Local Governing Body

Colin is a parent Governor and has 3 children who have studied and left QEGS and one son remaining. He has been a co-opted Governor at Parkside /Ashbourne primary School for many years.

Nick lives in Ashbourne and has a son in the school, and also two other children were at QEGS in the past. Nick is a director of an investment and asset management company and works in operations.

Liam joined the Governing Body as a Foundation Governor (representing the Old Trust) in 2022. He has worked at QEGS since 2014 as a member of the Support Staff and attended as a student. Liam is an active member of the Ashburnian Society, the QEGS FPTA and attends all Full Board and Wellbeing Sub Committee Meetings. 

Louise has two daughters, one at QEGS and one at Ashbourne Primary School. Louise spent 20 years in the online research and software industry before taking a career sabbatical to spend more time with her family. Louise is also currently volunteering as Treasurer for both Ashbourne and District Swimming Club and Ashbourne Primary PTA and is Assistant Coach for the Ashbourne Aztecs girls football team.

Nick is born and bred in Derbyshire and has lived in Ashbourne for 17 years with his wife, and now three children. Professionally Nick is a Chartered Accountant working in risk and quality within the accounting profession. Nick has over 20 years experience as a leader within Scouting and is a Cub leader locally. He is also a rugby coach and is currently coach for the year 7 – 13 girls’ team which is linked between the school and Ashbourne Rugby Union Football Club. Nick has a child at the school and is one of our Community Governors.

Mr Garrity is now in the 21st year of his career in education which has included teaching and leading teams in Merseyside and Cheshire, eventually arriving at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Ashbourne Derbyshire, in 2002. Following a succession of promotions he was appointed as Headteacher in February 2016. He feels proud and privileged to lead QEGS in the next chapter of its journey. Mr Garrity attends all Governor Meetings, Standing and Sub Committee Meetings.

Nev is a Parent Govenor, father of two children, one currently attending QEGS. He lives in an outlying village to Ashbourne where his wife runs a local business and has family ties in Tissington for circa 10 years. Nev has worked in a variety of commercial sectors (Hospitality, Finance, Supply, Marketing, Retail, Trade) and more recently Food Service and Distribution for Sysco. An advid Badminton Player, ‘Swim Dad’ ( in support of his youngest daughter) for Dove Valley Swim Club (Uttoxeter) and Dog Walking champion (according to the dogs – who would rather sleep all day).

Caren has been a secondary school science teacher and involved/led with various school extracurricular activities over the past fifteen years. She also has experience of working in industry as an animal nutritionist before commencing her teaching career in her early thirties and from more recently taking some time out from teaching to act as Formulations Manager at Trouw Nutrition in Ashbourne from 2017-2019.  She is big into health and sport, is one of the school’s Mental Health Champions and also teaches yoga to small groups in the Ashbourne community.

Sarah has a son at QEGS. Sarah has worked in finance for 25 years in a variety of Manufacturing and IT companies.  Sarah is a trained STEM ambassador, delivering sessions into primary and secondary schools.

Phillip is a parent governor and father of three children, two of which currently attend QEGS. His career has led him around the world, and although is quite new to the area, is originally from Yorkshire, and feels quite at home in the Derbyshire Dales. Professionally, he has been a Chief Operating Officer for the last decade in ecommerce but has taken a career break to advocate for climate change goals in the UK and EU parliaments, as well as pursuing a career in music – writing music for games and TV.