Lent Term
It was good to welcome the girls back to school on Sunday for the start of the Lent Term. It was a pleasure to witness the excellent events of the last couple of weeks of the Michaelmas Term and a special ‘thank you’ must go out to everyone involved in ‘Coram Boy’, the Advent and Christmas Carol Services and the Charity Fashion Show. I know from reading the girls’ reports that participation in such events does not affect their motivation or performance in the classroom; in fact, if anything, it enhances it. Readers of ‘letters to the editor’ in The Times should be reassured that I fully support the notion that a quality education is one in which the ‘development of character and all-round skills’ (not just a menu of examination certificates) will give our students the best possible advantages for higher education and the work place.
Our main priorities for the term ahead include: preparation for the new style boarding inspection, which will now be administered by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted, successful recruitment of girls to start in September 2012 at the assessment days on 18-20 January, recruitment of the first group of Choral Scholars to QM, an audit of our buildings and services across the campus including external security and lighting, provision of improved bathroom facilities in Cloisters, a review of staff appraisal and professional development opportunities and the conclusion of a full and visionary digital strategy review.
Each term seems to get busier and the Lent Term 2012 will be no exception. Auditions are already underway for girls in Years I-III for the summer production, ‘Jabberwocky’ and a Lacrosse Club (for girls in years I-IV), Football Club (for all) and Model United Nations Society (for girls in years IV-LVI) have been introduced into our weekly calendar.
I look forward to welcoming new visitors and long-standing friends to the school over the coming weeks.
Christmas 2011
The Michaelmas Term 2011 has been busier than ever. At Mark Reading I congratulated all the girls on the excellent progress they had made and thanked them for all their contributions to the life of the school.
During the course of the term I received lots of messages commenting how well the girls had performed – Advent Carols, Choral Evensong, Concerts, ‘Coram Boy’, the Charity Fashion Show, Sports Fixtures and Tournaments and so much more. I also had the privilege of handing over lots of certificates which recorded how much the girls had achieved – superb A Level and GCSE results, Mathematics Olympiad successes, Associated Board Music Examinations, Cecchetti Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance Examinations, selections for County, Regional and National Sports Squads, to name a few. These are wonderful decorations for a busy and successful school.
However, what made me most proud to be at QM was when I received letters from people outside our community who knew very little about the school until they first met some of the girls when they were on trips and felt moved to look us up and write to me to simply say how polite, happy, helpful and kind QM girls had been. Because they did not know the names of the girls, I could not award commendations – but I do hope the girls concerned will remember the occasions they showed kindness; they should know that they have our highest admiration.
As Christmas arrives we must wave farewell to a few members of the school community who are leaving having spent a term getting a taste of life in a British school. I hope that Alice and Beatriz from Year III, Elena and Maria from Year IV and Louisa, Alexandra and Elisa from Year V will all stay in touch with the friends they have made here at QM. We say goodbye and offer them every good wish for their future education and all their other adventures.
We also say farewell and thank you to Mrs Caroline Sutcliffe (Mathematics), Dr Magdalena Skoblar (History of Art), Mrs Jenny Pringle (Deputy Head’s Secretary) and Mrs Margaret Nettleship (Music). They leave QM with our very best wishes.
We also wish a number of members of staff well as they prepare for other changes in their lives… we send our very best wishes to Mr David Lamb and to Mr Jeremy Bowyer and Miss Susan Sykes as they celebrate their marriages this holiday.
I encouraged all the girls to have lots of fun, get lots of sleep, do lots of revision for looming examinations but most importantly, dazzle everyone with their charm, politeness and brilliance this holiday and I wish you all a very happy Christmas!
Paul Silverwood
St Margaret’s Day 2011
It was a pleasure to welcome Dr David Hope to Queen Margaret’s today for our patronal festival. The day started with a celebration of the Eucharist in Chapel at which he presided.
In 2001, for the school’s centenary, Dr Hope, then Archbishop of York, laid the foundation stone for the Chapel dedicated to St Margaret which is central to the spiritual life of the school. Over the last ten years the Chapel and Centenary Building have been the focus for corporate worship, concerts and our major gatherings.
Reflecting on the life of our patron, Queen Margaret of Scotland, Dr Hope noted her commitment to prayer, to charitable works and to her community. He challenged us to:
· use our influence to bring the best out in those around us by having the courage to speak out for what is right;
· act with integrity, putting into practice the caring words we speak; and
· inspire our family and friends to live lives like that of St Margaret: faithful, compassionate and dignified.
These are serious challenges for us all and ideals through which we can grow as a community. Living true to them is a fitting tribute to our patron.
