Queen Ethelburga's College & Faculty, York

Swift update on the ethical standards of this famous school
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42633983

Lots of schools are given notice to improve. Again, for me it would depend how seriously the school were acting on it

Absolutely. And if that is what floats your boat then there is a comp in York that has just failed their Ofsted (and is working really really hard to improve things) and that you can send your kids to for FREE.

Personally if I am paying for a school then I expect the school to be sodding awesome!

Former chair of governors and provost of Queen Ethelburgas denies 15 historic sex offences.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/yorkshire-school-governor-denies-historic-sex-offences-1-8102335

The school admitted to having 500 security cameras, so I don't see what extra evidence was required. And the inspection report said "“In the EYFS, it was school policy for staff to cover or stand in front of the cameras to shield the children when the children are changing.”" It wouldn't impress me too much, I have to say.

DD has friends that have being there and being severely bullied. a school to avoid imo

TheFrendo,

That was my first post.

Wanted to post about my positive experiences of the school, just so people reading through the thread had some feedback from a very happy parent with current and ongoing experience of the school.

The recent ISI report makes for quite scary reading.

Happysoul1234,

Have you posted on any other topic?

(I am not very adept with mumsnet searching and whatnot, my efforts have showed no other posts by you apart from this one.)

I find it interesting that we never hear from former pupils on these threads. Where are they?

I have a child who goes to QE. It always amazes me, how many negative opinions and comments there are from people who have no direct experience of the school. QE has played a huge part in the academic and personal development of my child, who loves going there and we have no concerns about the school, only positive experiences.

There were comments on an old thread made by a parent with a boarding daughter at the school whose room was opposite / overlooked by that of a staff member which were..... Enlightening!

I don't see how senior leadership having a very poor grasp of safeguarding and no paperwork to show that safeguarding training had taken place could be a concern either. Especially when you don't bother to check the barred list before new staff start work.

The surveillance concern is a puff piece without anything to back it up. The inspection didn't go as far as the piece says in being "concerned" about the cctv. As far as detail is concerned, the news article is basically about a few kids reporting to inspectors that they didn't like the cctv. Well, kids complain about a lot of stuff.

The chair of governors is of course a concern, but the allegations are historical and he was removed by the school immediately. The school can't do much about a bad apple except remove him as soon as they find out. I'd be very concerned about any cover up but if it was dealt with in a thorough fashion that would actually be encouraging.

Lots of schools are given notice to improve. Again, for me it would depend how seriously the school were acting on it.

Downright-as you saying nothing to hugely bother any prospective parent,I certainly wouldn't be bothered that the first three links on google news are-
College given notice to improve.
Former Chair arrested....
Surveillance concern over private school with 500 ctv cameras...
I'm sure those stories are common to many schools...

When I have visited ( family member there) I felt like it was set up to be impressive and attract parents rather than for the benefit of pupils.
I'm not sure the average 10 year old sent away from home particularly needs so many expensive life sized horse sculptures!!

I don't see anything which enormously concerns me after a quick Google. I know the rep on here that the school has but as a parent, nothing which comes up on Google would hugely bother me.

The whistleblower lost his case in the end

For context,
2015 Maths GCSE
College 84% A*-B
Faculty 30% A*-B

Perhaps also the name of the school + whistleblower as well to get past the most recent scandal news. Quite honestly with news like that getting into the media trying to bully innocent little Mumsnetters giving honest word of mouth, you could hear anywhere North Yorkshire parents gather, with legal action was a bit like fiddling whilst Rome burns.

For balance I drove past recently and the buildings are more 5* hotel catering to the nouveau riche than school. Lots of development too, though they are probably still cash rich from the sale of the old Harrogate site.

I think it would always be wise to google the latest news stories when choosing a school

I don't think many independent schools offer vocational qualifications. Happy to be proven wrong.

No. Might still be a few schools streaming but even they report their results as one school, not two.

Can anyone name any other school that splits like this?

Either state or private.

As a poor lowly state school girl I stared at the adverts in H&H as a teenager. Begged and pleaded with my parents, but there was no money. Showed them the leaflets, pleaded some more, prayed and cried to be sent there.

My well off friends went to Casterton or Queen Margarets. No one I know who could afford boarding school was sent there.

Are they still connected with the people who run E&L insurance? Are they even horsey anymore? I heard they'd stopped that and aimed at the foreign academic market?

Sister to Berengaria, if you have two girls.