Queen Ethelburga's College

Word From The Head

Daniel Machin

It is a privilege to be able to extend a warm welcome as Principal to Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, known locally, nationally, and internationally for our outstanding pastoral care, our high-quality boarding provision, and our exceptional academic outcomes; all supported by our fantastic facilities. Most importantly, QE is a happy and fulfilling place where our students and staff thrive.

Having joined as a Teacher of Business Studies and ICT in September 2005, I have been fortunate to be able to carry out a number of interesting and varied roles in the past fifteen years, including Head of Sixth Form, Head of College, and latterly as Vice Principal. This means that I fully understand the needs, aspirations and exceptional abilities of all of our QE students, and I have used this knowledge to work alongside our skilled and dedicated staff in developing what we offer, so that the school today is at the forefront of educational innovation and expertise. In particular, our Strategic, Senior Leadership, and Estate Management teams benefit from experience, skill, initiative, and strong team-work, which leads to a single-minded focus on ensuring that we provide the very best for our QE Community.

The Collegiate is uniquely made up of four smaller schools, each with its own Head, Deputy Head, and management team. This ensures a nurturing, family atmosphere where the staff know their students thoroughly and form outstanding student-teacher relationships based on mutual respect and unwavering support for each other.

We have established ourselves amongst the top schools worldwide, demonstrated by our outstanding academic results and impressive list of top university destinations. We recognise that the quality of teaching in the classroom is the most critical component in achieving academic excellence, hence our investment in continuing professional development. This ensures our teachers remain at the top of their profession, and our students are equipped with the skills they will need to become successful adults. We also understand the importance of developing the whole student by presenting opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through our extensive enrichment and super-curricular programmes, designed to recognise and celebrate the skills and aspirations of each individual.

We promote a culture of self-awareness; encouraging and developing individual potential and personal qualities, such as those of leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility. We believe in placing each student at the centre of their own development and that learning is a life-long process. Our students leave us as resilient, independent, confident and self-aware young adults, proud to have been members of the Collegiate, and ready to take their place in the wider community.

Thank you for your interest in our school. I look forward to speaking to you about how we can help your child to be the best that they can with the gifts that they have.