Paul SIlverwood
Remember
As Bonfire Night approaches, the fireworks companies are doing excellent business, old furniture is being piled high awaiting a match and children (of all ages) are getting excited. As we plan our celebrations for the fifth of November we start to recall the distinctive smell of damp wood starting to burn as the bonfire comes to life, the sight of crimson plumes in the sky as Roman Candles splutter into action, the sound of thunder as gases are spontaneously released from rockets as they launch, the feeling of warmth reflected from the flames of the fire as we gather close and the gasps of astonishment as the firework display reaches its crescendo.
The sights and smells take us back to past Novembers and to the hours spent in the chemistry laboratory at school investigating different fuels, conducting flame tests on metals, observing emission spectra, measuring the rate of chemical reactions, pondering in awe the possible explanations for amazing observations and setting fire to just about anything we could lay our hands on.
Chemistry is the study of the properties and reactions of all substances – the changes that accompany the exchange of energy. Its foundations were laid by Lavoisier, Priestley and Pasteur, propagated by Rutherford, Curie and Mendeleev and developed by Haber, Pauling and Sanger, and countless others.
2011 is the International Year of Chemistry and an ideal opportunity to stop and pay tribute to the contribution made by chemists to the well-being of mankind: clean air, safe water, healthy foods, dependable medicines, advanced materials, eco-friendly products and sustainable energy. The work of twenty-first century chemists matches very closely with the United Nation’s stated Millennium Development Goals, whose aim is to eradicate poverty by 2015 by focussing on development programmes in energy, climate, food, water, education, equality and health. The aim to create a sustainable future for planet Earth will only be realised by the support for and the success of research scientists.
It is our responsibility as parents and educators to rekindle in the minds of the young the sense of wonder we experience on Bonfire Night every day of the year and to encourage the leaders and researchers of tomorrow to find deeper understanding in the intricacies and fundamentals of nature.
We should start by considering the way we approach science in schools. How often do you hear the terms ‘Music School’, ‘First team Pitch’, ‘Business Centre’ or ‘Design Studio’ used encouragingly across school campuses? And yet the term Science ‘Block’ is so frequently used – an uninspiring description which seeks to contain give finite measure to a subject area which constantly expands in ways quite unimaginable.
This year’s Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded toDan Shechtman for the discovery of crystal patterns that yielded a forbidden symmetry. His discovery rocked established views on the form of matter and forced world experts to re-evaluate their understanding; connections were made with ancient aperiodic mosaic patterns, mathematical problems which took decades to solve and an incredible link to the Golden Ratio, as defined by 13th-century Italian mathematician Fibonacci in his elegant and famous sequence of numbers. Shechtman’s bewildering observation made other scientists review their work and confidently publish their results which defied the established understanding of crystallographic knowledge. No longer would crystalline materials be defined by basic blocks of three, four or six fold symmetry.
Of the 160 individuals awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, only four are women. If the Millennium Goal of gender equality and empowerment of women is to be realised, this number must increase. To this end, let your daughters light the touch papers this November, point them in the direction of the legacy of the laureates Curie, Joliot, Hodgkin and Yonath and then encourage them to spend time in the ‘laboratory’ and ignite their search for the undiscovered.
September 2011
It gives me great pleasure to write to you at the start of the new academic year. QM is beginning the year on another superb set of examination results. At A Level, the girls have demonstrated their academic prowess, with 25% of all A Levels receiving the A* grade – the gold standard for outstanding performance. With a 100% pass rate and 86% of courses receiving a grade A*, A or B, the leavers of 2011 are now on their way to Higher Education (some via very interesting GAP year travels) at a host of top universities to read a wide range of subjects. At GCSE Level, the girls were equally successful, with 25% of entries awarded an A* grade, 84% achieving an A*, A or B and over one quarter of candidates achieving 10 (or more) A*/A grades.
I continue to be impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the staff and girls here at QM and by the support they receive from their parents, friends of the school and Old Margaretians. QM goes from strength to strength. We have received visitors and prospective parents from all four corners of the UK, and beyond, throughout the year and this September we welcome 106 new girls to the school (a record I believe), making the school roll 337.
To help all the new girls settle in quickly we have re-introduced a ‘Guardian Angels’ scheme. This ‘buddy’ system, alongside the Prefect and Monitor systems will ensure that the House activities are vibrant and that it is not long before even the most nervous boarders are joining in all the fun activities on offer.
As the school now embarks upon the year ahead, we hope new girls and current girls alike will return refreshed, revitalised and ready for the term ahead.
24th June 2011
The end of term is approaching very quickly and I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming week. The Lower School production of ‘Alice’ is now successfully underway. Yesterday’s matinee performance was thoroughly enjoyed by children from Escrick and Naburn Primary Schools as well as many of the new girls who will be joining QM in September and their parents. Saturday’s gala performance will be followed by a garden party at which we will mark the contribution of Dame Eleanor King as our Chairman of Governors.
