Additional notes: As we are a boarding school for international students, this section does not apply.
How we see Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate
Ranked as one of the top boarding and day schools in the UK, Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate, in York, Ontario, offers incredible opportunities to kids from Nursery to Grade 12. Students live by the school motto of “the best that they can with the gifts that they have” not only through their academic achievements but also through extensive enrichment and extracurriculars that enable them to thrive. The historic campus boasts 220 acres of beautiful countryside, with wonderful accommodations, a professional-grade theatre, and sports facilities that not only support the school’s dedicated professional sports program but are so good that local professional teams such as Salford City FC use them. Students can participate in 22 clubs including astronomy, ballet, Habitat for Humanity, opera and musical theatre, foreign languages, and math. Divided into four schools, Queen Ethelburga's manages to maintain a nurturing family feel despite an enrolment of almost 1200, and the full-service pastoral care it offers is second to none. Students leave the school as resilient, independent, confident, and self-aware young adults, and many get admitted into world-class universities.
How Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate sees itself
"Queen Ethelburga’s is an Excellent rated Collegiate (ISI 2019), known internationally as a group of four schools that promotes the highest standards in all that it does. Our exam results speak for themselves, consistently ranking amongst the top day and boarding schools in the UK, with students benefiting from incredible study, boarding and leisure facilities as part of campus life. QE students are well prepared to be ‘the best that they can with the gifts that they have’."
"Queen Ethelburga’s is set apart by its four schools, which together form the Collegiate. School life begins in Chapter House, with pupils 3 months up to year 5. Students then enter King’s Magna, our prep school, from year 6 to year 9. For senior school, students follow one of two equally rewarding pathways; The College, following a traditional curriculum with a full academic study programme, or The Faculty, which allows students to combine academics with more creative and vocational options."
"We are proud that QE parents choose us due to our excellent sporting facilities, state of the art theatre space, and teachers who go above and beyond to support students to be the best that they can with the gifts that they have. Our friendly, family-like environment, coupled with our award-winning boarding provision, means that students feel comfortable and at home with us, and develop into confident young adults who are fully prepared for university and life beyond school."
"Each school is small in size, allowing for students to have free roam of our large campus, and plenty of classrooms and study spaces for use. Our boarders benefit from a large amount of freedoms, such as no curfew on mobile phones after Year 10, regular trips to Leeds and York, and studio apartments for older students, including coffee machines, kitchenettes, and next-gen games consoles in rooms. QE also hosts a ‘dog reading’ scheme, where students gain confidence by reading to the CEO’s dog."
"QE has a Pastoral Care Team delivering our award-nominated [email protected] programme. Operating 7 days a week to ensure that students have access to support and care with a range of concerns and worries, including (but not limited to) building self-esteem, exam stress, adjusting to change, home sickness, staying safe online, and helping students to acquire the skills to overcome any difficulties in their life. The programme aims to ensure students at QE are happy & healthy."
"Queen Ethelburga’s was founded in 1912
81% A*/A grades achieved at A level, and 84% A*/D grades in BTECs
On the school birthday a cake is cut with a sword and each student eats a slice to make a wish
91% of our 2021 Year 13 leavers went on to study at university
Our Sports Village, includes a 25-metre swimming pool, triple court sports hall, 100 station fitness suite and weights centre. We have a synthetic cushioned running track and over 30 acres of grass and 3G artificial pitches"
Netball pitches
Rugby pitches
Swimming pool
Music rooms
Photography dark room
Arts studio
Aerial view of the sports pitches
Aerial view of Armorial Hall
Aerial view of the QE campus
Classroom
Classroom
Design and Technology classroom
Social area in one of our boarding houses
Pupils relaxing after school
A typical bedroom for boarding students
One of the science labs
Pupils using one of the science labs
Pupils working in one of the science labs
Students relaxing in our extensive gardens
Chapter House children playing in the outdoor learning area
Attractive gardens on campus
Study space for students
The Atrium ( dedicated space for our older students)
Students studying in the library
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Daniel Machin, Mr
BA (Hons). PGCE. PGDip.
It is a privilege to be able to extend a warm welcome as Principal to Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, known locally, nationally, and internationally for our outstanding pastoral care, our high-quality boarding provision, and our exceptional academic outcomes; all supported by our fantastic facilities. Most importantly, QE is a happy and fulfilling place where our students and staff thrive.
