Queen Mary's School

Queen Mary’s is committed to an all-girls education, which it believes empowers young women to fulfil their potential and become independent, resilient thinkers. The school’s ethos is centred on a personalised, family-friendly environment that balances academic challenge with wellbeing, encouraging pupils to be curious, adventurous, and confident. It emphasizes the development of leadership skills and a love of learning, ensuring every girl is known and supported.

The school provides a comprehensive education from Nursery through to age 16. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for the nursery focuses on child-led, play-based learning. The academic programme for older pupils includes traditional subjects alongside specialized areas such as coding, performing arts, and entrepreneurship within a Personal Development Programme. The school also offers a structured leadership programme and extensive equestrian training pathways.

The school reports strong academic progress, with value-added scores averaging 1.33 grades above predicted outcomes. Former pupils have successfully transitioned to a range of institutions, including Oxbridge and other top universities. The school is ranked as a top 5 independent school in the UK (no sixth form) by the Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026.

The school maintains small class sizes, typically around 17 pupils, to facilitate a personalised approach to learning. This environment allows for individual attention and progress at a pace suited to each pupil, with a focus on high-quality teaching and learning.

Queen Mary’s is a non-selective school that welcomes applications for all year groups throughout the year. The admissions process typically involves a personal visit or attendance at an open event, followed by a registration form and a review of the applicant's latest school report and reference. The school recommends applying at least two terms in advance to ensure a smooth transition.

The school operates on a three-term academic year: Autumn, Spring, and Summer. Each term includes two exeat weekends, a half-term break, and a holiday period. Boarders typically return the day before the start of each term.

Located on the 40-acre Baldersby Park estate, the campus features a 5-star British Horse Society-approved equestrian centre with a 60m x 40m all-weather arena, 14 loose boxes, 33 acres of grazing paddocks, and professional-grade facilities. The grounds also include an on-site river, a climbing wall, and a WOLF run for outdoor education. The school provides flexible boarding options ranging from one night per term to full-time boarding.

The school offers over 65 activities per week, including gymnastics, dance, debating, and STEM. There is extensive provision for music and choral activities, as well as an outdoor education programme that utilizes the school grounds for activities such as climbing and river-based adventures. Additionally, the school maintains a 5-star British Horse Society-approved equestrian centre, providing opportunities for riding lessons, Pony Club activities, and competitive equestrian teams.