of themselves. The UK’s independent schools are vibrant exciting places which, as the past year has demonstrated, are constantly evolving to respond to the needs of their individual students. These highly-regarded awards recognise and celebrate the amazing experiences and opportunities for students in independent schools across the UK and British schools overseas."[8]

Performing Arts School of the Year

In 2019 Queen Margaret's was shortlisted in the ‘Performing Arts School of the Year’ category in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2019. The Boarding Schools' Association noted, "QM has been shortlisted based on its ability to focus on girls’ individual talents as well as create group performances of the calibre and breadth you’d usually see in a much larger school. Recent individual successes include the School’s Head Girl winning the Ripon Cathedral Competition to promote new sacred music and a Year III violinist being invited to join the National Children’s Orchestra. Meanwhile, 45 girls were invited to perform in front of 1000 guests as the opening act at November’s White Rose Awards.The Escrick school has also been recognised for breaking down boundaries and proving that there is no area of Performing Arts that girls should not explore. Students adopt traditionally male roles both on and off stage - the backstage crew for their recent production of Blue Stockings was led seamlessly by an Upper Sixth girl. What’s more, QM has recently launched a Music Technology A Level challenging the issue that, in the industry, males outnumber females 5 to 1." [9]

Boarding Innovation Award

In 2018 Queen Margaret's was crowned winner of the Boarding Innovation Award at the Boarding Schools' Association Achievement Awards 2018. The Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) commented, "QM’s ‘Community Weekends’ have been recognised by the BSA as an outstanding example of boarding innovation. Introduced in September 2017, they were developed to stimulate further a thriving weekend life with the girls themselves taking charge and leading their organisation. With 12 Community Weekends held every year, each one is led by one of the School’s six vertical houses or other girl-led groups such as the International Council.As the only all girls’ full boarding school in the North of England, one of QM’s great strengths is its thriving boarding life which ensures full integration across the years. Girls take full responsibility for Community Weekends, consulting with all year groups to devise themes and content, which gives the girls the opportunity to develop essential soft skills such as communication, leadership and negotiation." [10]

Best School Food Award

In 2015 Queen Margaret’s was named as the winner of the Best School Food award by Tatler magazine.[11] The award recognised excellence in produce, menu ideas, presentation and taste.

Exam Results

The pass rate at A Level in 2021 was 100% and 47% of all grades were at A*, with 78% at A*-A (nationally that figure was 44%).

The pass rate at GCSE in 2021 was 100%. One third (33%) of all GCSE results were at grade 9 and two thirds (67%) were at grades 9-7.

"The results provide a fantastic foundation for the next stage of each girl’s educational journey and demonstrate that QM girls are ready to 'take on the world'."[12]

Inspection

A 2019 inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded Queen Margaret's its highest 'Excellent' rating across all categories inspected.[13]

The report notes that “pupils develop outstanding study skills during their time at the School”, and how “boarding makes a very positive contribution to pupils’ overall academic success”.

Also noted was the personalised learning and development, where “the school does not expect them to fit a particular mould, but that they have the freedom to ‘find their own niche’ and flourish as individuals”.

The report also acknowledges the strong sense of community which is fostered at QM. It reinforces how seriously the older girls take their responsibility of acting as role models to the younger ones – the supportive roles they adopt often develop into lifelong friendships.[14]

Dance

The School offers individual and group lessons in ballet, tap, hip-hop, contemporary and modern dance.

Music

Music plays an important role in life at QM with 45% of girls learning at least one instrument and over a quarter of those girls learning more than one instrument.

Sport

Sports facilities include an all-weather Astroturf, a sports hall, a competition-standard indoor swimming pool and a recreational outdoor pool, all-weather tennis courts, indoor squash courts, and a riding school adjacent to the main school campus. Main winter activities include: lacrosse, cross country, hockey, and netball. Summer sports include: athletics, cricket and rounders. Badminton, tennis, and squash are played at all levels.

Houses

Queen Margaret's has horizontal boarding houses for boarding, and vertical houses across all ages.

