Friday 6th March 2026
#AHSWalksTall
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Headmistress' Introduction
Headmistress' Introduction
Dear Parents, Carers, and Students
We are continually impressed by the strength and commitment of our students, and we know that your support plays a vital role in their success. As always, it has been a busy and vibrant week at AHS, and we continue to be incredibly grateful for your ongoing support, which makes these experiences possible. This energy has been most evident in sports, where we have seen some truly incredible results over the last week and this. A massive well done goes out to every student and staff member involved; the dedication and teamwork on display have been a credit to the school and a joy to witness. We are particularly proud of our U18 Football team who, in an absolutely phenomenal performance, secured a 3-2 victory against Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School. This monumental win has gained them a well-deserved spot in the County Cup Final, a massive achievement that stands as a testament to their grit and talent throughout.
The talent within our community has also been showcased brilliantly this week through our House Music competition. It was a wonderful celebration of creativity and skill, and we offer a huge congratulations to Hughenden House for their fantastic win. Our musical journey also extended beyond the school gates as our students took part in the Young Voices trip, performing with incredible passion and representing AHS with pride.
Our students have also been excelling in the spheres of diplomacy and political debate. We were immensely proud to host our inaugural MUN conference here at AHS. It was a pleasure to welcome visiting students from Dr Challoner's High, The Royal Latin, Waddesdon, Piper’s Corner, and Highcrest School to join our own AHS teams for a day of sophisticated discussion. Furthermore, our Politics department recently took 32 A-Level students to Westminster for an enriching experience at the PolCon conference, providing them with invaluable insights into the heart of British politics.
The excitement continues as we look forward to a fantastic lineup of upcoming events for our community. We are delighted to be hosting a movie night for all to enjoy together, as well as our parents games and curry night, which promises to be a wonderful evening of friendly competition and community spirit.
Thank you all for being such an integral part of everything we achieve here at AHS.
Sport
Sport
Last week
Hockey
The U16 team delivered a brilliant performance at the District tournament, showcasing exceptional skill and consistency to secure a well-deserved 2nd place finish overall. Huge congratulations to the entire squad for their hard work and a fantastic result throughout the competition.
Swimming
The squad delivered a powerhouse performance at the Pipers League gala, securing a fantastic 2nd place finish overall. The night was defined by pure dominance in the water as the team racked up an incredible twelve 1st place finishes.
Special mention to Chloe for her performance in the 100m. Grace, Elsie, and Shona also for their "super swims" that contributed vital points to the team's total. Beyond the scoreboard, the squad’s wonderful team spirit made the event a true pleasure for everyone involved. Congratulations to all our swimmers for their hard work and brilliant results!
Football
In a thrilling performance, the U18 Football team secured a 3-2 victory against Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School. This win clinches their spot in the County Cup Final at Arbour Park. Special congratulations to Evie, who was named Player of the Match.
Badminton
The squad dominated their recent fixtures against Kingsbrook School, securing two fantastic victories. The U13 team delivered a brilliant performance to win 7-0, while the U15 team mirrored that success with a convincing 6-1 win. These results mark an excellent afternoon of competition for the Bucks Schools League standings.
This week
Netball
The U13 team faced Royal Latin School in two closely contested matches. The A team secured a hard-fought 13-13 draw, with Anna N. named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, the B team claimed a 5-2 victory, Player of the Match - Liesel.
The U12 team enjoyed a dominant afternoon against Waddesdon School. The A team won 25-6, showcasing superb court movement and circle play, with Izzy and Isi sharing Player of the Match honors. Despite being a player down, the B team won 6-0, Thanula was named Player of the Match, and Poppy earned a special mention for her perfect shooting in the final quarter.
The winning streak continued later in the week against Royal Latin School. The A team won 22-8, led by Players of the Match Kacie (defense) and Izzy (attack). The B team also emerged victorious with an 8-4 win, where Leanne was recognized as Player of the Match for her standout contribution.
Swimming
The swim team delivered an outstanding performance this week, many swimmers admirably stepped up to compete out of stroke to support the squad, resulting in a dominant display from both Juniors and Seniors in the relay events.
