4 minute read
A message from the Governors
Once again, the Governors of Aylesbury Grammar School are delighted to see the achievements of the AGS Community over the last year presented in the excellent Aylesburian magazine, which seems to get better and better year on year.
Last year, however, we noticed one serious omission – we didn’t get a mention. Naturally, we thought that this was a significant failing that needed to be put right at the earliest opportunity, so as outgoing Chairman of Governors I was charged with putting together a short piece to raise the profile of the Governing Body just a little.
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First, a little personal history. I have been a Governor of AGS for over 15 years, starting as a Parent Governor when my sons were in the lower school. For the six years up to January 2019, I was also proud to be Chairman of Governors, a position that brings status and worry in broadly equal measure. My involvement with AGS actually goes back a lot further, having spent seven years from 1969 to 1976 in Phillips House, all the way from the First Form to the Upper Sixth (as Years 7 to 13 were known in those days). If this seems like ancient history to many of today’s readers, it was – for example, caps had to be worn, tutor group photos were in black and white, and the desks still had lids and inkwells. In many other respects, though, little has changed. The ethos of the school in those days, as now, was to strive for excellence, aiming to achieve your own personal best and help your fellow students to achieve theirs, whether in sports, music or a broad range of academic pursuits, all within a supportive and encouraging environment. Perhaps that might be summarised as “Aspire” and “Respect” – does that sound familiar?
Old Aylesburians from that era coming back to the school will see a few other familiar sights too – the main corridor, hall, tower block, canteen, music room, swimming pool and old gym to name but a few. Those hunting the traditional wooden cricket pavilion might be surprised to see a magnificent sports hall in its place these days, and those seeking the lower school physics and biology labs will be greatly impressed with the new library and science block, but otherwise it’s the same place.
All of which brings me to my theme – what is the role of the Governing Body?
At AGS, as at many other schools, the Governors’ role is a strategic one. We oversee an institution which is working well, which achieves its goals and which needs relatively little intervention – although if we thought that a more direct approach was needed, we would seek to help and advise wherever necessary. We appreciate that there is a need to maintain the excellent standards that the school has developed over many years, to continue with an approach and traditions that work. At the same time, we appreciate that to continue to thrive AGS needs to keep moving forward with a modern, bold strategy. This means developing new ways of learning fit for the 21st century, absorbing and building on the changes in the curriculum so that the school stays at the forefront of educational standards, extending the relationships that the school has both locally and more widely, and ensuring (as our newly formed purpose puts it) that “the school inspires and supports all our students to enable them to flourish throughout their lives”.
However, we see the Headmaster and staff striving to balance different needs and demands at a time when funding for schools like ours is perhaps the lowest it has ever been, with buildings that are struggling to cope with the pressures of housing 1,300 students, and when the pace of regulatory, legislative and curricular change is phenomenal. We believe that the insights and experience that Governors can bring from our external careers are invaluable to help us give support in these areas.
Throughout the year, we set objectives for the Headmaster and appraise his performance, we
scrutinise and advise on financial and property matters, we review and challenge the academic performance, we oversee the community and development initiatives, and we aim to support all staff and students as best we can. We also discuss more strategic ideas for where the school should be in five or ten years time, including considering how best we might achieve these goals. The role, therefore, mixes the present and the future, maintaining the excellence while looking to be even better.
That’s the “what”. The “why” is quite simple – we like this place and want to do what we can to help it succeed. We want to be part of the AGS Community.
I wish the new Chairman of Governors, Richard Williams, all the best in the role, confident that his tenure will be a great success. I’m sure Richard, along with all the Governors, will welcome questions and comments from students, staff, parents and carers to help the Governing Body focus its work fully on helping to make AGS an even better place for all to respect and aspire.
