Chelmsford County High School for Girls: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:56, 25 August 2006

Latest revision as of 08:46, 9 November 2023

(500 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

[[Image:ChelmsfordCountyHigh.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Chelmsford County High School main building]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

'''Chelmsford County High School for Girls''', or "CCHS", is a selective [[grammar school]] for girls aged 11-18 located in [[Chelmsford]], [[Essex]]. It is one of the most consistently high-achieving secondary schools in the UK, not just academically, though CCHS is regularly one of the top 5 schools for both GCSE and A-level results, but also musically, with several music orchestras, choirs, and bands performing regularly in venues as prestigious as the [[Royal Albert Hall]], and in sport too, with several school teams reaching national championships.

{{Infobox school

| name = Chelmsford County High School for Girls

In addition these achievements, the school aims to instill in its students a sense of self-esteem and a love of learning for its own sake, and "for each student to succeed in whatever field she chooses"<ref>http://www.cchs.co.uk/about/intro.htm</ref>. There are over 800 pupils on the school roll with 150 in the Sixth Form.

| image =

| image_size =

The current Acting Headmistress is Glynis Howland. The previous Head, Monica Curtis, retired in 2006 due to kidney failure.

| coordinates = {{coord|51.743|0.4675|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}

| motto = ''Vitai Lampada Ferimus''<br>(We carry the torch of life)

| established = 1906

| closed =

| type = [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|Grammar]] [[Academy (English school)|Academy]]

| religious_affiliation =

| president =

| head_label = Headteacher

| head = Stephen Lawlor

| r_head_label =

| r_head =

| chair_label =

| chair =

| founder =

| address = Broomfield Road

| city = [[Chelmsford]]

| county = [[Essex]]

| country = England

| postcode = CM1 1RW

| ofsted = yes

| dfeno = 881/5410

| urn = 136412

| staff =

| enrolment = 1260

| lower_age = 11

| upper_age = 18

| houses = Curie (green), Grey-Thompson (blue), Hepburn (red), Stewart (yellow), Frank (purple), Angelou (navy)

| colours =

| publication =

| free_label_1 =

| free_1 =

| free_label_2 =

| free_2 =

| free_label_3 =

| free_3 =

| website = http://www.cchs.co.uk/

}}

[[File:Chelmsford County High School main building.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Chelmsford County High School main building]]

'''Chelmsford County High School for Girls''' or "CCHS", is a selective [[grammar school]] for girls aged 11–18 located in [[Chelmsford]], Essex, England. Entrance to the school is by an academic selection test. CCHS is traditionally rated among the most consistently high achieving and academically successful secondary schools in the United Kingdom, regularly scoring top marks for both [[GCSE]] and [[A-level]] results.

==History==

The official history of Chelmsford County High School between 1906 and 1982 is chronicled in "A History of Chelmsford County High School" by Mary Kenyon.

The school was built in 1906, and officially opened in May 1907, with its first Headmistress Mabel Vernon-Harcourt. It had 76 pupils on the school roll, divided into three forms: IIIa, IV and V. Although the age range was originally 12-18, in 1915 a Preparatory department was added which took girls from the age of eight; the department closed in 1947.

The Old Girls’ Society was formed in 1908 by the first girls to leave the School at the end of their education, and the first Magazine was published in December 1909.

The school was built in 1906, and officially opened in May 1907, with its first Headmistress Mabel Vernon-Harcourt. It had 76 pupils on the school roll. Miss Edith Bancroft became the second Headmistress until she retired in 1935. A new school science building, known as Bancroft Wing, was named in her honour when it was finished in 1950. Bancroft Wing subsequently became a languages building. Miss Bancroft retired as Headmistress in 1935 and was succeeded by the school's third Headmistress, Miss Geraldine Cadbury until 1961. A science block, the Cadbury Science Building, was named after her when it opened in 1995. In 1979, Miss Phyllis Pattison retired, having been headmistress since 1961, and was replaced by Miss Anne Brooks in 1980. Miss Brooks retired in 1989 and was replaced in 1990 by Bernice McCabe, who served for seven years until 1997. In 1997, Bernice McCabe left to take up the post of Headmistress in the [[North London Collegiate School]] for Girls. She was replaced by Monica Curtis, who retired in April 2006. Mrs Glynis Howland, Deputy Head, became Acting Headteacher until the appointment of Mrs Nicole Chapman, the school´s eighth Headmistress, who took over her new post in April 2007. Mrs Chapman retired in 2019, with Mr Stephen Lawlor succeeding her as Headteacher, the first male headteacher in the history of the school.

