Friday 11 July 

Headmistress' Introduction

As we approach the end of the academic year, we have had another super busy week at AHS.

On Monday, we welcomed our visitors on the German Exchange, who enjoyed a great trip to the Harry Potter Studios on Wednesday and also been involved in many other activites during the week.  We wish them a very happy, fun-filled weekend.

Monday saw our annual Sports Day, a truly fantastic event that went ahead despite our own track not being available due to the dry conditions, Our sincere thanks to Mr Sturgeon and Aylesbury Grammar School who generously allowed us to move our track events to their Turnfurlong field. It was an inspiring day where students showcased immense athleticism, teamwork, and school spirit across a wide array of track and field events, pushing their limits with boundless aspiration and resilient bravery.  Congratulations to all who participated and a huge thank you to all staff for making Sports Day 2025 such a success! The overall winner will be announced next week as part of our End of Year Assemblies.

On Wednesday, some students attended Wimbledon (pictured below).  We were lucky enough to gain Court 2 tickets in the Wimbledon Ballot. Eight of our tennis players who have committed to School tennis over the past 2 years had the experience of a lifetime.  Thank you to Mrs Sole-Bradley and Mrs Carbonaro for organising the trip.

On Thursday, we had a very busy Open Morning, welcoming many potential parents and students to the School.

On Thursday, we also celebrated our annual Culture Day, a truly joyous occasion where many of our students showcased their national costumes (pictured below).  This culminated in an amazing set of dance performances in the Main Hall, which featured a vibrant parade of different nationalities and cultural dress, all celebrating the wonderful diversity of our school. 

Today, our Year 10 History students are visiting Bankside, we hope they've had a great time.

Tomorrow, after a successful round at the regional festival earlier this year, Symphony Orchestra is travelling to Birmingham on Saturday to perform on the main stage at Birmingham Symphony Hall in the national Music for Youth festival. This is an incredible opportunity to perform at a world renowned concert venue and we wish them all the very best! 

Finally, we wish a fond farewell to some of our staff who will be leaving us next week.

We are very sad to be saying goodbye to Mrs Catling. During her time at AHS she has provided invaluable support to KS3 students, worked closely with House Buddies and has become an integral member of the Health and Wellbeing Team. We wish her all the best in her new role.  

Mrs Ward came to AHS in September 2015, joining the Science Department’s outstanding technician team as a Science Technician. She primarily organises the dynamic practical component of the Biology course, working with admirable competence and foresight. She ensures the Biology staff and programme are efficient and effective. She supports the work of her team with: safety audits, key administration, open events, school trips and the maintenance of Meg’s Garden (our much-loved Science garden and greenhouse). During her ten years in the role, Mrs Ward has been an asset to Biology, Science and AHS; her professionalism and experience are hugely valued and she will be missed. We wish her all the best in her new role and career. 

Mr Petty, our Head of Computing, joined us in September 2016. An encyclopaedia of computing knowledge and expertise, he has led the department to provide numerous exciting opportunities for our students, such as the UK Bebras competition, GCHQ Cyber First Challenge, and the BAFTA Young Game Designer. His curriculum has introduced generations of students to coding, digital media, internet safety and, more lately, AI. He will be very much missed by staff and students alike, and we will always remember his starring acts in Teacher Karaoke, such as Thriller and Baby Shark - a mechanical triumph! We wish him well in his next role also.

Mrs. Pennington, our Head of Dance, joined us in September 2016.  An incredibly passionate and dedicated leader, she has been a true champion of dance, much loved by students and our whole school community.  Mrs Pennington has not only led major, much-anticipated events, such as the House Dance competition and a variety of vibrant showcases throughout the year, but she has also spearheaded significant trips and competitions, providing students with invaluable external opportunities. Her unwavering passion has undoubtedly inspired countless students, with many going on to pursue dance in further study and professionally.  She will be greatly missed by all.

Swimming Update for the Next Academic Year

We would like to share an update on our swimming curriculum for next year now that staffing arrangements are in place for September and the timetable is near completion.  We are pleased to confirm that we are now able to maintain more of our current provision than initially anticipated, through our staff offering incredibly generous and creative solutions.

We are able to maintain our swimming provision for the whole of KS3 so students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 will continue to have swimming lessons on a termly rotation.  

We appreciate your continued understanding and support, as we navigate these financial challenges, while remaining committed to delivering the highest quality education for all our students.  We also apologise again to those students who have been adversely affected by the changes for next year, this is as a result of our duty and wish to support existing A Level students to complete their studies.

Merit Mark Results For This Term

Huge congratulations to the students below for gaining the highest amount of merit marks in their year group this term.   We are super proud of you. 

Year 7 - A three way tie!  

Aanya K (7H)

Amie G (7H)

Maryam H (7H)

Year 8:

Aishaani U (8S)

Year 9:

Dhanya R (9S)

Year 10:

Clara C (10S)

#PlayYourPart Art Competition

Congratulations to Rowan, Aditri, and Urbita for winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively in the #PlayYourPart art competition!  

Well done and thank you to all who took part. We will be in touch shortly regarding the prizes and returning your pieces of art work.

The Art Ambassadors

Medicine Under the Microscope Magazine: Edition 4

Sophie A, Lily S and Libby S in Year 12, together with a number of contributors, have produced another fabulous edition of their magazine Medicine Under The Microscope. This edition includes Q+A’s from medical professionals and lots of interesting medical research articles. Students are encouraged to get involved and write guest articles for future editions. Well done to Sophie, Lily and Libby and everyone who contributed to another impressive edition!

Mrs Sutton

Careers and Next Steps Lead

Vacancy

Caretaker - Closing date 21 July

Wishing all well for a very happy weekend.  As ever, thanks for your much appreciated support for our School.

Marieke Forster