AGS Welcome FROM THE HEADMASTER
Welcome to the Summer edition of Flourish, our termly chronicle of life at AGS.
The summer term at AGS has been incredibly busy and filled with memorable events and achievements From our AGS Golf Day to the lively Cabaret and Fete, there has been no shortage of activities showcasing the vibrant spirit of our school community.
This term, we also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Year 13 and Year 11 students who have undertaken public exams. We wish them the very best of fortune, looking forward to hearing of their next steps in life, whether that is back at AGS in the Sixth Form studying A Levels, or moving to higher education, apprenticeships or the workplace We hope they flourish in all they do
“Once an Aylesburian, Always an Aylesburian”
Our students have also had the opportunity to participate in a huge number of extra-curricular and curricular visits, enriching their educational experience beyond the classroom We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in organising and supporting these activities.
We must also congratulate Ridley House, winners of the Brodie Trophy, and Hampden House, winners of the Watson Trophy As ever it has been a well contested competition throughout the year and the spirit of belonging and camaraderie fostered is a central part of School life
As we look back on this term, we also say goodbye to four very long serving members of our teaching staff. Their selfless contributions to our community across the years have forged and shaped the culture and fabric of our School They stand as role models to us all and we wish them all well in their future endeavours
As we close out another successful year, we extend our gratitude to our entire AGS community for their continuous support and engagement. We wish everyone a wonderful, rejuvenating summer break and look forward to the opportunities and adventures that await us in the coming academic year.
Mark Sturgeon, Headmaster
@AGSHeadmaster
AGS Archive
NURTURING CHARACTER SINCE 1598
Last year marked the 425th Anniversary of Aylesbury Grammar School.
To commemorate this incredible milestone, we commissioned a beautifully illustrated hardback book which chronicles the rich history of our School. Books are still available, click here to secure your copy.
Furthermore, thanks to the generosity of the Aylesbury Grammar School Foundation, we have created the AGSDigitalArchive, a wonderful resource accessible to current and former students and staff
AGS
STAFF
OLD AYLESBURIANS
DEVELOPMENT
AGS Events
FLOURISH IN ALL YOU DO
This has been another exciting year of house events. Well done to all the students who participated and a heartfelt thanks to all the staff who made these events possible. Your Heads of House are incredibly grateful and proud of your support and wish you all a very restful summer break.
The Brodie events continued this term with the house tennis competition, where Ridley emerged victorious. The final event of the term was house athletics, with Phillips taking the overall win Several students set new house athletics records. Congratulations to Ridley House for being this year's Brodie champions! The competition was extremely close, with only 2.5 points separating the top four houses. A massive thank you to Mr Duggan and the entire PE team for organizing the events this year.
The Watson concluded this term with the junior house quiz and junior public speaking events. Denson took the overall win in the house quiz. The final event was the junior public speaking competition, featuring speeches from Year 7-9 students on a wide range of topics. We were pleased to welcome back Julian Atat (Lee '22) as adjudicator. Lee House won the junior leg, but Denson secured the overall public speaking win. Congratulations to Hampden House for being this year's Watson champions!
AGS Events
NURTURE YOUR CHARACTER
May marked the return of the AGS Golf Day at Chiltern Forest Golf Club, open to the entire AGS community Despite the rainy weather, the event was a huge success, raising significant funds for our Pitch In campaign.
We hosted our popular Cabaret Evening in collaboration with AHS. Various musical groups showcased their talents, and the evening concluded with dancing to the sounds of the jazz band.
The AGS PTA Summer Fete was a massive success, raising substantial funds to benefit AGS students while providing fun for everyone involved A big thank you to all the volunteers who made this event possible
The AHS and AGS Year 13 Leavers Ball, held at Missenden Abbey, provided an opportunity to celebrate. It was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves after their hard work through the exam season.
In July, Junior Prize Giving, with guest of honour OA Amala Ejikeme (Phillips '04), recognized Year 7-9 students for their achievements in academics, arts, music, sports, and community contributions
The Mini Cabaret in July for our younger musicians was a great opportunity to introduce them to music at AGS. Various groups performed, and it was delightful to see the talent on display.
