Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (QEGS) was founded in 1585 as a school of Christian religious character. The original “Old School” is in the centre of the town but from 1909 teaching has been based on The Green Road Site where the school developed as a mixed Grammar School.
In 1973, the Ashbourne County Secondary School on Old Derby Road closed and amalgamated with QEGS to form a single comprehensive school operating on split sites, serving children of all abilities from Ashbourne and the surrounding area between the ages of 11 and 18.
The school remained a ‘split site’ school until February 2003 when completion of new buildings saw the transfer of all Lower Site students to the ‘New’ school on The Green Road. In 2006 a new Technology Block was added to this site and The Green Road site now accommodates over 1100 Year 7 to Year 11 students.
The Sixth Form continues to be based in separate buildings which have also been extended to provide a superb environment for post 16 education although some practical lessons are still taken on The Green Road Site. In 2010 an extension consisting of mainly classrooms, was opened at the Sixth Form Centre and the private study area was upgraded.
In 2011, to continue to provide the very best education for our students, QEGS converted to become a Phase 2 Academy School (this means we had no sponsor company). The school took full responsibility for its own financial matters and educational provision.
The pastoral structure of the school was strengthened through the use of the traditional QEGS Houses of Boothby, Cokayne, Hull & Spalden, with an increased emphasis on student leadership in all areas of school life. Our overall aim remained ‘In Good Spirit; Excellence for All’.
In April 2017, QEGS became part of QEGSMAT. The QEGSMAT aim is to ensure that every young person aspires to a great future and achieves their absolute potential, so that they are not only prepared academically, but also inspired socially and culturally for the successful future they deserve. The QEGSMAT vision is based on the following four values: Question; Explore; Give; Succeed.
In September 2023, QEGS expanded its onsite provision with a new building forming part of the Boothby Campus. This £2.9 million project was joint funded by QEGS, Ashbourne RUFC (ARUFC) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
The QEGS vision remains: we care, therefore we question, we explore, we give and as a result, we succeed.
The original “Old School” on Church Street (1585)
The main building on the Green Road Campus (1909)
QEGS joined QEGSMAT (2017)
The Boothby Campus (2023)
