Student Forum

The people have spoken!

Each year group has elected one boy and one girl to represent their views, thoughts, opinions and suggestions at termly Student Forum meetings with The Head.

This way, information can be passed straight from the students, staight to the top, then filtered down through the appropriate channels for action.
Issues such as catering, routines and uniform are all discussed-as well as exciting new ideas and ways to improve school life.

This year, our representatives are:

Upper Sixth         Emily Earl
                           Luke Jones

Lower Sixth         Epsie Thompson
                            David Muncey

Form 5                Lauren Holmes
                           Toby Hession

Form 4                Francesca Rijks
                           Oren McLoughlin

Form 3                Molly Noon
                           Ralph Holmes

Form 2                Harriet Cochrane
                           Michael Greaves

Form 1                Jade Hughes
                           Stefan Poitrowicz

Juniors                 Mitzi Marley-Clarke
                            Jonathan Hibbs

Members of the school should feel free to approach their year group rep with anything they would like to put to the Forum.
Watch out for the first meeting of the year!

Meet the GH team!

Mrs India Merrett

Head of Girls' House

Mrs Merrett, formally known as Miss Patel, is happy to have been involved with life at Chetham's in a few guises-from 6th form student, Deputy Head of House, Practice Assistant, and now as Head of the Girls' Boarding House-a post she has occupied since January 2011. Born in Leeds, Mrs Merrett is half Irish, half Indian and very much enjoys playing Irish and Scottish folk fiddle. After Chet's, she studied Violin at LCM and RNCM and got married to Mr Merrett this year. Mr Merrett also works at Chetham's-in the Practice department, Girls' House and in Victoria House, where in January, he will take up the Deputy Head of House post. In their spare time, Mr & Mrs Merrett love to travel and spend time with family and friends.

Miss Paula Wilson

Deputy Head of Girls' House

Miss Wilson returned to Chetham’s School of Music in September 2012, having worked in Victoria House from 2005 to 2008.  She studied music at Huddersfield University, is a percussionist and has a small obsession with musicals, juggling and sci-fi.  In addition to her work at Chetham's she has worked in marketing for many years, for organisations such as The Bridgewater Hall and the British Red Cross although her most unusual job was as a children's entertainer called Charlie the Clown. Originally from Manchester, she loves the city because of its music, tea shops and arts scene and is always available for tips on cool things to do.   She is delighted to be back working with the students and staff at Chetham’s! 

Mrs Catherine Shepherd

House Assistant

Brought up in Leicestershire. Trained as a General and Sick Childrens Nurse in Birmingham. Worked in Birmingham and Manchester Hospitals.
Married to a Church of England Priest. Three children. My son was a pupil at Chetham's and my younger daughter is a House Assistant in Victoria House.
I've been a House Assistant in Girls' House since March 1999 so I must enjoy the work!
At home, I enjoy gardening, looking after my ten chickens and relaxing occasionally.

Miss Kristine Healy

House Assistant

Miss Healy has been working in Girls' House since September 2010.  She is a flute player who studied at the University of Queensland School of Music in Australia and at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.  Miss Healy grew up on the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, which is where she last experienced the season known to residents of the southern hemisphere as "summer".  Despite the weather, Miss Healy is very fond of her adopted nation and really enjoys hearing all the stories, news and essential gossip from the fabulous residents of Girls' House during the Chetham's school year.

 

Miss Natalie Hirst

House Assistant

Miss Hirst has been a member of the Girls House team since January 2011. Brought up in Prestbury, Cheshire - she was once a pupil of Chetham's herself for 9 years. She plays the Viola, Violin and Piano and studied at the Royal College of Music in London. Miss Hirst enjoys to work as a Practice Assistant when not working in house and in her spare time is pleased to work as a regular Supporting Artiste on Emmerdale Farm! 

Miss Clare Deady

House Assistant

Originally from the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia, Miss Deady has been in the UK since December 2011 and at Chethams since January 2012. In between evenings at Chets, Miss Deady works at Bolton School and conducts a group at the Warrington Youth Orchestra. Miss Deady plays the french horn and also enjoys netball and going to see musical theatre productions.  On her free weekends she really loves to discover new places in the "neighbourhood"... so far she has been to Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy, but she is working her way down a very long list!

Miss Norma-Jean Mercer, House Assistant

Miss Mercer has been working in Girls’ House since January 2012. Brought up in Bolton, Miss Mercer then studied Art and Design at Manchester Metropolitan University and recently completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Education. Outside of Chetham’s Miss Mercer teaches Art and Design at Horizon Care and creates art work for various commissions from wedding stationary to canvas paintings. Miss Mercer makes the most of her creative skills within Girls House during Saturday evening craft club which is currently over taken with sock bunny fever! Miss Mercer is also an avid Bananagrams player.

6th Form Adventure Weekend!

What better way to get to know your new year group, dorm mates, classmates and friends, than to get wet, muddy and out of your comfort zone?!

The new Lower 6th and Prefect team did just that, with the emphasis placed on leadership, team building, and having fun!

Ms Rhind, Mr Runswick-Cole, Mrs Merrett, Mr Muller, Mrs Shepherd and Miss Wilson all went along too.

Steep and winding roads led us to our secluded and picturesque destination for the weekend, the coach having to leave us at the bottom of a steep track and lack of phone signal adding to the feeling of isolation and wilderness.

And so we arrived at YHA Edale, straight into the capable hands of their experienced and energetic team who kicked off proceedings with a night walk in the hills.  Torches, waterproofs and boots at the ready, the groups set off into the night to suitably tire themselves out for their first night away from home in their bunks.

The next day saw the sun burn through the Peak District blanket of grey cloud, and our teams enjoyed various activities under a mostly clear blue sky.  Activities ranged from crate and raft building to obstacle courses and the aptly named ‘Weasling’ and ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, which was topped off in the evening with night time orienteering.

Over the weekend, the seeds of friendship were sown, the ice was well and truly broken and the Lower Sixth became acquainted outside of the classroom and concert hall.

The Prefect Team, under the watchful guidance of Mr Runswick-Cole, completed their leadership course and tasks with flare and all the promise of being an outstanding team for the year ahead.

On Sunday we headed back to the big city and back to Chetham’s School of Music, to face many more new experiences and challenges...

A Girls' House Blog!

Welcome to the Girls' House Blog!

It's the start of another new and exciting school year-more exciting than ever with the new building coming into action. It's onwards, upwards and change for the better! The whole school is buzzing with an air of fresh enthusiasm, old and new students alike, ready to greet the new school year with the determination to make it a good one.

Girls' House has been a hive of activity-since Sunday 2nd September, everyone has settled remarkably quickly into new dorms, routines and Girls' House feels warm, friendly and welcoming.

We're really happy to  welcome our new Deputy Head of House, Miss Paula Wilson to the Girls' House team. Miss Wilson is a familiar face to many, having previously worked as a House Assistant in Victoria House. She is amazed that the faces she recognises are very grown up now-time certainly flies!

Chetham's 2012