Queen Ethelburga or The Grammar School at Leeds

[Tickity]

Hi - we are relocating from abroad back to the UK soon and are looking at sending our children to senior school at either Queen Ethelburga or the Grammar School at Leeds. We’ve seen some of the more public issues that these schools have had over the last couple of years, we are not looking to rehash those discussions. Based on what we can see from the outside, we really like both of them and can’t decide between them. Has anyone on here got any current experience of their kids being at either? Our concern with GSAL is that in the years that they would be entering the school there would be relatively few new joiners and they may not integrate as well. For QE, we worry about the number of foreign students and whether they will make friends that have connections to the area in future. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Neither, but GSAL is the least bad option.

Could you keep looking? Bootham, St. Peters, Mount or HLC if it's for girls.

GSAL is a good size, I'm sure they would find their tribe.

Where will you be living?

Looked at St Peter’s and did the tour, it wasn’t for us. In respect of Bootham, we paid the application fee and are yet to receive any response. The Mount and HLC are single sex and so don’t work for us. We have a son and daughter and ideally would want them in co-ed anyway.

GSAL we had a great tour and the teachers were very welcoming/friendly.

Which one are yours at?

We will be almost equal distance between Leeds and York. Boston SPA/Tadcaster area. Are yours at GSAL?

It's our plan for secondary though thats a long way off, starting with Gateways (possibly bit small for you with teens though does go to 18) for primary but I really liked our GSAL tour too. Would definitely pick that over QEs.

I think there's buses to Cundell Manor from where you'll be too, think that's also none selective like Gateways so might not be what you're after.

Mine aren't at any of the above (slightly different location) but we have friends at Bootham and Peters - very different, and if you weren't keen on Peters it may be Bootham is for you. That would be my pick if we were in York, hands down. No response is frustrating and very offputting though!

A close friend is former staff at QE, and wouldn't recommend.

Other friends had a somewhat disasterous experience for their child with drug and mental health issues. I accept fully that those issues are prevalent everywhere though and may be specific to that family but they grumbled a lot about the school and its handling of things.

Totally understand the need for co-ed if you have one of each. I've heard favourable things about Ashville in Harrogate but don't have any personal experience.

You couldn’t pay me to send a child to QE. Have a google.

Have you considered Cundall Manor? It's a fabulous school. Our son and daughter have loved their time at Cundall. Both our children are academic and have done really well. As It is much smaller they seem to do a lot more trips and experiences than the bigger schools. i would definitley visit. It wasn't on our list but thought we would just pop in for an open day and so glad we did.

QE has just won ISA independent senior school of the year. Perhaps worth a rethink.