Record

Entry Type	Corporate
Corporate Name	Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Also Known As	QEGS
Place	Ashbourne
Epithet	school
Dates	1585-
History	Following a petition by leading inhabitants of Ashbourne and neighbouring area, including Sir Thomas Cokayne, on 17 July 1585 the people of Ashbourne were granted a charter by Queen Elizabeth I for the founding of a Free Grammar School on land granted by the Queen. It ordained that the offices of schoolmaster and under-master be established, that there be a governing body of 3 governors and 12 assistants (with provision for the filling of vacancies), that the governing body make statutes and ordnances, and that it has the use of common seal. The charter cost £28 12s. 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. From this date, boarding came under the control of Derbyshire County Council, with boys boarding at The Old School and girls at The Mansion in Church Street. Boarding ceased in 1992. 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 as of 2026 The Green Road site accommodates over 1100 Year 7 to Year 11 students. The Sixth Form continued to be based in separate buildings, 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 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). In 2011, QEGS converted to become a Phase 2 Academy School and took full responsibility for its own financial matters and educational provision. In April 2017, QEGS became part of QEGSMAT (Multi Academy Trust). In January 2026, Tapestry Learning Partnership was launched, following the successful merger of Djanogly Learning Trust and QEGSMAT.
Authorised Form of Name	Ashbourne; Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS); 1585-; school

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