Chapter has an excellent reputation both locally and across the country. This was enhanced when we became one of the first Kent Partnership secondary schools to gain recognition as an Investor In People. We value highly our links with the community and work with local businesses in lessons and through work experience placements to ensure relevance to adult life.

We are fully aware of the pressures on our pupils. In partnership with parents, we provide the sound guidance and unwavering support needed by young people as they come to terms with today's world.

Where are we now in the Reorganisation of Secondary Education in Strood?

20 March 2008: The current position

The outcome of the “call-in” meeting for Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Medway Council was sadly as anticipated with no recommendations or further report back to Cabinet. This means that there will be no change to the original decisions recorded below so the statutory notices will now be published and it will include the time frame for objections to be received.

The Headteacher’s speech to this meeting expanded on her previous volcanic theme using the letters of LAVA to present four messages; LEADERSHIP, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, VISION and ACTION. Her speech can be accessed via this link: here

Paul Peard, as a member of SOCK also made a speech and this can be accessed via the link: here

Two key letters, which are referred to in the speeches relate to the communications between Lord Adonis, government minister for academies, and Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway’s Conservative Council. These have been included in the minutes of the full Council meeting. This inclusion apparently has some binding effect on the Council although it is difficult to understand just what this might be as no formal Cabinet or Council decisions have been recorded relating to the detail and there is a mismatch of information in the letters. They can be accessed via the following links:

Lord Adonis’ letter to Medway Council: here

Rodney Chambers’ response to Lord Adonis: here

Reports of the meeting were printed in the press and further views are recorded on the independent SOCK website – see below for a link.

A meeting with school representatives and the University College for the Creative Arts (UCCA) as the lead sponsor and Medway Council as the co-sponsor for the new academy has been planned for the auspicious date of 1 April 2008.

More information will be published as it becomes available.

19 February 2008 Record of Cabinet Decisions The decisions taken are recorded below.

The Cabinet agreed to authorise the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to publish formal proposals including statutory notices relating to the closure of Chapter and Temple Schools .

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to determine whether to approve the closure proposals at the end of the statutory consultation period, if no objections are received.

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director or Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to pursue the necessary steps to establish a co-educational academy of eight forms of entry on the Chapter site admitting students aged 11-19 from 1 September 2009 (subject to no decisions being taken committing the Council to any course of action until and unless the Council has approved the closure proposal).

A message from Miss Dore, Head Teacher of Chapter.

"I am delighted that Chapter has continued to be a popular choice and am pleased to confirm that we have a full intake of 180 girls for September 2008 and a number of appeals pending.

The uncertainty about our future continues, but I would wish to reassure all parents and pupils that it really is “business as usual” at Chapter. Our latest Ofsted inspection in January confirmed this message as well as making some very powerful and positive comments and judgements about our school. I would urge all parents to read our latest Ofsted report which can be accessed from this link. 2008 Ofsted

I am very grateful to pupils, staff, governors, parents and members of the community who have been or are actively supporting us during this particularly challenging time.

SOCK Campaign website

To view the SOCK Campaign website, please click here

Chapter Family Prospectus

To view the new Chapter Family Prospectus, please click here