WhattheGood SchoolGuidesays...
Principal
Since 2021, Dan Machin, principal of the schools that make up Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Yorkshire born and bred, he attended Read School and worked in retail before and after studying management at Hull PGCE in economics and business from Warwick. Started in state sector at Outwood Grange, Wakefield then business and ITpost at QE in 2005 Has worked in both pastoral and academic roles – ‘a bit of everything,’ he says, including vice principal then acting principal.
Longevity means he understands where QE has been and where it is going Is proud that ‘students get the best experience, have fun and get the most out of QE’. Recently merged the college and faculty structure, providing all students with greater choice and ‘bespoke options’ Outstanding results consequence of flexible programmes to suit needs, says head
Parents have positive view of him, with heads of schools the main points of contact Pupils say he is ‘nice, laid back and calm’ We found him amicable and grounded, easy to talk to Enjoys travel, F1 and cars, a symbiosis which manifests in road trips around Europe, taking in 25 countries in his beloved Mustang Manchester United scarf in office belies a passion some may feel misguided Strong family links in Yorkshire Bedside reading is currently Robert Galbraith, and his Spotify list is 'eclectic', favouring ‘car music’
Since 2010, prep (Chapter House) led by Karen Kilkenny BSc in Education Supports other schools with Early Years and primary Enthusiastic, she clearly knows all the children and oozes energy and commitment Parents told us the approach is ‘firm but fair’ and ‘forward thinking'
Since 2022, middle school (King’s Magna) led by Joseph Birchall Has expertise in student welfare and behaviour management Parents call him ‘a larger than life character’ with ‘his eye on the ball’ (not surprising, perhaps, given his BA in secondary PE)
Since 2022, head of college (years 10-13) is Lauren Blakeley, who started at QE in 2008 as teacher of English BA in English language and linguistics and PGCE. Expertise in pastoral care Described as ‘super, lovely’ by parents and a ‘good communicator’
Entrance
School claims to be ‘mildly selective’ in lower years – ‘the best fit for the child’ Into the nursery from 3 months From reception via taster day including English and maths tests; CAT4 ability test introduced from year 4 School also asks for report from previous school (which tend to be a mix of local state primaries and preps)
School ‘commits to taking children unless there is an issue we can’t cope with’, with fewer than 10 turned away each year ‘We commit to seeing students all the way through their education,’ adds school Next main entry point is year 7, when 26 out of the 60-strong year group are incomers Entry available until year 10
Around 80 join the sixth form – half from the UK (including 12-15 from state schools across North Yorkshire) and half from overseas (mainly China and Hong Kong) They need grade 7s at GCSE or equivalent in their chosen subjects, as well as doing CAT4 English and maths tests International students do inperson English assessments (with the school’s agent in their home country)
Exit
Up until year 11, any leavers mainly due to Forces relocation or international students returning to home country After GCSEs, around 10 per cent of year 11 head off, mainly for the same reasons Eighty-three per cent of sixth formers to university; two-thirds to Russell Group Current favourites: UCL, Manchester, King’s College London, Bath, Bristol and Durham Three medics in 2025 Sometimes a few to Oxbridge, though none in 2025 Popular courses: business, finance, economics, art, engineering and biological sciences Handful headed overseas in 2025 – to Chinese University Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Boston University and Georgia Tech Some gap years and high level apprenticeships
Parents and pupils describe the admissions process as ‘comfortable’ and ‘well managed’ No reports of stress or pressure and pupils we met said they didn’t prepare for it: ‘We didn’t realise we were being assessed’ Staff praised for sending children home ‘with a smile on their face’
In 2025, 90 per cent 9-7 at GCSE. At A level, 83 per cent A*/A (94 per cent A*-B).
‘They push hard but the balance is good. Student mental health is important to them.’
QE Parents
Teaching and Learning
In Chapter House (nursery to year 5), the curriculum includes French, Chinese, music, forest school and PE delivered by specialists alongside the core of English, maths, science and combined humanities course Setting in maths and English It is a modern facility including a sleep room and own food/tech space The facility has its own dining area, menu and chef while outside is a great play area with plenty to burn off young energy.
