Teacher of Chemistry and Science

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is an 11-18 Comprehensive school in the picturesque town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The school has two sites very close to each other. The Green Road Campus and the Boothby Campus. Sixth Form lessons are taught at the Boothby campus which is approximately 500 yards away from the Green Road campus. The majority of the school site is relatively new with a more recently opened teaching, canteen and sports changing facility opened in September 2024.

Students are admitted at age 11 from a large number of feeder primary schools, spread from Hartington in the north to Sudbury in the south. Primary schools vary in size from those with just two teachers to a much larger town school. Transition is therefore a key priority and the Head of Year 7 works hard to ensure a well designed mix in forms and teaching groups.

In Year 7 all classes begin as mixed prior attainment with special educational needs students receiving extra support. Approximately 2% of the school population have an Education and Health Care Plan.

At Key Stage 4 all students currently study English, Maths, Science, Religious Studies, a Humanity, PSHE and PE.  Additional option blocks supplemented by advice and interviews, ensure that all receive a balanced curriculum. Accreditation at Key Stage 4 is either GCSE or vocational qualifications. Our location and local employment opportunities influence our curriculum offer with Creative and Digital Media, Agriculture, Childcare, Engineering and Construction all on offer in Yrs10-11.

Approximately 65% of our students continue into the Sixth Form studying a range of A Level and BTEC courses. We are particularly proud of the performance of our students at Sixth Form level where we regularly feature amongst the highest achieving schools in the Country. Most Sixth Formers progress to higher education. Sixth form students play an important role in the life of the school by volunteering in the school and local community.

The management of the school is based on departments and Year Groups. Heads of Year and Deputy Heads of Year meet on a regular cycle to discuss pastoral issues. That work is then co-ordinated by the leadership team of Head, a Deputy Head and 5 Assistant Heads.

The school converted to Academy Status in July 2012 and formed a Multi-Academy Trust in 2017. The school was inspected by OFSTED in October 2014 and judged to be 'Good'. Ofsted monitoring inspections in 2018 and 2024 have all maintained the 'Good' judgement. However, we are not complacent and the school has a number of exciting projects intended to develop learning and to enhance opportunities for staff. These whole school and trust-wide projects offer opportunities for new staff to join in developing initiatives and we hope to benefit from your experience in other establishments.

Our students cover the full ability range and come from all walks of life. A small number exhibit some challenging behaviour. However, most are committed to learning and help to make Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School a rewarding place in which to work or study.