Year 9 students, currently in Cologne this morning.

Headmistress' Introduction

As we move towards the end of term, our School is busier than ever.

Last Saturday, our amazing students took part in the Model United Nations Conference at Sir William Borlase School in Marlow.  Thank you to Ms Quesne for leading this event, more details below #ProudtobeAHS

On Monday, some of our fantastic Year 12 students attended the Green Schools' Challenge final.  Thank you to Mrs Sutton for her support, and more details below #AHSWalksTall

On Monday evening, we held our annual Christmas Concert, which was a total joy!  Huge thanks to Mr Warner, Ms Raven and Ms Skordi for all their hard work and to our other members of staff who assisted them.  Congratulations to our brilliantly talented students and of course, thanks too to our parents and carers for their support.

On Wednesday, our Year 9 students left for Germany to visit the Christmas Markets, among many other highlights that they will experience whilst there.  

On Thursday, our Year 13 Physics students left for CERN and Geneva.  We wish both trips safe travels and a fantastic time.

Today, we held our Santa Dash to raise money for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity and tonight we are holding our Christmas Movie Night.  Thank you to Mrs White for organising both events. 

Sport

Swimming Gala

Friendly swimming gala at Wycombe Abbey School, 24 students represented AHS, many for the first time, so huge congratulations to them.

Junior C and Inter B teams won 1st place

Junior B finished in 2nd place.

Junior A team and Inter A team finished in 3rd place.

Special mention to Ella and Cora for taking on the 200m Freestyle event and to Lara for stepping into extra races last minute. 

Well done all. 

Netball (Aylesbury League)

Year 8 A and B teams played against Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School. 

A team won 25-5

B team lost 8-6

This week

Badminton

The U13 and U15 teams played in the Aylesbury District Schools Badminton league against Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School. 

U13 won 7-0

U15 won 7-0

Hockey District League

The U16 team played against Sir William Borlase's School and won 7-3. Special mention to Surani who scored a hat-trick.

Player of the match - Rosa

Netball (Aylesbury League)

The U18 Netball team played against Dr Challoner's High School winning 40-26. They all played really well and the press in defence was brilliant. 

Players of the match - Charlotte and Phoebe

Swimming Gala  

Another great league at Pipers Corner School this week for the Inter swim team.

Special mention to Abigail, Maisie and Olivia for really challenging themselves. 

Great House Digital Detox Challenge

We are pleased to announce the results of the Great House Digital Detox Challenge which over 400 students signed up for over half term.  All students who completed the challenge have been awarded merits for their efforts and we also know that they found it hugely beneficial.  Here is just a small selection of our lovely students' very positive comments:

'I got WAY more sleep..'

'I noticed a huge improvement in my attention span and I felt way more productive'

'My focus improved, I got more sleep than usual and I found new hobbies I’ve never tried before.'

'I knew that I wasn't wasting time, and I was doing something meaningful instead.'

'I finished reading more books and felt more relaxed during my day.'

'I felt happier and more positive as I was not constantly comparing myself to others online'

'I didn't have to constantly check my notifications'

'I felt like a better person and was able to engage more with family and friends'

'I am grateful that I entered, it has made me rather joyful. I didn't do it for the points, I did it for my mental health and pure happiness.'

'Thanks for the opportunity - we should try this again!' (We definitely will!)

41% of participants said that they were definitely going to try to keep up the good habits they'd formed.  Only 2% said they weren't going to, as they had missed their phones so much.

So, the results ....

First place: Claydon

Second place:  Missenden

Third place:  Waddesden

And the overall winning form was ... 7M!  Congratulations!  They have won the opportunity to dunk a teacher, possibly me!

Huge thanks to the brilliant leadership of this initiative, particularly from Meg, Hikmah, Aimie, Maryam, Lithumi and Mahika.

Mrs Queralt

Pastoral Deputy Headteacher

Greetings from CERN!

23 x Y13 physicists are currently enjoying a tour of the antimatter factory and the data centre (the start of the World Wide Web) at CERN with Mrs Nicholls and me. 

This morning we visited the Science Discovery Centre where there is a huge variety of interactive displays covering how particles are accelerated, the universe and the quantum world. 

Tonight we visit the Christmas market back in Geneva and then tomorrow will include a visit to the museum of the history of science. 

Mrs Brittain

Head of Physics

Green Schools' Challenge 2025

Congratulations to Pedals that Power, our team of six Year 12 students who competed in the Bucks final of the Green Schools' Challenge 2025 at The Gateway in Aylesbury this week. 

This competition is run by the Bucks Skills Hub with the support of a number of local businesses. The finalists put forward their proposal for a “green” solution to a problem faced by their school/college. Pedals that Power (Anushri, Bella, Emilia, Freya, Lily, Ophelia) delivered a fabulous presentation introducing their idea to use pedal-powered generators to create energy and confidently answered questions from the judges. They were deservedly awarded the prize for Most Innovative Green Solution by the judges. 

Our congratulations go to the Junk to Genius team from Buckingham School who won the overall competition. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Seb Marshall from WhiffAway, who gave the team invaluable support and guidance.

Mrs Sutton

Next Steps and Careers Lead

The New Wellbeing Team

We have recently welcomed our new Wellbeing Team to AHS and want to introduce them to you.

Mrs Sarah McNally - Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead and Deputy DSL.  Email: smcnally@ahs.bucks.sch.uk

Miss Liz Brunt - Student Wellbeing Assistant, responsible for students in Years 7-10 - Email: lbrunt@ahs.bucks.sch.uk

Miss Fran McCarthy - Student Wellbeing Assistant, responsible for students in Years 11-13- Email: fmccarthy@ahs.bucks.sch.uk

Parent/Carer RSE at Home Feedback Survey

Brook delivers free RSE (Relationships & Sex Education) at Home webinars to support parents and carers who want to feel more confident talking to their children about relationships and sex. 

