| Motto | Vitai Lampada Ferimus (We carry the lamp of life) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1906 |
| Type | foundation grammar |
| Headmistress | Nicole Chapman |
| Specialisms | Technology, Music and Languages |
| Location | Chelmsford Essex CM1 1RW England |
| Local authority | Essex County Council |
| DfE URN | 115326 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 850 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | C , G , H , S |
| Website | www.cchs.co.uk |
Chelmsford County High School for Girls, or "CCHS", is a selective grammar school for girls aged 11–18 located in Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is one of the most consistently high-achieving secondary schools in the UK, regularly scoring in the top 5 schools for both GCSE[1] and A-level results.[2]
In addition to 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 claims to support each student to "succeed in whatever field she chooses".[3] There are over 800 pupils on the school roll with 150 in the Sixth Form.
The current Headmistress is Nicole Chapman.
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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.
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 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. Her name can still be seen on the School's Rolls of Honour.
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 "Vitai lampada ferimus" [4] or " We carry the torch of life" was chosen in 1923, from a shortlist of 18 suggestions. It can be currently seen as part of the school crest.
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.
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 previous 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 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 the 1970s, three demountable classrooms, known as 23, 24 and 25, were built. Only 25 remains today.
In 1979, Miss Phyllis Pattison 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 1980s and continued until the present day, with three computer rooms, three specialist technology rooms, and the training of all pupils in the use of ICT.
Miss Brooks retired in 1989 and was replaced in 1990 by Bernice McCabe, who served for seven years until 1997.
In 1992, Chelmsford County High School 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.
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. This new music building began construction in March 2007, with the building site taking up the majority of space on the school field behind the hall. The building has been built in the shape of an orchestra, and there are two large teaching rooms, practice rooms and a fully equipped recording studio inside. The building was opened in January 2008 by Dame Evelyn Glennie. Unfortunately, Mrs Curtis was forced to retire early due to ill health and Glynis Howland, previously a Deputy Head, became Acting Headmistress. The post of headmistress was advertised in the Summer term, but no appointment was made. The post was re-advertised in September 2006 and Nicole Chapman was selected as the school's new headmistress. She took up the post on 1 April 2007.
As required by English law,[5] 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.[6] On Tuesdays and Thursdays, H&S and C&G Houses attend a school Assembly respectively, while the other Houses again have Form Assembly.[6] 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 Year 7-8 Assembly, held in the Gym and a Year 9-11 Assembly, held in the Hall. 6th -form Assembly is held on a Wednesday morning in the Hall. Pupils are also expected to produce their own assemblies to present to their forms, these are pre-planned by Form Tutors and are occasionally used by teachers else where.
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[7] Therefore, taking this into consideration, Nicole Chapman has now introduced the singing of hymns every morning in these assemblies to further unify the school and show the collective worship of students.
The school day begins at 8:45, though the school is open to students from 8:00. Registration is held at 8:45, and assemblies (on the days they are held) start at 8:55. Lessons begin at 9:10. CCHS has five minutes "travelling time" between lessons to ensure students have adequate time to reach their next classroom. The day is divided into five hour long lessons. There is a short break at 10:10 and an hour for lunch.
Typically the day is broken up as follows:
| Time | Activity / Event |
|---|---|
| 8:45 | Registration. |
| 8:55 | School or Form Assembly |
| 9:05 | End of Registration / Assembly |
| 9:10 | Lesson 1 |
| 10:10 | Break |
| 10:30 | Lesson 2 |
| 11:30 | End of Lesson 2 |
| 11:35 | Lesson 3 |
| 12:35 | Lunch |
| 13:35 | Lesson 4 |
| 14:35 | End of Lesson 4 |
| 14:40 | Lesson 5 |
| 15:40 | End of School Day |
The school day may be disrupted by House events, such as Decorated Classroom Competition or Sports Day, or by School events, such as the Carol Service or Commemoration. Time tables vary among pupils, even amongst year groups.
A formal uniform is only worn by students in years 7 to 11. This differs slightly between winter (autumn half-term to the end spring term) and summer (beginning of summer term to autumn half-term. It consists of:
The uniform has undergone many changes throughout the school's history. Before 2004, it consisted of a lighter grey pleated skirt, white open-necked blouse in the summer, or white shirt with a tie in winter, and a navy blue blazer. Over the years the uniform has also included pinafores.
The sixth form dress code has recently become more stringently enforced. Sixth form students must wear clothing suitable for the workplace, such as dark trousers or skirt, and a shirt or blouse.
Recently, a new uniform has been voted to come into the school in September 2010. This new uniform is based on the suffragette colours and consists of:
This new uniform will be compulsory in Sep 2010 for the new year 9, but other years may keep the old uniform (although the new one is optional)
The house system is a key part of the school community. Originally there were three houses - C, H and S - standing for Chelmsford High School. A fourth house, G - standing for Girls' (making it 'Chelmsford Girls' High School') was added when the students on roll increased.
When new pupils enter the school they are split into houses dependent on their surname and this determines which tutor group they join (the first on the register goes to C, the second to G, the third to H and the fourth to S. Then the process repeats- CGHS, CGHS etc. etc.)- 7C, 7G, 7H or 7S. Throughout the school, they move up to 8C, 8G, 8H or 8S, then 9C, 9G, 9H and 9S and so on. New entrants to the sixth-form and teachers are also given house assignments.
Recently, the houses were given the surnames of famous women and voted for the one they thought was the most inspirational to have representing their house:
Competitions form an important part of the house system and points are collected throughout the year in House Events such as House Pancakes, House Show, House Decorated Classroom and House Karaoke. There are also several House Events that include sports, such as House Winter Games and Sports Day. In December the house with the most accumulated points wins the House Shield.
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.[2] The school also has an extremely high rate of attendance in comparison with other schools.[8]