Aylesbury Grammar School

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Aylesbury Grammar School

Established	1598
Type	Academy Grammar School
Headmaster	Mr Stephen R. Lehec BA (Winchester) [1]
Founder	Sir Henry Lee
Specialisms	Science (Primary) Languages (Secondary) Maths & Computing
Location	Walton Road Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7RP England
DfE URN	136884
Ofsted	Pre-Academy Reports
Students	1271
Gender	Boys
Ages	11–18
Houses	Denson, Hampden, Lee, Paterson, Phillips, Ridley
Colours	Maroon, Black and White
Website	www.ags.bucks.sch.uk

Coordinates: 51°48′50″N 0°48′05″W / 51.8139°N 0.8014°W / 51.8139; -0.8014

Aylesbury Grammar School is a single-sex male grammar school in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, which educates 1,250 pupils.^[2]

Admissions

As a selective state school, its entry requirements are dictated by the Eleven plus. The school's catchment area inflates house prices.^[3]

The school educates boys from the age of 11, in year 7, through to the age of 18, in year 13 (Upper VI). The school has its largest intakes at Year 7 followed by Year 12 (Lower VI). On completing GCSEs, most pupils stay on to complete their A-levels at the school's sixth-form.^[4]

It is situated east of the town centre on the southern side of the A41, between Walton (to the west) and Victoria Park (to the east).^[5]

Specialist status

In September 1997 the school was awarded specialist school status in Technology, which it kept until Summer 2007, when it was decided that a more academic specialist subject would be more appropriate for AGS and the school successfully gained Science College status as its primary specialism. In April 2006 AGS gained a second college status as a Language College and the gained a second secondary college status in Maths and Computing in January 2008.^[6]

Academy status

In July 2011 the school became an Academy.^[7]

History

The Geography (left) and Maths (centre) blocks by the school field

Founded, 1598 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire by Sir Henry Lee, Aylesbury Grammar School celebrated 100 years on the current site in Walton Road in 2007. It is commonly referred to by its students and staff by the abbreviations 'AGS' or 'The Grammar'.^[8]

Single sex school

The school was previously a mixed sex school but then parted in 1959 after a fire which destroyed part of the old school buildings. The girls' school became Aylesbury High School and is across the road from Aylesbury Grammar School.^[9]

The current headmaster is Stephen Lehec who took over from Steve Harvey at the start of the 2008-9 academic year.^[10]

Timetable

The table below shows the current timetable of Aylesbury Grammar School, the timetable has been like this since the 2009/10 school year, before this the timetable was split into 8 rather than 5 periods each alternating 35 or 40 minutes long

Current Senior Teaching Staff

There are currently six members of the schools Senior board^[11]

• Headmaster- S Lehec
• Senior Deputy Headteacher- M Kennedy
• Deputy Headteacher- P Venning
• Assistant Head- D Castles
• Assistant Head- G Singh
• Assistant Head- K Smith

Houses

Each pupil is placed into one of six houses upon starting at the school. The six houses are^[12]:

House trophy competitions

Each year, the school houses compete for the Brodie Trophy for sports and the Watson Trophy for all other activities (including art, music and public speaking). The awards are named after former pupils who have made a great contribution to the school's life. The competitions have been taking place for over 300 years, when the 'houses' were groups of boarders living in one building.^[13] There is also a defunct trophy called 'Merit Marks', which was abolished due to imbalances in the willingness of various teachers to distribute them.

Boys are encouraged throughout the year to take part in house events, as well as some individual events. Most of the encouragement comes from their heads of house, who are in charge of 210 pupils on average (or 7 tutor groups, each consisting of 30 pupils).^[14]

At the end of each event the houses gain points for their placements in these events; and at the end of the year, these points are totaled up and a winner is declared for each trophy.^{[citation needed]}

Prefects

There are various levels of prefects at AGS.^{[citation needed]}

• 

  

  Junior Prefect Badge
  In Year 11, boys can apply to become a junior prefect. Appointment to this role is generally based on contribution to school activities and behaviour. The position acts as a level of recognition rather than extra responsibility. They can be recognised by a gilt-edged red effect badge with the words, printed in gold, 'JUNIOR PREFECT' on the front.
• In the lower sixth, boys get their first chance to apply to become a school prefect. This is the first level of prefects where successful applicants are assigned extra responsibility within school. For example, school prefects can work in the school canteen, library, etc. They can also be assigned a tutor group to look after lower down the school prior to morning registration and during break times. School prefects are identified by a yellow stripe above each of their blazer pockets.
• At the end of the lower sixth, school prefects can apply to become senior prefects. This role is an advanced version of the school prefect role where students will be required to take on extra responsibilities. They are also relied on more by staff members to do tasks around school. They can be identified by maroon stripes above each of their blazer pockets.
• Each house also assigns three senior prefects in the upper sixth to become head and deputy head boys of house. They have the same responsibility as senior prefects but also are involved in organising house activities and house assemblies. They aid the staff head of house in the running of the house. The can be identified by "Head/Deputy Head Boy of House" badges.

