Chew Valley School

Chew Valley School[2] is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form 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.

Chew Valley School
Address
Chew Lane

Chew Stoke
,
Somerset

England
Coordinates51.3586°N 2.6228°W / 51.3586; -2.6228
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1958
Local authorityBath and North East Somerset Council
TrustLighthouse Schools Partnership
Department for Education URN145482 Tables
OfstedReports
Head teacherGareth Beynon
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1,160 as of 2015[1]
Websitehttp://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk

It is the only secondary school in the Chew Valley area, providing further education to local children, from various local primary schools, and some pupils who live outside the catchment area. As of 2015, the school had over 1,160 pupils, including 186 in the Sixth Form.[1]

History
Chew Valley School

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, ex head teacher Mark Mallett 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.[2] The school's letterhead now reads "A Foundation School serving the whole community"

In November 2015, Mark Mallett, the school's then-headteacher, asked parents for monthly standing orders to overcome a budget deficit.[11][12]

In February 2018 Chew Valley School converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by the Lighthouse Schools Partnership.

Academic achievement

In the most recent Ofsted report, in 2011, the school received was rated 'Outstanding',[1] higher than previous ratings in 2004 and 2008.[13] In 2010 68% of students achieved five or more A*-C (and equivalent) including English and Mathematics GCSEs.[14]

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, Oxford.[15]

Performing arts

The school became a Specialist school in the Performing Arts in 2003.[16] Productions are put on each term, there is an annual dance festival, concerts, and cabarets.

Then in year of 2018 it stopped being a Specialist School and became an academy.

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.[17] This grant followed a similar grant for Chew Valley Rugby Club.

Notable former pupils

References
  1. "Chew Valley School". Ofsted. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. "Foundation Status Letter October 2010" (PDF). Chew valley School. October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  3. Hucker, Ernest (1997). Chew Stoke Recalled in Old Photographs. Ernest Hucker.
  4. "Chew Valley School's 50th anniversary". Chew Valley Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  5. "MP unveils school's wind turbine". BBC Somerset News. BBC. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  6. "Wind of change comes to Chew Valley as school launches turbine". Western Gazette. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  7. "New Chew Turbine linked to Tamil Nadu". Chew Valley Gazette. September 2008.
  8. "Sixth Form Building". Chew Valley School. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  9. "December Newsletter" (PDF). Chew Valley School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  10. "Foundation Status May 2010" (PDF). Chew valley School. 24 May 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  11. Cuff, Selina (27 November 2015). "Media furore after school issues fundraising letter". Chew Valley Gazette. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  12. "School asks parents to set up direct-debit". ITV. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  13. "Inspection Report Chew Valley School" (PDF). Ofsted. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  14. "Chew Valley School". Department for Education. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  15. "Shakespeare Debate Triumph!". Chew Valley School. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  16. "Chew Valley School". Education Base. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  17. "Education, Youth, Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel Monday, 23rd January, 2006". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  18. "The One Show's Mike Dilger and Birdgirl join forces". Agri-hub. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.

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