The Chase School


The Chase School, also referred to as The Chase Technology College and The Chase High School, is a secondary school in Malvern, Worcestershire, England. The school opened as a Secondary Modern in 1953 under headteacher Mr Garth. It was officially opened by Lord Cobham on 26 March 1955. The Chase became a comprehensive with the abolition of selective education in Worcestershire in 1974 and became an academy on 1 November 2011. Teaching students from Year 7 to Year 13, The Chase has around 1,500 students, making it one of the larger schools in Worcestershire, with just over 300 students in the sixth form. Recent results, notably the headline measure of 5+ A*-C GCSEs including English and maths, are significantly above the national average at 72% in 2015 and 74% in 2014.
The school is located in Barnards Green, a suburb of Malvern, adjacent to the sites of QinetiQ and the Malvern Hills Science Park. Links between the school and these organisations has led to the establishment of the Cyber-security Apprentice Development Scheme, an apprenticeship initiative aimed to encourage more students into the cyber security sector.

Background

The Chase School has been a specialist schools programme Technology College since 1999, and was awarded Beacon school status in 2002. The school achieved Artsmark Gold status in 2001 for excellence in art and design, drama, music, creative writing and public speaking. The Chase School is also a Language College. The school has Sportsmark Gold status, this is awarded to schools by Sport England for the excellent in provision of Physical Education and school sport.
It is administered by the Worcestershire County Directorate of Educational Services, and Matt May is the head of governors. Former headmaster Richard Jacobs started in 2013, taking over from Kevin Peck who had started in 2002. Peck was brought in when the previous headteacher retired; David Fawbert had been awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to education during his tenure. There are 16 primary schools in Malvern that feed The Chase School and nearby Dyson Perrins CofE Academy. Current headmaster, Mike Fieldhouse, began his position as acting headteacher in 2017, while Richard Jacobs was placed on special leave. He became headmaster in July 2017.
The most recent Ofsted inspection took place in July 2016, awarding the school Grade 2 overall with the Sixth Form ranked as Grade 1. This echoed the findings of the 2009 inspection. The inspectors noted that the "curriculum is well planned and inclusive" and how pupils are "keen to learn" and that "positive relationships with teachers and other pupils in the classroom support learning".
The school was named in July 2019 as a computing hub for the National Centre for Computing Education.

Buildings

The Chase School library opened in September 2006 and was officially opened on 23 February 2007, by the now poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. The library is situated adjacent to the main ground floor block. The science block was built and was open in 2008 and was officially opened in 2009.
In 2014 local MP Harriett Baldwin officially opened the new £1 million humanities block, a new build featuring seven classrooms.

Uniform

The Chase School's uniform for boys consists of a blue sweater, with the school's emblem on the left side of the polo or jumper, a white shirt, a blue and gold, diagonally striped tie and grey or black trousers. The girls' uniform consists of a blue sweater, with the emblem on the left side of the polo or jumper, a white shirt, a blue and gold, diagonally striped tie or a revere shirt without the tie, black, blue or natural tights, and a blue or black skirt.

Traditions

The students of The Chase School take part in the annual "Hills Walk", a 7.5-mile walk across the Malvern Hills and the surrounding area. The walk begins at the clock tower in North Malvern, at the foot of the Malvern Hills, and finishes at the school campus on Geraldine Road, Malvern. The walk has taken place every year since it started in 1977, to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee, apart from in 2006, when it was too hot, and in 2013 due to thunder and lightning, and in 2019 due to stormy weather, and the walk was cancelled. A Senior Student Team is selected each year from students in the Upper-Sixth form. One Head Boy and one Head Girl, supported by several deputies, take on additional roles including making introductions at Speech Day and representing the school at various events. The school supports a variety of charities and runs various fundraising events, regularly raising over £5,000 each year. This includes the donation of food parcels to residents of local housing for the elderly and to food banks in Malvern.

Notable achievements

The Chase has a strong history of varied extra-curricular achievements. In July 2016 the school won a record eighth best team trophy at the Worcestershire Schools' Sailing and Canoeing Association OnBoard Regatta.
The school's links with local technology companies has enabled them to develop apprenticeships in cyber security. In 2015 a team representing The Chase secured the runners-up prize in the national finals of the UK Cyber Centurion Competition and second in the international competition.
The Chase has also found success in national and regional business competitions, achieving top marks in the 2012 Business, Accountancy and Skills Education competition run by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. They have also enjoyed great success in Young Enterprise each year.

Notable alumni