Having joined as a Teacher of Business Studies and ICT in September 2005, I have been fortunate to be able to carry out a number of interesting and varied roles in the past fifteen years, including Head of Sixth Form, Head of College, and latterly as Vice Principal. This means that I fully understand the needs, aspirations and exceptional abilities of all of our QE students, and I have used this knowledge to work alongside our skilled and dedicated staff in developing what we offer, so that the school today is at the forefront of educational innovation and expertise. In particular, our Strategic, Senior Leadership, and Estate Management teams benefit from experience, skill, initiative, and strong team-work, which leads to a single-minded focus on ensuring that we provide the very best for our QE Community.
The Collegiate is uniquely made up of four smaller schools, each with its own Head, Deputy Head, and management team. This ensures a nurturing, family atmosphere where the staff know their students thoroughly and form outstanding student-teacher relationships based on mutual respect and unwavering support for each other.
We have established ourselves amongst the top schools worldwide, demonstrated by our outstanding academic results and impressive list of top university destinations. We recognise that the quality of teaching in the classroom is the most critical component in achieving academic excellence, hence our investment in continuing professional development. This ensures our teachers remain at the top of their profession, and our students are equipped with the skills they will need to become successful adults. We also understand the importance of developing the whole student by presenting opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through our extensive enrichment and super-curricular programmes, designed to recognise and celebrate the skills and aspirations of each individual.
We promote a culture of self-awareness; encouraging and developing individual potential and personal qualities, such as those of leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility. We believe in placing each student at the centre of their own development and that learning is a life-long process. Our students leave us as resilient, independent, confident and self-aware young adults, proud to have been members of the Collegiate, and ready to take their place in the wider community.
Thank you for your interest in our school. I look forward to speaking to you about how we can help your child to be the best that they can with the gifts that they have.
If you’re considering a small school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Since smaller schools have smaller and less diverse student populations than big schools, it can sometimes be more challenging for your child to find a like-minded group of friends—friends with similar interests, values, etc.
“It’s important to look at the social makeup of the school,” says Ruth Rumack of Ruth Rumack's Learning Space. "Is there enough variety that your child will have a group that they feel connected with? Because you want to have friends that are like-minded and you want to be in a social situation where you feel honoured and respected. Variety can also be found in extracurriculars, leadership programs, and sports activities, which tend to have kids with a wide range of personalities.”
Also, make sure a school’s teaching and learning approach is suitable for your social child. “For instance, a school focusing on individual learning instead of group learning may not play into your child’s strengths,” say Ann and Karen Wolff, Toronto-based education consultants at Wolff Educational Services. “You want to make sure the social, emotional, and academic realities of the classroom are a match for your child’s personality.”
At a boarding school, your extroverted child will likely enjoy seeking out and interacting with peer groups from different backgrounds, away from home. In fact, studying and living with other kids for an extended period of time, as many alumni tell us, provides the unique opportunity to form close relationships that can last well beyond the school years. Many boarding schools also have large student populations and more extracurriculars—including activities like student council, team sports, and arts programs—which will give your outgoing child a broader scope of opportunities to feed off the energy of others, and possibly even become a leader, in a dynamic environment.
Keep in mind, though, “Being an extrovert can be a catalyst for getting involved in lots of activities, which can sometimes be hard to manage,” says Joanne Foster, Toronto-based education consultant and author of ABCs of Raising Smarter Kids. “For instance, a particularly extroverted child may try to end up juggling too many people and activities. While they still may thrive at a boarding school, it helps to know your child and how much social interaction they can handle comfortably.”
Smaller schools often have small classrooms and tight-knit communities, which can make it easier for your introverted child to come out of their shell, make friends, and feel like they belong. Since they’re less socially overwhelming, your child should find it easier to navigate their social environment. And since they’re conducive to group work, small classes often have plenty of interaction, which can help your child develop critical interpersonal skills.
Of course, small schools normally have a less diverse student population than big schools, which can sometimes make it more challenging to find a group of like-minded peers—peers with similar personalities, interests, values, etc. This makes it especially important to ask a school about its extracurricular programs, which can help your introverted child establish an intimate social circle.
At a boarding school, your introverted child will be more motivated (and virtually compelled) to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Away from home and in a new environment, they’re more likely to take the initiative to form close friendships, which can boost their independence and confidence, and help them develop critical social skills.
"Consider, though, whether your child will be comfortable and confident while living away from home, and while having to navigate the various, and sometimes unforeseen social-emotional experiences, alongside the academic challenges,” says Joanne Foster, education expert and author of ABCs of Raising Smarter Kids. Finally, ensure support systems are in place to promote their social and emotional development, and that your child is willing and prepared to take advantage of them. Your child will often need to advocate for themselves at a boarding school, and they’ll need confidence and perseverance to do so.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate
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