STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

CHS’ Sporting Superstars

There are many sporting superstars at Congleton High School; from students who have excelled when representing their form in inter-tutor competitions to representing the school or even representing Cheshire. However, two students have received recognition on both a national and international stage.

Megan Sheard

Not only is Megan quick on the athletics track, but she is even quicker in water. Every time she enters the water she seems to beat her personal best and, despite the pressure of being on a national stage she did not let that affect her at the National Championships in Sheffield over the summer. She swam a number of lifetime bests and won her first national medal after claiming a silver medal in the 400m Individual Medley.

In November, she competed in the Stockport Open Meet and achieved eight personal bests, smashing her previous best by as much as 27 seconds and easily qualifying for the ASA Short Course Nationals at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Amy Rodgers

Amy, who won the Daniel Sturridge Rising Star Award at last year’s Sports Awards Evening, continues to go from strength to strength on the football field. Her performances for Everton were rewarded once again in November when she was selected to play for the England Women’s Under 16 team in a friendly fixture against Germany.

The fixture was played at the FA’s St. George’s Park Football centre, where England’s senior sides also train, and, although Amy was on the losing side, the CHS student produced a great personal performance and she has another ‘cap’ to add to her growing collection.

Amy is currently studying for her GCSE’s in the summer, but she is definitely a footballing face to look out in the future!

Megan and Amy are just two of many students who have achieved great things in sport. If you know someone who deserves recognition for a sporting achievement either inside or outside school then email me at 34ch2936@congletonhigh.com.

AUTUMN TERM REVIEW: SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER

Autumn Term Review: September to December
 

It has been a hectic start to the year with both curricular and extra-curricular activities, but it has also seen the PE department deservedly rewarded for all their hard work and dedication to school sport. Here is a brief review of what has happened during the Autumn term: 
 

Netball: Mid-Season Report
 

This year the girls’ netball teams have entered the Macclesfield netball leagues for the first time. Not only does moving to a league mean CHS face new teams, but a different format. Year seven and the seniors play in a league with all schools from the district involved in their respective division, while year eight, nine and ten are split into an A and B league.  As a new school entering the league, we initially start in the B leagues but play all schools, with those who are not in the same league playing friendlies.

Moving leagues was always going to provide more of a challenge for the students and this was clear from the first round of fixtures against Kings School, Macclesfield in the first week back in September. However, the mid-season results are looking very promising with a lot of success and the potential to have all teams promoted to the A leagues next year.
 

BTEC Sport Residential

Twelve year thirteen BTEC Sports students successfully completed their residential activity weekend in November. Leading and participating in two ‘Outdoor and Adventurous Activities’ (OAA) of hiking/mountain walking and mountain biking The team tackled their challenges with relish and passed with flying colours.

The residential, which took place in Beddgelert, Snowdonia, forms part of the Unit 10 requirements for the BTEC course and saw the group build on the invaluable teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills encouraged at CHS that will stand them in good stead for their future endeavours.

Students and staff alike faced and overcame the elements and both mental and physical challenges, working together to ensure the safety of the team and the success of the weekend. Both goals were achieved!

And finally...

Huge congratulations to our hardworking and dedicated PE department is in order after they were runner-up in the School of the Year category in the 2015 Everybody Sport and Recreation Awards.

The PE department have earned a well deserved rest over Christmas, before another busy start to 2016!

 

BASKETBALL: CONGLETON HIGH SCHOOL v HELSBY HIGH SCHOOL- 23rd October

Basketball: Congleton High School 47-93 Helsby High School

Congleton High School’s basketball team produced a valiant effort but fell to a 47-93 defeat to one of the best teams in the country in their first game in the England Basketball Dynamik National Schools Competition.

It was always going to be a tough test for CHS with Helsby reaching the semi-final’s of the national competition last year, losing to the eventual winners. The Helsby side also featured players who play for England and at a national league standard.