Head Boys

The school appoints three members of the Upper Sixth to the positions of Head Boy and two Deputy Head Boys. The students are picked for these roles by staff and members of the senior leadership team based on maturity, behaviour, attitude, academic achievements and contribution to school and house events. They are identified by maroon stripes around the cuffs of the blazer.^{[citation needed]}

Teaching system

In the first three years of the school, pupils are almost exclusively taught in their houses, or 'tutor groups' (with the exceptions of Maths, in which pupils are streamed by ability in year 8-9, and by their second Foreign Language choice in year 8-9; until the 2008/9 academic year, where year 7s are now assigned two languages - French and either German or Spanish according to the house (Denson, Hampden and Lee do German; Paterson, Phillips and Ridley do Spanish) and then start learning Latin in year 8). Tutor groups are also split up into groups of 20 for Design Technology lessons, and for Art and Ceramics in Years 8-9 as well as Latin in year 9 where they are also streamed by ability.^{[citation needed]}

In Year 10 and above, the year group is reshuffled into different classes for each subject depending on their GSCE options these different GCSE choices mean they may not see others from either tutor group or form. From this point onwards, the houses play no significant role other than teams for the Watson or Brodie trophies.^{[citation needed]}

The teaching staff at Aylesbury Grammar School includes Dr. Carol Blyth, who has received a 'Teacher of the Decade' award^[15] as well as Dr Kevin Bond, author and Chairman of Examiners for Computing. Dr Bond retired from AGS in December 2009 ^[16]

Academic performance

In 2009, the school received the best A-level results in Buckinghamshire LEA, and some distance better than the girls' school, which also receives good results. Buckinghamshire LEA (the county council) is based in Aylesbury.

Notable former pupils

• Jake Arnott (b. 1961) author, left school at 16^{[citation needed]}
• Richard Baron, philosopher^{[citation needed]}
• Simon Beattie (b. 1975), antiquarian bookseller
• Tim Besley, economist and former Member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee^{[citation needed]}
• Angela Billingham (b. 31 July 1939), politician^{[citation needed]}
• Rutland Boughton (1878–1960), composer^{[citation needed]}
• Richard Bracewell (b. 1969), director, producer and scriptwriter^{[citation needed]}
• Kevin Cecil, (b. 1969), scriptwriter^{[citation needed]}
• John Edwards OBE (1904–1959), Labour MP from 1950-9 for Brighouse and Spenborough^{[citation needed]}
• Derek Dick (Fish) (b. 1958), singer (briefly)^{[citation needed]}
• John Edwards (1904–1959), politician^{[citation needed]}
• David Gurr (b. 1956), cricketer for Oxford University and Somerset^{[citation needed]}
• Tim Harford (b. 1973), journalist and presenter^[17]
• Peter Jukes (b. 1960), author & scriptwriter^{[citation needed]}
• Richard Lee (b.1982), goalkeeper for league one side Brentford F.C., currently number 1 keeper for this league one side.^{[citation needed]}
• David Millar (b. 1977), cyclist^{[citation needed]}
• Kris Needs (b. 1954), journalist and author^{[citation needed]}
• Andy Riley, (b. 1970), author and scriptwriter^{[citation needed]}
• Peter Rost, Conservative MP from 1983-92 for Erewash and from 1970-83 for South East Derbyshire^{[citation needed]}
• Horace Roye, photographer^{[citation needed]}
• Kevin Sacre, actor^{[citation needed]}
• Rob Stringer, chairman of Columbia/Epic Label Group, and brother of Sir Howard Stringer^{[citation needed]}
• Frederick Taylor, historian^{[citation needed]}
• Shailesh Vara, Conservative MP since 2005 for North West Cambridgeshire^{[citation needed]}
• Alex Wilkie FRS, (b. 1948) mathematician^{[citation needed]}
• Theo James, (b. 1984), actor
• Scott Davies, (b. 1988), Professional Footballer
• Dr Theodore Zeldin CBE, author and historian^[18]

Photos of the school

• 

  The old school site in Aylesbury town centre that hosted the school from 1598 to 1907

• 

  The main school hall, used for Upper School Assembly and drama productions, among others, was constructed in the 1950s

• 

  The Languages block (known as the Tower block until 2003, and still called that informally by students) hosts Modern Foreign Language lessons, as well as the Classics Department

• 

  The John Mason Raven Sports Hall, opened at Easter 2003, is one of the newest constructions and has replaced the Gym as the primary sports facility. The building includes a large viewing balcony

References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011)

External links

• Department for Education Performance Tables 2011
• Aylesbury Grammar School Debating Society
• EduBase

News items

• Admissions in August 2000