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Chichele School - 1987
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The School was first opened in September 1949 and moved to its present site in 1954. It was reorganised in 1971 as a girls' county comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-18 years. At that time new buildings were added and two further phases followed in 1974 and 1976-77. At present, September 1986, there are 774 pupils on roll, of whom 58 are in the Sixth Form. The total teaching staff, including the Headteacher and part-time teachers, is 49. Chichele School aims to provide a curriculum that includes, as far as possible, all the areas of experience: linguistic, mathematical, physical, creative, moral, social, scientific, spiritual and technological. It is constructed to increase each pupil's mental and physical capabilities and to help her realise her full potential. In a world that demands greater adaptability from its workforce we endeavour to teach a range of skills that will equip our girls for the challenges they may meet. However, we do not shape our curriculum solely to reflect the current demands of society we also take into account the individuality of the pupils themselves and the school's role in preserving and passing on the cultural heritage of the nation. School Organisation Pastoral - The school is organised on a year basis HEAD OF YEAR The Head of Year is a senior member of staff who leads a team of Form Tutors and has special responsibility for the personal development, welfare and discipline of the girls in the year group. This team normally stays with the same pupils throughout their five years at the school. Parents should not hesitate to contact the appropriate Head of Year if any particular problems arise concerning their daughter. FORM TUTOR Girls are allocated to Form Groups of about 28 girls in the care of a Form Tutor. They meet three times a day for registration and twice a week for an extended period during which the Tutor endeavours, initially, to help the newcomer to adjust to her environment by explaining her place in the school and by developing the group as a close-knit, caring community. Emphasis is placed on relationships, social skills, study skills and personal interests with a view to enabling each girls to benefit personally from the opportunities the curriculum provides. MORNING ASSEMBLY Every morning begins with an Assembly; there are two School Assemblies, two Form Assemblies and one Year Assembly a week. Themes for Assembly are chosen and presented by each Form in turn. They are varied in format and may incorporate drama, dance and music. They do not contain material likely to cause offence to any particular religious denomination. School Assemblies help to develop a corporate spirit and pride in the success of the school. The right of withdrawal from the religious element of Assembly, or R.E. lessons, may be exercised in certain circumstances. SECTION II TEACHER Although the number of pupils belonging to non-English speaking ethnic minorities is very small, we have the services of a peripatetic language teacher to help these children improve their knowledge of English. CAREERS GUIDANCE Careers education is programmed from the Third Year onwards, though the subject is considered earlier in the school in a less structured way, and continues until a girl leaves. Time is spent preparing pupils to consider career implications when subject choices are made for the Fourth Year and on entry to the Sixth Form. The course is supplemented by slides, videos, films, outside speakers and visits where possible. Work experience, in the fourth and fifth year, under Project Trident, provides the opportunity for the girls to sample local employment. A Careers Convention is held in the Autumn Term, the venue provided in turn by the local secondary schools where specialists from many types of employment talk to parents and pupils. There is close liaison with the County Careers Service whose officers attend Parents' Evenings and interview pupils with their parents. SCHOOL UNIFORM All pupils are expected to wear the school uniform, full details of which are on a separate sheet available from the school. Pupils also require a cotton overall, or shirt, for Science and other practical subjects, this may be of any colour. Certain variations in uniform are offered to senior pupils, in the Fifth Year a red pullover is allowed and Sixth Formers may choose garments, including trousers, within a wider stipulated colour range. Jewellery and make-up are not allowed, if sleepers are worn they must be removed during P.E. lessons on safety grounds. Unnatural hair colouring and outlandish hairstyles are also not considered acceptable for school. All possessions must be clearly and permanently marked with the owner's full name. CODE OF CONDUCT There are four simple, but fundamental, rules of conduct for pupils. 1. Respect yourself. 2. Respect others. 3. Respect school property and the possessions of others. 4. Respect your community and your environment. The application of these rules to every day situations forms the basis of tutorial work done by the form tutors in form periods. The Pastoral Care system in the school aims to promote full co-operation between the home and school, thus avoiding serious discipline problems. At an early stage you will be informed of persistent breaches, by your daughter, of the school code of behaviour and invited to come to discuss the matter. In this way we can work together to resolve the problem. In accordance with our ethos, and with County policy there is no corporal punishment at Chichele School. ACTIVITIES The activities centre at Longtown, in the Brecon Beacons, is used regularly, for senior pupils, by the latter also make use of the Field Centre at Newton. We offer a period of residential experience to all Third Year pupils, during the penultimate week of their Summer term. In July, 1985 two groups went to London and Ross-on-Wye as pioneers in this new element in the Third Year curriculum. Each year we usually undertake a day trip to France, for the First Year, and an exchange visit with pupils from Monchweiler School in the Black Forest. Regular saving with the school bank can be very helpful with all extra mural activities. There is also a wide variety of social, cultural, dramatic, scientific and sporting activities which take place either in the lunch hour or after school. HOME AND SCHOOL LINKS Parents thinking of sending their daughters to Chichele are invited to visit the school early in the New Year. Also, in June, there is an Open Evening for all parents of new entrants. On that occasion there is an opportunity to see the school to meet the Staff and, in particular, the Head of Year and the team of Form Tutors who will be responsible for your daughter. The girls themselves visit the school in a group, accompanied by the Junior School Teacher, and are shown around by First Year pupils and staff. Parents' Evenings are held once every academic year to consult the Staff members who teach your daughter. However, if you wish to discuss a particular problem you are invited to contact the Head of Year, at any time, for an appointment. Once a year you will receive a detailed report on your daughter's efforts and achievements. Should the Head of Year feel the need to see you as a result of this report you will receive an invitation