QEHS History

Throughout its proud history of over 430 years, Queen Elizabeth’s High School has been providing the young people of Gainsborough and the surrounding area with an enriching educational experience.

In 1589 Queen Elizabeth I granted Sir Robert Somerscale permission to establish a grammar school in Gainsborough. The school was originally for boys only and was based in All Saints Church. In 1795 the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for boys was moved to what is now Hickman Hotel on Cox’s Hill. An equivalent grammar school for girls, Gainsborough High School, was founded in 1920. Later, in 1940, both schools moved to the present day site on Morton Terrace on which the local Technical College was based. In 1983 the two grammar schools merged to become Queen Elizabeth’s High School.

Please see the presentation here which covers some aspects of the school’s history and was produced by Olivia, Isla and Marli following on from a research project conducted in Year 7.