| Motto | Wisdom Giveth Life |
|---|---|
| Established | 1909 |
| Type | grammar academy |
| Headteacher | Mrs Gillian Marshall MSc |
| Chair of Governors | Allan Blundell |
| Specialism | Science and Languages |
| Location | Norman Way Colchester Essex CO3 3US England |
| Local authority | Essex County Council |
| DfE URN | 115370 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 773 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Website | www.colchestergirls.essex.sch.uk |
Colchester County High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school with academy status in Colchester. The school consistently scores highly in the league tables for the UK.[1] Entrance to year 7 is by an academic selection test, the eleven plus. Entrance into year 12 is by GCSE grades.
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The school was originally located in the Albert Hall in the High Street (now the Co-operative Bank), until its intended premises at the top of North Hill (now the Sixth Form College) were completed. Later, the lower school moved to Greyfriars on East Hill and, in 1957, moved to new buildings in Norman Way, off Lexden Road. Most of the buildings are unchanged, but an extension including new Science laboratories and Sixth Form facilities was added in 2002. The 'mSchool' was added between 2006 and 2009, with new facilities for Music, Mathematics and the Mind; its 'iLab' (innovation laboratory) is one of the few in the UK outside a University.
It was founded in 1909 as a girls' school for Colchester, and subsequently became a grammar school admitting girls from North East Essex and beyond on the basis of an 11+ selection test. The school is situated a mile to the west of central Colchester, and celebrated its centenary in 2009-2010.
The school was one of the first Science Specialist Schools in the country. It later became a specialist Modern Language school too, teaching French, German and Spanish.
Wisdom Giveth Life has been the school's motto since the school opened in 1909.[2] This reading is still included in the traditional school assembly at the start of each academic year:
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the days of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
For Wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?—-Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verses 11-14
The uniform for CCHS is a navy blue jumper with the CCHS logo on the left side, light blue blouse (Years 7-9) or a light blue polo shirt for Years 10-11, navy blue skirt, ending at or near the knee, or trousers. Tights must be black or dark blue (although skin coloured tights are also worn) and socks must be dark blue or black. School shoes must be black, brown or navy and heels or ankle boots/boots are not allowed. No canvas shoes are allowed, only leather or plastic. Hair bands must be blue or black. Sixth formers can wear any clothes that are presentable. The school is in the process of designing a new uniform after frequent suggestions for change from the students. The uniform is not yet confirmed but is said to be a blazer instead of a jumper.