Discover the power of an all-girls education: Open days at Queen Mary’s School, Baldersby Park

In today’s world, where girls are expected to achieve more while facing growing social pressures, the value of an all-girls education has never been more evident.

Built with girls’ futures in mind, all-girls schools consistently provide the space, structure, and support needed for them to thrive – not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and personally.

With the curriculum, class structure, and teaching styles adapted to specifically suit how girls best learn and how they want to learn, girls outperform their peers in co-educational settings.

Academic excellence, tailored for girls

At Queen Mary’s School, Baldersby Park, girls are doing just that.

Ranked among the UK’s top 10 independent schools without a Sixth Form* Queen Mary’s blends academic excellence with individualised care and personal development, all within a nurturing, close-knit community that celebrates every girl for who she is.

The results speak for themselves.

Queen Mary’s girls achieve an average of a grade higher in each subject taken than they would have otherwise, regardless of their academic starting point.

The school’s commitment to achieving beyond expectations for all abilities is something of which they are particularly proud.

This success is no accident.

With a 1:7 staff to pupil ratio, the girls at Queen Mary’s enjoy more teacher one-to-one contact time, and build closer teacher-student relationships than can be offered by larger class settings.

This personalised attention is a significant factor behind the school’s fantastic 2025 GCSE results, with 56% of grades awarded at 7-9.

Leadership for life at Queen Mary’s School

More than ever, young women need opportunities to lead, speak up and shape the world around them.

Queen Mary’s does more than just talk about leadership - it actively cultivates it.

Beyond traditional roles like Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl, pupils take on leadership positions in areas such as the charity committee, marketing and events, academics, sport, and the arts.

The school’s dedicated leadership programme, HER VOICE: Leadership For Girls, ensures pupils lead with purpose.

Head Fe Beadnell, says: “Leadership is more than being in charge. It’s about the integrity and courage to speak up, the compassion and humility to listen, and the resilience to keep going.

The programme includes development of real-world skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and ethical decision-making - the qualities any strong leader needs.

A highlight of the programme is the full day of “Her Voice” workshops for Year 5 students where interactive seminars are delivered by successful alumnae and business women.

Importantly, the initiative addresses a critical window in girls’ development - when, by the age of 10, many girls are beginning to doubt their abilities.

By intervening early, Queen Mary’s helps its pupils to see themselves as capable, confident leaders.

A place for sport and adventure

Sport plays a vital role in helping girls stay active, confident, and resilient. At Queen Mary’s, levels of participation are high.

A stand-out feature of Queen Mary’s is its award-winning riding school, where pupils from beginner level to national competitors take part in a wide range of equestrian disciplines.

The school’s equestrian team were crowned the 2024 NSEA 80cm Show Jumping National Champions and they’ve qualified again this year as Northern Champions.

Adventure also plays a key role in developing confidence.

Led by the school’s Head of Adventure, Colin Burn, girls enjoy everything from abseiling, mattress surfing and high rope courses to kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing and river swimming, all within the 40 acre site.

The safe and supportive environment gives girls the freedom to push their boundaries without fear, empowering them to grow in confidence, courage and self-belief whilst building lifelong camaraderie with one another.

How to get in touch and book an open day visit

Studies consistently show that girls in single-sex schools are more confident, more likely to pursue STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and more inclined to take on leadership roles.

They’re also more financially aware and more likely to break gender stereotypes when it comes to career paths.

An all-girls environment like Queen Mary’s allows them to focus fully on their development, free from many of the social pressures found in co-educational settings.

Queen Mary’s School is in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.

For more information about the school or to book onto its two open days on October 4, or November 7, visit www.queenmarys.org, email [email protected], or phone 01845 575000.

*The Times Parent Power 2025