Queen Mary's School Review 2026: Academic Ambition in a Palladian Setting

Academically, Queen Mary’s performs strongly for a non-selective school. In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 64.4. To put this in context, the England average for all schools sits around 46. This performance indicates that students here achieve, on average, nearly two grades higher per subject than the national norm.

The school ranks 585th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). This places Queen Mary's in the top 25% of schools in England, sitting comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England. Locally, the school is a powerhouse, ranking 1st among schools in the Thirsk area for Key Stage 4 performance.

The percentage of students achieving Grade 5 or above in English and Maths is consistently high. While 29.4% achieved the EBacc at Grade 5 or above, the raw attainment scores tell a story of strong individual subject performance across the board. The curriculum is broad, and students are not funnelled into narrow pathways to protect league table positions.

Teaching groups are small, allowing for a seminar-style approach even in lower years. The curriculum follows the National Curriculum but with significant independence. Languages are introduced early, with French taught from Reception. By the senior years, the sciences are taught as separate disciplines, and the uptake for triple science is healthy.

The approach to learning is inquisitive. Teachers are encouraged to go off-piste when a class shows interest, encouraging a genuine love for the subject rather than just exam technique. Support for Special Educational Needs (SEND) is integrated and robust. The Learning Support department works closely with subject teachers to ensure strategies are applied in the classroom, not just in pull-out sessions.

Specialist teaching is a hallmark of the Prep phase (up to Year 6), meaning students arrive in Senior School (Year 7) already accustomed to moving between departments and managing specialist expectations. Art and Design Technology are particular strengths, housed in facilities that allow for ambitious projects including ceramics and textiles.

Because Queen Mary’s ends at Year 11, the transition to Sixth Form is a significant focus. The school views this not as a loss but as a launchpad. Girls are prepared to move on to a wide range of prestigious destinations.

Many students progress to top-tier independent schools such as St Peter’s York, Sedbergh, Ampleforth, and Shrewsbury. Others secure places at highly selective state grammar schools, including the nearby Ripon Grammar School. The school provides extensive guidance during Year 10 and 11 to help families navigate these choices, including interview practice and scholarship preparation. The track record of students securing scholarships; academic, sport, and music; to their next schools is impressive.

Entry into Queen Mary’s can occur at various points, with the main intakes at Reception, Year 3, and Year 7. The process is designed to be welcoming rather than intimidating.

For the Senior School (Year 7), the school is broadly non-selective. Candidates do not typically sit a pass/fail entrance exam in the traditional sense. Instead, the process involves an informal interview with the Head and a review of reports from the current school. The aim is to ensure the school can meet the girl's needs and that she will thrive in the busy environment.

Scholarships are available for entry into Year 7 and Year 9. These recognise excellence in Academia, Art, Music, Sport, and Riding. Bursaries are also available, subject to means-testing, reflecting the Woodard foundation’s commitment to accessibility.

Pastoral care is arguably the school's defining feature. The vertical tutoring system in the boarding houses and the small class sizes mean staff spot wobbles quickly. The school operates a "school mother" system where older girls mentor younger ones, creating genuine bonds across year groups.

The setting plays a role in wellbeing. The ability to get outside; whether for a walk by the river, a session in the "mud kitchen" for the younger ones, or time with the horses; provides a natural release valve for pressure. The chapel offers a space for quiet reflection, regardless of a student's personal faith.

Boarding at Queen Mary’s is flexible and popular. Approximately one-third of the students board in some capacity, ranging from full boarding to flexi-boarding (a few nights a week). The boarding accommodation is located within the main mansion, giving it a Harry Potter-esque quality that students love.

Dormitories are often referred to as "lofts" for the older girls, providing cosy, characterful spaces. Weekend activities are full and varied, utilising the grounds and the local area. Because many staff live on-site, the community feels permanent rather than emptying out at 4pm.

There are no day places in the boarding sense; day girls go home, boarders stay. However, the integration is seamless. Day girls often stay for tea or evening activities, and the lines between the two groups are blurred during the school day.

Extracurricular life is dominated by one unique feature: the on-site Equestrian Centre. Queen Mary’s is one of the few schools in the country with its own riding school within the grounds. Students can bring their own horses or ride the school’s ponies. Riding is integrated into the curriculum for younger years and is a major sport for seniors, with teams competing successfully at national levels.

Music is another pillar. The Chapel Choir is excellent, performing regularly in cathedrals such as Ripon and York Minster. A high proportion of girls learn at least one instrument, and the sound of practice drifts from the music wing throughout the day.

Sport is competitive but inclusive. Hockey, netball, and tennis are the core sports, but the river allows for canoeing and kayaking. The gymnastics squad is particularly strong, often bringing home national silverware.

Clubs range from the traditional (Debating, Science Club) to the niche (Construction Club, intricate crafting). The sheer variety ensures that every girl finds a niche.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, fees reflect the school's high level of provision. Day fees range from £4,932 per term in Years 1-3 to £10,036 per term in Years 9-11. Full boarding fees range from £11,768 per term in Years 4-6 to £13,832 per term in Years 9-11.

Means-tested bursaries are available for families who would otherwise be unable to afford the fees. These are distinct from scholarships, which are awarded for excellence in areas such as Academia, Art, Music, Sport, and Riding. Scholarships typically carry a smaller financial remission but can be supplemented by a bursary if financial need is demonstrated.

The Queen Mary’s Nursery offers a gentle introduction to school life for children from age 2. Unusually for the main school, the nursery is co-educational. Housed in bright, purpose-built rooms within the Prep School, it benefits from the wider facilities, including the grounds for Forest School sessions.

The emphasis is on learning through play, with specialist staff guiding children through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Transition to Reception is seamless, although boys must move to other schools at that point as the main school is girls-only from Reception upwards.

The school day begins at 8:20am and ends at 4:30pm for the Senior School, though many stay later for clubs and prep. Wraparound care is extensive, supporting working parents. A network of school buses covers a wide area of North Yorkshire, including Harrogate, York, and Bedale.

Breakfast club is available from 7:30am. After-school care runs until 6:00pm, including tea.

Ends at 16. There is no Sixth Form. Students must move schools after GCSEs. While this allows Year 11s to lead, it does require a transition at a crucial academic point. Families should consider if they want an all-through education to 18 or are happy to switch.

Rural Location. Baldersby Park is beautiful but isolated. While the bus network is good, parents outside the immediate transport routes will face significant driving. The isolation is part of the charm but requires logistical commitment.

Equestrian Focus. While not compulsory, the horse culture is strong. For a girl who is terrified of animals or dislikes mud, the pervasive equestrian enthusiasm might feel alienating, though plenty of non-riders thrive here.

Faith Foundation. As a Woodard school, the Christian ethos is central. Chapel attendance is part of the routine. Families uncomfortable with Christian worship should be aware that it is woven into the fabric of the week.

Queen Mary’s is a school that allows girls to remain girls for longer, protecting them from the premature "growing up" often seen in city schools, while simultaneously arming them with formidable academic results. It is a place of mud, music, and mathematics, where a girl is as likely to be found mucking out a stable as she is solving a complex equation. Best suited to families who value a holistic, adventure-filled education and want their daughters to be confident, grounded leaders before they step into Sixth Form elsewhere. The main challenge is the logistical commitment of the rural location, but for those who make the journey, the rewards are significant.