Why do people hate Queen Ethelburga's?

[Corgi1234]

Hi all,
I am been doing some research about schools recently and I came across Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate. The school seems fine, with very impressive A level results. But as I look further and further into this school, people seem to really hate this school and it also seems that the reputation of this school has been going downhill for a long time. Apart from the sexual misconduct scandals, what else do people hate about this school?

You are not likely to get honest answers here as even honest comment on the school tends to result in threatening legal letters from the school via MNHQ.

I am sure that having posted this I will now receive such a threat.

I think the sex misconduct is enough for many people.

Also, they are the only school I've come across who divides their (same site, same teaching etc) pupils into two entities (College and Faculty, I think the names are) so they appear separately in league tables

As a prospective parent, what is it about the school that appeals to you, and which others are you considering?

A family member was there so I have some direct experience.
I am saying no more as they are quite litigious apparently

I see. Yea I have also heard about the school taking legal actions. I understand everyone not willing to comment on it

I used to get their leaflets in pony magazines and desperately wanted to go! Fortunately my parents could in no way afford it.

apart from the sexual misconduct allegations

Yeah, that'd be it op...

The achievement stats are based on two separate entities: a highly selective cohort, and an anyone can apply cohort.

Parents applying to any private school could always, perhaps, look at the structure of management, governance and leadership and ask where any objective transparency and accountability lies.

Applicant parents to any private school might reasonably look at staff structured and management: is there a robust policy that enables staff to express concerns without losing their jobs, for example.

In respect of this school in particular, given the abuse conviction, why are you even asking? Are you writing an article or something?

@13luckyblackcats

I used to get their leaflets in pony magazines and desperately wanted to go! Fortunately my parents could in no way afford it.

Me too! They must have an impressive marketing budget.

There are some very impressive statues of horses there.
Not sure what the point of them is though

Especially since there haven’t been horses there for years @Hoppinggreen
Unlike most indi’s which are break even affairs, this is a business first and foremost
The phrase “ all fur coat and no knickers “ is a fair representation
4 mill on bronze horse statues, insufficient science labs for the students A boom and bust mentality based mainly on overseas students, staff get hired and fired with alarming regularity.
The now fully substantiated abuse issues.

They have a very active advertising campaign -- you can't help but run into it & then form opinions about them.

I felt there was large gap between their actual GCSE results (as published) and as described in words ("top grades"). Maybe other private schools are the same, but they didn't get advertised everywhere all the time.

Recent thread that managed not to get deleted.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4290737-Queen-Ethelburga-school-and-sex-abuse

Apart from the sexual misconduct allegations?

@Porcupineintherough

Apart from the sexual misconduct allegations?

Not allegations: a conviction. For sexual abuse.

But apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

@homeEd2021

But apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

@ShingleBeach

The achievement stats are based on two separate entities: a highly selective cohort, and an anyone can apply cohort.

Parents applying to any private school could always, perhaps, look at the structure of management, governance and leadership and ask where any objective transparency and accountability lies.

Applicant parents to any private school might reasonably look at staff structured and management: is there a robust policy that enables staff to express concerns without losing their jobs, for example.

In respect of this school in particular, given the abuse conviction, why are you even asking? Are you writing an article or something?

Nah just confused about the hate coming from the local community. Not writing an article at all.

@QuiltedHippo
It's true they have an impressive marketing budget. I've heard that they buy brand new music equipment just for a marketing photo shoot.

It’s always telling to note the staff turnover at any school. When this involves a recently appointed Principal, too, it’s also pretty informative.

Looking at the senior management team....very few of them seem to have much experience at similar schools. For a school charging such enormous fees that positions itself as a hotbed of academic excellent, I was surprised at how unimpressive the credentials of their management are. www.qe.org/home/about/meet-our-strategic-team

*excellence! Sigh

This Queen Ethelburga's?

www.the-fence.com/online-only/mr-martin-bought-the-school

LOLOLOLOL

This is horrific. I honestly have no words - how many kids have been abjectly failed by this system? And what the hell is wrong with the police?

thank you for sharing, I had no idea.

When DD was 10 we looked at an independent school in Wakefield, and decided not to send her there due to expense. We must have got on to some kind of mailing list because when she was in year 11 we were sent a brochure from QE inviting us to consider their school for 6th form. It went into the recycling bin.