AGS Sport
NURTURE YOUR CHARACTER
Athletics
Well done to the Junior and Inter Athletics teams who competed in the ESAA Round 1 of the Track and Field Cup. The Junior team came 1st and will advance to the Regional Finals, while the Inter team finished 2nd and awaits further results Congratulations to Harry Smith in Year 8 for winning the Under 15 Bucks County Championship with a new PB of 34.88m in Javelin. Special recognition to Edward Johnson in Year 10 for his 2nd place in the 1500m and 1st place in the 800m at the Bucks County Championships. Other notable performances include Chukwudi Onyebuchi, David Onohwakpo, Jed Okai, and Jafar Hassan
Basketball
Congratulations to our Under 15 and Under 16 Basketball teams for winning the District League titles. Special mention to Crispy Harmon in Lee 7 for being selected for the 'Under 13 South' team in the Aspire All-Star National Basketball Tournament.
Cricket
The Under 13 Cricket team has secured a place in the Bucks Cup Final with a 10-wicket victory over Dr Challoner's. The Under 12 Cricket team is also advancing in the competition and will play in the Semi-Final against DCGS.
@AGSSportandPE
Enrichment
We were thrilled to welcome students from Haddenham Junior School, Ickford School, and Swanbourne Church of England School for a tennis session with our Year 12 Sports Leaders Additionally, Year 4 students from Turnfurlong Junior School and Haddenham Junior School enjoyed a 'multi-skills' event led by Mr. Roberts and our Year 12 Sports Leaders. We are pleased to announce that AGS has been awarded the 'Gold School Games Mark' for the 2023/24 academic year. Thank you to all the staff and students for their engagement and contributions
Football
Congratulations to the Under 12 Football team for securing the District title with a 3-2 victory over The Kingsbrook School. Goals were scored by Max Smith, Sonny Keegan, and Luca Dolan.
Triathlon
Congratulations to the Year 9 and 10 Under 15 Triathlon team for winning the Leap BMK competition. Great work to the team and all participants.
Handball
The U13 Handball team performed well at the Regional Finals in Bournemouth, finishing 3rd overall. The U15 Handball team came 2nd in the South Central Finals, qualifying for National Finals in June with a top 8 national ranking
Ultimate Frisbee
Well done to our UF teams for competing at the National Outdoors. Both A and B teams played exceptionally well, showcasing their skills in a competitive fixture
Old Aylesburians
Congratulations to Nathan McDonald (Hampden '20) and Oscar Wellbeloved (Lee '23) for being selected for England U20's to compete in the EHF Championships.
PTA
A huge thank you to the AGS PTA for their support in purchasing High Jump equipment, allowing us to get our High Jump competitions underway this year.
AGS Visits
EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY
We were delighted to take some of the members of the AGS Tennis Team to the opening day of the Wimbledon Championships.
AGS students watched Grigor Dimitrov, Stan Wawrinka and Naomi Osaka whilst also seeing Emma Raducanu, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner all warming up
@AGSSportandPE
Year 7 had a wonderful time on their residential trip to Gloucestershire. Throughout the three days, the students learned survival skills and played lots of games, all whilst making new friends A huge thank you to all staff involved in the trip
@AGSYear7Res
Year 8 enjoyed a fantastic English trip to The Globe Theatre this term to watch Shakespeare’s 'Much Ado About Nothing'.
They were also treated to a historic tour of the area including the Golden Hind Huge thanks the the English department and all the teachers involved.
Year 8 had the opportunity to take part in a French trip to Burgundy.
They sampled French cuisine, shopped at local markets, played petanque, visited historical sites and even held a picnic competition! It was an incredible experience for all involved and allowed them to have fun whilst fully immersing themselves into the French language. We extend our thanks to Tim Crapper and all staff involved in organising and facilitating
This term, Year 8 took a History trip to sunny Bletchley Park.