Individual highlights included a standout IM from Elsie and a brilliant backstroke PB for Maisie, who showed immense determination just to make the starting blocks. Jess provided vital strength for the Senior squad, and a special thank you goes to those who stepped in at the last minute to ensure the team was at full strength. Following a night of "super swims," the club now eagerly awaits the final results to see if they have qualified for the League Final on 18th March.
Mrs Colclough
PE Technician
Model United Nations Conference 1 March
Model United Nations Conference 1 March
We were very proud to be able to host our very first MUN conference at AHS on 1 March. We were delighted to welcome delegates from Dr Challoner's High, The Royal Latin, Waddesdon, Piper's Corner and Highcrest School, as well as our own AHS delegation teams. The event was organised and led by our Y12 students, and a special mention must go to Hikmah, Jennifer and Mia for overseeing the event. It felt particularly relevant to be holding the event during a weekend of such global significance, and all students rose to the challenge of responding to rapidly changing events.
J Quesne
Head of Year 13
Head of Politics
Pol-Con 2026 Monday 2 March
Pol-Con 2026 Monday 2 March
The Politics department were delighted to be able to take 32 A-Level students to Westminster to take part in the politics conference organised by PolCon. The line up showed the full range of political ideas with Zack Polanski from the Green Party, Laila Cunningham from Reform, Wes Streeting for Labour, Zarah Sultana for Your Party, Daisy Copper for the Lib Dems and Nusrat Ghani for the Conservatives. We were also treated to one of our favourite political podcast hosts - Alistair Campbell who gave a stirring call for youth action and involvement in politics. Some of our Y12 students were also lucky enough to bump into one of the speakers on his way out, as the photo evidences!
J Quesne
Head of Year 13
Head of Politics
Music Department Update
Music Department Update
Last Friday, we took 160 Year 7 students to sing at the BP Pulse Arena in the annual Young Voices concert. They had been working hard preparing the repertoire and dance moves over the course of a few months as a vocal element of the music curriculum, and performed so well and with such great enthusiasm. They were a total credit to the school, and deserve to be very proud of their performance.
Tuesday and Wednesday showcased the excellent musical talent that we have within our school in our annual House Music competition. The Year 12 captains this year have done an outstanding job building ensembles and arranging pieces within their houses to perform on the evening. It is an incredibly big ask for anyone and they have allowed everyone to really shine and show their enjoyment for music making. Congratulations go to all of the houses, especially Hughenden, who were awarded the coveted prize of House Music winners 2026.
I am also pleased to announce two exciting pieces of information: AHS school choir is through to the final of Bucks Choir of the Year, which will take place later this month; and the department has been awarded the 'Music Mark of Recognition for Dedication and Improvement' by the national Music Mark organisation.
Mr Warner
Director of Music
Hughenden House
Food drive
Food drive
We want to make sure that no one in our local community has to go hungry so we need your help. From Monday 9th March we will be collecting donations for Aylesbury Food Bank. We welcome donations of in date, sealed goods and in particular of the following items: Tinned/packet soup, tinned meat/fish, instant mashed potato, tinned puddings, UHT long life milk, pasta sauce, coffee, tea bags, biscuits, tinned fruit, long life fruit juice and jams. Students can drop off donations before registration from 9th-13th March in the Foyer. Thank you in advance for your support.
Mrs White
House and Charities Lead
Young Carers Action Day: Wednesday 11th March
Young Carers Action Day: Wednesday 11th March
Next week, we are proud to support Young Carers Action Day. This year’s theme is "Fair Futures for Young Carers," focusing on ensuring that children with caring responsibilities have the same opportunities to succeed as any other student.
What is a Young Carer?
A young carer is someone under 18 (or a "young adult carer" up to 25) who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who has a physical or mental illness, a disability, or an addiction. This might include:
Practical tasks: Cooking, cleaning, or shopping.
Physical care: Helping someone get out of bed or get dressed.
Emotional support: Providing a "listening ear" or staying close to someone when they are unwell.
