Chadwell Heath Academy

Chadwell Heath Academy

Type	Academy
President	Aaliyah Sohail
Headteacher	Mr Keith Wilkinson BSc
Chair	J Moynagh
Location	Christie Gardens Chadwell Heath Essex RM6 4RS England
Local authority	London Borough of Redbridge
DfE number	317/5400
DfE URN	136267 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	1200
Gender	Co-ed
Ages	11–18
Houses	Austen, Bronte, Eliot, Orwell, Paton, Swift
Colours	Navy blue
Website	http://www.chadwellacademy.org.uk

Chadwell Heath Academy (formerly known as The Chadwell Heath Foundation School) is a co-educational, independent of local authority secondary school with academy status, located in Chadwell Heath in the London Borough of Redbridge. The school has approximately 1200 pupils on roll, including 300 in the heavily over-subscribed, prestigious Sixth Form.^[1] Each pupil is assigned to one of six form houses; Austen, Bronte, Elliot, Orwell, Paton and Swift of which students remain a part of throughout their academic life, each form is named after a famed author. The school is also the most rewarded school in the borough for specialisms.

The school was awarded media arts college status in 2002, and mathematics and computing specialist status in 2007. It also holds the Artsmark Gold and the Sportsmark accreditations. The school has been rated 'Outstanding' across all six Ofsted categories.^[2]

Like St. Paul's Girls' School, the Sixth Form is one of a handful of schools in the country which does not have a prescribed school uniform in the sixth form.

Exam results

In 2007 the school achieved the third highest GCSE results in the borough with 96.8% of student achieving 5 A* to C grades. The only schools to beat them were the two grammar schools, Woodford County High School and Ilford County High School who achieved 100% and 99.2% 5 A* to C grades respectively.^[3]

In 2008 the pupils at the school continued the run of high grade passes with 96% achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE with 61% of grades being at A*, A and B. At AS-Level the overall pass rate was 90% and at A2-Level the pass rate was 99%^[4]

Examination results for 2009 were again high. 97% of pupils achieved at least 5 A* - C grades at GCSE with 99% achieving 5 or more A* - G grades. Over half the grades obtained were at A* A and B. 30% of pupils achieved 1 to 9 A* grades and 57% achieved 1 to 9 A* and A grades. 81% of pupils achieved 2 or more Science certificates at grades A* to C. At AS Level, 58% of the grades awarded were at A, B and C. Finally at A-Level students achieved a pass rate of 99%.^[5] Many of the sixth form leavers continue higher education at Russel Group universities such as Bristol, Durham, Imperial College London, LSE, Oxford, UCL, Warwick and York.

Houses

Swift, named after Jonathan Swift

The main school is split into six 'form classes'. Each student before arrival is placed into one class. The classes are as follows:

• Austen - named after Jane Austen
• Bronte - named after the Brontë Sisters
• Eliot - named after T. S. Eliot
• Paton - named after Alan Paton
• Orwell - named after George Orwell
• Swift - named after Jonathan Swift

The form groups compete against each other during many school competitions including the inter-form tournament and annual quiz. There is also competition between the houses in each year group on effort grade standards and attendance.

Prefects

The school enlists a prefect system, where a number of pupils from year 11 are selected by teachers based on grades and characteristic to become 'prefects' and one 'head prefect'. Prefects enjoy book tokens and lunch passes. Previously year 8 students would fulfill 'reception duty'.

Feeder Schools

The top feeder primary schools for entry into Chadwell Heath are:^[6]

• Chadwell Primary School
• Barley Lane Primary School
• Grove Primary School
• St. Bede's Catholic
• Goodmayes Primary School

Old Chadwellites

Old Chadwellites Coat of Arms

Former pupils of the school are known as Old Chadwellites

There have been a number of famous past students at the school. Kris Chesney Saracens and International Rugby player who returned to open the schools new sports hall and sixth form centre in October 2007. Chesney also returned to congratulate over 100 pupils who had won awards at the schools annual prize giving evening in November 2007.^[7]

Reading and England defender Nicky Shorey also attended the school.

British judge, Khatun Sapnara.

Perhaps the most famous alumnus is actress Michelle Dockery, best known for starring in the hit TV series "Downton Abbey" as Lady Mary Crawley. Dockery is also known for her role in the 2009 two-part Cranford Christmas special for the BBC, her role as the lead character in a modernised BBC adaptation of The Turn of the Screw and playing the lead role, Susan, in "The Hogfather" .^[8]

In 2004, musician Devonte Hynes left Chadwell Heath Foundation School and Ilford County High School to join the revolutionary art punk and indie rock group known as Test Icicles. Having split in February 2006, Dev Hynes has moved onto a new project as Lightspeed Champion, which has been critically acclaimed by the music industry.

References

External links

• Official Website

Coordinates: 51°34′18″N 0°07′04″E / 51.5718°N 0.1178°E / 51.5718; 0.1178