Helsby took the lead after just five seconds after successfully dispatching their two free-throws following a foul by CHS in the key and from this moment the away side were in total control. After twelve unanswered Helsby points, baskets from Matthew Finley and Jay McAleer put Congleton on the scoreboard. Helsby extended their lead to 22-4 at one stage but a basket and a free-throw from McAleer and a basket from Isaac Owen saw CHS’ deficit shorten to 24-9 after the first-quarter.

CHS managed to add just eight points to their total in the second quarter, compared to Helsby’s 33 points. Alfie Stone and Jay McAleer each scored a basket in the first half of the second quarter, but luck was against Congleton. Matthew Finley’s two free-throws hit the rim before CHS’ captain’s lay-up circled the rim and bounced down into the arms of Helsby’s defence. Jay McAleer then saw his lay-up go across the back of the hoop, after he did brilliantly to weave around the Helsby defence inside the key. However, CHS’ perseverance paid off as McAleer scored two baskets in the concluding minutes of the second quarter to make the score 17-57 at half-time.

Although Congleton had a mountain to climb, in true CHS spirit they were not going to give up without a fight and in the first minute of the third quarter Matt Jones shortened the deficit rounding off a great move by CHS. Jones scored three, Finley two and Alfie Stone, Harry Holland, Lewis Bent and Jay McAleer all scored baskets for CHS in what was a tight and end-to-end penultimate quarter. Helsby narrowly won the quarter 22-18, which gave last year’s semi-finalists a 79-35 lead heading into the final quarter.

Helsby added just four points to their total in the final quarter, whereas CHS added twelve to win the second-half by 34 points to 22. Matt Jones scored a basket in the early stages of the quarter before CHS enjoyed their best spell of the match, scoring five unanswered baskets. Alfie Stone scored three and Jay McAleer scored two to see CHS shorten the final deficit to 47-93.

Congleton High School principal and basketball coach Mr Hermitt said:

“I am very, very proud of the attitude of our players, they conducted themselves well, they worked hard, they didn’t stop running and despite coming up against a quality team they were able to maintain in the second-half a virtually even game.”

Written by Adam Bailey

THE CONGLETON COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACADEMY 4-4 STOCKPORT COLLEGE

The Congleton College 4-4 Stockport College

 

 The Congleton College produced a thrilling comeback to earn a hard-fought point after a 4-4 home draw with Stockport College.
 

The newly formed college have only been offering the BTEC Level Three diploma in Performance and Exercise course since September and they showed great character recovering from two goals behind on two occasions to gain their second point of the campaign.
 

Stockport took the lead after just five minutes when Kyle Clarke lifted the ball over Congleton goalkeeper Hallam Carslake from close-range.
 

Congleton came close to equalising in the 11^th minute after Liam Evans jumped the highest from Daniel Needham’s corner, but his header struck the foot of the post. The Bears continued to get into good positions but struggled to apply the cutting edge required.
 

The visitors doubled their lead halfway through the first half after Jack Fitzpatrick received a pass from a free kick and the Stockport midfielder half-volleyed the ball beyond Carslake at the near post.
 

Reece Carbutt showed great composure to pull a goal back for Congleton in the 27^th minute, sliding the ball across the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner.
 

The Bears continued to press as they looked to go into half-time level and Stockport’s goalkeeper had to be on top form to maintain the Hatter’s advantage at the break. Ellis Connor-Davies was at full stretch to deny Daniel Needham, before the goalkeeper tipped Carbutt’s rising shot over the crossbar. Connor-Davies denied Congleton an equaliser again after he palmed the ball around the post with the last action of the first-half.

 

It was a slow start to the second-half and it took until the hour-mark before either goalkeeper was tested. Daniel Needham fired straight into the arms of Connor-Davies from close-range.

 

Congleton drew back level in the 67^th minute after Needham squared the ball to Reece Carbutt inside the area. Carbutt’s powerful shot produced a world class save from the Stockport goalkeeper, but Liam Evans bundled in the rebound to equalise.
 