I look forward to seeing many parents and girls competing in the PFA Tennis Tournament this Sunday and to meeting up with others at the Art Exhibition on Thursday evening. Speech Day will round off an exceptionally busy and successful year next Saturday 2nd July. Please see the Calendar and this week’s Bulletin (available on the calendar page) for details and timings.
Dr Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
2nd March 2011
The second half of the Spring Term will be as busy as the first half as we look forward to a varied programme of events and visiting speakers, as well as the second stage of our inspection by a team from the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Actress and Old Margaretian, Lorna Beckett, who is currently starring in the touring production of ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ will be back in school to talk to girls about her career, whilst the Lower Sixth geographers and economists will debate the motion “This House believes that the proposed development of North Selby Mine poses a threat to the environment.”
The Key Dates for the second half of term are as follows:
Sunday 6 March 2011 – Anglican Confirmation by the Bishop of Selby (11:00)
Saturday 12 March 2011 – Dance Show (19:30)
Sunday 13 March 2011 – Art Exhibition and Reception at Beningbrough Hall (15:00) +
Friday 18 March 2011 – Lunchtime Concert (12:30)
Friday 18 March 2011 – Year III Parents' Lunch & Meeting (from 12:00); Leave Out (begins 13:00)
Monday 21 March 2011 – Musical Showcase (19:30) *
Tuesday 22 March 2011 – Schumann Piano Quintet performed by Field Quartet & Jeremy Bowyer (19:30) *
Wednesday 23 March 2011 – ‘Live at QM’ concert of original compositions (19:30) *
Thursday 24 March 2011 – Joint Concert with Queen Margaret’s, Duncan, British Columbia (19:30) *
Saturday 26 March 2011 – Open Morning for Prospective Parents
Monday 28 March 2011 – Chamber Choir singing Choral Evensong at York Minster (17:15) *
Thursday 31 March 2011 – House Music Festival Winners’ Concert (18:15) *
Friday 1 April 2011 – Term ends (13:00); Music Trip to Tuscany departs
+ Please contact the Marketing Department for details of this event
* Please contact the Music Department for details of this event
I look forward to welcoming you to one or more of these events.
Dr Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
11th January 2011
I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year, as we reflect upon a very busy and successful Autumn Term and look forward to 2011 at QM. The Autumn saw us celebrate superb examination results, which placed QM at the top of the regional academic league tables, a number of excellent events with the Old Margaretians and fantastic performances of West Side Story.
As the new term arrives we find ourselves (like many others across the country) dealing with the aftermath of the freezing conditions. The Building & Services Department has been working hard fixing leaks to some pipes and then re-decorating rooms and corridors. We are pleased to report that we are fully operational and in very good health!
This term we look forward to the launch of the Lower School Glee Club, the British Pentathlon Association Fencing and Shooting workshops and strengthening our links with Merchiston Castle School, when our Year III and IV girls travel to Edinburgh in February.
There are a number of important dates which I would like to highlight and you may wish to attend some of the events noted below. The school calendar on this site gives further details of all events and fixtures, but please do get in touch with the school if you require further information.
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Date
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Event
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Time
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Wednesday 12 January 2011
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U14 & U15 North Schools’ Lacrosse Finals at QM
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10:00
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Friday 21 January 2011
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Choral Evensong with address by Kath Lee, Christian Missionary
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17:45
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Friday 21 January 2011
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Politics Lecture: Lord Norton
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19:45
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Friday 28 January 2011
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Lunchtime Concert
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12:30
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Friday 28 January 2011
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LVI parents' Meeting (lunch from 12:00)
Leave-out begins 13:00
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Monday 31 January 2011
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Leave-out ends
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20:00
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Wednesday 9 February 2011
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Year in Industry Presentation: Mark Holmes, EDT North
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17:30
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Wednesday 9 February 2011
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PFA Lecture: Martha Holmes, BBC producer ‘Life’
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19:30
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Thursday 10 February 2011
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Independent Schools’ Choir Concert, York Minster
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19:30
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Saturday 12 February 2011
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Open Morning
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10:30
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Saturday 12 February 2011
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Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards at Selby Abbey
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19:30
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Sunday 13 February 2011
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Roman Catholic Confirmation by the Bishop of Middlesbrough
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11:00
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Thursday 17 February 2011
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Wind and Brass Music Competition
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Thursday 17 February 2011
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GCSE girls’ Drama Production
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Friday 18 February 2011
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Lunchtime Concert
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12:30
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Friday 18 February 2011 –
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Year V parents' meeting (lunch from 12:00);
Half Term begins (13:00)
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* Tickets are available through the school or
www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org for the concert in the Minster on Thursday 10 February, which is in aid of
Homestart York www.home-start.org.uk and will feature over 500 singers from 14 local independent schools.
