Established in 1901, Queen Margaret's (QM) is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11–18 set in 75 acres of parkland, six miles south of York.

[3] Following another evacuation to Castle Howard in the Second World War, QM finally came to Escrick Park, six miles south of York, in 1949,[4] where it remains today.

In its own words, Queen Margaret’s, York, "combines a girls-only education with supportive staff and small class sizes to create the most effective environment for nurturing girls’ self-belief.

The school provides support through English as an Additional Language (EAL) lessons for international students, and has a counsellor available for pastoral and academic guidance.

The school is located in a rural setting six miles from the historic city of York, giving students access to cultural attractions.

Ms Nicola Dudley commenced the headship of QM in September 2024, taking over from the previous Head Mrs Sue Baillie.

In January 2025, Queen Margaret's launched a refreshment of its core values in a coordinated campaign focussed on the concept of self-belief.

According to the school, "every girl's journey to fulfilling her potential begins with self-belief—it is the foundation for unlocking strong friendships, academic achievement and lifelong resilience."

The school creates "the most effective environment for nurturing self-belief" by combining "a girls-only education with supportive staff and small class sizes."

In summary, the inspection report painted a very positive picture of Queen Margaret's School for Girls, highlighting its strengths in leadership, teaching, pupil care, and governance.

The school encourages students to choose subjects based on their abilities, interests, and future goals, emphasizing that quality is more important than quantity.

Sixth Form students are provided guidance on UCAS applications, personal statement and CV writing, work experience, career opportunities, and alternatives to university.

Graduates from Queen Margaret’s have gone on to study a diverse range of subjects at respected universities including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Exeter, Durham, Bristol, and Edinburgh.