Queen Margaret’s School is a trailblazing Early Childhood Education to Grade 12 university prep school that transforms how students learn and develop through a unique educational model combining experiential and inquiry-based learning, sustainable innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, and equine facilitated leadership development. In September 2019, QMS transitions to an all-gender campus from Preschool through Grade 12.
Queen Margaret's School was founded by Miss Norah Creina Denny and Miss Dorothy Rachel Geoghegan. These two women had been teaching individually before being brought together, and their common interest in Girl Guides helped greatly towards establishing their lifelong friendship. When they took that first step to open their own school, they had little idea what the future held for either of them. Their dream was to "send students out into the world with the stamp of the school upon them, and its ideas in their hearts",. "Miss Denny and Miss Geoghegan provided a vivid demonstration of how women could be strong, independent and self-assured. We were confronted with a constant demonstration that we were all capable of certain achievement, all capable of service and all capable of realizing ourselves as complete individuals". Miss Denny and Miss Geoghegan owned and administered Queen Margaret's School until September 1, 1953, when they turned it over to a Trust Company as a non-profit organization. In June 2018, the Board of Directors approved a new strategic direction that focused on the programs of experiential & inquiry based learning, sustainable innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, and equine facilitated leadership development. As part of QMS' pillar of gender equity and fairness, the board further announced that all genders would be welcome to study Preschool-Grade 12 in a safe, inclusive environment beginning in September 2019.
The Founders' Philosophy
Although not stated in so many words in the historical text of the School's history, Beyond All Dreams, anyone who had the honour to know Miss Denny and Miss Geoghegan soon realized that both were very 'down to earth'. They wanted to provide a solid education for anyone willing to come to their school. They wanted to teach those young people service, integrity, pride, both in themselves and the school, faith in God and faith in themselves. The development of Queen Margaret's School illustrates the fact that the character, tone and spirit of a school do not depend on fine buildings, but on the people themselves. They wanted to show all students who came under their care how to reach their potential, both academic and social. QMS opened its doors for the first time on April 4, 1921, with a total of 14 boys and girls. Named after Queen Margaret's School in Scarborough, England, where Miss Denny had attended as a boarder, it included many things from Uplands School and St. Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex, at which Miss Geoghegan was a student. Queen Margaret's, Scarborough, later moved to Escrick Park in Yorkshire, and recognized QMS Duncan as its sister school, allowing QMS Duncan to form an overseas branch Old Girls' Association.
Specialized Programs
The school is home to Canada’s only fully integrated on-campus school equestrian academic and riding program. The school's promise is to provide an exceptional and rigorous education that builds confidence, character, and compassion.
The official heraldic description of the coat of Arms reads: "Vert on a cross gules colised or between; in the four quarters consecutively, a two-flamed pendent lamp, a mullet, a chain of three links, and a sword all argent, a crown of the third." "..we went to our own school crests. The Cross and the Crown came from my school, QMS, Scarborough. The Lamp and Chain and the Star from Miss Geoghegan's school. The Sword was chosen because we had already decided on the School Hymn, 'Soldiers of Christ Arise and put Your Armour On' ", Miss Denny explains in Beyond All Dreams.
School Houses & Colours
St. Hugh's was chosen because his was a life of service and because of Miss Denny's connection with Lincolnshire. The colour green was chosen to represent St. Hugh's for service. St. Gabriel's was chosen, as that had been Miss Geoghegan's House at Uplands, St. Leonard's-on-Sea. The colour gold represents purity, perfection and beauty for those in St. Gabe's. St. Michael's was chosen because he was the Captain of the Host, fighting for right. Therefore, the colour red represents the courage of St. Mike's.