Royal Wedding
As you will be aware, the government has decided to make the Royal Wedding day (29 April) a Bank Holiday. Following extensive consultation, we have decided to stick to our originally planned term dates. Boarders return from their Easter break by 16:00 on Tuesday 26 April 2011 and lessons begin at 09:00 on Wednesday 27 April 2011. Given the time of year (so close to public examinations) we cannot afford to lose lessons and due to the fact that many flights and holidays have already been booked, we cannot manipulate term dates and leave-outs at short notice to better accommodate the new Bank Holiday. We will therefore continue with our published dates and will pause on the Friday to enable girls and their teachers to watch the wedding and join in the country-wide celebrations. The girls and staff will be consulted regarding the nature of our celebrations.
I would like to close by wishing you all a very happy and successful 2011.
Best wishes
Paul Silverwood
1st November 2010
It has been an excellent start to the year at Queen Margaret's. We have enjoyed an action-packed half term and the pace of activities is set to continue as we look towards the next six busy weeks.
It has been a pleasure to meet with old girls, current parents and prospective parents and their daughters at a number of events during September and October. The Sixth Form and General Open Days were very well attended and girls from all year groups acted as fantastic hosts and spoke with real passion about their school. We are now experiencing an increase in both the number of visiting families and applicants for places at QM for next September and my diary is looking exceedingly full.
This October we introduced a two-week break for the first time. As well as allowing girls to enjoy a better balance of work and rest, it has been an excellent opportunity for overseas trips. The Classics Department took a group of girls to Italy, visiting Rome and Pompeii and Miss Proctor led the World Challenge expedition to Morocco. I am very grateful to the staff for giving their time and we look forward to hearing the girls' reports in assembly.
Last year I spoke a lot about the need for integration between different year groups and the girls have taken up the challenge most successfully. The girls' own 'Integration Nation' (as they have called it) has been spearheaded by the re-launched House system. With St Aidan's as Quiz Champions, Garry as 'Funsong' winners and Friday evenings buzzing with new ideas, menu suggestions and lots of energy, the standard has certainly been raised. Friday evenings have also provided a weekly opportunity for the whole school to come together for Choral Evensong; the standard of singing has been superb. It has also been very good to see a large majority of day girls staying on Friday nights in school. Indeed, many have extended the stay for the full weekend, enjoying the new Common Rooms in the main building and the weekend activities, which have included a trip to the 'Krypton Factor' assault course, lessons in archery, clay-pigeon shooting, rifle shooting and fencing, a circus skills workshop, pizza baking, and a variety of creative pursuits. Our Gardening Club has now achieved Level 1 certification with the Royal Horticultural Society and 'GCHQ' (the Summer House) has a new look. Record numbers of girls have been included in the County Hockey training and a special mention must be made of the superb start to sporting fixtures made by the Year I girls.
At the start of this academic year we re-launched the School Council. This committee is the main vehicle for the girls at QM to have their voice heard and make an impact in the running of the school. The Council has a democratically elected member of each year group and is now chaired by the Head Girl (Miranda Wallace) and the Head Monitor from Year IV Jodie Miller) acts as Council Secretary. The Council recently met with the Head Chef and Regional Manager for ARAMARK (Education) UK, the representative for our catering providers. They were able to express their opinions regarding menus and food at QM and provided excellent ideas for the company to act upon.
The Buildings & Services and Housekeeping Departments have had a very busy couple of weeks whilst the girls have been away from Escrick Park. The finishing touches have been going into 'Cellars', which will have an official opening after our Bonfire Night celebrations on Saturday 6 November. The new venue will resemble a modern cafe by day and be a hub for entertainments during evenings for girls in the Upper School. The bonfire itself is also starting to take shape (but I'll not spoil the fun by saying which shape). We are now praying for dry conditions for the evening so that we can enjoy the 'Hog Roast', games and firework display. The holiday has also witnessed the conversion of another old carrel room, this time into a multi-media study room. This will provide the girls with an additional rank of six computers as well as access to audio-visual equipment for preparing presentations and hosting academic societies and meetings.
I hope that you have been able to enjoy some quality family time this Half Term, and that your daughters have enjoyed a break from the intensity of school life. With batteries re-charged, we look forward to the next stage of the year.
25th August 2010
Record Results for Queen Margaret’s School
QM girls are celebrating excellent GCSE results, which complement the outstanding achievements of the Sixth Form last week at Advanced Level.
GCSE Results
Eleven girls achieved A*/A in ten or more subjects
Over one third of all examinations resulted in an A* grade
Over one half of girls received at least eight A*/A grades
70% of all grades awarded were A*/A
92% of all grades awarded were A*-B
100% of girls achieved seven A*-C grades
Alexandra Hamilton received eleven straight A* grades
I am so pleased that this year’s record GCSE success reflects the academic ability and sustained hard work of our Year V girls and their teachers. These results will give the girls a superb platform on which to build as they enter the Sixth Form. Congratulations to all the girls on these superb results, which they have obtained alongside their sporting, cultural and charitable commitments.
