You may have been following the MACE/Mouchel issue in The Mercury. We had 3 Science labs refurbished by MACE 3 years ago at a cost of around £300,000. Using the same specification we have just had 3 science labs refurbished for less than £100,000, not using MACE. I have been talking with councillors and officers for a year before the matter went to the press. Somehow the school previously paid about £70,000 more than necessary and local taxpayers are a further £140,000 out of pocket. I have asked for a refund. The council has spent £156 million on capital projects this year and MACE/ Mouchel manage all council work.
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We take no pleasure in the imprisonment for 10 months of our well publicised burglar but we do hope he has time to change his ways whilst in prison. It is wrong for people to steal from schools and our students need to know that there are consequences to lawbreaking.
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Chauncy School Governing Body has decided to oppose the proposals for an incinerator less than half a mile from the school. From what we have seen so far, the incinerator would bring at the very least, heavy traffic, increased pollution and no jobs to Ware.
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School-wise - A cold but centrally heated end to the term has been greeted with the usual fuss about schools staying open if a snowflake falls. Some staff and many students have joined in secret snow-dance activities and we have the occasional, “My son/daughter says the school is closed,” phonecall. Our bad weather procedures use parentmail, the
school website and local radio stations if the school is closed unexpectedly. Hopefully I have not pre-empted a massive drop in temperature by writing this.
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There are lots of victories to proclaim in this newsletter and I do like it when we win. Our boys won the Lea Valley Badminton trophy without dropping a single game. All local
rivals were beaten 3-0 with our 2nd team losing to our 1st team in the semi finals. We have the Hertfordshire Schools Battle of the Bands trophy on display in reception, the week
after a wonderful Christmas-lite school concert where Year 7 boys won the Best Original Christmas Song Prize. Our Lego Animation team are Regional Champions (Herts/Beds & Bucks) despite losing a point because their teacher made too much noise. Another county trophy was brought home from the Hertfordshire Business Enterprise Challenge Day
where our 6th Form economics students conquered all other 6th forms. Our newest building – managed by the school of course – opens officially on January 4th. This gives extra rooms to Science, including a 9th computer room, and rehouses Geography and Business Studies. In January we start work on the 6th Form Coffee Bar and will then be able to move Ceramics into a room of its own. With 970 students on roll and 1st preferences filling Year 7 next September we end 2009 in a healthy financial position. I hope you enjoy a happy two weeks with your children/parents.

Dennis O'Sullivan

Ware Dickensian Evening - Friday 4 December

The Association of Chauncy Friends were busy on Friday evening, selling home made sweets from their stall in Market Square. Trade was brisk and a profit of £180 was made. Thanks go to all those who donated goods for the stall and also of course to the helpers on the night - Judy, Brindley, Lorna Day, Teresa Pearson and Diane Tilbey who helped on the stall and Karen Manser who helped with setting up.

Linda O'Neill

GCSE Results Success!

89% of students gained two Science GCSEs at A*-C, with most of those getting three or four science qualifications. Eleven of the 51 students who sat their ICT GCSE in Year 9 earned an A*-C, setting a hard target for this year's early Year 9 entries in Statistics, French, German, Spanish, Citizenship and ICT.

We welcome children of all abilities at Chauncy and it is incredibly rewarding to see that our students regularly over achieve in terms of national expectations, including the strongest and weakest students. Their confidence in themselves and their teachers, combined with their parents' high expectations and support, ensures exam success beyond the targets we set.

A Level Results success!

Number of Candidates - 49

% A and B grades - 44%

% A - E pass rate - 99%

Average Point Score - 214

Average Total Points Score - 878

With increasing numbers of students staying on into the Sixth Form at Chauncy, results are a school priority and we are delighted that all of our Sixth Form results are considerably higher than last year.

Chauncy Sixth Form

We have received a considerable number of applications for Chauncy Sixth Form since results day. If you are interested in joining our happy and successful Sixth Form, or would like further information about our innovative and exciting curriculum, which now includes triple award BTEC Art and ICT courses, please get in touch with me by clicking here.

Dennis O'Sullivan (Headteacher)