We enjoyed seeing reception children designing a trap and code to catch a monster, practising number and letter formation Softened lighting created a cosy and inviting space, with loads of stimulus and resources Science very ‘hands-on’ even at this stage, pupils told us - and ‘really fun’ Innovative teaching was evident in years 1 and 2, which were paired for number work – while Surface Pros were in use for biography writing on inventors by year 3.
Year 4 were busy making canopic jars in clay – teachers told us of access to the creative arts space in the main school for the kiln if required At the upper end of Chapter House’s age range, we saw eager year 5s working on light waves, cutting light sensitive paper into shapes Class sizes average 12 Support with reading in ‘chill and chat room’ where Carson, the reading dog listens attentively
King’s Magna is home to years 6-9 This section introduces specialist English and maths teaching, with MFLexpanded to include Spanish in year 6, German in year 7, then a choice of at least one in year 8 Creative arts, personal development, history, geography and computing are distinct subjects
Class sizes around 16 Year 9 choose four options out of robotics, business studies, prep for GCSE and stretch and challenge in science and maths (for highest fliers) Around 200 EALstudents across the whole school with around 20 in King’s Magna at any time – they can have reduced timetables, with a English language programme running across years 8 and 9 Setting across all subjects and pupils provide their own devices
Two periods a week dedicated to enrichment across, sports, academic or practical focus We dropped in on a maths class dividing fractions, enthusiastically taken on by 14 fully engaged children Corridors pressed into service for estimating and measuring workshop
The Collegiate, for years 10-13, no longer splits academic and vocational options between the college and the faculty, having been merged into one Students can do a fast track, oneyear GCSE course or take them over the traditional two years – and the 30 subjects on offer include level 2 BTECs in e-sports, music, media and sport, plus I/GCSEs in global perspectives, 3D design, creative media and psychology German, French and Spanish offered at GCSE, but no classics Also option of English language and literature or just language, with second language Cambridge B2 qualification Pathways mean pupils study between five and 12 courses Most popular are statistics, business, economics, geography and computing – all between 15 and 25 per group Greatest success in statistics and history, chemistry, biology, physics, art, 3D design and photography
Students have hands-on practicals across the curriculum, seen in science, food, music and drama Lessons in these, and other subjects, are calm, engaging and pupils are focussed and committed Teachers ‘encourage them’ to aspire to the school mission: ‘To be the best that I can be with the gifts that I have,’ they repeated to us without irony They don’t feel pressurised and say homework is reasonable, with a week’s deadline Parents also reference mission consistently: ‘They push hard but the balance is good ’ ‘Student mental health is important to them ’ Lots of support with clinics and access to staff on teams
Sixth Form
Thirty-five courses available Approximately half do A levels, a quarter do BTECs (available in applied law, applied science, art and design practice, business, computing, creative media, e-sports, marketing performing arts practice and sport) and the remaining quarter do a combination of both Those doing only A levels (usually four) also do an EPQ, with enrichment in year 12; those taking BTECs have a timetabled extra qualification in performance sports or creative subject English language support or a fifth A level possible, as appropriate Unusually, AS levels still on offer here taken by all apart from statistics, arts and PE, where not available Most popular: maths, further maths, physics, economics, chemistry, biology and computing High flying subjects: French, Spanish, English lit, maths and physics Average class size 10
Students benefit from impressive study and social areas (separate ones for prefects), available to all but prioritised for sixth formers and open to boarders at weekends Includes Muggles, a café with fast food, pool tables, table football, a piano and decorated with Superman on a motorbike There’s also a gaming suite and outdoor sporting facilities including bouldering wall and padel courts Leisure staff are on-hand to support Not sure how much studying goes on here, but alternatives with fewer distractions are available
Students benefit from impressive study and social areas (separate ones for prefects), available to all but prioritised for sixth formers and open to boarders at weekends.
Careers education begins early and by sixth form is extensive, inspiring futures events, employer speakers, army day, university trips and exhaustive support for UCAS, Oxbridge, medic and apprenticeship applications Plenty of opportunities for leadership skills including prefecting, ambassadors for academic, enrichment, wellbeing and welfare, buddying and heads of house
Careers education begins early and by sixth form is extensive.
