In 2025, 77% of A-level grades were A* or A; 118 students achieved ABB or better.
Premier co-educational British boarding school in North Yorkshire
Why this school
In 2025, 77% of A-level grades were A* or A; 118 students achieved ABB or better.
Four schools share one 220-acre estate, taking students from nursery through sixth form.
The Performance Sports Programme offers elite coaching and access to regional and national competitions.
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate — known as QE — sits on a 220-acre estate in Thorpe Underwood, North Yorkshire, close to York and Harrogate. Founded in 1912, it has grown into one of the UK’s most distinctive independent boarding schools, structured as a collegiate of four schools serving students from 3 months to 19 years. The campus operates on a boarding-first model, drawing a genuinely international roll of between 40 and 65 nationalities at any given time. ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)-inspected, QE is co-educational throughout, with boarding fees from £66,990 (2025/26) per year.
QE offers a broad academic structure across its senior schools. Students follow GCSE programmes in Years 10 and 11, then progress to A-levels or BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) qualifications, or a combination of both, in the sixth form. The International Foundation Year provides a structured pre-A-level pathway for students whose prior education or English language development requires it. Alongside these, the English Language Programme (IEP) and Advanced English Language Programme (AIEP) allow international students to develop fluency before or alongside mainstream study.
2025 results: 77% of A-level grades were A* or A; 61% of GCSE grades were 9–7 (A*/A equivalent); 118 students achieved ABB or better at A-level; 70% of BTEC grades were D or D*. Class sizes average around 15, supporting close teacher-student contact throughout.
The sixth form offers A-level, BTEC, and Pre-A-Level routes, letting students build a programme that fits their university trajectory. Combined academic and applied pathways are available for those targeting vocational or professional degree courses.
A-Level results
2025: 77% A Level grades A*/A; 70% BTEC grades D/D*; 118 students achieved ABB or better; 61% GCSE grades 9-7 (A*/A equivalent).
Boarding accommodation is arranged by age group, with dedicated house staff, supervised study areas, and communal social spaces in each house. Full boarding is the standard model. Pastoral oversight runs through houseparents and tutors, with wellbeing and counselling staff embedded across the collegiate. The school’s scale, around 1,500 students, means structured routines are well-established: prep times, weekend activity schedules, and organised trips run to a clear rhythm throughout the term. International boarders receive cultural and social orientation support alongside academic integration, including structured EAL (English as an Additional Language) provision from beginner to advanced level.
QE runs more than 100 clubs and activities. The Performance Sports Programme offers elite-level coaching in football, rugby, hockey, basketball, netball, swimming, and athletics, with access to strength and conditioning facilities and participation in regional and national competitions. Performing arts provision covers drama, music ensembles, and instrumental tuition, with a professional on-campus theatre. Further options include debating, journalism, STEM and robotics, medicine and healthcare preparation, and entrepreneurship. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and similar leadership and challenge programmes run alongside the timetable. Seasonal camps and summer school formats extend activity into holiday periods.
The 220-acre rural campus in Thorpe Underwood is a self-contained environment. Academic buildings include specialist science laboratories, art studios, music rehearsal rooms, and multimedia classrooms. The sports infrastructure covers an indoor complex, a fully equipped gym, and extensive outdoor pitches and training areas. A professional theatre sits at the centre of the performing arts provision. The entire collegiate, from nursery through sixth form, is contained within a single secure estate.
Queen Ethelburga’s is in North Yorkshire, close to York and Harrogate. Leeds Bradford Airport is the nearest international gateway, approximately 30–40 minutes by road. York railway station connects directly to London King’s Cross in under two hours, making the school accessible from Heathrow and other major international hubs via a straightforward transfer.
Annual tuition
£69,990 per year · Junior · Year 3
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Year 3 | — | £69,990 | |
| Senior | Year 6 | — | £69,990 | |
| Senior | Year 10 & 11 | — | £69,990 | |
| Sixth Form | Year 12 & 13 | — | £69,990 |
Leeds Bradford Airport (~30–40 min by road); York station to London King's Cross under 2 hrs.
You may also like
Full boarding fees are £66,990 per year (2025/26), applying across Chapter House, King’s Magna, and College year groups from Year 3 through to Year 13. Fees are charged at £23,330 per term across all senior tiers.
Senior students can take GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications), or a combination of academic and applied pathways. The school also offers an International Foundation Year, a Pre-A-Level programme, and English language programmes (IEP and AIEP) for international students.
In 2025, 77% of A-level grades were A* or A, and 61% of GCSE grades fell in the 9–7 range. 118 students achieved ABB or better at A-level, and 70% of BTEC grades were Distinction or Distinction*.
QE offers the English Language Programme (IEP) and the Advanced English Language Programme (AIEP), providing structured language development from beginner to advanced level. Both run alongside mainstream academic programmes, and IELTS preparation is also available.
The school typically has between 40 and 65 nationalities on roll at any given time, making it one of the more internationally diverse boarding schools in the UK.
The collegiate accepts students from 3 months through to 19 years, structured across four schools: a nursery, a junior school, a middle school, and a sixth form college, all on the same 220-acre campus.
Leeds Bradford Airport is the closest international gateway, roughly 30–40 minutes by road. York railway station, also nearby, connects to London King’s Cross in under two hours, with straightforward onward connections to Heathrow and other international arrival points.
Submit your request and our manager will contact you shortly