- Chew Valley School
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Chew Valley School Established 1958 Type Secondary school Headteacher Mark Mallett Location Chew Lane
Chew Stoke
Somerset
EnglandLocal authority Bath and North East Somerset Council DfE URN 109306 Ofsted Reports Students 1,201 Ages 11–18 Website chewvalleyschool.co.uk Coordinates: 51°21′31″N 2°37′22″W / 51.3586°N 2.6228°W
Chew Valley School[1] is situated within the Chew Valley in Somerset in South West England. It is 8 miles (13 km) south of Bristol in the village of Chew Stoke, on a 30-acre (12 ha) site in open countryside overlooking the Chew Valley Lake.
It is the only secondary school in the area, providing further education to local children, from various local primary schools, and some pupils who live outside the catchment area in South Bristol. The school has approximately 1,201 pupils, including 226 in the Sixth Form.[2]
Contents
History
The school was proposed in May 1955 in a public notice issued by Somerset County Council Education Committee, to eventually comply with the 1944 Education Act which had required secondary education for all, which had previously been provided by "all age primaries" in the area. The new school, which was originally called Chew Magna Secondary School, opened on 13 January 1958, although the official opening by Sir James Turner then president of the National Farmers Union was on 23 May.[3][4]
In 2008, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. In the same year a wind turbine was installed at the school, and unveiled by the local MP Dan Norris.[5][6] The turbine was supported by the Go Zero campaign based in Chew Magna who have also supported a similar initiative in Tamil Nadu, India.[7] In April 2009, current Head Teacher, Mark Mallet, did a parachute jump from 10,000 feet above ground level in aid of a new Art and Sixth Form block which was completed in August that year.[8][9]
On 1 August 2010, Chew Valley School became a foundation school. A letter to parents described the aims as "to use Foundation Status to help to raise standards and make a direct contribution to raising achievement and improve the well being and aspirations of students."[10] As part of the status change there was a legal transfer of land from the Local Authority to the School.[1] The school's letterhead now reads "A Foundation School serving the whole community"
Academic achievement
In the most recent Ofsted report, in 2011, the school received was rated 'Outstanding',[2] higher than previous ratings in 2004 and 2008.[11] In 2010 68% of students achieved five or more A*-C (and equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs.[12]
In March 2011 three students from the school's Sixth Form won the English Speaking Union's Great Shakespeare Debate, beating eleven other schools including Eton, Wellingborough and Magdalen College School.[13]
Performing arts
The school became a Specialist school in the Performing Arts in 2003.[14] Productions are put on each term, there is an annual dance festival, concerts and cabarets.
Sport
After numerous years of poor sports facilities a lottery grant enabled the school to build a new gymnasium and an all-weather pitch for both school and community use.[15] This grant followed a similar grant for Chew Valley Rugby Club.
Notable alumni
References
- ^ a b "Foundation Status Letter October 2010" (PDF). Chew valley School. October 2010. http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk/docs/Foundation_Status_letter_oct10.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ a b Noad, Rachel (October 14, 2011) "Chew Valley School - Inspection Report" Ofsted/Chew Valley School http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk/docs/Final_Report_Ofsted_2011.pdf
- ^ Hucker, Ernest (1997). Chew Stoke Recalled in Old Photographs. Ernest Hucker.
- ^ "Chew Valley School's 50th anniversary". Chew Valley Gazette. http://www.chewvalleygazette.co.uk/08_08/news_0808_lowerleft.html. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "MP unveils school's wind turbine". BBC Somerset News. BBC. 2008-09-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7637231.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- ^ "Wind of change comes to Chew Valley as school launches turbine". Western Gazette. http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Wind-change-comes-Chew-Valley-school-launches-turbine/article-359775-detail/article.html. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "New Chew Turbine linked to Tamil Nadu". Chew Valley Gazette. September 2008.
- ^ "Sixth Form Building". Chew Valley School. http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk//NewSixthFormBuilding/. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "December Newsletter". Chew Valley School. http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk//Newsletter_December_08%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Foundation Status May 2010" (PDF). Chew valley School. 24 May 2010. http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk/Foundation_status_school_mm%5B1%5D.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "Inspection Report Chew Valley School" (PDF). Ofsted. 2 December 2008. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/%28id%29/102342/%28as%29/109306_309956.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
- ^ "Chew Valley School". Department for Education. http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_10.pl?Mode=Z&No=8004130&Type=LA&Begin=f&Num=800&Phase=1&Year=10&Base=c. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "Shakespeare Debate Triumph!". Chew Valley School. 18 March 2011. http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk/Shakespeare-Debate-Triumph/. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "Chew Valley School". Education Base. http://www.educationbase.co.uk/index.php?id=CC0460. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "Education, Youth, Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel Monday, 23rd January, 2006". Bath and North East Somerset Council. http://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/celistdocuments.aspx?MID=1138&DF=23%2F01%2F2006&A=1&R=0&F=embed$07Notes051108.htm. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
External links
Education in the ceremonial county of Somerset Middle (deemed secondary) Fairlands Middle School · Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle SchoolSecondary (maintained) Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College · Broadlands School · Brymore School · Chew Valley School · Chilton Trinity Technology College · Clevedon School · Court Fields Community School · Culverhay School · East Bridgwater Community School · Frome Community College · Heathfield Community School · The King Alfred School · King Arthur's Community School · Nailsea School · Ralph Allen School · Robert Blake Science College · St Gregory's Catholic College · St Mark's CofE · Wadham School · Worle Community SchoolSecondary (academy) Ansford School · Backwell School · Beechen Cliff School · Bishop Fox's Community School · The Blue School · Bucklers Mead Community School · The Castle School · Churchill Academy and Sixth Form · Crispin School · Gordano School · Hans Price Academy · Haygrove School · Hayesfield Girls' School · Holyrood Academy · Huish Episcopi Academy · The Kings of Wessex Academy · Kingsmead School · Norton Hill School · Oldfield School · Preston School · Priory Community School · Sexey's School · Somervale School · Stanchester Academy · St Dunstan's Community School · The Taunton Academy · Wellsway School · Westfield Community School · Whitstone School · West Somerset Community College · Writhlington SchoolIndependent (preparatory) All Hallows Preparatory School · Downs Preparatory School · King's Hall School · Millfield Preparatory School · Hazlegrove Preparatory School · Paragon School · Springmead Preparatory School ·Independent (secondary) Bruton School for Girls · Chilton Cantelo School · Downside School · King Edward's School, Bath · King's College, Taunton · King's School, Bruton · Kingswood School · Millfield · Monkton Combe School · Park School · Prior Park College · Queen's College, Taunton · Royal High School, Bath · Sidcot School · Taunton School · Wellington School · Wells Cathedral SchoolSpecial schools Former City of Bath Technical School · Ladymead Community School · Ravenscroft School · The St Augustine of Canterbury School · St Brandon's SchoolUniversities For complete lists of establishments in each area see: Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1958
- Arts Colleges in England
- Comprehensive schools in Somerset
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