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Chetwynde School

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Coordinates: 54°07′52″N 3°12′24″W / 54.13121°N 3.20655°W / 54.13121; -3.20655
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Chetwynde School
Address
Map
Croslands
Rating Lane

Barrow-in-Furness
,
Cumbria
,
LA13 0NY

England
Coordinates54°07′52″N 3°12′24″W / 54.13121°N 3.20655°W / 54.13121; -3.20655
Information
TypeFree school
Established1938
Local authorityWestmorland and Furness
Department for Education URN141106 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of Local Governing BodyJohn Burgess
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Head TeacherAndrew Wren
Head TeacherStephen Jefferson
Staff86
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 16
Enrolment500~
Websitewww.chetwynde.co.uk

Chetwynde School is a Free school in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It includes a kindergarten, primary school and secondary school. It is a member of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

Founded as a private primary school, it was known as Our Lady's Chetwynde School and Chetwynde Convent Preparatory School at different periods of its history before it expanded to being a coeducational independent school for children aged 3 to 18.[1] Before 2014 it was Barrow's only independent school and the only one in the town which educated children from nursery all the way to sixth form.[2][3] The school became a state-funded free school in September 2014 for pupils aged 4–16 years.

History

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Chetwynde was founded as Our Lady's Chetwynde School in 1938 by Sister Aquinas and her nuns as a girls' school. In 1976, the school became mixed and independent from the church, though it retained its Catholic faith and ethos. Under Margaret Stones, the school's first headteacher, Chetwynde achieved high levels of sporting and academic success. The next headteacher was Isobel Nixon; during her time as headmistress the school dropped the "Our Lady's" prefix from its title and the school's record of high academic and extra-curricular achievement was maintained. New laboratories were built with the help of the John Fisher Foundation and many other modernisations took place.

It was initially a junior school for children up to age 11. In 1984, the age range was extended to 16. By then the school had outgrown its premises on Abbey Road and moved to its current site. The Sixth Form was opened in 1989.[4] The first male headteacher, Russell Collier, was appointed in 2010.[5] From 2014 to 2019, the headteacher of Chetwynde School was Ms Sian Jeffreys, and as of September 2019 onwards, the current headteacher is Mr Stephen Jefferson.

On 25 May 2012, it was announced that the school would remain open in September after an eleventh hour purchase from a currently unnamed purchaser. The school remained under the leadership of the headmaster Russell Collier with a new board of governors, the majority from the Chetwynde Support Group (CSG). The school began to offer new bursary programs to make it more accessible to the local community and to increase enrollment.[6]

Free school application

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On 8 November 2012, in a meeting held between governors and parents, it was announced that the school intended to apply for free school status beginning in September 2014, as based on pupil numbers the school's long-term future was in doubt. The application was processed by January 2013, with a decision from the Department of Education to be made by May 2013. Initial reception from parents was extremely positive and Chetwynde asked parents in the area to register their interest in order to aid the school's application. On 22 May 2013, Chetwynde announced that it had been successful in its application and became Cumbria's first free school in September 2014.

In 2018, the school closed its sixth form due to low student numbers. Students now generally attend Barrow Sixth Form College located on the opposite side of Rating Lane to the school.

Multi-academy trust

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Under pressure from the Department for Education through the issuing of a financial notice to improve,[7] Chetwynde School began to seek a multi-academy trust to join. On 1 September 2021, the school joined South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust,[8] a local trust sponsored by Furness College. The school has now demonstrated sound finances and has had its financial notice to improve removed.[9]

Academics

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Chetwynde is consistently ranked as one of the county's top non-selective schools.[10][11][12][13] In the 2011 GCSEs, pupils achieved a 100% pass rate with all gaining at least five "A*" to "C" grades, making Chetwynde the best school in Cumbria for GCSE results.[14] That same year it also achieved the best A-level results in Cumbria, with 86% of grades at "A*" to "B".[15]

In 2013, Chetwynde School Sixth Form maintained its 100% A-Level pass rate for the fourth consecutive year.[16] In the same year, 96% of Chetwynde's GCSE students achieved five or more A* to C grades.[17]

Sport

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In sport, the school has competitive rugby union, football, cricket, hockey, tennis, cross country running, basketball, and athletics teams. It is most notable for success in netball and swimming.

Chetwynde is known for its highly successful swimming team.[18][19][20] The school has achieved a number of national titles,[21] being the only school to have won medals at every English National Schools' Primary Championship since their inauguration in 1995. They have represented England in international tournaments.[22]

Chetwynde has a formidable record in netball and it remains a popular sport with pupils. During the 1980s and 1990s, its teams dominated the English Schools Netball Association Championship.[23]

Cricket has also been a rising success for Chetwynde, as in the summer of 2018, Chetwynde's U13 and U15 Cricket team managed to reach 3rd and 4th place in the Cumbria County Schools Cup respectively.

Notable former pupils

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References

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  1. ^ "All smiles as camera comes to Chetwynde". North West Evening Mail. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  2. ^ "It's a celebration!". The Cumberland News. 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Chetwynde nears its £500,000 target". North West Evening Mail. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014.
  4. ^ History Archived May 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Chetwynde appoints first male headteacher". The Cumberland News. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Barrow School Saved". 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Financial Notice to Improve". Education and Skills Funding Agency. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Department for Education Get Information about Schools". Department for Education. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Chetwynde School Barrow Moves out of Special Financial Measures". North West Evening Mail. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Head's pride as school students excel in exams". The Cumberland News. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
  11. ^ Schools in Cumbria - GCSE 2005
  12. ^ "Hard work pays off Chetwynde pupils". North West Evening Mail. 28 August 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Chetwynde School GCSE results". Westmorland Gazette. 25 August 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Secondary school league tables in Cumbria". bbc.co.uk. 21 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Chetwynde School - 'A record breaking year'". chetwynde.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012.
  16. ^ "North West Evening Mail | News | Chetwynde School in Barrow keeps 100 per cent pass rate". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  17. ^ "North West Evening Mail | News | Bright Barrow Chetwynde pupil Marc has A* in his eyes". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  18. ^ "TEAM OF THE WEEK: our Lady's Chetwynde swimmers". Westmorland Gazette. 23 February 2001.
  19. ^ "Medals bonanza for Chetwynde". North West Evening Mail. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Chetwynde pupils are splash hits". North West Evening Mail. 7 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014.
  21. ^ "Swimming - National Medals For Tiny School Team". Westmorland Gazette. 3 July 2001.
  22. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Here Come the Girls". North West Evening Mail. 7 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012.
  24. ^ "Cumbria man directed summer's big hit movie Inbetweeners". Westmorland Gazette. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  25. ^ "Our Ben is Knighted!". North West Evening Mail. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  26. ^ "Take a Bowe, Matt". North West Evening Mail. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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