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2024 - 2025

THE AYLESBURIAN

CONTENTS WELCOME STAFF LEAVERS HOUSE LIFE SCHOOL VISITS SCHOOL LIFE SPECIAL FEATURE SCHOOL SPORT SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

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THE AYLESBURIAN

WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

WELCOME

Welcome to the 2024/2025 edition

support, improving facilities and experiences across

of The Aylesburian, our annual

the School. We are grateful to all who give their time,

publication that captures the spirit,

expertise, and resources so willingly.

purpose, and character that define Aylesbury Grammar School.

We have faced challenges too, not least the fire in the

The pages ahead reflect the heart of

Wynne Jones Centre electricity sub-station, which

our community: students flourishing;

caused significant disruption and power outages. The

respect for our heritage alongside

calm initiative, and resilience of staff and students in

ambition for the future; and a strong

response reflected the strength of our culture and the

sense of character that shapes

values we stand by.

academically successful, morally grounded students.

Our students delivered excellent examination outcomes at both A Level and GCSE, enabling them to take

This year has reminded us of the

confident next steps, whether into Year 12, university,

privilege of education. Whether

apprenticeships, or the workplace. We congratulate

through inspirational speakers

them all.

who have overcome extraordinary adversity, or through our own

The breadth of School life remains a defining feature

students whose courage, progress,

of AGS. From House Music at the Waterside Theatre to

and contribution we celebrate, it

national sporting success, from cultural celebrations to

is clear that character remains

technological innovation, our students continue to lead,

at the centre of all we do. Their

create, and excel. They have shown integrity, humility,

achievements across academics,

and ambition throughout the year, and we are proud of

the arts, sport, leadership, and

each of them.

innovation reflect both their efforts and the opportunities the School

As ever, we express gratitude to staff who depart and

provides.

remember former members of our community who have sadly passed away. Their legacy and connection

Our commitment to pioneering

to the School endure.

expertise in education continues to grow. Recognition from national

To our leavers: we hope AGS has helped them find their

and professional bodies highlights

place in the world, grounded in character, courage,

the dedication of our staff, whose

kindness, and belonging. As they forge their path,

research, practice, and passion

support others, lift them up, and carry with them the

enhance the learning of every

values that have shaped their time here. Success is

student. Partnerships with schools

rarely solitary; it is built on the encouragement, belief,

and institutions locally, nationally,

and kindness of others.

and internationally have once again broadened horizons for students

Thank you to our students, staff, parents, Old

and staff alike.

Aylesburians, governors, and friends of AGS for your contribution to another outstanding year.

This has been a year of community strength. The successful completion

Once an Aylesburian, Always an Aylesburian.

of the multi-purpose 3G sports pitch, largely funded by those connected to AGS, is a remarkable example of respect, motivation, commitment, and generosity. Our

Mr MJ Sturgeon

PTA have continued their tireless

Headmaster

THE AYLESBURIAN

WELCOME

A MESSAGE FROM OUR GOVERNORS

A few weeks ago I left the role as Chair of Governors at AGS after 7 years in office. My last few weeks in the post at the beginning of this term certainly had some highlights. I really enjoyed being at senior prizegiving, seeing so much achievement being rewarded, and listening to the inspiring speech made by Tom Bush, Old Aylesburian, and now partner in a city law firm. And then there was the celebration of the completion a year early of our new 3G Sports Pitch which is already proving a revelation regarding our ability to deliver a whole range of sports. This was a project that will be truly transformational. We could not have achieved it without the amazing financial support of a huge number of our AGS community. We all owe them our thanks. I have been a governor for 12 years. My son Jamie came to the school in 2008 and I took an active interest in what was going on through attending PTA events and assisting my wife Helen, who was on the committee. This led me to a discussion with Mr Lehec, the previous Headmaster, who was looking for new Governors. My workplace had just introduced a Corporate Social Responsibility policy, which gave me 30 hours of my worktime a year for a social contribution activity (used up in governor and committee meetings). I therefore expressed an interest, and was elected as an Appointed Governor, progressing to Chair of the Resources including Finance Committee, and eventually to Chair. The role of a governor is responsible but rewarding. We are part trustees of an academy trust, part directors of a company limited by guarantee, and part school governors subject to Department of Education regulations. Each one of those legal duties has its own nuances. We always have some parent governors and, if you are a parent, some of them may be parents in your son’s year. It is worth a look on the website to see who we are. Our pen portraits and photographs are all on there. We do not seek to have a high profile but it is important that people know how to find us if required.