They spent the day delving into the fascinating stories at Bletchley Park, gaining a deeper understanding of the contributions made by these unsung heroes.
The visit served as a powerful inspiration, leaving the students in awe of the monumental efforts that helped shape the outcome of the war.
Our students really benefit from trips such as these to bring their studies to life.
@AGSEnglishDept
AGS Visits
EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY
During the Easter Holidays a group of 31 Yr10 and 12 students from AGS and AHS took part in the school's well established French Exchange with Bourg en Bresse. They enjoyed a long Easter weekend with their host families, attended a reception at the Town Hall, visited the city of Lyon and the medieval town of Pérouges, ate lots and spoke lots of French!
@AGSFrench
Year 10 and Year 12 students participated in the German exchange program, spending a fantastic week in Stuttgart. They soaked up the culture, visited local sights, and bonded with their host families. This exchange, which has been ongoing for 65 years, provided a rich cultural experience Additionally, our students enjoyed welcoming their exchange partners to Aylesbury in July, further strengthening the ties between the two communities.
@AGSGerman
AGS Visits
NURTURE YOUR CHARACTER
Year 7 took part in a fantastic Historical Trip to Warwick Castle this term. The sun shone and they were able to take in the jousting competition whilst learning more about the War of the Roses Students also enjoyed the magnificent falconry display but, as ever, the trebuchet firing was the highlight of the day, they loved seeing this fantastic reenactment in action.
@AGSHistory Dept
Students from Year 10 and 12 had a wonderful time in London on the Art Departments annual trip to the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.
@AGSArtDept
The Year 9 history trip to Duxford was a memorable and enriching experience, bringing their World War II studies to life Students had a brilliant day exploring a variety of exhibits, including aeroplanes, tanks, and other wartime technologies. This trip also marked Mrs. Venning’s last ever excursion with the school! The hands-on experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the historical period.
@AGSHistory Dept
AGS Life EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY
Year 8 Languages Day highlighted the numerous benfits and opportunities that come with studying languages, featuring workshops, treasure hunts and petanque in the Quad Students heard from guest speakers, including Old Aylesburian and AGS Parent Simon Beattie (Hampden ‘93), who shared how languages have enriched his career.
Year 7 Science day was a huge success, showcasing the practical side of Science through a wide range of fun and engaging sessions. Read what our Year 7's thought:
“The 2 things I enjoyed most this science day were the biodiversity topic, as I love animals and especially arachnids, reptiles and invertebrates The second topic I enjoyed was the Newtons racers topic as we came 1st place and discovered a new way to power the cars In stead of powering just the rear wheels, we powered the front wheels as well. I fully enjoyed the entire day!” Umar Hussain, Ridley 7.
“The most exciting thing on Science Day was the biodiversity. The snake felt very muscly and was very smooth. The rat was surprisingly cute!” Januka Liyanage, Ridley 7
Our School's Young Enterprise teams have had another successful term. Rob Butler and the Mayor attended the Aylesbury Showcase Evening for Young Enterprise and were able to witness the success of the AGS teams as they won numerous trophies They were incredibly impressed with Wild Cards, enough for Rob Butler to congratulate them in the House of Commons, with Penny Mordaunt suggesting that maybe they could be sold in the House of Commons gift shop! Click here to watch: fb watch/rPoor3domY/ A special mention goes to Managing Directors Nirukt and Joseph (Both Hampden 12). The team went on to attended the South Central Regional Young Enterprise Finals on 16th May to battle against 7 other teams sadly, they just missed out on a place in the UK National Final
This term, our Year 8 students showcased their creativity and innovation during Enterprise Day
Tasked with designing a 'machine for the future' by JCB Machines in collaboration with The National Enterprise Challenge Team, Year 8 came up with some truly impressive concepts and it was great to see some incredible teamwork amongst the boys
Year 10 participated in 2-days of Enterprise learning where they worked in teams to create a business plan and develop a mini-enterprise idea that they could start with £100 that had the goal of ‘doing good’
Congratulations to ‘Can-Dles’ (Jared, D10, Tomi L10, Alfie D10, Edward H10, Myles, D10, George D10 and Hamshi D10) with their idea to recycle cans into candle holders.
