Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) is a prestigious independent boarding and day school located in North Yorkshire, in the village of Thorpe Underwood, close to York and Harrogate. Set within more than 220 acres of beautiful countryside, QE offers a safe, inspiring and exceptionally well-equipped campus environment for students aged from 3 months to 19 years.
The school welcomes pupils into its Nursery, Junior School, Middle School and Sixth Form, offering both day and boarding options, including weekly, flexible and full boarding. Queen Ethelburga’s is widely recognised for its strong international outlook, with students representing between 40 and 65 nationalities. This vibrant global community fosters intercultural understanding, open-mindedness and a truly international perspective — an important advantage for students preparing for leading universities worldwide.
QE combines high academic standards with outstanding pastoral care, state-of-the-art facilities and a broad enrichment programme, ensuring that students develop academically, socially and personally in a balanced and supportive environment.
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate offers a wide range of academic pathways tailored to different strengths and ambitions. At senior level, students can choose from:
This flexible structure allows students to build personalised study plans aligned with their university and career goals.
Class sizes average around 15 students, enabling teachers to provide individual attention and closely monitor each pupil’s progress. This personalised approach contributes to consistently strong examination outcomes, with a high proportion of GCSE grades in the 9–7 range and A-Level results in the A*–A categories.
For academically ambitious students, QE offers a robust super-curricular and enrichment programme. Pupils can participate in academic societies, research-based projects, science clubs, extended reading groups and skills workshops designed to strengthen critical thinking, analytical ability and independent learning — essential preparation for competitive university admissions.
Queen Ethelburga’s is particularly experienced in supporting international families. The school offers a comprehensive EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme, providing structured language development from beginner to advanced levels.
Students receive tailored English support alongside their mainstream curriculum, ensuring smooth academic integration. Preparation for IELTS and other international English examinations is also available.
For younger international students (Years 6–9), QE provides a Junior English Language Programme, combining subject learning with focused language support and a carefully adapted timetable.
In addition, the school offers Foundation and Pre-A-Level pathways for students who require academic or linguistic preparation before progressing to full A-Level study.
Pastoral care is a key strength. International boarders receive dedicated guidance to help them adapt socially, culturally and academically. Houseparents, tutors and wellbeing staff ensure that every student feels supported, safe and confident.
Boarding at Queen Ethelburga’s is designed to provide a structured yet welcoming “home away from home.” Accommodation is organised according to age groups, with comfortable rooms, shared social spaces and supervised study areas.
Boarding options include:
Evenings and weekends are filled with organised activities, sports sessions, trips and social events. This balanced lifestyle encourages independence, resilience, leadership skills and strong friendships.
The school places great emphasis on student wellbeing. Pastoral systems include mentoring, counselling support and a proactive safeguarding framework that prioritises emotional and psychological health.
Queen Ethelburga’s offers more than 100 clubs and activities across academic, creative, athletic and social fields. Students can explore interests in:
The Performance Sports Programme provides elite-level athletic development with professional coaching, strength and conditioning training, and participation in regional and national competitions. Sports offered include football, rugby, hockey, basketball, netball, swimming, athletics and many others.
Seasonal camps, summer schools and themed holiday programmes further enrich the student experience, offering both residential and day formats.
The QE campus spans over 220 acres in a secure rural setting. The infrastructure reflects the school’s commitment to excellence and student wellbeing.
Facilities include:
The campus is purpose-built to support both academic achievement and holistic development, combining technological innovation with a safe and aesthetically inspiring environment.
We offer programs designed specifically for students aged 11–17 as well as for young adults aged 18 and older. Programs for adults are developed in partnership with prestigious institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and LSE.
English proficiency requirements vary depending on the selected school and program. Our catalogue offers a variety of courses suitable for all proficiency levels, from beginners (A1–B1) to advanced (C1+). We ensure each student finds the right fit and recommend Foundation Year programs to improve your communication skills and smoothly adapt to the new culture.
Admission to a specific school cannot be guaranteed, as the final decision always rests with the institution itself. However, with our extensive experience and deep understanding of the admissions process, we objectively evaluate each student’s chances. We recommend applying to multiple schools and considering Foundation Year to maximize your opportunities. Since our consultations are completely free, the only financial commitment required upfront is the school’s admission fee, paid directly to the institution upon application.
Our consultations, school selection, and full support throughout the admission process are provided completely free of charge. You only pay tuition fees directly to your chosen educational institution. Contact us for detailed advice on choosing a school, budgeting, and admission assistance! More on budget planning.
We assist families throughout the UK student visa process and ensure all required documentation is prepared correctly and on time. Once a student receives an official offer from a UK private school, the school issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and formal invitation documents.
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