Headteacher's Newsletter

what's happening at Chesham Grammar

Posted on: December 16th 2022

Head's Blog

SNOW AT CGS

Well, the term has come to an end and once again, it has been a busy week, one with so many moments which have made me proud. The week started with snowfall and the freezing temperatures across the week have meant that parts of the site have been inaccessible all week. Usually at break and lunchtimes, as well as before school, the courts are full of children running around having fun. Currently, they are just too dangerous to use, leaving no play space to speak of. The students have just got on with it, as they always do. On Monday, when the snow was soft and fluffy, we allowed them onto the field at lunchtime and the sight of them all laughing and having such fun, making snowballs and snowmen, was just lovely to see. The memory will remain with me for a long time to come.

CHRISTMAS IN WORDS AND MUSIC

Christmas in Words and Music, postponed on Monday evening, took place on Wednesday afternoon. This is always the point at which it begins to feel like Christmas for me and this was no exception. The music as always was of a very high standard and my thanks go to Mrs Jashari and Mrs Lewis who have worked so hard with the students across the term to bring this to fruition. It is hard to pick out highlights but for me, the year 7 choir was a beautiful moment and I found the Sixth Form choral group equally moving. As I listened to their last performance in a Christmas event at CGS, I pictured them as the little year 7s they were themselves what seems very little time ago...and I thought about all the things which have happened between then and now, which brought a tear to my eye. The readers were also impressive. Well done and thank you to everyone involved in any way and to parents who were able to come along.

ASPIRATION DAY

On Wednesday morning, a number of alumni from the Classes of 2021 and 2022 returned for Year 10 Aspiration Day. They talked to students about their lives beyond CGS and offered advice based on their experiences, having been in year 10 themselves not too long ago. Some of the students are currently at university while others have chosen the degree apprenticeship route. Some also took a gap year so the year 10s will have been exposed to a range of alumni experiences which hopefully raised their awareness of what life beyond CGS might look like. Thank you to Miss Lindsay and Mrs Lovelace who organised this. Later that day, a number of the Class of 2022 returned for an informal event, to collect their A level certificates and it was really good to hear about their first term beyond school. Mrs Ware organised this and my thanks to her.

HOUSE DEBATING COMPETITION

Well done to Asha and Felicity in year 12 who have organised a House Debating Competition. The first rounds took place last week with year 9s competing, debating a range of topics, such as whether animal testing, homework and the monarchy should be abolished. Judging focusing on the opening and closing statements as well as a team's ability to respond to and counter arguments from the opposition. Once all the points were tallied, Shakespeare came out on top. Asha and Felicity were really impressed by the quality of the debating. It gives us great pride to see our Sixth Form students demonstrating the leadership skills needed to put on events such as these and we were also delighted to receive so many applications from year 12s who wish to be considered for the role of Prefect. Thank you to Mr Hayes who is leading this within the school.

LAST PARENTS' EVENING FOR YEAR 13s

Last night, our very last event of the term took place. Over the course of the last 14 years, parents with a child in year 13 will have attended many Parents' Evenings. Last night was their last and I hope you found it useful if you have a child in this year group. During the last couple of days, year 13 students have been out and about in Chesham delivering hampers to the town's elderly residents. These were made possible by your very generous donations and were really gratefully received, the students tell me.

GOODBYE TO...

This week, we have said goodbye to some colleagues who are leaving CGS. Mrs Hillary London has been our Safeguarding Manager for the past year. She has been a real asset to the safeguarding team, supporting the work of Mr Bradbury and the Year Leaders in particular. Mrs Daisy Moore-Bridger leaves us to take up a teaching post in another school. She has inspired many students in physics and science and has also coordinated our extracurricular programme for the past year. Mrs Rachel Baillie has been my PA since I took over the Headship here in 2015. She also worked with me when I was Deputy Head and has had a range of roles during her 17 years at the school. Many of you will have had dealings with her and I know will have found her to be unfailingly helpful and incredibly knowledgeable about the school. She is relocating to the South West. Finally, Mr Owen Pierce, one of our Year Leaders as well as a teacher of PE is leaving us. I would like to thank all our departing colleagues for their commitment to the school. We wish them all the very best of luck in the future.

ECONOMICS MAGAZINE

As you will know, our Economics Department publishes a magazine at regular intervals and the fantastic new edition is available here. It contains articles written by those studying economics at A level and I have no doubt that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you to Mrs Carr for inspiring the students.

SPORT

Unsurprisingly, no fixtures have been able to take place this week. Across the term, we have had over 100 fixtures in a range of sports and I would like to thank everyone involved. The staff have worked very hard to try to ensure that sport and PE continues as normal in Mr Pontin's absence and I know, having kept him updated on life at CGS, that he is very proud of what has been achieved this term.

By way of information, immunisations for years 7-9 which were postponed on Monday due to the weather will be rescheduled next term.

A BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS?

Finally, if you have not yet finished Christmas shopping for your child, can I ask that you consider buying them a book to read? The impact of reading for pleasure on a child's education is well documented and we encourage our students to read. Every English lesson starts with silent reading and we ask that all tutor groups engage in silent reading for one tutor time a week. We want students to have a book of their choice with them when they are at school so I am hoping that Santa may be able to provide some reading material for next half term! Thank you.

It has been a pleasure to reflect on the past term with students in assemblies this week and to wish them a happy holiday. I would also like to thank you for your ongoing support of the school and of your children. I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year and I look forward to working with you further next term. We start again on Wednesday 4^th January. I very much hope that the snow and ice will be long gone by then! When we return, normal rules apply in terms of uniform and footwear for all students across the school.