Creating spaces that inspire...

This will enable us to reshape the learning through participation opportunities, and inspire young people, regardless of ability, to follow an active pathway not just at school, but at university, in their community, and beyond into employment.

We have an obligation to do this, and importantly, we see it as an essential part of how we nurture the character of our young people.

We need to deliver this vision in phases.

We know there will be significant challenges ahead for our School if we are to maintain its reputation and continue to deliver an outstanding education. As an academy, our annual operating costs are funded through central government each year, and as in recent years, our annual allocation per student has been one of the lowest in the country. In 2022/23 our allocation amounts just over £5,000 per year to educate a student in Years 7-11 (and significantly less for a Sixth Form student). A reduction in Sixth Form funding has had a considerable impact on us, especially as we have such a large Sixth Form. In real terms, funding has been cut.

Our income is only just sufficient to meet our annual basic operating costs. There is limited scope for additional funding from the Department for Education and so significant capital development is severely restricted from the School budget. This means that we have limited resources to invest in our infrastructure and buildings.

As a result, any meaningful capital improvements must come from outside resources, either in grants or individual gifts. This is why the School’s Development Office plays such an important role in the delivery of an outstanding education at Aylesbury Grammar School – as well as our ability to meet immediate needs.

Gradually, a culture of giving is evolving throughout the School, and in recent years we have seen an increase in participation in our Aylesburian Annual Fund, although this fluctuates significantly depending on the economic climate and the cohort. However, through philanthropic sources we have been able to refurbish our Maths department, IT Rooms, and more recently complete the refurbishment of Art, DT and Engineering. Capital projects, funded by various sources, have included a new Science Centre, Library, Squash Club, School Entrance and Sixth Form Centre.