A Level Results
Over a quarter of all examinations were awarded an A* grade (with scores of at least 90% in all final papers and over three times the national average)
25 girls received at least three A*/A grades (and have their sights set on highly competitive university places)
Over two thirds of all grades awarded were A*/A (a new school record)
43% of girls were awarded three A grades or better and 52% received at least one A* grade
93% of all grades awarded were A*/B (an outstanding academic achievement putting QM amongst the elite academic schools in the country)
Over 99% of all grades awarded were A*-C
100% of girls are able to take up places in Higher Education
Astrid Bulmer received four straight A* grades and Yolanda Liu recieved four A* grades
I am extremely proud of the Upper Sixth who have achieved such an outstanding set of results. All QM leavers will be able to take up places in Higher Education either this Autumn or after a GAP year and all the girls holding offers for Oxbridge or places on Medicine/Veterinary Medicine courses achieved their required grades. This is a reflection of their hard work and determination and also of the skill and dedication of their teachers. At Queen Margaret’s we encourage every girl to aim high and exceed her expectations – by achieving so many A and A* grades between them, our Sixth Form leavers have done just that. Everyone at QM wishes them every success for the next stage of their educational journey.
These results are especially impressive since we are not as selective on academic grounds as most of our competitors. We seek to provide a first class all-round education for girls from a wide range of backgrounds and help them to develop as individuals in a caring and motivating environment. QM girls are free to choose their own curriculum and enrich their academic studies with a wide range of additional intellectual, cultural, sporting and social activities. An A* student at QM is not only able to achieve top grades in public examinations, she will also thrive on solving problems, supporting others in their goals and fulfilling the school’s long-held belief that charity and compassion are characteristics worth celebrating. These results demonstrate the determination of the girls to fulfil these aims and the benefits that a friendly and supportive community have on academic progress.
20th August 2010
QM Girls shine with A* Grades
At Queen Margaret’s we are celebrating an outstanding set of Advanced Level results. The girls achieved 93% A* to B grades.
This year is the first in which it is possible to achieve A* grades at A level (for which candidates had to score 90% or greater on their final papers), and 25% of the QM girls’ grades have been awarded at A* (over three times the predicted national level and significantly higher than the independent sector’s average).
43% of our students were awarded three A grades or better and 52% received at least one A* grade. Performances in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Literature and Theatre Studies were particularly strong.
These excellent results mean that all the QM leavers will be able to take up places in Higher Education either this Autumn or after a GAP year. All the girls holding Oxbridge offers and for places on Medicine/Veterinary Medicine courses achieved their required grades.
I am extremely proud of the Upper Sixth who have achieved such an outstanding set of results. This is a reflection of their hard work and determination and also of the skill and dedication of their teachers. At Queen Margaret’s we encourage every girl to aim high and exceed her expectations – by achieving so many A and A* grades between them, our Sixth Form leavers have done just that. Everyone at QM wishes them every success for the next stage of their educational journey.
These results are especially impressive since we are not as selective on academic grounds as most of our competitors. We seek to provide a first class all-round education for girls from a wide range of backgrounds and help them to develop as individuals in a caring and motivating environment. QM girls are free to choose their own curriculum and enrich their academic studies with a wide range of additional intellectual, cultural, sporting and social activities. An A* student at QM is not only able to achieve top grades in public examinations, she will also thrive on solving problems, supporting others in their goals and fulfilling the school’s long-held belief that charity and compassion are characteristics worth celebrating. These results demonstrate the determination of the girls to fulfil these aims and the benefits that a friendly and supportive community have on academic progress.
_______________________
Latest Post:
Academic Excellence, Pastoral Care and Enrichment Opportunities
I have been most impressed by the quantity and quality of successes recorded by the girls this term. Despite being engrossed in revision for school and public examinations and, inevitably, distracted by the glorious sunshine and lured away to the outdoor swimming pool, the girls have showcased their talent once more.
Our first year in York has been most enjoyable and I would like to say thank you to everyone for making us so welcome. I count myself very fortunate to have joined such a fantastic school at such an exciting time. But the clock keeps ticking and it will be September before we know it! Next academic year will see the start of a number of new initiatives, not least a complete overhaul of the Plan of Day. The school day will be divided differently, creating what we believe will be a better balance for work, rest and play and enable us to protect what is important in the life of a busy and successful boarding school, whilst allowing us to provide new opportunities and challenges for all the girls.
The ability to study independently is, we believe, one of the absolute must-have skills that girls acquire during their time at QM. The provision of a variety of suitable study times and locations is therefore high on our priority list. From September there will be a second library and a number of new study areas for collaborative and private work. The girls will also benefit from a number of new common rooms and social areas. The ever-popular 'cellars' club will move to a new, much anticipated, venue and provide the girls in the Upper School with an excellent hub for events.
