- Since 1878, when the Queen’s School opened with 16 pupils, it has produced trailblazing women including Diana Beck, one of the world’s first female neurosurgeons, Beth Tweddle, the Olympic gymnast, and the Love Island star and equestrian Gemma Owen.
- Queen Victoria was the first patron and issued a decree for the school to be the only one in England to use her name. Today it educates girls aged 4-18.
- A range of extracurricular activities – including theatre, orchestra, rowing and skiing – contributes to a stimulating environment where the emphasis is on holistic development.
- Girls study Mandarin Chinese as part of the curriculum and it is the only independent school in the north of England to be recognised as a “Confucius classroom” by the Office of Chinese Language Council International for teaching the language and culture.
- In 2025, A-level students scored A*-A grades in 61 per cent of exams.
- There are several scholarships available in areas including sport, music and art, as well as academic ones such as Queen’s Scholar and the Headmistress’s Award for Academic Excellence. Means-tested bursaries are also available.
Sign up to The Times and The Sunday Times weekly parenting newsletter