CHELMSFORD: Specialist schools given grant for high performance

By goldershaw

TWO Chelmsford schools have been awarded £25,000 each from the Government in recognition of their high-performing status.

Chelmsford County High School for Girls and Chelmer Valley High School have both received the hand-outs as a reward for good work in their individual specialist areas.

A proviso to obtaining the cash is that the school raise the same amount.

The grammar school's cash is to go towards a £2million modern foreign languages suite which teachers hope to have up and running in 2012.

The Broomfield Road school, which has specialist language status, has had plans drawn up for a new building which will comprise seven classrooms and an atrium to accommodate up to 60 people.

As well as for the use of students, the facility will be available during and after school hours for the community and businesses to enjoy language classes.

Equity Insurance, M&G and Gipping Construction and the Parents' Association together raised the £25,000 required match-funding.

Nicole Chapman, head teacher, said: "We are continually working to develop partnerships with our business community.

"This is not just about financial support; we welcome companies to share their expertise with our students through our work experience programmes and career advisory links."

The cash for Chelmer Valley High School was in recognition of their excellent work in engineering.

The funds are now being used to refurbish a technology room into a Sixth Form engineering suite with many industrial standard machines including laser cutters, rapid prototyping machines, routers and engineering lathes/mills. Matthew Suttenwood, the Court Road school's director of engineering, said: "As we were successfully redesignated as an engineering college we were invited to apply for an engineering grant from the DCSF.

"They were offering £25,000 if we could raise £15,000 in sponsorship from local engineering companies and £10,000 in cash.

"We have always had a good relationship with Britvic and they have donated £15,000 worth of time, through visits from engineers in school time, work shadowing, site visits and work experience."

The school's PTA donated £7,000 and the Great and Little Leighs Trust donated £3,000. Global Marine Systems also gave some money.

THE languages suite at Chelmsford County High School for Girls is part of a much larger planned redevelopment programme to include a sports complex, with indoor facilities for a number of sporting activities.