The Sunday Times School Guide 2021

As we all draw breath on 2020, York independent school, Queen Margaret’s (QM), is reflecting on the silver linings of what has been a challenging year for everyone. Yesterday QM was named the best all-girls school in North Yorkshire in The Sunday Times School Guide 2021 and York was singled out for having “perhaps the best education provision in the north of England”.

Due to the disruption of examinations and results because of the pandemic, The Sunday Times reviewed examination results dating back to 2010 which make these results the most comprehensive resource covering elite school performance in the UK. Sue Baillie, Head said: “I am delighted but not surprised that Queen Margaret's has been recognised as a top girls' school in the region by The Sunday Times School Guide 2021. Every girl who comes to QM is unique - she grows and develops into a confident, assured young woman, ready for everything that life has to offer. There is more to education than our excellent grades, QM girls participate wholeheartedly in all aspects of School life, they are not weighed down with having to conform to how society expects them to be. All we ask is for our girls to embrace who they are and make the most of everything a QM education has to offer.”

Since achieving excellent in all categories by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) last year, the School has enjoyed a series of silver linings throughout the year. Last week QM’s Riding School achieved the top five-star rating after a recent council inspection. This means that the Riding School, which is ideally located on our campus near Red House, has met all the mandatory standards along with a higher set of standards that are specific to the activity that are licensed including animal welfare, the quality of grazing for the horses, medical care, diet, exercise plans, training and living conditions.

Community has always played a strong role in the School’s success and the goodwill and community focus of the QM Family earned formal recognition when it was shortlisted for the Community Outreach category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2020. Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic the QM Family demonstrated incredible acts of community spirit.

Queen Margaret’s is proud of its strong reputation and the School has certainly stood the test of time since opening its doors back in 1901. With day, flexible and full boarding options for girls aged 11-18 which are designed to suit busy, modern lifestyles, pupils have all the comforts of home at Queen Margaret’s which is set in 75 acres of beautiful parkland, just six miles from York.