Friday 24th April 2026
#AHSWalksTall
Embedded Files
Headmistress' Introduction
Headmistress' Introduction
Dear Parents, Carers, and Students
A slightly shorter newsletter this week as we have had a quieter period at the school. However, it is still lovely to be able to share the successes and enrichment opportunities that have taken place over the last few days.
Firstly, a huge well done to our cricket team for their fantastic win on Tuesday afternoon.
I am also delighted to share that our Year 12 Young Enterprise team have been awarded the Best Company Report award. (Winning team pictured above). This is a real testament to their hard work and their success is well deserved #AHSWalksTall
In the Science department, we were fortunate to welcome two distinguished guests. AHS Alumna Katie Balmer returned to the school to deliver a presentation on the world of Marine Biology, and Professor Cecilia Brassett, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Cambridge, shared her expertise with our students. I know these talks were a real hit with students and will have sparked a great deal of interest. My thanks go to our visitors for their time, and to the staff whose organisation made these visits possible.
Sport
Sport
Cricket
On Tuesday, the Hardball Cricket team secured a dominant victory against John Colet School at The Grange. After holding the opposition to 74/5, our team chased the total down finishing 75/0, with two overs to spare.
Kind regards,
Mrs Colclough
PE Technician
Year 12 Young Enterprise Team
Year 12 Young Enterprise Team
The Year 12 Young Enterprise team, Slimeify, attended the Buckinghamshire Area Final Showcase in High Wycombe on 26th March to present their journey in running a business and celebrate the success alongside other schools in the area. They have done an amazing job and the judges were very impressed with their product idea- customisable slime with charms. Winning the Best Company Report Award is a testament to their boundless aspiration and consistent commitment.
Miss H Woo
Teacher of Business and Economics
From AHS to the Deep Blue: An Inspiring Visit from Alumna Katie Balmer
From AHS to the Deep Blue: An Inspiring Visit from Alumna Katie Balmer
Last Friday, the #Attenborough100 Club was delighted to welcome AHS Alumna Katie Balmer for a presentation on the world of Marine Biology. It is always a proud moment for the school to see former students thriving, and Katie’s journey since leaving us has been extraordinary. She shared the story of her professional evolution, illustrating that there are many routes to a dream career. Her journey has taken her across the globe:
Starting with a Level 3 course in Animal Management at Shuttleworth College (complete with access to an on-site zoo!).
Gaining hands-on experience in Canada, working directly in marine conservation.
Returning to the UK to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Exeter.
Katie has set her sights on Antarctica for her next academic and professional step.
The session focused on the mysteries of the deep sea, highlighting its critical significance to all life on Earth. Katie engaged the students with a fascinating interactive quiz, challenging them to identify the bizarre features and habitats of creatures that live in the ocean's furthest reaches. AHS students seized the opportunity to ask a wealth of insightful questions. Pupils were provided with an invaluable "deep dive" into the practicalities of a career in science and the global opportunities available to them.
We extend sincere thanks to Katie for returning to AHS and for sharing her time and expertise. Her presentation was as informative as it was inspiring, leaving many of our budding scientists eager to explore blue horizons and served as a powerful reminder that your passions can take you to incredible places!
Ms L Sowah
Biology Subject Leader
Amelia Aplin - Fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young
Amelia Aplin - Fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young
This memorial fund has been set up by the family to help CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death, support those affected, support CRY’s screening programme and fund research and pathology. If you are able to support this great cause, please follow the link below.
STEM talks and more
STEM talks and more
Last Monday we welcomed Professor Cecilia Brassett back to a full lab of interested students from Y8-13 of AHS. She is a professor of Anatomy at Cambridge with 20 years experience leading the medical students through their dissection course. She explained why the study of anatomy is so important and used famous sporting injuries such a Michael Owen's knee and Geraint Thomas' shoulders as examples. She also shared the details from a colonoscopy - 'beautiful' she said and we learnt that then bones of the middle ear are fully grown when a baby is born. Her enthusiasm for her subject is infectious, even Mrs Brittain, Head of Physics, was enthralled.
In other news from Physics. 9 Y12 physicists recently sat the British Physics Olympiad's Senior Physics Challenge written paper. 6 achieved Bronze, Iola and Meg B achieved Silver and Amirah scored an impressive top mark in the school with a Gold! The annual trip to CERN has been booked for December for the same year group and we all looking forward to that.
Lower down the school in Y10, Nitya spent a few days at Oxford University over the holidays applying her interest in engineering and robotics with other likeminded individuals and Aarna has just won herself a place on a symposium in Switzerland funded and run by ITZA for their Mars Conservation project.
The House Science Fun Fair is back! The newly elected Y12 Science ambassadors will be setting up fun science stalls on Thursday 21st to raise funds for the Amelia Aplin CRY memorial fund, we hope to see loads of students supporting their houses, raising money for a great cause and having fun at the same time. More on this in the coming weeks.
I have attached a lovely photo from the STEM talk - permissions all given. These are Thannista and Aditi from Y13, both of whom have places for Medicine next year (UCL and Bristol).
Mrs J. Brittain
Head of Physics
Supporting Our Students: Body Image and Social Media
Supporting Our Students: Body Image and Social Media
In today’s digital world, our students are constantly exposed to carefully curated and often digitally altered images. For secondary school students, this can create an intense pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards, leading to "social comparison" where they measure their own worth against a "highlight reel" of others' lives.
How to Start the Conversation
Research shows that open communication at home is one of the strongest protective factors for a child's self-esteem.
-Be Curious, Not Critical: Instead of focusing on their screen time, ask about the content they enjoy. Try: "I noticed this trend on TikTok lately, what do you and your friends think about it?"
-Discuss the "Filter" Effect: Gently remind them that many images online are professionally edited or filtered to appear "perfect".
-Model Self-Compassion: Children often internalise how we speak about our own bodies. Try to model a positive or neutral relationship with your own appearance.
Local Support & Resources
If you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing, there is excellent support available across our region:
Buckinghamshire: Bucks Mind offers dedicated youth counselling and advice for parents on navigating mental health.
https://www.bucksmind.org.uk/resources-for-children-and-young-people/
Milton Keynes & Bedfordshire: The BLMK Healthier Together website has specific guides for parents on body image and self-esteem.
Oxfordshire: Oxford Health CAMHS provides expert advice on the impact of social media and how to talk about it with your teenager.
https://oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/carers/ed/social-media/
Hertfordshire: Use the With YOUth digital wellbeing service for instant online messaging support and resources for both parents and young people. You can also access JustTalk Herts for local toolkits.
Helpful National Websites
YoungMinds: Guidance on how to enjoy a more positive time online.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/body-image/
The Dove Self-Esteem Project: Features the "Uniquely Me" toolkit specifically for parents.
https://www.dove.com/uk/dove-self-esteem-project/help-for-parents.html
The Mix: Confidential support for under-25s on any challenge, from body image to exam stress.
If you need any further support please contact us:
healthandwellbeing@ahs.bucks.sch.uk
Mrs McNally
SMHL & DDSL
With thanks, as ever, for your support, and wishing all a lovely weekend,
Marieke Forster
AHS School Fundraising
AHS School Fundraising
The AHS Fund helps us to enrich the curriculum and develop the school's facilities to ensure that every student is able to fulfil their potential, wherever their strengths lie. Support from our Parents, our Alumnae and our wider community allows us to provide the outstanding education you expect and the students deserve.
Please click here for further information AHS School Fundraising
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