Ages 
The Board of Governors announced on 13th June 2025 the closure of Queen Margaret’s School at the end of the summer term on 5th July 2025. The school says it has 'been unable to withstand mounting financial pressures'.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 201 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 65 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- Anglican
- Fees
- Day £29,592 pa; Boarding £44,100 - £52,416 pa
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire County Council
Headteacher
Head
Nicola Dudley
Since September 2024, Nicola Dudley, previously the principal of Surval Montreux School for Girls in Switzerland. Educated at Wycombe Abbey, degree from Jesus College, Oxford. A linguist by training, she has 24 years’ experience in independent
Entrance
The Board of Governors announced on 13th June 2025 the closure of Queen Margaret’s School at the end of the summer term on 5th July 2025. The school says it has 'been unable to withstand mounting financial pressures'.
School is not selective. Once
- Open days
- Open Days: January, February, March, April, May and June. Personal visits available all year round. Open Days and Personal Visits can be booked on school's website.
Exit
Most of year 11 will move on to the sixth form; the year group remains largely the same size, as newcomers arrive from other schools. In 2024, Durham, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Queen’s, Belfast figured among Russell Group destinations. A
Latest results
In 2024, 54 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 34 per cent A*/A at A level (62 per cent A*-B). In 2023, 50 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 27 per cent A*/A at A level (53 per cent A*-B).
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Queen Margaret’s has a traditional curriculum but with an interesting twist, which seems to pay dividends in terms of girls’ achievement, motivation and capacity to learn. At key stage 3, every girl does the same curriculum, including separate
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
- VRQ
Learning support & SEN
SEN department of three fully qualified and very experienced teachers is led by the SENCo, herself a maths teacher with master’s in both psychology and SEN. Specialist support is available for a wide range of needs including dyslexia, autistic
Arts & extracurricular
Art is a real strength here. Taught in beautiful, modern, well-lit rooms, the curriculum stretches into textiles and graphics and the school proudly boasts of the textiles of A level students who have gone on to study architecture.
Drama
Sport
Sports facilities are very good. Superb, extensive playing fields, great floodlit all-weather pitch, a six-lane swimming pool, squash court and a small personal training space. There are stables where some girls livery their horses, riding lessons
Boarders
Queen Margaret’s has a superb boarding offer which we think ticks a lot of boxes. About a third international with a predominance of Chinese, a few military and an increasing number of flexi boarders from the local area.
Not the most modern or
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1901 in Scarborough, Queen Margaret’s was evacuated to Pitlochry in 1914 and Castle Howard in 1939, eventually settling at Escrick Park in 1949. Originally a Woodard school, it is now completely independent but retains a strong Christian
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
We feel pastoral care is a real strength here. The school is very small so there is no reason why every girl can’t be known well. The integration of day and boarding girls into the same houses and the one-to-one support for all create real wraparound
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Students who have a mobile phone may bring them to school. Each year group has a set of age-appropriate guidelines for mobile use and when they must be handed in to pastoral staff for safekeeping. Each year group is also allocated a time period they can have their phone. For LVI and UVL, students are allowed to keep their devices. However their use at school is a privilege and is entirely dependent on reasonable, moderate and safe use.
Pupils & parents
Parents are a mix of old girls, international, a couple of military, and a growing number who have moved their children from larger local state and independent schools. ’It’s the right size,’ said one. ‘They do get good results but it’s not über
Money matters
Means-tested bursaries up to 100 per cent; 15 per cent of students receive some sort of bursarial support. Scholarships include academic, choral, dance, drama, music and sports.
- Fee information
- Day £29,592 pa; Boarding £44,100 - £52,416 pa
The last word
The Board of Governors announced on 13th June 2025 the closure of Queen Margaret’s School at the end of the summer term on 5th July 2025. The school says it has 'been unable to withstand mounting financial pressures'.
