Living away from home is no hardship for students at Queen Ethelburga’s who aim to help boarders develop the life skills they’ll need on leaving school
Queen Ethelburga’s (QE) is set within 220 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside between Harrogate and York. Every boarding house is on-site, allowing students to roam the site and access all the facilities safely. The campus is secluded with 24/7 security so parents can be confident their children are safely looked after.
QE welcome boarding students from Year 3 to Year 13. At the heart of QE boarding there are three central characteristics; opportunity, individuality, and a caring community. Being a QE boarder gives students opportunities beyond the ordinary, whether that is in academic studies, the clubs they choose, the trips they attend or in the friends that they make, their experiences here will shape their life. The school strives to help their students develop the life skills they need to be the very best that they can be and to prepare them for their undoubtedly successful futures.
Children are cared for by a team of supportive staff who are skilled at helping to make boarding feel like home, promote independence, and who are separate to our academic staff. QE has won or been awarded finalist in a range of prestigious boarding awards including BSA Belonging and Inclusion (finalist, 2024), BSA Innovation in Boarding (won, 2022), TES Boarding School of the Year (finalist, 2022) and Muddy Stilettos’ Outstanding Pastoral Care (finalist, 2022).
All boarding students can take advantage of specialist academic support during ‘Power Hour’ and homework prep sessions to boost their understanding and knowledge of various topics. There are more than 150 extra-curricular activities onsite covering a wide range of sports, art and design specialisms, music, dance, drama, technology, life skills, and academic areas.
The hustle and bustle around campus makes the school feel like a town. Students have access to an activity centre, which is home to a cinema, climbing wall, a weekend fast-food café and a selection of board games and game consoles. They can also access the on-site medical centre, gym, swimming pool, uniform and essentials shop, tuck shop, coffee shop, 312-seat theatre, and plenty of outdoor space. By far the best benefit of boarding is having access to all the amazing school facilities outside of the normal school day including elite sport pitches, music practice rooms, dance studios and sports courts. There is plenty on offer at weekends too, including performing arts or creative arts academies, timetabled activities and exciting trips to local cities, towns and activity centres.
QE prides itself on the quality of its modern accommodation. Students in Years 6 to 13 have ensuite bedrooms kitted out with TVs, phones, desks and storage. They all have access to a modern, well-equipped common room where they can socialise and enjoy downtime. Sixth form students also have items like game consoles, coffee machines, ovens, kettles and washing machines whereas younger students have specialised dorms and common rooms designed for little people. They have chill-out spaces, a wellness room and study pods in addition to the communal open plan kitchen dining lounge space. Every young boarder can also ask for a house parent to read them a bedtime story and tuck them in at night.