In January 1910 the School Hostel opened in rented premises at 39 Broomfield Road under the care of a Mrs Smylie. It allowed

pupils with long journeys between home and school to stay in Chelmsford during the week. In January 1911, Miss Edith Bancroft became the second Headmistress, until she retired in 1935. A new school science building, known as Bancroft Wing, was named in her honour when it was finished in 1950.

In 1908 the school only had one male teacher – Art master, Alfred Bamford. In January 1910 the School Hostel opened in rented premises under the care of a Mrs Smylie to allow students with long journeys between home and school to stay in Chelmsford during the week. The school remained open throughout [[World War I]], with forms being assigned "shelter" in a place away from windows or an outer wall. It also took in refugee students from Belgium and educated them. In June 1916 Winifred Picking became the School's first University success when she gained a First Class degree in the Natural Science Tripos at [[Girton College, Cambridge]]. The school's motto "Vitai lampada ferimus" or " We carry the torch of life" was chosen in 1923, which is part of the school crest. In 1936 the School Hostel shut down due to lack of viability, due to improved transport around Chelmsford. A year later, in 1937, the electric bell system was first installed. It was removed in 1999. The school remained open during [[World War II]], though this time the school was damaged several times in air raids. Fortunately the worst raid, when nearly every window in the school was broken, occurred during a school holiday. Maintaining examination conditions during air raids was also a problem: eventually exam candidates were given their own separate shelter. Extensive building work was initiated in the 1950s and continued throughout the 1960s – in that time, the current caretaker's house, swimming pool, hall, canteen, art rooms, and library were built. In February 1962, HRH Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother arrived on the School grounds by helicopter to be guest of honour at the Senior Speech Day, which was held at Chelmsford Cathedral. The introduction of Technology, particularly IT, began in the 1980s. In 1992, CCHS became a Grant Maintained school with control over its own funds, and a School Bursar was employed. [[Margaret Thatcher]], along with the local MP [[Simon Burns]], paid a brief visit to the school on 30 March 1992. Building work continued with the development of the new school Astroturf pitch in 2004, the extension of the sixth form common room in 2005, and new music centre in 2007, which has been built in the shape of an orchestra, including a fully equipped recording studio. The building was opened in January 2008 by Dame Evelyn Glennie. In 2007 the School celebrated its Centenary, with HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The school converted to academy status on 1 January 2011. In 2013 the new Languages Centre was completed, which has brought language learning into the 21st century. In 2015 and in 2020 the governors of the School voted unanimously to expand CCHS by 30 each time, increasing the intake to 180, the decision was taken in response to the ever-increasing demand for places at the School and a desire to offer the opportunity to be educated in a grammar school to even more girls.

In June 1916 Winifred Picking became the School’s first University success when she gaineda First Class degree in the Natural

Science Tripos at Girton, Cambridge. Her name can still be seen on the School's Rolls of Honour.

The Old Girls’ Society was formed in 1908 by the first girls to leave the School at the end of their education, and the first Magazine was published in December 1909, and both traditions have still continued, the society has been renamed to The CCHS Alumnae. In 1925 the School House system was first set up, with each House named after a Governor of the School: Chancellor, Hulton, Pennefather, and Tancock. This was changed in 1986 to three houses, C, H, and S; in 1996 a fourth house, G, was added. In September 2015, a fifth House, F, was established, and in 2020 a sixth House was added, A. The Houses are named after influential women.

The school remained open throughout [[World War I]], with forms being assigned "shelter" in a place away from windows or an outer wall. It also took in refugee students from Belgium and educated them.

