Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee

The pupil Climate and Biodiversity Action Committee has been meeting weekly this term. They began the term with a series of assemblies for different year groups on the climate and ecological emergencies, which were well received. They have then been drawing up lists of priorities for the school, in their subgroups: Emissions, Biodiversity, Food, and Communications/ Curriculum, which have been presented to the Head and Governors. They are also planning a Climate Action Week for the first full week of next term.

Two requests for help - 1: As the MVI move towards their A levels and leaving Chigwell, they now need new members from the LVI and UV to take the lead in this vital work. If your child (all years from Year 7 upwards) is concerned about the emergency and would like to help, please ask them to come to a meeting (Friday, 1pm, Sixth Form Centre). And 2: We would love to hear from parents who are interested in what we are doing, have questions, or have connections/experience/expertise which might be useful: please email cbac@chigwell-school.org.

Shrove Tuesday Supper

The Old Chigwellians’ 155th Shrove Tuesday supper took place on Tuesday 21st February. As in previous years, OCs gathered to enjoy an evening back at school, and the event this year was particularly well attended by younger Old Chigwellians.

Staff Appointments

I am delighted that we have made a number of key appointments this term, and we look forward to welcoming them in September.

•Mr Thomas Burnside will be the new Deputy Head Pastoral. Tom has been the Head of Sixth Form at Whitgift School for the last five years. Prior to that he was Assistant Head of Sixth Form at Forest School from 2012-2018. He has spent time teaching in Sao Paulo and Taiwan. Tom has a First class degree in English and American Studies from Manchester University, where he was part of the University Challenge team in 2001.

•Mr Philip Harrison will be the new Deputy Head Academic. Philip currently teaches at Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood where he has been since 2012. He is the Director of Scholarship and Enrichment and Head of Classics. Prior to Merchant Taylors’, he taught at Highgate and St Swithin’s. He studied Classics at Christchurch, Oxford.

•Mr Gareth Thomas will be Deputy Head of Junior School. He is currently Deputy Head of the Prep and Pre-Prep at Haberdashers’ Aske’s, a role he has held since 2019. For a period in 2022 he was acting Head, and he has previously also run Yrs3&4, was IT co-ordinator and is the DSL at the same school. Before HABS he taught in Cooper Kilifi School in Kenya, and St Martin’s Prep School in Northwood.

Driving on Site

Many thanks for adhering to the new parking system, which we implemented at the start of term. I am pleased to report that with the next phase of the Sports Centre being completed, the pathway between the new building and the road will return to us next term. In helping the traffic flow, and keeping everyone safe around the car park, can I ask parents to reduce their speed when driving on the school site. The younger pupils are not easily visible in rear view and wing mirrors and extreme caution is needed, especially when reversing or approaching crossings etc.