We know these conversations can sometime feel tricky – that’s why our sessions offer practical tips and guidance to help you start and continue these important discussions at home.

We’d love your feedback to help us shape future sessions and resources that better support families across Buckinghamshire.

Complete our quick survey for a chance to win a £15 Amazon voucher! We won’t ask for your name and your answers will remain anonymous.

Take the survey: http://bit.ly/4hRrNzd

Brook’s Parent and Carer webpage (advice, guidance and free resources): https://www.brook.org.uk/parents-and-carers/rse-at-home

Government launches national conversation on SEND

Government acts on commitment to make sure parents play a central role in helping shape the future Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, as it sets ambition to deliver the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation.

The government inherited a SEND system on its knees, with too many children let down and parents fighting just to be heard. Building on conversations to date, the government is now launching a public engagement campaign, spanning every region of the country, putting families at the heart of its plans to create a reformed SEND system that will stand the test of time.

Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould is hosting nine face-to-face events, run in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, and five online events covering the department’s five principles of reform. This will provide tens of thousands spaces for parents, families and the sector to share their views – opening up a direct line to the people who know the system best.

The themes of engagement include: 

• Early intervention, including earlier in children’s lives when this can have most impact.

• Local provision, so young people can learn at a school close to their home, alongside their peers, as well as the vital role of special provision for complex needs.

• Fairness, so every school has the resources and capability to meet changing needs – stopping parents fighting for support and ensuring clear legal safeguards for children and parents.

• Effective practice, grounded in evidence to ensure excellent long-term outcomes.

• Shared working that means education, health and care services working in partnership with local government, families, teachers, experts and representative bodies.

Attendees can share their views on a range of proposals from experts - such as children having written records of support, giving families access to independent advocacy and providing a national framework for support available to children with SEN across all settings.

Minister for School Standards Georgia Gould said: 

For too long families have felt unheard and left to battle a system that simply doesn’t deliver for their children.

We’re committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity for children with SEND, which is why we’re putting lived experience at the heart of our reforms and creating a direct line to parents across the nation.

We want this to be the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation, and I urge parents, teachers and all those with views to participate and help us deliver lasting reform.

Minister Gould will kick off the roadshow today in Bristol. This builds on extensive engagement which has already taken place, including over 100 listening sessions with families. Following the publication of the Schools White Paper early next year, a formal consultation will follow to continue the conversation on reform. 

Today’s announcement evidences the government’s commitment to putting parents at the heart of reform, as set out in the Education Secretary’s interim response to the Education Select Committee (ESC)’s report on Solving the SEND Crisis. 

Experts and government advisors, Tom Rees and Dame Christine Lenehan will also support the work – bringing years of expertise on inclusive practices to conversations with parents. 

Tom Rees, Chair of the DfE’s expert advisory group for inclusion said:

Over the past year, the expert advisory group has enjoyed spending considerable time listening to and engaging with schools, parents, children and young people, as well as experts and organisations across the sector.

There is a strong consensus that the system doesn’t work well enough and needs reforming so that it works for all children. It is also clear that there is lots of good practice that exists within schools which we can build on and learn from.

I look forward to this period of further engagement, and the opportunity to bring ministers and officials together with parents, professionals and children right across the country.

The five principles for reform, set out by the Secretary of State, provide us with a clear and welcome direction of travel for these conversations.

Alongside these events, urgent work will continue to improve the current system for children. Data published today shows 71% of school leaders enrolled in a programme to support neurodiversity felt better able to meet those children’s needs as a result. 

The £22m Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is enabling up to 2,850 mainstream primary schools to deliver earlier support for neurodiversity, including autism, dyslexia and ADHD. 

PINS gives schools access to training to upskill staff on neurodiversity, create more inclusive classroom environments and develop stronger relationships with parent carers – ensuring children receive support at the earliest possible stage, in their local community school. 

It comes on top of measures the government has already taken to improve the system, with 10,000 new school places for children with SEND as part of £740m capital investment, early language support for 20,000 more children, and professionals trained in supporting parents through Best Start Family Hubs rolling out to every area from April. 

There are many settings already doing a fantastic job of supporting pupils with SEND and ensuring they are a part of school life. Ministers will be visiting schools across the country to draw on these examples, testing views on what truly works for children, parents and teachers.

Amanda Allard, Director of the Council for Disabled Children, said:

We’re proud to support the government’s engagement programme on the future of the SEND system. Every day, in our work across the country, we see the commitment to getting these reforms right for children and young people. At the same time, we hear understandable concerns about the risks if they fall short.

We encourage parent and carers, teachers, therapists, and professionals from councils, the youth justice system, the NHS, and the voluntary sector to share their insights, challenges, and questions. By bringing together those who use the system of SEND support with those who provide it, we can learn what truly makes a difference in children’s lives and better understand the frustrations and barriers that need to be overcome.

We look forward to working in partnership with the government and the thousands of participants who take part, to ensure this engagement shapes a SEND system that delivers lasting improvements for children and families, and the professionals who support them.

A development group of key stakeholders, including SEND parent groups, will meet regularly with Ministers between now and the end of January to drive reform forward. And a toolkit will be shared with schools and settings to encourage them to share information about engagement on SEND reform with their communities.

There are several ways to get involved: 

• Sign up to attend a regional engagement event here.

• Sign up to attend an online event here.

Vacancies

Teacher of Geography (Maternity Cover) - Closing date: 5 January 2026

With thanks, as ever, for your support, and wishing all a lovely weekend,

Marieke Forster