Lots of careful planning has gone into our Enrichment programme to provide girls with a blend of art, dance, drama, music and sport alongside trips, activities and academic societies. We are re-launching our House system with teachers taking on the roles of Heads of Houses, supported by affiliated staff and teams of Prefects and Monitors. Girls have just undergone a rigorous application procedure for positions of responsibility. Letters of application, references, voting and interviews have combined to give a full picture of the skills on offer and I have been most impressed by the girls' dedication to the process, genuine love for their school and many thoughtful ideas, which we will be exploring further in the months ahead. I am in no doubt that there is a large group of future world leaders here at QM!
If you are reading this and have never visited the school, we would like to invite you to come to one of our open days (on 9 October or 13 November) and experience life at QM for yourself. Further information is available from:
enquiries@queenmargarets.com
I would like to sign off by wishing you all a very relaxing summer. We look forward to seeing you again in the autumn as the girls return to aim for excellence in the academic, pastoral and richly varied life of the school.
With best wishes
Paul Silverwood
Latest Post:
Ambition, Enthusiasm and Independence
At Queen Margaret's, girls aim high and exceed their expectations. They are challenged to academic success, given individual pastoral care and provided with a wealth of enrichment opportunities through clubs, societies, sports and cultural activities. Each week is full of learning experiences and each weekend provides a wealth of choices to develop the girls’ talents and reward their enthusiasm.
QM girls are encouraged to develop new skills, question assumptions, investigate with fresh eyes and take intellectual risks. They are mindful of the world around them and part of a caring community.
Personal and collective success, spiritual and social awareness, growth in confidence and independence are the hallmarks of a girl’s time at QM.
I would like to invite you to visit Escrick Park and meet for yourself the ambitious, courteous and talented young women we are proud to educate.
For further information, please contact the school:
enquiries@queenmargarets.com
8th March 2010
Ambition, Enthusiasm and Independence
Queen Margaret’s is the place where girls aim high and exceed their expectations.
Located just south of the ancient city of York in acres of countryside, QM is a leading boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 years old.
Girls are challenged to academic success, given individual pastoral care and provided with a wealth of enrichment opportunities through clubs, societies, sports and cultural activities. Each week is full of learning experiences and each weekend provides a wealth of choices to develop the girls’ talents and reward their enthusiasm.
QM girls are encouraged to develop new skills, question assumptions, investigate with fresh eyes and take intellectual risks. They are mindful of the world around them and part of a caring community.
Personal and collective success, spiritual and social awareness, growth in confidence and independence are the hallmarks of a girl’s time at QM.
I encourage you to visit Escrick Park and meet for yourself the ambitious, courteous and talented young women we are proud to educate.
The next Open Day will be held on Saturday 24 April 2010. For further information, please contact the school: enquiries@queenmargarets.com
With best wishes
Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
Monday 22 February 2010
We returned from the half term break to yet more snow in Escrick Park, but with no intention of letting it slow us down. This week we have a number of exciting events and opportunities for the whole school community...
Monday: VI Form Germanists are out of school on a Study Day
Tuesday: 'Entrepreneurship' is the title of the Careers Focus evening, at which we welcome Jonathan Hick (one of Channel Four's Secret Millionaires) and Gita Mistry (BBC TV's Britain's Best Home Cook)
Wednesday: We host the Hockey U18 Area Tournament with high expectations for QM success
Thursday: Year IV girls host and hear life stories of women from HMP Askham Bryan
Friday: Science and Mathematics Societies join forces to investigate the science behind computer games
Saturday: Year II host 'QM's Got Talent' in aid of the Haiti Appeal
This week is also Year III Focus Week. We will be observing lessons, scrutinising work, reviewing private study and enrichment activities and celebrating the achievements of this year group.
We are also very grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for hosting a drinks reception on Thursday evening at Belvoir Castle for parents and prospective parents. I look forward to meeting many of you there.
The week culminates with a closed weekend. On Sunday the theatre will be busy all day in preparation for the Inter-House 'Play in a Day' drama competition. This will involve the whole school and, if other recent house events such as Masterchef and Fun Song are anything to go by, will be hotly contested and showcase a lot of QM talent.
With best wishes
Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
Monday 18 January 2010
With the deadline for university applications now past, I am very pleased to report on the number of excellent offers being received by the girls in the Upper Sixth. It is great for their confidence to receive the recognition for their hard work and determination. The last couple of years of academic lessons, private study, public examinations and extra-curricular involvement have paid off. We look forward to hearing about lots more successes in the weeks ahead.
