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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5151 |
| Title | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Ashbourne |
| Date | 1835-2002 |
| Description | These records chronicle all aspects of school life over a period of more than 150 years, including pupil admissions, punishments, examination results, personnel, finance, governors papers, photographs, speech day programmes and related papers, sports team results, school magazines and ephemera
Also including Ashbourne County Secondary School admission registers, governors papers and some photographs, inherited when the two schools merged in 1973, and records of the Old Ashburnian Society for former pupils |
| Extent | 17 boxes, 5 rolls, 4 outsize items |
| Level | Fonds |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Full Catalogue List | Click here to view a full list for this collection |
| Archive Creator | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Ashbourne |
| Ashbourne County Secondary Modern School, Ashbourne |
| Administrative History | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School was founded as a Free Grammar School by Royal Charter dated 15 July 1585 and was accommodated in what was later known as The Old School on Church Street. The school admitted both boarders and day boys and in the nineteenth century was run very much like a public school. However, its scheme of governance and the small number of pupils (up to about 50) prevented it from developing in that way.
In 1893 the school applied to Derbyshire County Council for assistance and the following year it became a District Technical School. Expansion followed in 1909 when new school buildings were opened on The Green Road and girls were admitted for the first time.
The Old School was later used as a boarding house, along with The Mansion on the opposite side of Church Street. Boarders ceased to be admitted in 1992.
The Education Act of 1944 led to the establishment of a secondary modern school in the town. Ashbourne Grammar School pupils were selected using the 11-plus examination, with the remainder of children in the area attending Ashbourne County Secondary School. In 1973, the two schools amalgamated to form one comprehensive school, retaining the name Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. The lower years were accommodated in the old secondary modern school on Derby Road while the upper years used the grammar school buildings on The Green Road.
The school maintained a traditional ethos while adapting to the needs of serving the whole community. An alumni society, The Old Ashburnian Society, remains active. |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited by the school in January 2000, June 2000, July 2000, February 2003, July 2003, October 2003 and April 2006. |
| Arrangement | D5151/1 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION: Day books, Admission registers (including for Ashbourne County Secondary School), Leaving registers, Intake files, School reports, Punishment book, School rolls, Timetables, Examination results, Staff records, General accounts, Boarding House accounts, Re-organisation files, School inspections, Miscellaneous
D5151/2 GOVERNORS' PAPERS (Including for Ashbourne County Secondary School)
D5151/3 SCHOOL BUILDINGS
D5151/4 PROSPECTUSES AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
D5151/5 SCHOOL CALENDARS
D5151/6 SCHOOL MAGAZINES
D5151/7 SPEECH DAYS AND FOUNDERS DAYS PAPERS
D5151/8 SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
D5151/9 SPORTS RECORDS
D5151/10 OLD ASHBURNIAN SOCIETY
D5151/11 PRESS CUTTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
D5151/12 MISCELLANEOUS |
| Organisation Sub-Type | Schools |
| Access Conditions | Access restrictions apply to some records in this collection. Please consult the item catalogue entries for further information. |
| Related Material | See D3397 for the original foundation charter.
See D5191 for administrative files relating to the Boarding Houses. |
| Acknowledgements | Added to the catalogue as part of the FindersKeepers project by volunteer MmF. |
| Archivist Note | Catalogued, 7 March 2000, KS.
Updated April 2002
Updated 13 Aug 2003, PB.
Revised to ISAD(G) standard 27 July 2023, BS. |