Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Welcomes CBBC Filming to Its 220-Acre Campus
If you're searching for a top independent school with outstanding facilities and a vibrant community spirit, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) in York stands out. Recently, this prestigious school became the host of the CBBC cast and crew for Jamie Johnson FC, a series featuring aspiring young footballers pursuing their dreams. For five days, QE’s expansive 220-acre site became a set for this popular show, showcasing its impressive grounds and professional-level football pitches.
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With the Jamie Johnson FC series spotlighting a fictional academy where young players develop their football skills, QE’s professional facilities became the perfect backdrop. The show's production team used QE’s 30-acre sports complex, complete with meticulously maintained football pitches regularly rented by top clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester City, over the summer. Beyond the pitches, QE’s historic Armorial Hall, once the residence of literary figure Anne Bronte, and the cosy Woodlands Coffee Shop, became memorable filming spots. |
Behind the Scenes at QE: Why Jamie Johnson FC Chose Queen Ethelburga’s
Sam Talbot, Executive Producer and Director at the London-based production company commented on the experience of filming at QE:
It was a pleasure to film a crucial part of our second series of Jamie Johnson FC at Queen Ethelburga's. From the grounds to the commercial staff, all departments made us feel incredibly welcome. A hallmark of our series is the authenticity of the football, whether that be our actors who are mostly academy players or the facilities we use.
The exceptionally high standard of the pitches and surroundings represented this at its fullest. We look forward to continuing this relationship with Queen Ethelburga's for future series and in showing it at its best on screen."
Sam Talbot
QE’s Commercial Team: Bringing Film Production to Life
A major coordination task for the site, the Collegiate hosted over 100 crew members and provided areas across the campus for dressing rooms, a production office, and ample truck parking for the storage of costumes and props. QE’s Commercial Manager, Chris Simpson, who coordinated the filming event said,
“It was fantastic to see the site being used for such a great project and we cannot wait to see our fabulous facilities, particularly our sports pitches, on the small screen. It created such a buzz around the campus, and it was a real privilege to work with them on their popular show. The Grounds Manager, Ben Grigor, and his team work tirelessly to keep the pitches maintained to a professional standard. It is these high standards that impress anyone that comes onsite and ultimately plays a huge part in securing us superb opportunities such as working on this project for the CBBC.”
QE’s Commercial Lettings Liaison, Louis Morton, was the primary contact for the production company and looked after them during the duration of their visit. He said of their time onsite,
“They were blown away by the amazing facilities we have, and they were constantly telling me how good everything looked on the footage. It was a real pleasure to work with them.”
In addition to the film cast and crew, the top independent school's site was hosting various summer schools and holiday camps, all of which were coordinated by the Collegiate’s Commercial and Leisure Team and catered for by QE’s award-winning catering team, who supplied meals onsite for all cast and crew. QE’s Catering General Manager, Fran Graves, said of preparing the meals,
“It was a pleasure catering for the CBBC cast and crew, who all seemed to enjoy the food on offer, with one of the crew commenting that our breakfasts are awesome, which was lovely to share with our hard-working team.”
The series has just been released and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, watch Episode 8 here. Staff and students across the whole Collegiate are thrilled to see the grounds in the show, especially with QE’s own football camp coming in the summer of 2025.
Queen Ethelburga's: A Top Independent School with Premier Facilities for Hire
Beyond serving its students, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate opens its world-class facilities to the public year-round, making it one of the top independent school choices for sports clubs, and summer programmes. QE’s sports and leisure offerings include:
- 30 acres of elite sports pitches
- A fully equipped sports hall
- Outdoor courts and a cricket pavilion
- A 25-metre swimming pool
- A 312-seat theatre
- Training academies and premium boarding accommodations
These spaces are particularly popular during school holidays when Queen Ethelburga's offers additional availability for clubs, camps, and filming. For those interested in hiring, QE’s facilities and accommodations offer a rare opportunity to experience the luxurious amenities of a top-tier independent school.
To explore commercial bookings at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, including sports, event, or film production rentals, visit www.qe.org/venue-hire.
See Queen Ethelburga's famous facilities at an Open Day or contact Admissions to book a private tour.