AGS Life
CELEBRATE DIFFERENCE
This term, we held a Mental Health Awareness Week, which highlighted the importance of mental wellbeing.
At India Day MK 2024, our enthusiastic students and their families represented AGS with pridethank you to those involved.
Hampden 13 were presented with an award from Head Up charity for their efforts in raising awareness and funds for mental health in the armed forces.
Year 8 students participated in an “Express yourself through Art” session exploring the topic of masculinity.
As the summer term concludes, we bid farewell to our Year 13 leavers. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish them every success in their future endeavours “Once an Aylesburian, always an Aylesburian”. Likewise, Year 11 students have been sitting public examinations, we hope to welcome many of them back to Sixth Form As one group departs, another arrives; it was wonderful to meet the new Year 7s joining us on Year 6 Transition Day. We warmly welcome them to our AGS community
AGS Staff SPOTLIGHT ON STAFF
In memory of Ed Dean (Denson '12), Mr. Ramsbottom dedicated 2024 to fundraising as much money as possible for MIND to support them in their great work He completed all 3 of his goals: The London Marathon, The Outlaw Half triathlon which he completed with Mr. Duggan and he finished his final challenge in June, an Ironman in Luxembourg. He is so close to achieving his £10, 000 target to honour Ed, with a sizeable donation to the fantastic charity MIND Please follow the link below to show your support.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rambo2024
Staff Leavers
As the academic year draws to a close, AGS is preparing to say goodbye to four long-serving and highly valued members of our teaching staff. Each has made significant contributions to the School, and their presence will be sorely missed
Mr. Crapper is retiring after an extraordinary 28 years of dedication to the Languages Department. As Team Leader for Languages, a passionate Lee House tutor, and an organizer of numerous French exchanges and cultural tours, he has enriched the lives of many students. His commitment to fostering a love for languages and his involvement in various extracurricular activities have left a lasting legacy at AGS
Mrs. Venning has been a cornerstone of AGS for the past 27 years. As Deputy Headteacher, former Head of Sixth Form, Designated Safeguarding Lead, and History teacher, she has guided countless students through their educational journeys. Her dedication and influence have shaped the very fabric of our School. Mrs. Venning's immense impact on AGS will be remembered fondly as she embarks on a welldeserved retirement
Mrs Wilkinson, Head of Food Technology, is also retiring after 17 years of inspiring students to cook delicious and nutritious food. Her contributions have been invaluable, not only in the classroom but also in the care and support she has provided to students over the years Mrs. Wilkinson's passion for food education has inspired countless students, and she will be greatly missed as she enjoys her muchdeserved retirement.
We also say goodbye to the following members of staff:
Mr Manjengwa, a dedicated Maths teacher and Phillips House tutor, is leaving AGS after 16 years to pursue new career opportunities. His invaluable contributions to the Maths Department have had a profound impact on our students Mr Manjengwa's departure marks the end of an era, and he will be greatly missed by both staff and students. We wish him the very best in his new endeavors.
Georgia Mogford, Student Support Assistant, is leaving to begin her degree in Marketing at Oxford Brookes University We thank Georgia for her dedication over the last year
Ted Sturgeon has been working as a Cover Supervisor since May and will be leaving us at the end of term to take up his university place at Nottingham Trent University – we wish him well and thank him for his contribution to AGS in the short time he’s been with us.
Harry Wilson has also been working as a Cover Supervisor for the last year and is taking up a degree in Real Estate at Oxford Brookes University. Our thanks to Harry for all his hard work over the last year.
Old AYLESBURIANS
SHARING EXPERTISE
James Waterhouse (Paterson ‘04)
As part of our Inspirational Speakers Programme, we welcomed back James Waterhouse, BBC correspondent in Ukraine. James shared his journey from professional rugby to journalism, emphasising adaptability, resilience and the importance of impartiality His talk, followed by an engaging Q&A, inspired students with insights on current affairs and career advice.