to come to discuss matters. To enable you to take an interest, and pride, in your daughter's school the Headteacher will send you a regular newsletter. P.T.A. The Parent Teacher Association was established in 1970 to organise social activities of interest to both parents and girls. It has helped the school in many ways since its inception and has, by various fund-raising activities, enabled us to purchase extra equipment for use in many departments. These activities are co-ordinated by a committee made up of parent representatives from each Year Group and some teachers, who meet approximately once a month. Newcomers are very welcome and you .are co-ordially invited to attend the A.G.M. which is held in school each year early in October. OPEN ACCESS TO RECORDS The school follows the Education Committee's policy issued on the 16th April 1986, namely that: "All records maintained on pupils or students by the Education Authority and throughout its establishments shall be open to the individuals concerned and to their parents or guardians." Occasionally there could be a need to record information offered by parents and others which will not be accessible to the pupils. In the case of students over the age of sixteen, information given by them may not, at their request, be made available to parents. PUPILS' PERSONAL PROPERTY Parents are strongly advised not to send children to school with any large sums of money or valuable items such as watches or jewellery. Whilst teachers may take charge of such items during Physical Education lessons or at a pupil's request, it must be emphasised that neither teachers, nor the school, nor the Local Education Authority can take responsibility should any valuables be lost, damaged or stolen. If parents wish to let their children bring such valuable items to school they are advised to make their own arrangements to insure against the risks involved. It is also strongly urged that all items of clothing and sports equipment brought to school by pupils should be clearly labelled with the pupil's name. ACADEMIC CURRICULUM In their first year at Chichele School pupils will follow a common curriculum which continues, and expands, the general education they received in their primary schools. The subjects timetabled for them are: English, Mathematics, Humanities, Craft, Combined Science, French, Art, Design, Physical Education, Music and Religious Education. The first year pupils are randomly divided into form groups which are also their teaching groups. During the first year of adjusting to secondary education each girl's ability and progress is carefully assessed and monitored so that we can ensure that all who need help receive it, and to enable 'setting' which take place in some subjects in subsequent years to be carried out accurately. 'Sets' in a particular subject are ability groups, and transfer between them is possible when desirable or necessary. As well as being concerned with the academic progress of each girl, we are also interested in her personal development. All teachers are involved in this area, and we welcome support and advice from parents when dealing with sex education, health and moral issues. In the Fourth and Fifth Year our pupils embark on a two year course leading to the appropriate external examination: G.C.S.E., R.S.A. or Pitman. All girls are encouraged to take some examinations, most take 5-7 subjects, and a few manage, and pass, the maximum number of 10 subjects. Our results in all areas are further evidence of the findings of recent educational research that single sex education is particulary advantageous for girls. The options available in the Fourth and Fifth Year courses are presented in a booklet to pupils and parents during the Autumn Term of the Third Year. These courses represent our commitment to a wide and balanced curriculum through the core subjects, whilst enabling students of this age to exercise choice through the option subjects. Ample opportunity is given to parents to discuss the subjects or courses best suited to their daughter, with Heads of Year, Heads of Department; Subject teachers and the Careers Staff. SIXTH FORM The Sixth Form at Chichele has no formal entry requirements as a variety of courses are provided to cater for a full range of interests and abilities. The courses are as follows: 1. A two year 'A' level course in two or three subjects chosen from a list of19. 2. A two year course combining one 'A' level with Shorthand and Typewriting. 3. A one year Business Studies course. 4. A one year Commercial General Course. 5. A one year Certificate of Pre-Vocational Education. These courses are explained in more detail in the Sixth Form booklet usually issued during the Autumn Term of the Fifth Year. The Sixth Form have their own common room and study facilities. They also have a separate uniform and their own elected committee to organise their affairs. The students are encouraged to play an active part in the life of the school, this includes assisting, in many ways, some of our younger pupils. After one or two years in the Sixth Form girls are well qualified for a variety of careers, or to continue their education at university or college. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Physical Education is a core subject. We field school teams in Hockey, Netball, Swimming, Basketball and Badminton during the winter months and Athletics, Tennis and Rounders in the summer months. In addition to the school teams a wide variety of school clubs are run during the lunch hours and after school. These include Modern Educational dance, gymnastics (Olympic and B.A.G.A. Awards, Acrobatics) table tennis, volleyball, keep fit, trampolining and indoor hockey. Members of the Dance and Olympic Gymnastics Club have represented the school in display and competition work in the area. Facilities at the school are very good. The include use of the hall for dance, a fully equiped gymnasium, a large sports hall, 6 netball courts, 10 tennis courts and an extensive playing field with 2 hockey pitches. HOMEWORK All pupils are expected to do homework, the amount set will vary from subject to subject and will be tailored to suit the ability of the pupil. A printed timetable is produced for each year, giving the nights on which homework is set when appropriate. The tasks may involve writing, learning or reading, and any parent who has a query concerning homework should contact the relevant Head of Year. TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS Heads of Department may set ad hoc tests in their subjects at any time during the year. Formal school examinations take place once a year during subject periods, details of these appear in the yearly calendar and the Head's newsletter. ACADEMIC HEADS OF DEPARTMENT The academic structure of the School is in the care of the 15 Heads of Department. These members of staff are responsible to the Headteacher for the organisation of each particular subject, or subject area. SUBJECTS TAUGHT The following subjects are available at this school in the present academic year 1986/87. The level to which the subject may be taken is indicated by the initials:-
GENERAL NOTE: The information provided in this booklet describes the school and its policy at the time of going to print and will apply in the next academic year unless unforeseen circumstances affect the school. |
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