The school's motto "Vitae lampada ferimus" or " We carry the lamp of life" was chosen in 1923, from a shortlist of 18 suggestions. It can be currently seen as part of the school crest.

==Achievements==

In 1925 the School House system was first set up, with each House named after a Governor of the School: Chancellor, Hulton, Pennefather - pronounced “penny feather” and Tancock. This was changed in 1986 to three houses, C, H, and S; in 1996 a fourth house, G, was added. And they've been winning the House Cup ever since.

CCHS is noted for its high academic achievements. It is one of the most consistently highly performing schools in the country, and regularly appears in the top 10 of the Times School Supplement for GCSE, A Level and now IB results. The school also has an extremely high rate of attendance in comparison with other schools.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/881_5410.stm |work=BBC News| title=BBC News, School league tables 2004, Chelmsford County High School for Girls | date=2 November 2004 | access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref>

Miss Bancroft retired as Headmistress in 1935 and was succeeded by the school’s third Headmistress, Miss Geraldine

Cadbury until 1961. A science block, the Cadbury Science Building, was named after her when it opened in 1995. Bancroft Wing subsequently became a languages building.

1936 saw the School Hostel shut down due to lack of viability - this was due to improved transport around Chelmsford.

A year later, in 1937, the electric bell system was first installed. It was removed in 1999, as Monica Curtis, the serving Head, believed it reduced punctuality.

The school, as before, remained open during [[World War II]], though this time the school was damaged several times in air raids. Fortunately the worst raid, when nearly every window in the school was broken, occurred during a school holiday. Maintaining examination conditions during air raids was also a problem: eventually exam candidates were given their own separate shelter.

Extensive building work was initiated in the 50s and continued throughout the 60s - in that time, the current caretaker's house, swimming pool, hall, canteen, art rooms, and library were built. In the 70s, three demountable classrooms, known as 23, 24,and 25 were built. Only 25 remains today.

In 1979, Miss Phyllis Pattirson retired, having been headmistress since 1961, and was replaced by Miss Anne Brooks in 1980. 1980 also saw the first male teacher, a Mr Clark, being employed at the school.

The introduction of Technology, particularly IT, began in the 80s and continued up til the present day, with three computer rooms, three specialist technology rooms, and the training of all pupils in the use of ICT, leading many to a GNVQ or GCSE in the subject.

Miss Brooks retired in 1989 and was replaced in 1990 by Bernice McCabe, who served for seven years until 1997.

In 1992, CCHS became a Grant Maintained school with control over its own funds, and a School Bursar was employed; the current Bursar is the ironically named Alison Money. [[Margaret Thatcher]], along with the local MP [[Simon Burns]], also paid a brief visit to the school on the 30th March 1992.

In 1997, Bernice McCabe left to take up the post of Headmistress in the North London Collegiate School for Girls. She was replaced by Monica Curtis, who oversaw the development of the new school Astroturf pitch in 2004, the extension of the sixth form common room to include toilets and showers in 2005, and the planned construction of a new music building in 2007. Unfortunately, Mrs Curtis collapsed with renal failure early in the academic year and, ill for most of 2006, was forced to retire early. The post of headmistress was advertised in the Summer term, but due to the low calibre of candidates, the post will be re-advertised in September 2006. Glynis Howland, a Deputy Head, is currently the Acting Headmistress.

==Daily Life==

===Assembly===

As required by British law<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1988/Ukpga_19880040_en_2.htm 1988 Education Reform Act, Clause 6, Paragraph 1]</ref>, CCHS holds an "Act of Collective Worship" every day. On Mondays and some Wednesdays, Assembly is held in individual forms after registration, with pupils in turn having to present their own assembly of a subject of their choice.<ref name="Assembly policy">[http://www.cchs.co.uk/parents/policies/WORSHIP 03.doc| POLICY FOR THE DAILY ACT OF COLLECTIVE WORSHIP]</ref> On Tuesdays and Thursdays, H&S and C&G Houses attend a school Assembly respectively, while the other Houses again have Form Assembly.<ref name="Assembly policy">[http://www.cchs.co.uk/parents/policies/WORSHIP 03.doc POLICY FOR THE DAILY ACT OF COLLECTIVE WORSHIP]</ref> On Fridays, the whole school used to come together in the Hall for a school-wide Assembly, but due to Fire Regulations has now been split into the Junior Assembly (Years 7-10), held in the Hall, and Senior Assembly (Years 11-13), held in the Gym.

