Chew Valley School
Established	1958
Type	Secondary school
Headteacher	Mark Mallet
Location	Chew Lane Chew Stoke Somerset England
LEA	Bath and North East Somerset Council
Ofsted number	109306
Students	1150
Ages	11 to 18
Website	http://www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk
Coordinates: 51°21′31″N 2°37′22″W / 51.3586°N 2.6228°W / 51.3586; -2.6228

Chew Valley School is situated within the Chew Valley in Somerset in South West England. It is 8 miles (13 km) south of Bristol in the village of Chew Stoke, on a 30-acre (12 ha) site in open countryside overlooking the Chew Valley Lake.

It is the only secondary school in the area, providing further education to local children, from various local primary schools, and some pupils who live outside the catchment area in South Bristol. The school has approximately 1150 pupils, including 200 in the Sixth Form. It is frequently oversubscribed. ^[1]

[edit] History

Chew Valley School

The school was proposed in May 1955 in a public notice issued by Somerset County Council Education Committee, to eventually comply with the 1944 Education Act which had required secondary education for all, which had previously been provided by "all age primaries" in the area. The new school, which was originally called Chew Magna Secondary School, opened on 13 January 1958, although the official opening by Sir James Turner then president of the National Farmers Union was on 23 May.^[2]

In 2008 the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. In the same year a wind turbine was installed at the school, and unveiled by the local MP Dan Norris.^[3] The turbine was supported by the Go Zero campaign based in Chew Magna who have also supported a similar initiative in Tamil Nadu, India.^[4] The current Headteacher, Mark Mallet, has done a jump out of a jet, 10,000 feet in the air, in aid of a new Art and Sixth Form block which is currently under construction. ^[5][6]

[edit] Academic achievement

In the most recent Ofsted report, the school received a positive review.^[7]

[edit] Performing arts

The school became a Specialist school in the Performing Arts in 2003. Productions are put on each term, there is an annual dance festival, concerts and cabarets.

There were concerns raised, as reported in the local media, such as the Chew Valley Gazette, that the conversion to a specialist school was done for financial reasons above the benefit of pupils. More time is needed until such concerns can be confirmed or denied.

250 pupils are registered for peripatetic music lessons in the school.

[edit] Sport

After numerous years of poor sports facilities a lottery grant enabled the school to build a new gymnasium and an all-weather pitch for both school and community use. This grant followed a similar grant for Chew Valley Rugby Club. Improved sporting facilities have led to improved sporting achievement.

Many pupils represent their county as well as their school in sport.

The school won the Bristol Schools' Rugby union Cup in 2005 and in 2006 won the U18 football Somerset Cup and the West of England Schools Sailing Association Trophy.The school also won the 2005 National Cheerleading championship.

[edit] Quotes

Headteacher Mark Mallet describes the school as

[edit] Notable alumni

• Andy Williams (Welsh footballer)
• John Bevir ITV News Reporter

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Chew Valley School website