Located in the scenic Cowichan Valley, Queen Margaret’s School is an all-gender school with over 100 years of providing an exceptional education that builds confidence, character and compassion. Students develop and grow through a vibrant curriculum that focuses on experiential learning, innovative thinking and environmental stewardship. We proudly offer Canada's only on-campus Equestrian Program. Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you.
Vancouver Island has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to beautiful, excellent schools, and certainly Queen Margaret’s is one of them. It was founded in 1921 by Norah Creina Denny and Dorothy Rachel Geoghegan, who dedicated themselves to providing what was, for the time, something unique: a robust educational experience for all, including women “capable of realizing ourselves as complete individuals.” Certainly, that’s what they did, and it’s a tradition that the school maintains today. The riding program is distinguishing, as is the strength of the academic programs. A strategic plan begun in 2014, to complete at the school’s centenary, will reaffirm the commitment of the founders to excellence as well as their commitment to adapting to the changing needs of students.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Queen Margaret's School.
Play Field
Gym
Aerial of the Shirley Burr Equestrian Centre
Art Studio
Fine Arts Hall
The TLC and play field.
Denny Hall, one of our boarding houses.
The Centennial Fountain and our Heritage Chapel.
Squire Science Lab
Senior School Classroom
Rowantree Hall Foyer
Residence Common Room
Single Bed Residence Room
Junior Boarding Program Room
Squire Science Lab
Dance Studio
Intermediate Classroom
Senior School Classroom
Indoor Riding Arena
TLC II Library
Boarding Atrium
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Queen Margaret's School.
Focus |
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Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
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Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Chinese-Cantonese | |
Chinese-Mandarin | |
French | |
German | |
Greek | |
Italian | |
Japanese | |
Hebrew | |
Latin | |
Russian | |
Spanish | |
ESL |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
QMS offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: This information is not currently available.
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
In grade Gr. 12, QMS students perform an average of 1.5 hours of homework per night.
PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QMS | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 45 mins | 45 mins | 60 mins | 60 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins |
Site Average | 2 mins | 6 mins | 7 mins | 14 mins | 17 mins | 22 mins | 28 mins | 33 mins | 39 mins | 50 mins | 55 mins | 70 mins | 80 mins | 97 mins | 105 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 4 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | K to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | K to Gr. 3 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | K to Gr. 3 |
Parent-teacher meetings | K to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 13
Recreational sports: 11
Queen Margaret's School offers 22 clubs and extracurricular programs.
PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Boarding (Domestic - 5 days/week) | $45,130 | ||||||||||||||
Day | $17,950 | ||||||||||||||
Day (Domestic: in province) | $20,050 | $22,300 | $25,680 | ||||||||||||
Day (International) | $38,650 | $40,850 | $44,430 | ||||||||||||
Boarding (Domestic: in province) | $62,880 | ||||||||||||||
Boarding (Domestic: out of province) | $66,680 | ||||||||||||||
Boarding (International) | $79,230 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
Early payment | all students | 3% |
2nd child (sibling) | all students | 15% |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | SK to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 25% |
Average aid package size | $3,000 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 25% |
Total aid available | $250,000 |
Applying for bursaries requires families to complete a confidential full disclosure form of their family financial information, based on the previous tax year.
QMS is pleased to offer a number of scholarships for our Equestrian Program for both current and incoming riders.
Read the description of each scholarship carefully before applying.
For more details, visit:http://www.qms.bc.ca/admissions/scholarships--bursaries/The Queen Margaret’s School Heritage Scholarships are an amalgamation of funds that were established to help worthy students with demonstrated financial need at Queen Margaret’s School. The Heritage Scholarship advances the School pillars of rigor and personal excellence, gender equity and fairness, and character and service
Heritage Scholarships are a special honour bestowed on a current or new student who had a family member from a different generation attend Queen Margaret’s School for more than one year.
The successful student must have demonstrated over time, consistent and solid performance, and act as a role-model in our community. Heritage Scholarships will be a special honour bestowed on students who exemplify the School’s Vision to be a confident leader of character and compassion, empowered to create a more just and connected world. Providing that they uphold the principles of the Scholarship, the recipients will be Heritage Scholars from the point of award to the end of their studies at Queen Margaret’s School.