Learning support and SEN
Thirteen per cent on the SEN register, mostly for cognition and learning needs, followed by SEMH; some communication and sensory Three EHCPs when we visited Mild to moderate needs supported mainly through in-class TA and clubs/prep support. Barely any removal from lessons, but there are some targeted one-to-ones (included in fees) Full-time SENCo has master's in SPLD (dyslexia), the NASENCO award and is a qualified access arrangements assessor Supported by four fully qualified teachers and five TAs Centrally located SEND space boasts several small classrooms, one-to-one spaces and a large lounge area for chilling Parents say support is ‘emotionally sensitive’. One spoke about a ‘huge turn around’ in child’s attitude and engagement as a result
Staff ‘put their money where their mouth is’ - ‘if they say they will do something, they do it’ Communication excellent from admissions, including for assessments and interventions, say parents Updates regular and better than previous experiences’, said a new parent The 100-acre site may present challenges for those with physical disabilities although staff say it is unusual not to be able to meet needs
EALspecialist has a master’s in linguistics with TESOL Useful considering 200 pupils have EALneeds
The arts and extracurricular
Music facility modern and well resourced, including four large teaching/rehearsal rooms, nine practice rooms and four music studios, including recording studio Around 80 students learn an instrument – everything from euphonium to French horn BTEC, A and AS level and GCSE on offer with numbers from three to 10 Pupils say ‘lots of chances to perform’ either solo or part of one of the numerous ensembles, from brass, show and jazz bands, orchestra to rock group Much-anticipated choral service at Ripon Cathedral – and there’s the Verse-Us competition We enjoyed student band regaling us with Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit
Performing Arts offers GCSE drama and dance along with A level dance and BTEC performing arts on offer, numbers between seven and 10 Four dance/drama studios, smaller Phoenix studio and loads of visiting troupes
LAMDA available with 34 takers recently and children can learn the full range of skills including backstage Professional standard 314seater King’s Theatre has hosted recent productions such as High School Musical, The Wiz and Cinderella, around 50 pupils involved normally, all complemented by dramas such as Shakespeare in Love and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead King’s Magna has own production also, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan recently Theatre also hosts professional productions
Music facility modern and well resourced, including four large teaching/rehearsal rooms, nine practice rooms and four music studios, including recording studio.
Creative arts and technology boast a suite of large studios and workshops Offers GCSE 3D design, art, craft and design, also A level, BTEC creative digital media production at level two and three Also A level fashion/textiles and photography Quite exhausting exploring the acres of creative wonders Gallery of exam work on display looked professional, both in content and the specialist display space. Dark room, drills and 3D design models in every direction Two staff for each class and extra ‘creative coaches’ working with students Year 6 timetabled and we saw year 5 visiting working on fish murals ITsuite for good measure and CAD/CAM as required
Around 200 clubs and activities, some charged as extra, eg golf and LAMDA. Cadets and DofE up to gold available Accounting sounded a bit like hard work for us, but robotics and film club more encouraging E-Sports stood out, after watching the runners-up at the school world championships hammering another UK school at Minecraft capture the flag A silent, ruthless efficiency about that lot Teacher more agitated than the team For a quieter life, there are wellbeing activities including knit and natter, mindfulness makes and snap and chat (talking about photography) Special mention to another first - motor sport club for sixth formers with their very own racing car Only school team in UK to compete against universities and colleges, with seven races a year at Brands Hatch, Silverstone etc Too young to drive so they have a lady Stig Students do the mechanics, with guidance, marketing, accounting etc Great success, awarded the team professional award
Trips start in year 6 Recent excursions include STEM visit to Kennedy space centre, Orlando; MFLto Madrid and Berlin; creative arts to Helsinki; general trip to Elephant nature park in Thailand; and skiing in Italy
Special mention to another first - motor sport club for sixth formers with their very own racing car. Only schoolteam in UK to compete against universities and colleges.
Sport
Most of the parents mentioned the sporting facilities as a major ‘pull factor’ Easy to see why, with 22 grass pitches and six astros, all floodlit by 101 columns, plus climbing wall and even a skate park Indoor Olympic pool, ice baths and endless pools In the fitness suite, a national weightlifter was warming up with a bar that we would need a crane to lift Seriously strong Physio suite with sports massage, dance studio, fencing room, spinning room, ten table tennis tables, martial arts dojo Oh and a sports hall with three courts and cricket nets
The ethos is not about winning but enjoyment Staff say they will try to fit in anything children want, and we believe them Pupils told us ‘they want the best for players’ and ‘experiencing new things’ is at core Main sports are football, netball, basketball and cricket, with rugby mainly at 7s Three teams will be put on to facilitate participation Coaches are ‘supportive and give up loads of time’ Impressive team of specialist coaches for most sports, including ex-pro footballers Parents confirmed there is ‘no pressure to play’ One ‘nonsporty’ child was ‘invited to play’ with social teams alongside more competitive in most sports
Staff say they will try to fit in anything children want, and we believe them. Pupils told us ‘they want the best for players’ and ‘experiencing new things’ is at core.
