Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School

Infobox UK school
name = Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School (HCCS)


size =
latitude = +53.197189
longitude = -2.368717
dms =
motto = Quality Education in a Caring Environment
motto_pl =
established = 1978
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Community Comprehensive and Sixth Form
religion = None
president =
head_label =
head = Mr Denis Oliver
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label = Chair of Governors
chair = Mrs Jackie Beard
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Specialist Science College
street = Selkirk Drive
city = Holmes Chapel
county = Cheshire
country = UK
postcode = CW4 7DX
LEA = Cheshire
ofsted =
staff = c. 87 teaching
enrollment = c. 1100
gender = Mixed
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = Black and Yellow
publication =
free_label_1 = Telephone
free_1 = 01477 534513
free_label_2 = Email
free_2 = [e-mail]
free_label_3 = Notable Awards
free_3 = Sportsmark Gold; Artsmark Silver
website = http://www.hccs.info
website_name = www.hccs.info

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School is a Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre located in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.

A Specialist Science College and designated Training School which has also been accredited with both Sportsmark and Artsmark awards, the school consistently performs well in academic performance League Tables, invariably exceeding both National and Local Education Authority averages.

History

The school was originally founded in 1978 as a purpose-built 11-18 comprehensive and sixth form.

Student Population

In total, the school community contains just over 1200 students whose ages range from 11 to 18 years. Approximately 170 of these are members of the Sixth Form, and there are about 85 members of teaching staff. The lower school is divided into five year groups, each containing about 200 students, whilst the Sixth Form is divided into two year groups of about 75 students each.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs is well below average, while the proportion of pupils with statements is average. Pupils with the highest levels of need mostly have specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), emotional and behavioural difficulties, or moderate learning difficulties. About two per cent of the pupils have minority ethnic backgrounds. The proportion of the pupils who are eligible for a free school meal is well below the national average and the socio-economic census data for local wards is very favourable.

The school's catchment area is large, and approximately half its students live in the surrounding towns and villages of Allostock, Brereton, Byley, Chelford, Cranage, Goostrey, Lower Peover, Middlewich, Plumley, Smallwood, and Wincham. Consequently, many students travel to school on private buses, provided by either Cheshire County Council or the school itself. The majority of those who live in Holmes Chapel walk, due to the school's position reasonabely near the centre of the town, and about 10 or 15 students cycle. The local area is rural and socially mixed, although generally affluent.

The student attendance record for 2005 is given below:

OFSTED

The most recent OFSTED report concluded as follows:

This very effective school provides excellent value for money. Its success is based onexceptionally strong leadership, much very good teaching and the very good attitudes of theoverwhelming majority of the pupils. The achievement of all groups of pupils is very good. Pupilsmake very good progress in most subjects and overall results in National Curriculum tests andGCSE and A-level examinations are well above average.

A copy of the entire report is available on OFSTED's website [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/111/111428.pdf] .

Expansion and Development

Since it first opened almost 30 years ago, HCCS's student population has grown enormously, leading to considerable expansion of the school buildings. In the last five years, a new Arts building was opened, as well as an extension to the science department and a complete refurbishment of all the science rooms has been completed during the summer of 2007. Partially funded by donations and sponsorship from parents and local businesses, the Arts building is home to the art and music faculties, along with a number of rooms dedicated to Sixth Form use on the first floor including a common room, and other 'A level only' courses such as sociology and psychology.

In September 2006 a new dining hall facility was completed. This building helped to resolve the problem of over-crowding at lunchtime, allowing lunch to be served in two sittings, rather that four. It also houses a dedicated 'bistro' for the use of Sixth Form students, which currently provides food in the mornings, which ends after lunch. A cashless system for dining came into action on January 29, 2007 using cards, and that has since been updated for some years to biometric thumbprints, to help solve the problem of lost cards.

Finally, in a radical measure introduced by Mr Oliver for the start of the school year in September 2007, the school will no longer have independent heads of year who follow their year group through the school, instead having one teacher for two year groups.

School uniform

All students enrolled at HCCS are required to wear school uniforms [http://www.hccs.schoolzone.co.uk/uniform/uniform.htm] .

The uniform consists of a black pullover, either a black or white polo shirt, black trousers and black or brown shoes. The school badge is emblazoned onto the polo shirts and pullovers. There is also a strict no make-up/jewellery policy.

Trivia

Previous Head Teachers include Mr. Knight, Mrs Duffy.

Notable alumni

*Dean Ashton - West Ham United and England footballer (born 1983)
*Seth Johnson - Ex Derby County, Leeds United and England footballer (born 1979)

External links

* [http://www.hccs.info/ School's Website]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/111/111428.pdf Most recent OFSTED Report]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/875_4165.stm League Tables from the BBC]