Chesham Grammar School

History

The school was founded in 1947 as the Chesham Technical School - a result of the Education Act 1944 which set up the tripartite arrangements of grammar, technical and secondary modern schools. The all-boys' school was originally housed in only one building, which is now the sixth form block known as "The Curtis Centre". In 1961, the school became known as Chesham Technical High School and during the 1960s, there was huge development in the area, and it became a co-educational grammar school. In 1970, the school changed its name to Chesham High School as it moved away from its technical roots. The name of the school changed to Chesham Grammar School on 7 May 2010. It is as a grammar school that CGS has seen considerable expansion and improved results. The school was rated outstanding in all categories by OFSTED in March 2014.

Headteachers

Facilities

Over the last couple of decades, there has been major expansion of the school, including a new maths block, a textiles block, an art block, expansion of the English block, a new library and a new drama/psychology block. There is now a new technology/art building built over what was A1, the main art room. In the last year, the Sixth Form facilities have been developed. The Curtis Centre, as this block is now known, is now a state of the art facility. This redevelopment and extension were made possible by the very generous donations and contributions of the parent body.

Results

In 2015, GCSE level results were the best in the history of the school, with 66% of results being awarded at A*/A and 100% achieving at least 5 A* - C grades, including English and maths. This led to the school being named 37th best state school in the country at GCSE. Philip Wayne, who joined the school in 2007, left in 2015 to take up the post of Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. The new Headteacher is Annmarie McNaney, who was previously a Deputy Headteacher of the school.

Admissions and school performance

Admission to the school is brokered through Buckinghamshire County Council, which operates a selective secondary education system throughout the county. Pupils have to achieve a mark of 121 or above in the 11-plus to be eligible to attend the school. The school will be oversubscribed in year 7 2015 for the first time in living memory. The school's catchment area broadly covers the whole of Chiltern District area which includes the towns of Amersham, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter and Chesham, and larger villages such as Great Missenden and Little Chalfont. A significant proportion of the intake also comes from Hertfordshire. As Chesham town is a terminus on the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground, pupils also travel in from North London. The school's progress profile shows that these pupils perform at a comparatively similar level at GCSE and A level.

Uniform

Pupils in years 7 - 11 wear a black blazer with the logo, a shirt, the school tie and the school skirt/trousers. A black jumper is also optional.

Sixth formers are allowed to wear "business style" clothes; most pupils wear suits.

Leaver destinations

On average, 95% of the pupils in Year 11 choose to stay at the school to continue into the sixth form.

The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship

The school has a good record of pupils attaining places on the prestigious Prime Minister's Global Fellowship programme. The school achieved its first pupils in the inaugural year of the programme, 2008, and in 2009 had 2 more successful applicants.