Heritage Scholarships will be awarded annually to one or more students who would benefit from the opportunities offered at Queen Margaret’s School but require financial assistance to do so.
QMS Heritage Scholarships are open to students in Grades 4 through 12 and will be awarded annually to one or more students who would benefit from the opportunities offered at Queen Margaret’s School but require financial assistance to do so.
Awards range from $500-$5,000.
Celebrate your House Spirit and become a QMS House Scholar! This scholarship fund was created for students who represent a commitment to our House values: St. Hugh's - Service to Others, St. Gabriel's - Find Beauty in all Pursuits, and St. Michael's - Facing Life with Courage.
To apply, download the application form and from our website and submit by May 31.
For more details, visit:www.qms.bc.caGrades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 87 |
Group 2 | Preschool to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 434 |
Total enrolment | 521 |
Average class size | 16 to 22 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 6.5% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 30 |
Five-day boarding program offered | Yes |
% in boarding (grade-eligible) | 17% |
PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 15 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 32 | 34 | 28 | 48 | 34 | 56 | 42 | 65 | 61 | 56 |
Boarding Enrollment | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | PS - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: Yes
Application fee: $300
Registration fee: $2,000
Deposit: N/A
Please visit our Admissions page at qms.bc.ca/admissions/ for our current admissions criteria and fees.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
Homestay Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Average graduating class size | 26 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | N/A |
University of Toronto | 35% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Victoria | 20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of British Columbia | 16% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Island University | 13% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Waterloo | 6% |
Queen Margaret's School Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
This information is not currently available.Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships |
Mentorship Program | N/A |
University counseling |
What QMS says:
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Eve Savory | 1965 | Legislative reporter CHQM Vancouver 1973-74; CBC Radio Ottawa 1975-76; regional parliamentary reporter CBOT Ottawa 1976-79; national TV reporter CBC-TV Saskatchewan/Alberta 1979-83; medicine/ science/technology reporter The National CBC Toronto/Vancouver 1983-abt.2000. |
Suzanne Anton | 1974 | Suzanne Anton, Q.C. (born 1952 or 1953) is a Canadian politician and the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of British Columbia. |
Charles Hoey | 1925 | A Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. |
Rona Jean Murray | 1941 | A Canadian poet. |
Susanna Blunt | 1958 | A Canadian portrait artist who designed the most recent portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the current Canadian coinage, which began in 2003. |
Clio Smeeton | 1959 | Clio Smeeton is president of the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI). CEI is best known for initiating and implementing swift fox reintroduction in North America. |
Barbara Cole Walton | 2005 | Canadian soprano who was a recipient of numerous awards including the Governors’ Recital Prize in Singing (RCS). She is a professional & performs around the world. |
‘Fit’ is everything when choosing a school for your children or when selecting a place into which you want to pour your skills, character and energies. Here at QMS, we pride ourselves on a strong sense of community where everyone is an individual and meaningful relationships are the order of the day. Most people crave a sense of belonging and value connection so a school that works very hard to develop a meaningful culture can indeed be a place where strong attachments are formed.
I encourage you to explore our programmes and approaches to learning both inside and outside of the classroom. If you take that step and visit us here on campus, you will feel the sense of community for yourself. As we approach our 100th birthday, we are proud of our Founders’ vision, yet, we are excited about the future with all of the opportunities that it presents.
QMS is vibrant and ready to keep developing these “young trailblazers” who will take the lessons learned here out into the world to great effect. That’s the joy and it all just seems to be a good ‘fit’ for so many people.
May 29, 2020
QMS Pioneers Use Of Thermal Imaging For Safe Return To School
School’s re-open will look a little different for “new normal”
Read full article
May 14, 2018
Duncan's Queen Margaret's School to go entirely co-ed
Boys will be allowed in Grades 8-12 program for first time in September 2019
Read full article
August 2, 2017
QMS Scholar First in BC
Fifth Time in Seven Years QMS Student Claims Top Spot
Read full article
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