Stockport scored two goals in the space of four minutes, leaving Congleton with a mountain to climb with only five minutes left of the match.
 

It looked like there would be no way back for Congleton, however, Liam Evans gave the Bears hope with four minutes to play. His curling free-kick found the bottom right corner after beating both the wall and goalkeeper.
 

A minute after the restart Congleton drew level, when George Archer scored from an acute angle to earn the college a hard-fought but deserved point.
 

Manager, Mr Donnelly said: “We have seen an improvement in each game this season. We were by far the better team; we dominated possession and played some great football in the process. The players were not satisfied with the draw, we wanted to win, which is a great attitude from the players, but I still think we need that win which the players deserve.”
 

Congleton College: Carslake, Laird, O’Gara, Guillon, Knapper, Archer, Reed, Evans, Hooper, Carbutt, Needham.
 

Written by Adam Bailey

THE CONGLETON COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACADEMY 2-2 THE ELITE ACADEMY- 7th October

The Congleton College gain first point of the season

The Congleton College gained their first point of the season in a 2-2 draw with The Elite Academy. The college have only been offering the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Performance and Excellence course since September and the match on Wednesday was their first home match in the English Colleges category three league.

Congleton started well and took the lead in just the eighth minute following a quick break. Adam McHale received the ball on the left wing; a great first touch saw him go around one of Elite’s players, before he picked out Daniel Needham in the box. Needham produced a clinical finish, beyond the goalkeeper and into the right corner of the net.

It took 15 minutes until Hallam Carslake was tested in the Congleton goal. Carslake had to be alert to turn Elite’s shot around the post before the side from Liverpool hit the woodwork with a free-kick four minutes later.

Congleton continued to press as they looked to increase their lead. Needham saw his half-volley sail just wide of the far post from the left edge of the area.  Needham had another chance minutes later after he twisted and turned around four defenders but his shot was easily gathered by the Elite goalkeeper. Elite’s number one then had to make two good saves to stop Congleton extending their lead further on the half-hour mark.

At one goal behind, Elite were still very much in the match and Carslake produced a brilliant reflex save to deflect the ball with his legs behind for a corner. From the corner, Elite hit the upright at the near post. Congleton held firm and had a deserved one-nil advantage at the break.

The Elite Academy equalised ten minutes into the second-half. A long ball over the top of the defence fell to the striker, who appeared to be in an offside position, he rounded Carslake and his shot hit the inside of the post and bounced in.

Both sides struggled to create any real goal scoring chances after the equaliser.  Reece Carbutt went closest for Congleton with his shot from outside the area producing a fine diving save from Elite’s goalkeeper.

However, a moment of quality restored Congleton’s lead with 15 minutes left on the clock. Daniel Needham produced a great finish to score his and Congleton’s second goal of the match. He controlled the ball before firing into the roof of the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance of saving it.

It looked like Needham’s fifth goal of the season would be enough for Congleton to record their first ever win, however the Elite Academy equalised with just two minutes left. Carslake produced a great save to deny Elite’s striker from point blank range, but another Elite player reacted quickest to the rebound to poke the ball into the net to deny Congleton victory.

The side is still learning and adapting to college football, with the course in its first year. However, despite failing to record a win in their opening three matches, they have more than held their own and have been competitive in each game, with narrow defeats away to Macclesfield Academy (4-3) and Egerton (1-0).

Manager Mr Donnelly said after the match: “I think it is our best performance of the season. We could quite easily be at the top of the league with nine points or have no points at all. It has been fine margins but I am pleased with how we have been very competitive in each match.”

Congleton College: Carslake, Laird (Chadwick 45), O’Gara, Guillon, Lynn (Knapper 59), Reed, Evans, Archer, Hooper, McHale (Carbutt 45), Needham.