There are six vertical houses: Garry, Pitlochry, Duncan, QM Hall, School and St Aidan's. Each pupil and teacher is assigned to one of the houses and each house is run by a teacher as Head of House; two Upper Sixth girls are chosen to be House Captain and Deputy House Captain, and two or three Fourth Year (Year 10) girls are chosen as House Monitors. Inter-house competitions include those for sport, cookery and music.

Boarding

Around 80% of pupils are boarders. They are assigned to a boarding house based on year group and age. Each boarding house is supervised by a housemaster or housemistress who is assisted by the Head of Year.[15]

Current Boarding House Structure 2023

  • Warwick House (Years 7–10, QM's Years I - IV)
    • Scarborough Wing: Years I-III. Years I and II share dorms together and have their own dedicated common room. Year III girls have their own dorms and a dedicated common room.
    • Atholl Wing: Year IV. Students share dorms as a year group and also have a dedicated common room.
  • Winifred Holtby House, also known as "Winnie's" (Year 10, QM's Year IV)
  • Cloisters (Year 12, QM's LVI Lower Sixth)
  • The Cottages (Year 13, QM's UVI Upper Sixth)

Former Boarding House Structure < 2023

  • Red House (Years 7–8, QM's Years I & II)
  • Atholl House (Years 9-10, QM's Year III-IV)
  • Winifred Holtby House, also known as "Winnie's" (Year 10, QM's Year IV)
  • Cloisters (Year 12, QM's LVI Lower Sixth)
  • The Cottages (Year 13, QM's UVI Upper Sixth)

Notable former pupils

See also Category:People educated at Queen Margaret's School, York

Heads

The Heads of Queen Margaret's are as follows:
  • Agnes Body (1901–1913)[3]
  • Rosalind Fowler (1913–1928)
  • Mildred Burella-Taylor (1928–1934)
  • Lily Parsons (1934–1938)
  • Joyce Brown (1938–1960)
  • Barbara Snape (1960–1980)
  • Pat Valentine (1980–1983)
  • Colin McGarrigle (1983–1992)
  • Geoffrey Chapman (1993–2009)
  • Paul Silverwood (2009–2014)
  • Carole Cameron, Acting Head (2014–2015)
  • Jessica Miles (2015–2019)
  • Sue Baillie (2019– )

Arms

Coat of arms of Queen Margaret's School, York
Crest
On a wreath Or Gules Azure Argent Aules and Azure out of a chaplet of roses Argent barbed and seeded Proper a demi lion rampant Gules gorged with a collar gemel flory counterflory Or supporting a key in bend Gold.
Escutcheon
Azure on a cross formy between four crested tits Or a rose Argent barbed and seeded Proper on a chief Ermine an ancient crown Gold.
Motto
Filia Regis [16]

References

  1. ↑ Independent Schools Yearbook 2011-2012. The 'Bible' for information on Independent Schools
  2. ↑ Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. ref:odnb/51785. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/51785. Retrieved 5 November 2022. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. 1 2 Margaret A. E. Hammer, ‘Body, (Mary) Agnes (1866–1952)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 23 January 2017
  4. ↑ J.P.G. Taylor Queen Margaret's School 1901–2001 Originally printed 2001, reprinted with additions 2006
  5. ↑ "School Guide 2011". Tatler.
  6. ↑ Queen Margaret's School. "Queen Margaret's | Small Independent School of the Year". Queen Margaret's School.
  7. ↑ "School Mental Health Gold Award | Queen Margaret's". Queen Margarets. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "About". www.independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Queen Margaret's Shortlisted as Performing Arts School of the Year". Boarding Schools' Association.
  10. ↑ "Queen Margaret's scoops National Boarding Schools Award". Boarding Schools' Association.
  11. ↑ "Tatler Schools Awards 2015 - the winners". Tatler. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "2021 Academic Results". Queen Margaret's School for Girls.
  13. ↑ "Independent Schools Inspectorate - Queen Margaret's School".
  14. ↑ "Independent Schools Inspectorate - Queen Margaret's School Profile and Reports".
  15. ↑ Boarding
  16. ↑ "Queen Margaret's School". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
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