Chetwynde School

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.[http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/about-us/history-2/ History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512145829/http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/about-us/history-2/ |date=May 12, 2012 }} The first male headteacher, Russell Collier, was appointed in 2010.{{cite news|title=Chetwynde appoints first male headteacher|url=http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/chetwynde-appoints-first-male-headteacher-1.665785?referrerPath=home/2.3080|publisher=The Cumberland News|date=28 January 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120728141956/http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/chetwynde-appoints-first-male-headteacher-1.665785?referrerPath=home/2.3080|archivedate=28 July 2012}} 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.{{cite news|title=Barrow School Saved|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow-chetwynde-school-saved-1.958083?referrerPath=home|date=25 May 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101102919/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow-chetwynde-school-saved-1.958083?referrerPath=home|archivedate=1 November 2013}}

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.

Under pressure from the Department for Education through the issuing of a financial notice to improve,{{cite web|title=Financial Notice to Improve|date=3 September 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-notice-to-improve-chetwynde-school-trust|publisher=Education and Skills Funding Agency|accessdate=8 October 2021}} Chetwynde School began to seek a multi-academy trust to join. On 1 September 2021, the school joined South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust,{{cite web|title=Department for Education Get Information about Schools|url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/141106|publisher=Department for Education|accessdate=8 October 2021}} a local trust formed to improve education in South Cumbria. The school has now demonstrated sound finances and has had its financial notice to improve removed.{{cite web|title=Chetwynde School Barrow Moves out of Special Financial Measures|date=2 September 2021 |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19554092.chetwynde-school-barrow-moves-special-financial-measures/|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=8 October 2021}}

Chetwynde is consistently ranked as one of the county's top non-selective schools.{{cite news|title=Head's pride as school students excel in exams|url=http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/head-s-pride-as-school-students-excel-in-exams-1.659826?referrerPath=home/2.3080|publisher=The Cumberland News|date=13 January 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120724150346/http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/head-s-pride-as-school-students-excel-in-exams-1.659826?referrerPath=home/2.3080|archivedate=24 July 2012}}[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/909.stm Schools in Cumbria - GCSE 2005]{{cite news|title=Hard work pays off Chetwynde pupils|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/hard-work-pays-off-for-chetwynde-pupils-1.605136?referrerPath=home/2.3320|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905015802/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/hard-work-pays-off-for-chetwynde-pupils-1.605136?referrerPath=home/2.3320|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2012|publisher=North West Evening Mail|date=28 August 2009}}{{cite news|title=Chetwynde School GCSE results|url=http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/schools_zone/news/9215877.Chetwynde_School_GCSE_results/|publisher=Westmorland Gazette|date=25 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.{{cite news|title=Secondary school league tables in Cumbria|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/secondary/11/html/eng_maths_909.stm?compare=|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=21 March 2012}} That same year it also achieved the best A-level results in Cumbria, with 86% of grades at "A*" to "B".{{cite news|title=Chetwynde School - 'A record breaking year'|url=http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/senior/results/a-level/|work=chetwynde.co.uk|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429125557/http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/senior/results/a-level/|archivedate=2012-04-29}}

In 2013, Chetwynde School Sixth Form maintained its 100% A-Level pass rate for the fourth consecutive year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/chetwynde-school-in-barrow-keeps-100-per-cent-pass-rate-1.1078152 |title=North West Evening Mail | News | Chetwynde School in Barrow keeps 100 per cent pass rate |accessdate=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112101235/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/chetwynde-school-in-barrow-keeps-100-per-cent-pass-rate-1.1078152 |archivedate=2013-11-12 }} In the same year, 96% of Chetwynde's GCSE students achieved five or more A* to C grades.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/bright-barrow-chetwynde-pupil-marc-has-a-in-his-eyes-1.1079931 |title=North West Evening Mail | News | Bright Barrow Chetwynde pupil Marc has A* in his eyes |accessdate=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112101232/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/bright-barrow-chetwynde-pupil-marc-has-a-in-his-eyes-1.1079931 |archivedate=2013-11-12 }}

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.{{cite news|title=TEAM OF THE WEEK: our Lady's Chetwynde swimmers|url=http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/leisure/leisure_britawards/archive/2001/02/23/The+Lake+District+Archive/6939308.TEAM_OF_THE_WEEK__Our_Lady_s__Chetwynde__swimmers/|publisher=Westmorland Gazette|date=23 February 2001}}{{cite news|title=Medals bonanza for Chetwynde|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/medals-bonanza-for-chetwynde-1.278863?referrerPath=home/2.3320|publisher=North West Evening Mail|date=2 December 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305152633/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/medals-bonanza-for-chetwynde-1.278863?referrerPath=home%2F2.3320|archivedate=5 March 2014}}{{cite news|title=Chetwynde pupils are splash hits|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/chetwynde-pupils-are-splash-hits-1.149636?referrerPath=home/2.3320|publisher=North West Evening Mail|date=7 July 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305153050/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/chetwynde-pupils-are-splash-hits-1.149636?referrerPath=home%2F2.3320|archivedate=5 March 2014}} The school has achieved a number of national titles,{{cite news|title=Swimming - National Medals For Tiny School Team|url=http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/archive/display.var.244142.0.swimming_national_medals_for_tiny_school_team.php|publisher=Westmorland Gazette|date=3 July 2001}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.isfsports.org/schoolsport/result_2001/LUXEMBOURG%20%20%20SWIM%20CUP.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192631/http://www.isfsports.org/schoolsport/result_2001/LUXEMBOURG%20%20%20SWIM%20CUP.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-26 }}

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.{{cite news|title=Here Come the Girls|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/here-come-the-girls-1.942210?referrerPath=sport/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905075027/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/here-come-the-girls-1.942210?referrerPath=sport/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2012|publisher=North West Evening Mail|date=7 April 2012}}

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.

• Ben Palmer - Director of The Inbetweeners Movie{{cite web|title=Cumbria man directed summer's big hit movie Inbetweeners|date=31 August 2011 |url=http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/9225303.Cumbria_man_directed_summer_s_big_hit_movie_Inbetweeners/|publisher=Westmorland Gazette|accessdate=27 September 2016}}
• Ben Harrison - Super League Rugby league player, winner of the Challenge Cup with Warrington Wolves.{{cite web|title=Our Ben is Knighted!|date=11 October 2011 |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/millom/Our-Ben-is-Knighted-a7ade895-c317-46b8-b6c7-d94951d32bb4-ds|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=27 September 2016}}
• Liam Harrison - Rugby League player who played for Barrow Raiders and Ireland
• Matt Bowe - Swimmer who won a silver medal in the Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay with England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games{{cite web|title=Take a Bowe, Matt|date=9 March 2006 |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/millom/TAKE-A-BOWE-MATT-7b16922b-5218-46eb-91aa-3774ec4d2fa8-ds|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=27 September 2016}}
• Liam Livingstone - English Cricketer (batsman) and former captain of the Lancashire T20 Domestic side.
• Nikhil Rathi - CEO of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/ School website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120519111207/http://www.chetwyndesupportgroup.co.uk/ Chetwynde Support Group]

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{{Schools in Cumbria}}

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Category:Primary schools in Westmorland and Furness

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Cumbria

Category:Schools in Barrow-in-Furness

Category:Secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness

Category:Free schools in England

Category:Educational institutions established in 1938

Category:1938 establishments in England