The responsibility for school Acts of Daily Collective Worship falls on the Head of the RE department<ref name="Assembly policy">[http://www.cchs.co.uk/parents/policies/WORSHIP 03.doc POLICY FOR THE DAILY ACT OF COLLECTIVE WORSHIP]</ref>, currently Geraldine McCarthy. Although any teacher, or indeed, visitor, is welcome to lead an Assembly, it is mostly led by a member of Senior Management or the RE department, often related to an item that has recently appeared in the news. A termly "theme" is set that teachers planning Assemblies can also refer to, for example "Love in [[1 Corinthians 13]]" or "Caring and Sharing". The school regularly has talented pupils play musical pieces or sing while students are filing in for Assembly.

However, the last Ofsted Report for the CCHS considered its provision of the Daily Act of Collective Worship was inadequate <ref> Oftsed Report 6-9 October 2003, pg 8</ref>

===School Day===

The school day begins at 8:45, though students may come to school from 8:00. Registration is held at 8:45, and Assembly begins from 9:55 to 9:05. CCHS has five minutes "travelling time" between lesson to ensure students are punctually to lessons. The day is divided into five hour long lessons with a short break at 10:10 and an hour for lunch. A typical day looks like this:

{|border="0" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|-

|8:45 ||Registration.

|-

|8:55 ||School or Form Assembly

|-

|9:05 ||School Day proper begins

|-

|9:10 ||Lesson 1

|-

|10:10 ||Break

|-

|10:30 ||Lesson 2

|-

|11:30 ||End of Lesson 2

|-

|11:35 ||Lesson 3

|-

|12:35 ||Lunch

|-

|1:30 ||Afternoon Registration

|-

|1:35 ||Lesson 4

|-

|2:35 ||End of Lesson 4

|-

|2:40 ||Lesson 5

|-

|3:40 ||End of School

|}

The school day is regularly disrupted by House events, such as Decorated Classroom Competition or Sports Day, or School events, such as the Carol Service or Commemoration.

==Achievements==

CCHS is noted for its high academic achievements. It is one of the most consistently highly performing schools of the past ten years, and regularly appears in the top 10 of the Times School Supplement for GCSE and A Level results. <ref> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,591,00.html</ref> The school also has an extremely high rate of attendance in comparison with other schools.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/881_5410.stm</ref>

===Specialisms===

*CCHS gained [[Technology College]] status in 2000, although it only provides computer science as a technical subject<ref>[http://www.ssatrust.org.uk/schools/search/default.aspa?id=8815410 School search<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Music College]] status (with English) in 2005 and [[Language College]] status in 2006. The school converted to an academy in 2011, but continues with the specialisms.

*CCHS gained Technology College status in 2000. It is a recognition of:

** The school's high success in exams, but particularly in technical subjects,

**The techniques developed to raise educational standards, as well at the utilisation of existing ones,

** The school's work in the local community, and its sharing of facilities, particularly through IT (such as Silver Surfers, a programme to teach the elderly to use the Internet),

** The expansion of links with local businesses, and the formation of well educated, articulate young women who are confident in the workplace.

*Music College status (with English) was attained in 2004.

*Languages College status has also recently been attained.

===Awards===

* CCHS held Beacon School status from 2001 to the award's discontinuation in 2005, as an example of successful practice with a view to sharing the practice with others. <ref> http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/beaconschools/</ref>

* An Achievement Award <ref>http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/educationoverview/events/eventsarchive/schoolachievementawards/</ref> was awarded in all three years (1999/2000 to 2001/2002) that the scheme ran. The Award was made for achieving better results than most schools in similar circumstances.

* In July 2002, CCHS was awarded with the Sportsmark Gold<ref>[http://www.fours.co.uk/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=957 Four S / Home<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222200606/http://www.fours.co.uk/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=957 |date=22 December 2004 }}</ref> from Sport England for its out of hours sports provision and a broad and balanced PE curriculum. There are two levels of award: Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold.