For some people, thinking about the future is scary. They want security in their journey through life. Perhaps they are scared about important exams and decisions that have to be made about what courses to study and where to work
The truth is, life is incredibly precious, exciting and unpredictable. What do you want to happen this year in your life? This year, as we launch out into the known and unknown in 2010 and beyond, think about what launching out may mean for you personally. There may be some exciting and wonderful surprises in store for you. I suggest four things you might consider:
(1) Take risks and be more adventurous
Is there anything that’s worth taking a risk to achieve? This might mean working harder to get a higher grade than your teachers expect, and surprising them and your family and even yourself! Taking a risk may mean breaking a destructive which hurts others. Taking a risk may mean confronting old fears and discovering the amazing rewards on the other side of them. Loving others involves risk-taking: the risk of being vulnerable.
(2) Set yourself goals
Establish a plan to reach a goal and tell someone what you want to achieve
(3) Look in the mirror
Ask yourself what sort of person you want to be over the coming year. Are you able to respect what you are becoming?
(4) Devote your life to something greater than yourself
You may not be a ‘secret millionaire’, but you can still make a positive difference, helping people in your school and wider community.
A new year is a new beginning, a gift full of promise. How many of you made New Year’s resolutions? How many of you are still keeping them?
Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
Monday 11 January 2010
The Spring Term has got off to a flying start at QM, despite the persistent snow showers and icy conditions. It was great to see everyone return last week and we are all wrapping up well for the Norwegian winter conditions.
We welcome a number of members of staff: Miss Cassandra Thackray joins us from The Mount School, York, to be Assistant Housemistress in the Upper School. Mrs Susan Sykes joins us from Gloucester College, where she was Head of Pupil Support, having previously run residential educational programmes, to be a Housemistress in the Middle School. Both Miss Thackray and Mrs Sykes have Art & Design degrees, which I am sure they will put to good use very quickly… we welcome them both.
Mrs Sue Pickering is now to be found in Red House as Housemistress to Year I, where she will be assisted by Mrs Simpson and Miss Danielle Di Carlo, who is probably wondering what she was thinking when she got on the plane in Melbourne as 2009 became 2010. Our second GAP assistant for 2010 from St Margaret’s in Melbourne is Miss Sophie Kneebone, who joins Miss Julie Hogg and Miss Sarah Di Carlo in Year II.
We are also very please to welcome the new girls to the school. We wish them every happiness and success at QM.
I am pleased to announce that, following the interviews at the end of last term, Mrs Carole Cameron has accepted the offer to become Deputy Head from September, when Mrs King retires. Mrs Cameron is currently Headmistress of Highfield School (the Prep School to Harrogate Ladies’ College), having previously been Head of Economics and Geography in the Senior School and held the post of Deputy Head at a number of other schools, in the UK and the Caribbean. We look forward to her visiting QM to meet more girls and their parents later this academic year.
Following Mrs Lawson’s move to Australia at Christmas, Miss Proctor will now assume the role of Head of Boarding in the Upper, Middle and Lower schools. So she will be around all the boarding houses over the coming months.
The Spring Term is not as long as the Autumn Term, but will be just as busy. I wish all those involved in examinations the very best of results. Alongside all the exams, lessons, rehearsals, concerts, shows, practices, matches and special events, we will be finding time to review a number of important aspects of school life. Through direct consultation and through School Council representatives, the girls will be asked for their opinions about:
- The timings of the school day
- Reports
- The Role of the Form Tutor
- Our Boarding provision, particularly in Years II, III & IV
- Weekend Activities
- Academic Lessons
- Private Study Time
- Information & Digital Technology
- Sustainability
I want Queen Margaret’s to a Centre of Excellence in every field and for us to be proud of what we have to offer. I hope that all the girls enjoy the Spring Term here and want to tell their friends at other schools about everything they are missing out on!
Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
Wednesday 16th December 2009
QM has enjoyed a very busy and successful term, packed with enjoyable events and great achievements. It has been good to see so many friends of the school at parents’ meetings, lunches, the OMA Gathering, PFA meeting, ‘Into the Sixth Form’ event, Open Day, by the touchline, in the Theatre or just in passing when you have visited the school. I have enjoyed meeting the girls in the classroom, accompanying many of them on trips or inviting them to our home for supper.
What has struck me more than anything else has been the friendly and happy spirit that QM girls have in abundance. I have been impressed by the girls’ desire to do well and to help each other. From the Great North Run, at which a team of ten girls, five staff and two parents completed the 13.2 mile course and raised money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, to the collection of sweets for soldiers on Remembrance Day, QM has been finding opportunities to show their concern and support others. This term’s House charities have been ‘Hope and Homes’ and The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract and we have also supported the Poppy Appeal, the Salvation Army and the Garden House Hospice in Letchworth; the generosity of spirit of our patron saint continues to thrive today. As we celebrate our sixtieth year in Escrick, we are happier than ever to work in partnership with the village and hope that our support for each other continues to strengthen.