Adi Roy (Hampden ‘18)
It is with great pleasure that we welcomed Adi back to AGS to speak to MedSoc. Adi, who recently completed his medical degree at the University of Manchester, shared invaluable advice on entering the medical field and discussed his upcoming role as a Foundation Doctor in North Wales. His insights on immunology, the Specialised Foundation Programme, and cancer prevention research were inspiring to our students.
Tej Morjaria (Ridley ‘19)
Thank you to Tej for joining MedSoc to discuss his career in dentistry He emphasised the importance of a strong academic foundation, perseverance, and the significant impact of dentistry on overall health. The session ended with an engaging Q&A about his next steps. We are grateful for Tej’s support and his inspiration to future Medics
Tom Ward (Hampden ‘06)
Politics Society welcomed Tom, a diplomat in the FCDO to give an insightful interview on his career and past work as First Secretary in Pretoria and Dubai. He discussed diverse issues from the war in Ukraine to inter-departmental collaboration and highlighted the relevance of his degree in diplomacy We are grateful to alumni like Tom who inspire the next generation of AGS students.
Following the tragic passing of Tom Giles (Lee '20), a memorial rugby match was held at Aylesbury Rugby Club between Aylesbury Rugby Club Under 23s and Buckingham University Under 23s. The Aylesbury squad comprised all but three Old Aylesburians, returning to compete and celebrate Tom's life with family, friends, and the community. Well done to all involved and a wonderful expression of care and love for Tom and his family.
Thank you to all the wonderful Old Aylesburians who returned this week to take part in another inspiring "Sharing in Expertise" event. We welcomed back almost 20 former students to share their post-school experiences with current Year 12s. The event aims to showcase the diverse paths that former students have taken, highlighting that there is no single "right path" to success. The returning OAs, who have ventured into various fields such as further education, apprenticeships, and the professional workforce, provided invaluable insights into their journeys since leaving AGS. Once again, we are so grateful to our generous Old Aylesburians for dedicating their time to return and share their experiences
You don’t have to be an OA to help! If you would like to get involved, be it part of our Inspirational Speakers Programme, offering careers advice or mentoring at one our OA events, please get in touch at development@ags bucks s ch uk
AGS Development INVEST IN OUR FUTURE
An update from The Development Office
Our primary focus remains the Pitch In campaign, launched with a Giving Day back in March. We aim to raise £1 million to build a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose pitch at the heart of our School, which will significantly enhance the sports program at AGS. We believe that participation in sport is crucial to the physical and mental wellbeing of our students and are committed to providing top-notch facilities to support a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities We have already secured 20% of the funding, marking a strong start, but we still have a long way to go and need the continued support of our community to reach our goal
Following the Giving Day, we held an AGS Golf Day at Chiltern Forest Golf Club, a fantastic community event that raised additional funds for Pitch In.
At the end of the summer term, we hosted a Donor Afternoon Tea in the Foundation Hall to personally thank those who contributed over the past year. It was a wonderful event featuring speeches from Headmaster Mark Sturgeon, Director of Sport Chris Duggan, AGS parent and Pitch In campaign board member Sophie Price, and three current students. The speeches highlighted the profound impact of sports on our students' school experience and how the new pitch will benefit them now and in the future
Many generous parents have pledged their support through monthly donations for the duration of the campaign. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at development@ags.bucks.sch.uk or click the link below to make an online donation or sign up to give monthly.
Click here to donate!
Looking ahead, we have several fundraising events planned. The first is "A Question of Sport" on 15th November, with more details to follow in the new term. You can also participate in a touch rugby tournament on 20th September by emailing AGS parent and Pitch In campaign board member Matt Palmer at ralms99@yahoo.com to sign up.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of the AGS community in our fundraising efforts Thank you to all who have contributed at any level. Your generosity is deeply appreciated, and we look forward to working together to make AGS facilities the best they can be for our students, who are at the heart of all we do.
DONATEHERE!
