Queen Margaret's School, York

Queen Margaret's School, York
Established 1901
Type Independent day and boarding school
Religion Church of England
Headmaster Paul Silverwood
Chaplain Robert Owen
Founder Agnes Body
Location Escrick Park
York
North Yorkshire
YO19 6EU
England Coordinates: 53°52′22″N 1°02′25″W / 53.87291°N 1.04040°W
DfE number 815/6035
DfE URN 121749 Tables
Students 300
Gender Girls
Ages 11–18
Houses 6
Former pupils Old Margaretians
Website Queen Margaret's, York

Queen Margaret's, York is an independent day and boarding school for girls age 11–18 in Escrick Park near York, England. The school was named after Queen Margaret the Queen of Scotland from c.1070–1093.

History

QM was established in Scarborough by the Woodard Foundation, an organisation committed to the establishment of boarding schools where teaching would be firmly based on the Christian religion. Following evacuation to Pitlochry during the First World War and Castle Howard in the Second World War, QM finally came to Escrick Park, six miles south of York in 1949.[1] Dr Paul Silverwood has been the Headmaster since September 2009.[2]

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."[3]

Academic

Public examination results in 2011 put QM among the top schools in the country with a 100% pass rate and 86% of entries achieving grades A*-B at A Level and 95% of entries achieving A*-C at GCSE. The School offers a full range of academic subjects at GCSE, AS- and A-level. GCSEs are chosen from twenty four subjects and girls must study English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science and a Modern Foreign Language. In addition, most girls opt to study four other subjects. In the Sixth Form, twenty seven subjects are offered at AS and A2 level. At AS level, most girls opt to study four or five subjects, reducing to three or four at A2 level.

Curriculum

Dance

The school offers individual and group lessons in Ballet, Tap and Modern dance, all these disciplines can be studied to GCSE level.

Drama

Girls from QM are regularly accepted into the National Youth Theatre. There is a whole school production at the end of each Autumn term. Entry is by competitive audition, open to all girls in the school. The production normally runs for three or four nights and is open to members of the public.

Music

QM encourages musicians to view their musical commitments seriously. Girls play individually and in ensembles from beginner to advanced level. There are music trips at school every other year. The last two trips were when the Chapel Choir went to Tuscany last Summer, and when a select Choir went to Dubrovnik, Croatia, Easter 2013.

Sport

Many QM girls are selected for regional and national sports teams. Sports facilities including an Astroturf, a sports hall, a competition swimming pool, all-weather tennis courts, squash courts, a nine-hole golf course and a riding school adjacent to the main School campus. Main winter activities include: lacrosse, cross country, hockey and netball. Summer sports include:athletics and rounders. Badminton, tennis and squash are also played at all levels.

Houses

There are six houses: Garry, Pitlochry, Duncan, QM Hall, School and St Aidans. Each pupil and teacher is assigned to one of the houses. 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 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.[4]

Notable alumna

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

Heads

Headmistresses
Headmasters

References

  1. ↑ J.P.G. Taylor Queen Margaret's School 1901-2001 Originally printed 2001, reprinted with additions 2006
  2. ↑ The Selby Times New Head Takes Control of School Sunday 20 September 2008 http://www.selbytimes.co.uk/district-news/New-head-takes-control-of.4548790.jp
  3. ↑ "School Guide 2011". Tatler.
  4. ↑ Boarding

External links