Chosen Hill School
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| Chosen Hill School | |
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| Motto | Beacon of Excellence |
| Established | 1959 |
| Type | Comprehensive |
| Headteacher | Sue Turner |
| Specialism | Technology College |
| Location | Brookfield Road Churchdown Gloucestershire GL3 2PL  England |
| LEA | Gloucestershire |
| Ofsted number | 115763 |
| Staff | 100+ |
| Students | c. 1370 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11 to 18 |
| Houses | Carne, Masefield, Scott and Whittle |
| School colours | Bottle Green |
| Publication | Chosen Hill Newsletter, Other |
| Website | www.chosen-hill.gloucs.sch.uk |
Chosen Hill School is a large co-educational comprehensive school in the village of Churchdown in Gloucestershire, England and is very close to Cheltenham. It is a specialist Technology College and a Beacon School. It is located in the Tewkesbury Borough Council
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[edit] History
Chosen Hill School opened in September 1959 as a selective Grammar Technical School. The official opening ceremony was held on 13 May 1960 and was conducted by Peter Scott, the Gloucestershire naturalist and author.[1] In the school's first year there were 270 pupils and a staff of 14. Chosen Hill's first headmaster was Dr David Gould. A year later there were 390 children and a staff of 21. By September 1961 there were over 500 pupils with a staff of 26. The school continued to increase by an annual intake of about 125 pupils a year over the next few years.[1]
In September 1970 the school began the transformation into a 'progressive' comprehensive school. By this time the catchment area stretched as far as Warden Hill, Coombe Glen and Shurdington on the east side of Cheltenham and also included half of Churchdown village.[1]With the move to comprehensive education the children were split into streams, with the top streams entered for O levels and the bottom streams taking CSEs. The less academically able children were offered a wide range of subjects which included social studies, rural science, photography, printing, home decorating, car maintenance, girls' crafts, boys' cookery and typing.[1] One of the school's teachers, Mr E Atkinson, developed a special tape recorder-styled visual aid reading machine to help pupils with reading difficulties. The machine was patented and manufactured by a local Cheltenham firm, and it was claimed that most reading problems were solved within two years.[1]
The purpose-built sixth form block, one of the first in Gloucestershire, opened in September 1972. In 1974 the new Middle School block opened which contained a new art room, a commerce room, music rooms and eleven new classrooms, as well as a complete new dining area and kitchens.[2] By this time the school roll had increased to 1,048 and there were more than 60 staff.[1]
In 1997 the school achieved Specialist Technology College status, and in 2002 it was awarded Beacon Status.
In 2008, the school was recognized as an Environmentally Friendly School.
[edit] Facilities
The school benefits from a new sports hall which holds four ball courts or one big five-a-side football pitch. The hall was named after former head teacher Alan Winwood. However, most former pupils believe that while Alan Winwood was an excellent head, the hall should instead have been named after the late Adrian Turton, who dedicated his entire teaching career to school sports, and was a very prominent figure. An effort, headed by former pupil Marcus Johns, is currently under way for the name of the hall to be changed, with a petition containing over 1,150 signatures to be presented to the school's governors.
[edit] Houses
The school is split into four houses: Carne House, Masefield House, Scott House and Whittle House. Various house events are held throughout the year including the house music competition and the annual Sports Day.
[edit] Charities
Chosen Hill has a strong reputation for charity fundraising. Every year the school holds a "Come as you like day" when all pupils dress up as whatever they want and pay a minimum of £1. The proceeds are donated to LEPRA. Recently, following the death of the former Student Councillor, the school has started a "Pink Day" in aid of Breast Cancer, with the profits being donated to a Breast Cancer Charity. There has been talks of a "Blue Day", in aid of Testicular Cancer.
[edit] Future plans
In July 2006 Gloucestershire County Council announced that it was providing £1.9 million to Chosen Hill School to replace outdated temporary classrooms with new purpose-built facilities.[3] The money will be spent on a new Sixth Form Block, a refurbishment of the Science Blocks and a new Learning Support Building. The refurbishment of the Sixth Form Block commenced on 15 May 2007 and should be completed in September
The new website is now up and running.
In 2008, Chosen Hill School was granted multi-million pound funding for 10 new classrooms in Lower School, a part of the Government's plan to rebuild all of the schools in the UK.
[edit] 50th Birthday Celebrations
In early 2008, Mrs Sue Turner (Head Teacher), announced that in 2009 there would be 50 different events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of Chosen Hill School (1959).
[edit] Awards
- On Wednesday 26th March 2008, Chosen Hill School won the HSBC Under 14s Rugby Tournament[4], making Chosen Hill School the best at Rugby in Gloucestershire. Over 250 Pupils attended the match at Kingsholm, Gloucester. The annual parents' evening was cancelled to allow coaches to be booked for the Year 9 and 8 Pupils to attend the match after school.
- In 2008, Chosen Hill School was recognized as an Eco-School and was awarded the Bronze award for this. Chosen Hill School are aiming for the Gold Award this year, by cutting down on their 2,000,000 paper consumption per year.
- An Investors in Careers Award is being undergone and assessed, this took place on April 2, 2008
- In 2008, Chosen Hill School won the the Year 9 Cheltenham District Football Tournament, to become District Winners[5]
- In 2008, Chosen Hill School won the the Year 10 Cheltenham District Football Tournament, to become District Winners[6]
- In 2008, Chosen Hill School won the the Year 9 Cheltenham District Netball Tournament, to become District Winners[7]
[edit] Headteachers
- Dr David Gould (1959-1978)[8]
- Mr R G Lacock (1978-?)
- Mr Winwood (?-2001)
- Mrs Sue Turner (2001-present)
[edit] Notable alumni
- Lyndon Davies, child star in The Singing Detective. He later starred alongside Sean Bean as Perkins in the TV series Sharpe.
- Phil Greening, England rugby player
- Alan Hooper, England cricketer and MP for the Wirral
- Rod Thomas, footballer
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f 'My school in pictures'. Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Echo, 7 December 1974, p8.
- ^ 'School notes'. Chosen Hill School Magazine, 1974, p5.
- ^ 'Chosen Hill school cash – Good choice!' Gloucestershire Conservatives website accessed August 2007
- ^ Chosen Hill School Website
- ^ Chosen Hill School Website
- ^ Chosen Hill School Website
- ^ Chosen Hill School Website
- ^ 'The First Headmaster'. Chosen Hill School Magazine, 1977, p3.
[edit] External links
- Chosen Hill School website
- School profile and overview from Schoolsfinder
- Chosen Hill School Rugby Club
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