* In 2015, CCHS was award The Prince's Teaching Institute (PTI) Leadership Award.

==Notable former pupils==

==Trivia==

{{see also|Category:People educated at Chelmsford County High School for Girls}}

* Every year in summer a pair of ducks nest in the quad and raise a brood of ducklings. They sometimes wander inside the building itself.

* Dame [[Margaret Anstee]] – [[Undersecretary-General of the United Nations|UN Under-Secretary General]] 1987–93

* [[Karen Buck]] – [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|MP]] for [[Regent's Park and Kensington North (UK Parliament constituency)|Regent's Park and Kensington North]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/karen-patricia-buck |title=Karen Buck |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229050144/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/karen-patricia-buck |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Rachel Elnaugh]] – entrepreneur and panellist on ''[[Dragons' Den]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1664407,00.html|title=Dragon back in her den|work=The Observer|date=2005-12-11|access-date=2008-01-05 | ___location=London}}</ref>

* [[Sarah Perry]] (née Butler) – writer

* [[Catharni Stern]] – sculptor

* [[Sarah Tyacke]] (née Jeacock) – former Keeper of Public Records and Chief executive of [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]], and cartographic historian

*[[Rosemary Vercoe]] (1917–2013), British costume designer<ref>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/109235|title=Vercoe, Rosemary Joyce (1917–2013), costume designer|first=Anne Pimlott|last=Baker|date=1 January 2017|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/109235}}</ref>

==References==

* Year 13s have a "rag day", in which they do amusing things to the school, such as hang bras from the school flag pole and chalk body outlines on the floor. The locks were taken off the doors of a set of toilets three years ago by Year 13s - they still have not been replaced.

{{reflist}}

==External links==

*Wherever there is a house event, there's a male teacher in drag.

*[http://www.cchs.co.uk The official CCHS website]

*[http://messybeast.com/uvx7swebpage/school-memoirs.htm School Memoirs including CCHS History]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060423011622/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/115/115326.pdf The last Ofsted Report for CCHS]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304174750/http://arctic2010.webs.com/ Arctic Expedition]

<br>

{{Schools in Essex}}

{{authority control}}

*The school has quite a low death rate in comparision to surrounding schools - about one pupil or member of staff is lost every year.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chelmsford County High School For Girls}}

*The first fall by a pupil into a school pond was actually in 2005.

[[Category:Girls' schools in Essex]]

[[Category:Grammar schools in Essex]]

*The longest serving teacher is currently Mary Reeve, head of the Latin department - she has been teaching at CCHS since t1967<ref>http://www.cchs.co.uk/community/centenary/flying_the_flag.htm</ref>.

[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1906]]

[[Category:Schools in Chelmsford]]

*Four pupils from the school have appeared on Blockbusters.

[[Category:1906 establishments in England]]

[[Category:Academies in Essex]]

==Famous Alumni==

[[Category:International Baccalaureate schools in England]]

*Anne Cullen - played Carol Grey in [[The Archers]].

*Joy Bome - awarded an MBE in 2001 “for services to the community, especially music, in Chelmsford, Essex”. <ref>CCHS Old Girls' Society Newsletter - Spring 2006</ref>

*Dame Margeret Anstee - [[Undersecretary-General_of_the_United_Nations|UN Under-Secretary General]] from 1987-93.<ref>http://www.unhistory.org/iac_res/anstee.htm</ref>

*[[Rachel Elnaugh]] - Entrepreneur and recently a panellist for [[Dragons' Den]]<ref>http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1664407,00.html</ref>.

==References==

<references/>

==External links==

*[http://www.cchs.co.uk| The official CCHS website]<br>

*[http://www.ratemyteachers.co.uk/schools/england/chelmsford/chelmsford_county_high_school_for_girls CCHS's entry at Rate My Teacher]. As with everything, CCHS is on the leadership board for highest rated schools.<br>

*[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/115/115326.pdf| The last Ofsted Report for CCHS]