The rich history of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wakefield stretches through four and a half centuries of spirited tradition and quietly bold innovation. Founded in 1591 through a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, our School prides itself on academic excellence and social mobility, bringing together pupils from all walks of life. School life is built around our ethos and values – Care, Adventure, Reach and Engage – with pupils and staff living these values every day.
Designed around the needs of growing minds, our through-School offering fosters self-belief and a lifelong love of learning, ensuring our pupils are fully prepared for higher education and future success.
Preparatory Section (Age 3–11): Fully co-educational, fostering a collaborative foundation where pupils build curiosity, creativity and self-belief.
Senior Section (Age 11–16): Single-sex academic classes within a shared campus environment, tailoring teaching to the distinct learning needs of boys and girls while maintaining co-educational pastoral care, co-curricular opportunities and social spaces.
Sixth Form (Age 16–18): A fully co-educational environment that prepares students for university and adult life. Our curriculum combines traditional rigour with modern breadth.
In the Prep Section, core learning in English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities is paired with opportunities to explore, create and build confidence.
In the Senior Section, pupils build a comprehensive foundation across the Sciences, Humanities, Languages and Creative Arts, culminating at GCSE level with seven core subjects alongside three tailored options.
At Sixth Form, with an average class size of just nine, students benefit from personalised academic support and dedicated one-to-one mentoring from subject specialists.
We believe that a child’s wellbeing is the cornerstone of academic success. Pastoral care is central to everything we do, ensuring every pupil feels safe, supported, and known as an individual.
With dedicated safeguarding and pastoral teams embedded across all year groups, our trained staff proactively support emotional wellbeing, mental health and personal development. Built on clear communication, active listening, and prompt support, we empower our pupils to speak up with confidence, knowing they will always be heard.
As we look to the future at Queen Elizabeth’s, we do so with deep gratitude for our past, pride in our current scholars, and total confidence that the best pages of our history are still to be written.
Fees: (2026–2027). Prep Section: FS1 £8,935.40 (Full-time), FS2 13,831.15. Years 1 & 2: £14,527.04. Years 3 & 4: £15,176.39. Years 5 & 6: £16,042.34. Senior Section (Years 7+): £20,251.95.
Charitable status. Registered Charity No. 1088415. Wakefield Grammar School Foundation is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04258359. Queen Elizabeth's School, Wakefield is a trading name of Wakefield Grammar School Foundation and is the registered Department for Education name of the School.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Mr Martin Shevill, BEd, MSc, FCCT
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors: Mrs J Cocker
Executive Head: Dr R Brookes, MChem
Head of Preparatory Section: Ms Emma Griffin
Deputy Head (Senior) and Director of Curriculum: Mrs A Eggleston
Deputy Head (Senior) and Director of Pupils: Mr J Harris
Deputy Head (Prep) and Director of Curriculum: Mrs L Butler
Director of Pupils (Prep): Mr S Rowley
Director of Teaching and Learning: Dr S Durden Brown
Director of Enrichment: Mr R Thompson