Harrogate Private School Shortlisted for Two Awards at the 2024 Northern Design Awards

Harrogate Private School Shortlisted for Two Awards at the 2024 Northern Design Awards

Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate (QE), a prestigious Harrogate private school, has once again gained recognition for its commitment to innovative design and inspiring spaces by being shortlisted for two awards at the 22nd Annual Northern Design Awards.

Celebrating excellence among designers, architects, and industry leaders in the north of England, the Northern Design Awards announced QE’s nominations in the COMM Landscaping Design and Conversion/Redesign/Repurpose categories, further solidifying the school’s reputation as a top institution with impressive design standards.

Harrogate private school has been shortlisted for the COMM Landscaping Design
A History of Beautiful Interior Design

The leading Harrogate private school has a history of excellence in design. In 2016, QE received the Interior Design Concept award for transforming its Sixth Form dining and common areas from a former stable into a vibrant, welcoming space for students. This success continued in 2019 with a nomination for the Commercial Build award for Brontë, a senior boarding house, followed by another in 2022 for the Woodlands Café and uniform shop, which was recognised in the Amazing Space and Interior Design Project £250k-500k categories.

Student-Centred Designs For Harrogate Private School Boarders

This year, QE has continued its campus renovations, enhancing boarding facilities with student-centred designs. The Harrogate private school recently refurbished rooms for its youngest boarders, featuring child-friendly amenities like lower-hanging wardrobes, desks and chairs designed for smaller children, colourful duvet covers, and even bathtubs for younger students. This thoughtful refurbishment led to the school winning the Boarding House Extension or Refurbishment Award at the BSA Supporting Excellence Awards in 2024.

QE’s efforts have now been recognised in the COMM Landscaping Design category at the Northern Design Awards for the design of its kitchen garden outside the boarding house. The garden serves as an interactive learning space where students cultivate fruits, vegetables, and herbs throughout the year. The garden layout features a central social area surrounded by clockwork-inspired plant beds, with water butts and compost bins for recycling water and food waste, underscoring the school’s dedication to sustainable practices.

Improving STEM Facilities For Senior Students

The school’s second shortlisting, in the Conversion/Redesign/Repurpose category, acknowledges QE’s transformation of the top floor of its Genesis building into a state-of-the-art Mathematics block. Once a Sixth Form boarding area, this floor now houses inspiring, mural-decorated classrooms, study spaces, and a social area dedicated to the STEM disciplines. This redesign aligns with QE’s vision of consolidating STEM classrooms under one roof, with the Genesis building soon to host a new gym and swimming pool.


Queen Ethelburga's, one of the top Harrogate private schools, awaits the award finals on November 28th at St. George's Hall in Liverpool.

QE warmly welcomes families to visit for an Open Day or private tour to explore its award-nominated spaces, including the Mathematics block, kitchen garden, and newly refurbished boarding areas.