Queen Ethelburga's - opinions please

She needs to look at more flexi-boarding schools - and I would certainly recommend Boothams. If your XH really is a social climbing knob, he'll probably want you to add more schools to the list as well (has he expressed an opinion on QE from that pov?) Has he expressed any opinion on which school?

"however my ex isn't keen as it's not private."

Why is he so anti state education for A levels? One of the best 6th form colleges in the country is Greenhead College in Huddersfield. Students from miles around travel to go there. Oh, and it is state not private.

I live local put and wouldn't send my daughter there. I know one person whose child went there (forces family) and she said she wouldn't choose it for another child. Bootham and Queen Margaret's both have a much better reputation locally.

Look at Bootham. I thoroughly recommend the York schools.

Queen Ethelburgas pupils always seem to be buying a lot of food/junk food in Morrison's in Boroughbridge, always makes me wonder what the food is like!

Ripon Grammar is state but has boarding places. I believe that some join in 6th form.

My cousin's daughter went to Queen Margaret's from 11 to 18 and was very happy there.

If you want to stay in the private system but with less pressure you could look at Woodhouse Grove. It is accessible from Leeds and gets great results from students with a broad range of abilities. Your DD could flexiboard if boarding appeals to her.

I have known students and families who found what they perceived as a pressurised environment at Bradford Grammar did not suit them but who thrived at Woodhouse Grove.

I moved my ds from a high pressure private school to the state system and he is so much happier. Private isn't always better and even the same school can suit one child and not the other.

Family member went age 12
We live about an hour away and she would beg to come to our house at weekends. The first time I went to collect her from there I was very reluctant to take her back
I’m anti boarding school anyway except in certain circumstances but it had a very unpleasant vibe

Most sixth forms have open days in the Autumn and you could take your DD to a range of different ones though perhaps not the one she wants. If she wants to move for A levels have you looked at sixth form colleges? Much less pressured and more of a college atmosphere than a school. My DC both thrived at one and it was a bridge between school and university.

My niece went to Ethelburga's. She is a forces child and they get a good financial deal?

It seemed horrendous

I know someone who did a placement there while training and then reported several issues to the local authority safeguarding board - she was horrified

Should just add that I have also worked in boarding schools if I’m being honest some who join in the 6th form find it hard to settle. It’s a massive cultural shift and the you have to get your head around a new school boarding the jump to A levels (or whatever) and make new friends in a relatively short time. Many happily do it but over the years I’ve seen a significant small minority who struggle. A lot depends on your DD’s personality, you have to be resilient, adaptable, happy for little privacy, be a team player even if in reality you’re a lone wolf, accept rules that are made to make life work for the majority even though you might think are ridiculous. It’s not for everyone but I genuinely believe for those it works for they will develop life skills that will stay with and benefit throughout their adult life so it’s a very positive life changing experience.

Principal's daughter now runs the school.

Sorry, i forgot to add that my DC have been occasional boarders when work takes me away from home. DD loves it, DS tolerates it but he doesn't like being there over weekends.

I can’t objectively advise you about boarding as my DS’s have boarded from prep. Some may find this difficult to believe but I used to be very anti boarding I couldn’t imagine what type of parents send their DC’s to boarding school.
My DS’s have thrived at boarding school DS2 boarded for 10 years, contrary to what some will tell you about the impact of boarding he’s a normal well adjusted emotionally intelligent popular young man who has have an excellent loving relationship with his parents. I genuinely believed that what his boarding schools offered in particular his secondary school could not be found in any day schools so although I missed him massively I felt it was the best option for him.

My DD has just moved for sixth form and has had no problem fitting into her new school. There's a lot of new students in her year.

Do you live close to GSAL now? What about Bradford Grammar or Woodhouse Grove where she can go on the bus each day? Or there's Harrogate Ladies College or The Mount in York? Both of those seem to be walkable from their respective railway stations.

Or there's Harrogate Grammar (state school)? I know someone whose daughter goes there and they live in Leeds.

Google 'ethelburgas school court'.

There are two Ethelburga schools on the same site:

The Faculty of Queen Ethelburga's
www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/131124?tab=ks5-16-to-18

Average A level grade B-

Queen Ethelburga's College
www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/121743?tab=ks5-16-to-18

Average A level grade A-

My daughter has just gone off to board at age 16 without a second glance. She is however very independent minded and she has gone away to access a highly specialist course that is only available at a handful of colleges.

But, from my research into the various options available I have to say buyer beware. In her world we know young people who have had awful times with poor safeguarding and pastoral care. There is a school in her subject area that have a similar threaten legal action ethos to QE for example and I would be very, very wary.