Written by Adam Bailey

THE CONGLETON COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACADEMY 3-4 MACCLESFIELD FOOTBALL ACADEMY- 23rd September

The Congleton College suffer last-minute heartbreak in first ever game

The Congleton College’s Football Academy played their eagerly awaited opening match in the English Colleges category three league on Wednesday afternoon.

The team have only been training for a few weeks and suffered a narrow defeat away at Macclesfield Football Academy after a late comeback by the Silkmen.

Daniel Needham’s hat-trick looked as though it would be enough to secure Congleton a perfect start to the season. It looked even more likely after Macclesfeld were reduced to 10-men on 85 minutes after Callum Duffield was sent-off for an aggressive tackle.

However, Macclesfield scored two goals in the last five minutes to comeback from trailing 3-2 to secure all three points. The winning goal was with the last attack of the game and was at a time when Congleton were also reduced to 10-men as Needham was off the pitch receiving treatment.

Despite the result, manager Mr Donnelly, who also works part-time at Stoke City, saw a number of positives from Congleton’s first ever match: “I was really, really gutted for the lads but I was happy with the performance. I think we were the better team technically but at times we were pushed off the ball too easily. We have got to expect that when playing college football. It was a learning curve and we are now looking forward to the next game.”

The BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Performance and Excellence course is in its first year at Congleton College and allows students to combine their studies with a high standard of football training along with a chance to represent The Congleton College in the English Colleges League. There is also an opportunity for students to complete their Level 1 FA coaching badge and complete a work placement in Stoke City’s community department.

The course only launched three weeks ago and the players are going to have to adapt from high school football to men’s category three which Mr Donnelly said is “very physical and demanding.”

Mr Donnelly added that he believes each student can get a variety of things out of the course. “The main thing that we hope to achieve is helping students to develop as footballers and learning new things.”

The college has links with Stoke City and the course is running on the same model as the Premier League club, with academy players gaining exactly the same experiences as those on a scholarship with a professional club.

Exciting things are planned for the course in the future including a new pitch and improved training facilities over the next few years and this is going to be necessary if they are going to compete with other providers of football academy schemes.

If you are interested and want to find out more please contact Mrs March (Director of Post-16 at Congleton High School) at WMarch@CongletonHigh.com.

Written by Adam Bailey

SPORTS ROUND-UP- September 2015

A great start to the year!

We may only be three weeks into the new school year but it has been a great start to the year for Congleton High School’s PE department with them already recording success in a range of sports.

Last year the school entered into over 100 different leagues and tournaments, with success coming in a wide range of sports. The PE department’s dedication to school sport has been deservedly recognised with the department being nominated for School of the Year in the Everybody Sports Awards.

Netball was one of the sports that CHS excelled in last year, with year 7, 8, 9 and 10 winning their respective leagues and both year 7 teams, year 8, 9 and under-18 teams were crowned South Cheshire Champions. Despite, CHS’ netballers facing a sterner test this year as they will play in the Macclesfield league for the first time, the netball teams have made a great start to the new campaign. CHS recorded five wins, a draw and a loss against local rivals Eaton Bank before recording a clean sweep of victories against All Hallows, winning all six of their games.

The football season is also back under way and the year 7 football team were introduced to high-school football with a thrilling 8-6 win against All Hallows in the under-12 PlayStation 9-a-side Schools’ Cup. The victory was courtesy of a Logan hat-trick, two goals from Alfie and goals from Bailey (man-of-the-match), Joe and Finn. Over 700 teams have entered the national competition and CHS will now face NCHS- The Science College in the next round.

The year 9 team are also in cup action this week as they travel to the Fallibroome Academy on Friday in the under-14 PlayStation Schools’ Cup.

It was also fantastic to see over 60 pupils staying behind last Friday for basketball extra-curricular. If you want to try out for a particular team or just want to have fun and stay fit then attend the school’s many sporting extra-curricular activities that are on offer.

The sport bug is also affecting the staff too. There was an excellent turn out at the staff boot camp and last Friday also saw the return of Friday Night Football.

By Adam Bailey