Queen Ethelburga’s College Recognized as Top School in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026
Queen Ethelburga’s College has distinguished itself once again by securing a prominent ranking in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, a highly regarded assessment of the UK’s leading schools. This prestigious guide has recognized the college as the sixth-best co-educational independent school across the country for A*/A grades at A Level, while also celebrating its remarkable achievement of being ranked first in the North of England for both A Level and GCSE results.
Dan Machin, principal at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, emphasized the institution’s commitment to excellence in education. He stated, “Our goal is to consistently set the standard for independent education – combining academic rigour, sporting ambition, and creative opportunity in an environment designed to inspire.” He highlighted the diverse range of over 150 weekly activities and global trips available to students, along with leadership programs that groom future professionals across various fields, including medicine, engineering, sports, and the arts. Machin also expressed pride in the school’s ability to not only foster individual success but also equip students with essential skills and resilience for their future endeavors.
The college’s recent accolades mark the fifth consecutive year it has received this recognition, a testament to its unwavering dedication to providing exemplary educational experiences for its students. The Parent Power Guide specifically applauded the college’s personalized learning initiatives, which enable students to tailor their educational journeys according to their interests, combining traditional A-level paths with vocational and creative pursuits.
The impressive results further bolster the college’s reputation, with 83 percent of A-level results in 2024 achieving grades of A*-A and 90.3 percent of GCSEs graded between 9-7.
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In addition to stellar academic performance, Queen Ethelburga’s has seen its students excel in extracurricular activities. Two of its esports teams recently achieved podium finishes at the Daigon School Esports World Championships in Malta, marking the college as the only institution globally to field two competing teams. Another notable feat includes a student being appointed to the AI Student Council of the Good Futures Foundation, providing essential youth perspectives on the development of inclusive and ethical artificial intelligence.
Athletic achievements are also noteworthy, with a Year 12 footballer representing Bermuda in the CONCACAF W Qualifiers and the senior girls’ cricket team featured in Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.
The college’s commitment to the arts was on full display with the successful staging of a full-scale, three-night pantomime at its on-site professional theatre, part of a series of major productions held annually.
Investments in sports coaching have significantly enhanced the college’s offerings, including the hiring of former England U21 striker Matt Derbyshire and FA and para football specialist Sam Sharman as UEFA A licensed lead football coaches. Cricket coaching has been spearheaded by Shrikant Wagh, who boasts over 250 professional matches and five IPL seasons, supported by ECB Level 3 coach Dan Ranasinghe.
Overall, Queen Ethelburga’s College continues to evolve as a hub of educational excellence, offering a plethora of opportunities for its students to thrive academically, socially, and creatively.
