Posted May 3 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: March 26th 2021
Head's Blog
Dear parent,
This last full week before we finish for Easter has been a busy one. Last night, it was a pleasure for staff to meet Year 7 parents at Parents' Evening and to share information on the progress their child has made since joining us in September. We have also had Year 11 Food Technology practical assessments going on. Students, working to a brief, have three hours to produce three dishes. Usually, they are able to invite as many staff as wish to come, to taste the dishes and give them feedback. This 'taste test' and the resulting feedback is an important part of the process. This year, due to the restrictions, each student was able to invite one member of staff to take part in this. It was a pleasure to see the invited staff member sitting down at lunchtime with the student and to listen to the conversations and feedback about what they were eating. The students had done a superb job and were rightly proud of their creations which looked and, I am told, tasted, amazing.
I was delighted to be able to talk to Olivia in Year 7 and Freddie in Year 10 earlier today about their recent involvement in the CGS round of the Poetry By Heart Competition. Olivia and Freddie won the school heat in KS3 and KS4 respectively and will now be entered in the next round. Both of them clearly enjoy poetry and I would like to thank Mr Wescomb for inspiring them to take part. I was equally delighted to hear of the success of Isabel in Year 13. Isabel has a place to read Music at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, for next year and attended an audition for a choral scholarship this week. She heard yesterday that she was successful. She will also be a member of the College chapel choir. Mrs Jashari and Mrs Lewis, who have taught Isabel music during her time here, are very pleased and proud. Congratulations, Isabel.
Our Red Nose Day last Friday raised almost £2, 300. Well done to all those involved. The Franklin House Captains are very pleased with what they have helped to achieve, as they should be.
This afternoon, we have sent home to parents of those in Years 11 and 13 the schedule for GCSE and A level final assessments next term. Also this afternoon, I have printed off several hundred pages of guidance released today by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) which will keep me busy over the weekend! This is the final guidance we have been waiting for on the determination of grades this summer. The additional assessment material has not yet been released. Amongst the JCQ documents is a guide for students and parents which you can find here: https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/JCQ-Guidance-for-Students-and-Parents-on-Summer-2021.pdf It is hot off the press; I haven't read it myself, yet. When we have had a chance to digest the various documents we have received today, I will write to parents with the final details of our process.
Due to the assessments our Year 11 and 13 students need to undertake, we have moved the internal exams for those in Years 12 and 10. These will now take place after the May half term and we will send the exact dates home next week.
Finally, a reminder that those students who are undertaking Covid testing at home should do one on Sunday please and record the results in the 'student Covid testing' Team. Also a reminder that we finish for the Easter holiday next Thursday, March 30th. We break up at 1.15pm; Mr Patteson has sent details home already. We return for the summer term on Monday, 19th April.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