Our Students in the Community
We are incredibly proud of a group of our students who will be representing the school on Tuesday 10th March at an event hosted by Bucks Young Carers. This special event celebrates the invaluable contributions of young carers and provides an opportunity to network, share ideas, and take action for fairer futures. At the event, attendees will be able to:
-Enjoy the premiere of their newly developed Young Carers video, showcasing the experiences and voices of young carers in Buckinghamshire, including Kirsty (9H), who attends our school.
-Read and share pledges already made to support Fair Futures for Young Carers, and make our own pledge as a school.
-Hear from young carers directly about the support that has made a difference throughout their education and beyond.
-Network with other school teams and young carers to exchange best practices and ideas for improving support.
-Take part in shaping lasting change for young carers, ensuring their voices are heard and their opportunities enhanced.
In school, our assemblies next week will also celebrate the vital role these young people play. Lucy and Amy (Year 13), our Young Carers Ambassadors will lead the events.
Does your child have a caring role?
Research suggests that as many as 1 in 5 secondary school students are young carers. Many of these roles remain "hidden," meaning students may miss out on the extra support, flexibility, and funding they are entitled to.
If your child helps look after someone at home, we want to make sure they feel supported at school. Whether it’s needing a bit of extra time with homework, a quiet space at lunch, or just someone to talk to, we are here to help.
How to get support
In School: Please contact Sarah McNally (SMHL/DDSL), at smcnally@ahs.bucks.sch.uk for a confidential chat about how we can support your child’s education and wellbeing.
In the Community: You can also find fantastic resources and local support through Carers Bucks.
Here are some useful links:
https://carersbucks.org/information-for-carers/young-carers/
https://carersmiltonkeynes.org/information-for-carers/young-carers/
https://www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk/young-carers/
https://www.carersinherts.org.uk/young-carers/
https://youngcarersbedford.com/
Mrs McNally
Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead and DDSL
SEND Coffee morning
SEND Coffee morning
We would like to invite you to the next Aylesbury High School SEND Coffee morning. This will be an informal opportunity to meet with members of the SEND team and other parents too. We will be focusing on how you can support your child with school work.
The coffee morning will be held in the SEND corridor on 18 March October from 9-10.30
You can confirm your attendance here.
Mrs Craft
SENDCo
Assistant Designated Safeguarding Lead
Guidance on social media and gaming
Guidance on social media and gaming
As you navigate the ever-changing digital landscape with your daughter, we are pleased to share these guidance slides from LGfL focusing on social media and gaming. This resource provides essential insights into current trends and risks, such as the use of multiple profiles. We encourage you to use these talking points to discuss online safety at home, helping your child understand age ratings , manage their privacy , and maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.
Mrs Queralt
Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Support for upcoming exams
Support for upcoming exams
As we move further into the exam period, we know that revision and exam pressure can feel particularly intense for students. While a certain level of stress is normal, ongoing anxiety, low mood or feeling overwhelmed can impact both wellbeing and performance.
It is important that students:
-Take regular breaks and get enough sleep
-Maintain routines, including meals and movement
-Talk to someone if revision pressure feels unmanageable
Support and guidance are available for both students and parents to help manage exam stress in healthy ways.
Helpful Resources
Helpful Resources
For Students
Anna Freud – Exam stress and revision support:
https://www.annafreud.org/resources/children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing/self-care/revision/
Kooth – free online wellbeing support:
For Parents & Carers
Young Minds – Supporting young people with exam stress:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/exam-time/
Kooth – Parent & carer information:
https://explore.kooth.com/families
We encourage families to explore these resources together. Knowing how to recognise stress early and where to find support can make a real difference during this demanding time.
We're pleased to let you know about two upcoming talks to help you support your children through the upcoming exam season.
Firstly, Kooth is offering a free 45 minute webinar entitled: How you can support your child to manage exam stress
Click here to book 9th March, 6:00pm
Click here to book 16th March, 7:00pm
Secondly, on 24 March at 2.30pm, we are offering an in person talk for parents and carers on how they can best support students with their study skills. Parents who attended this last year found it very useful. To book a place on this, please out the form here to confirm your attendance.
Mrs McNally
Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead and 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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