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Paul Silverwood
Headmaster
Friday 23 October 2009
We have enjoyed a very busy and successful half term at QM. The last seven weeks have gone by very quickly but have been packed with enjoyable events and great achievements. It has been good to see so many of you already this term… at parents’ meetings, lunches, the OMA Gathering, PFA meeting, ‘Into the Sixth Form’ event, Open Day, by the touchline or just in passing when you have collected or returned your daughter(s). We have enjoyed meeting the girls, accompanying many of them on trips or inviting them to our home. I look forward to inviting more girls to join my family for supper in the months ahead.
The half-term break was signalled by the annual 'Fun Song'. It was hard to hear any of the music above the cheering. It was certainly a highly successful event. Congratulations to St Aidan's for their competition winning Michael Jackson tribute.
I hope that you are able to enjoy some family time this holiday, and that your daughter(s) will enjoy a break from the intensity of school life and be able to recharge batteries for the next stage of the year. I look forward to seeing you at the various events between now and Christmas:
- PFA Drinks Party – Years I – IV (1 November)
- Lunchtime Concert (20 November)
- Sports Fixtures (various)
- ‘Saint Joan’ (3 – 5 December)
- Carols at Red House – Year I (6 December)
- Christmas Concert (14 December)
- Carol Service (16 December)
With my best wishes,
Paul Silverwood
Friday 25th September 2009
Team QM had an amazing day at the
Great North Run with brilliant sunshine, fantastic support from the crowds and some great times too. Tash Straker, Frankie Johnson, Katie Lambert and Jenny Hobbiss all recorded times under two hours. Connie Knox, Julia Barstow, Molly Barkes and Katie Morton completed the course in less than three hours. The staff didn’t do too badly either, with Mr Locke, Miss Bewers and Mr Lightfoot leading the way, finishing in less than two hours. The team was supported by Miss Whittle, driving the minibus, providing sustenance and being the official photographer. Thanks are also due to Mrs Trumper for coordinating the whole event and the parents who ran or followed the competitors. All those involved were a wonderful advert for QM… I hope that the aching limbs recover quickly. If you would still like to support the runners by making a donation to their charity, it is still not too late. The website for donations is
www.justgiving.com/qmsrunsforleukaemia. The money raised will go to the Anthony Nolan Trust, which provides lifesaving donors for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.
We were privileged to have as our guest speaker in Chapel Colonel Mark Cook. After retiring from active duty in the British Army, Mark and his wife set up the charity ‘
Hope and Homes’ that works with some of the world’s poorest and most neglected children. He gave an inspiring talk, challenging us to think about the type of people we want to be. I know from the immediate response from the girls, that this is a charity we will want to support more in the future.
The first leave weekend is fast approaching. But before we all take a well earned rest, we have a very important event in school. On Friday 02 October, we are holding our annual
‘Into the Sixth Form’ day. All girls in year V and their parents are invited to join with prospective students and their parents from 10:45 in the Centenary Building to hear about life in the Sixth Form here at QM. A presentation will outline the process for selecting the right set of AS subjects. This will be followed by lunch (come and sample some of the food provided by our new catering department), tours of the Sixth Form boarding accommodation and the A Level Fair. Heads of academic departments will be available to discuss the current progress of the girls and provide detailed information about their subjects, post-16. We will also launch our new-look Sixth Form prospectus. I look forward to meeting many you at this important event. If you are unable to make it on this occasion, I hope that you will be able to make an appointment to come to school discuss your daughter’s future choices with us.
Best regards
Paul Silverwood
Friday 18th September 2009
One week into term and everything at QM is buzzing. The new ICT suite has been baptised, the year representatives have been elected, QMPT Challenge 1000 was launched and the Chaplain has sampled some birthday cakes. He has commented that the standard is very high this year. My family and I accompanied Year I to the ‘Forbidden Corner’ and managed to avoid getting too wet in the caves and by the waterfall as we solved clues and explored the tunnels, turrets and gardens.
This weekend is going to be very busy with academic lessons, hockey matches at home and away, the Chamber Choir singing at a wedding and the fun Activity Day in Escrick Park on Sunday. The girls will be learning to climb, shoot and drive. Archery and team inflatable volleyball will, no doubt, raise the stakes for the House teams.
Also on Sunday, a group of ten girls, five staff and two parents are competing in the Great North Run. We wish them well as they run the 13.2 mile course and raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which provides lifesaving donors for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. If you would like to support them, please visit:
www.justgiving.com/qmsrunsforleukaemia
Friday 11th September 2009
QM has enjoyed a busy and exciting start to the term, with girls returning from all corners of the country (and some much further afield) with smiles and stories to tell.
We have welcomed lots of new girls into the QM family over the last couple of days and look forward to seeing them grow and flourish as academic lessons and a multitude of activities and clubs begin to occupy their time.
I wish all our girls a highly successful and happy term and encourage you to come and visit the school, look around and feel the buzz of the QM community.
Please make regular visits to our website to see what is new and what the girls are achieving.
Best regards
Paul Silverwood