Boarders
Sixty per cent of pupils board, from year 3 Around 38 per cent of these are international from 29 countries including China, Africa, Hong Kong, USA and Middle East Service children account for 20 per cent Flex and weekend boarding only recently introduced so these are all full boarders
Houses based around the ‘village green’ area Juniors’ (years 3-6) house with smart, modern doubles or triples One late joiner said he was homesick originally but sharing with a fellow footballer really helped him settle: ‘We went to training together’ Facilities for years 7-9 and 10-13 are similar, with vertical houses encouraging mixing Sixth formers can opt for single room for an extra cost All have four house parents and a house master or mistress, all full time on-site, in addition to mentors from sixth form Rooms are ensuite and all houses have extensive facilities including two large common rooms, kitchen facilities, pool tables and laundry. Years 11 to 13 can use school’s buses to York on Saturdays Boarders enjoy the cinema, game console suite and fast food café Parents told us their boarding children were ‘loving it ‘and the staff are ‘excellent, communications are terrific’ Mobiles available until bedtime, then handed in
Ethos and Heritage
Originally a girls’ school in Harrogate, they relocated in 1991 to current site around Thorpe Underwood Hall, which is grade II listed with links to the Bronte family Wood lined corridors and suits of armour, in stark contrast to the rest of the site’s impressive, modern facilities; a massive investment Vast site, with five minutes of movement time built into timetable, but students say it's not enough for some treks
Full access to facilities at breaks, after school and weekends, which supports the ‘have fun’ aspect of head’s vision Shifting focus from academic priority to a more holistic approach to ensure ‘students get the best experience and get the most out of it’ Outcomes remain impressive in spite of merging pathways, or possibly because, according to head
Not a hint of a grumble from pupils They even approve of the food It could be the distraction of the 40 foot transformer in the dining hall, though Food we ate was very good and varied to suit needs of such a cosmopolitan clientele
Opportunities to volunteer on-site as buddy or mentor; also beach cleans, food banks and visits to local care homes Volunteer leaders and charity committee take the lead
Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline
Inclusive to the point that one parent told us her child ‘no longer sees colour’ and has friends from around the world
Cultural weeks and other celebrations of diversity, including LGBTQ+, complement the PHSE curriculum, dropdown days focussing on all issues and assemblies that ‘cover everything’, according to pupils Foods from around the globe too
Pastoral support via form tutors and heads of school, all ‘lovely people’, say parents and pupils, who call school ‘a comfortable place’ where you ‘get advice and support you need'
There is an open access wellbeing centre with a chill area and umpteen spaces for supportive chats Houses also have resources to support boarders Medical centre on-site, staffed by two fully qualified nurses and doctors available to book
Behaviour was immaculate during our visit Parents credit ‘very transparent’ code of conduct ‘Boundaries are very clear’ and ‘kids are very lovely and supportive of each other’ Any issues are ‘dealt with very quickly’, pupils inform us
Behaviour was immaculate during our visit. Parents credit ‘very transparent’ code of conduct. ‘Boundaries are very clear’ and ‘kids are very lovely and supportive of each other’.
Pupils and parents
Largest contingent is from China (15 per cent), followed by Hong Kong (nine per cent), Middle East (three per cent) and North America (two per cent) Smaller numbers from Russia, Eastern Europe, Oceania and others Day pupils from 40 mile radius, with nine buses ferrying from Northallerton, Roundhay, Wakefield and Ripley, among them Rail services from Harrogate and York also well used Pupils we met were polite, engaging and universally appreciative of their opportunities; satisfied customers, all
Many parents have no experience of private schools and felt the car park reflected the demographic, including ‘clapped out cars and work vans’although one parent admitted seeing a red Ferrari Like the children, ‘we all mix in together’, said one.
