About the Faculty
The Faculty of Queen Ethelburga‘s offers a diverse, innovative and personalised curriculum for students from Years 10 to 13. It provides a high quality education that is designed to meet the needs of all students, who may choose to follow a more traditional route of GCSEs and A Levels or, instead, undertake more vocational courses such as BTECs. Throughout their studies pupils have access to a strong mentoring and support network where it is needed, and all students are stretched and challenged to succeed.
Pupils enjoy great academic success, with many Sixth Form students going on to the best Universities, including those from the Russell and 1994 groups, and to study a range of courses including Engineering, Psychology and Business. The non-selective nature of the Faculty of Queen Ethelburga’s provides all students with the opportunity to succeed in their chosen field.
Academic Life
Students in Key Stage 4 will follow a traditional GCSE programme with the option to include a number of BTEC courses. All pupils study English, mathematics, science and IT, and choose 3 additional options. Science courses include GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics, core and additional Science or BTEC. Mathematics GCSE is often supplemented with a further mathematics GCSE, and in English most students will complete IGCSEs in English and English Literature. There are a range of options available including geography, history and language GCSEs, but also BTECs in a range of vocational and creative subjects.
In Key Stage 5, pupils choose from 4 option columns and can select from a full range of A Levels, opt for BTECs or combine a range of both qualifications. BTECs can be studied up to Extended Diploma level and can be completed in 1 or 2 years. All students in Year 12 also take an enrichment subject such as a beginner‘s language or a Leith’s Food and Wine course, which in some cases can lead to further qualifications or simply widen a student‘s experiences.
Academic life in the Faculty is both rewarding and challenging. It promotes relevant academic achievement and ensures all students are given the best opportunity to succeed in their aspirations. All courses offered give the opportunity of progression to higher education and nearly all students will follow this route towards their future careers.
Living on Campus
Boarding is all about choice and flexibility. No matter whether you join our boarding community in the Prep School or in the Sixth Form; whether you choose to stay with us all week, all term, or drop in for a night now and then when beds are available, you will find a warm welcome in one of our friendly boarding houses.
The boarding community plays a key role in school life. Life as a boarder provides students with a secure environment in which they learn to become individuals, embracing the values of trust and mutual respect upon which our international boarding community is founded. Long lasting friendships grow, giving students the cross-cultural links and experiences which are so essential to modern life.
We appreciate that the needs of parents and their sons or daughters are different and that each family’s requirements are unique. We have an experienced team of House staff, who are committed to ensuring that boarding at Queen Ethelburga‘s is a happy and fulfilling experience for every student and their family.