Our role is that of the critical friend. In other words, we seek to listen, assist, encourage and promote, while on the other hand asking questions about this and that, and seeking answers. In a school as well run as AGS, that task is an easier one. But we remain constantly vigilant and engaged. Might it be a role, if you are a parent, that you could be interested in pursuing? We are always on the lookout for new talent. We leave the operational side of things to the Senior Leadership Team. In other words, we are always seeking to stay strategic, leaving them to implement the running of the School. They are much better placed and qualified to do that! One of the pleasures of the governor role is the ability to get to know senior members of staff well. The SLT is an excellent team, and I really enjoy spending time discussing things with them. I am staying on as a governor and becoming a Foundation trustee. The Foundation is a separate charity that from time to time helps the school out with specific things. I am looking forward to seeing the School progress even further under the continuing excellent leadership of Mr Sturgeon. And I wish Tom Batty, my successor, every success. As a former headmaster himself, he certainly knows what it takes to make an outstanding school.

Richard Williams Chair of Governors

THE AYLESBURIAN

WELCOME

A POSITIVE LEGACY AND MEMORIES SHARED

Wow! What a year it has been. From a mysterious phone call, only picked up by pure chance, that turned out to be the Headmaster appointing me as head boy, to the whirlwind of events that followed. Alongside my fellow Head Boys, Freddie and Joseph, it has been an honour to carry the

HEAD BOYS’ REFLECTIONS

mantle and lead the student body of AGS throughout this past academic year. One of our most ambitious undertakings soon arrived: relocating the year 13 ball. It came with challenge, a few sleepless nights and the occasional logistical hiccup. But it rewarded us with real-world lessons that will stay with us long into our future. Not to mention, it culminated in seven years of friendship celebrated at the stunning Stowe School, a venue that made all the stress worth it. A central aim of our “legacy” was rebuilding relationships with younger students. Following COVID, we’d noticed a real dip in confidence and communication across year groups. We wanted to change this and bring back a community that is entirely interlinked. This promoted us to create a team of eager year 12’s to run a ‘Club Day’ for the lower school, designed to spark engagement conversation and community spirit. Not only did the Year 12’s gained invaluable leadership experience, discovering what it means to guide and support others. But the younger years found their voice within the school community, it became one of

our proudest achievements. Strengthening this sense of community also meant tackling difficult but important topics. We worked closely with the high school, delivering assemblies on issues such as sexual harassment – an initiative we hoped would foster respect, awareness and openness amongst the younger year groups. Then there was the highly anticipated Head Boy’s Challenge – an event that involved all six houses bravely (or foolishly) embarrassing themselves before the entire sixth form. It ended, somewhat predictably in an intense yet anticlimactic standoff revolving around… a single ‘hot chip’. You had to be there. Looking back from university as I write this, I find myself missing many things, especially Miss Treharne’s “two-minute catch-ups” that somehow consumed entire study periods. But more importantly, I miss the community I was lucky enough to be a part of for seven unforgettable years. The memories are countless, the experiences invaluable, and the people genuinely irreplicable. A heartfelt thank you must go to Mr Singh, Miss Treherne and Mr Ramsbottom, who have been instrumental in shaping us over the past two years. And Mr Singh, being your first cohort of Head Boys, we hope we did you and the school proud. Finally, I wish the very best to Evan, Thomas and Seb as they take on the role this year. You’ll smash it! James Davies – Outgoing Head Boy 2025

THE AYLESBURIAN

STAFF LEAVERS

STAFF LEAVERS SALLY SMITH Sally’s first connection with Aylesbury Grammar School was when her son, a talented artist, attended the School; there is still a piece of his art work hanging on the wall of Mr Singh’s office. She obviously felt an affinity for AGS as she then joined the staff as an invigilator in October 2012. Having done an excellent job for a number of years she moved up and took on the post of senior invigilator in June 2016 and then Data and Exams assistant in May 2022. When the previous Exams Officer left part way through the academic year and very close to the public exam series, Sally stepped into the breach as Exams Officer in May 2024. Sally worked incredibly hard to ensure that the exams ran smoothly and efficiently in 2024 and again in 2025 by which time Sally had moved to the role of Exams Co-ordinator. Sally has always gone the extra mile to ensure that the whole system of exam delivery at AGS is exceptional. Because she has worked from Invigilator through to Exams Officer, she has gained a thorough understanding of the complete working of the Exams system and is always willing to take time to share her knowledge. Sally has done a great deal to forge our team of invigilators into the professional unit that it is. She has used her experience to deliver excellent training and CPD, helping to produce a dedicated team, who come back to work with us at AGS year after year. Sally has been an excellent colleague to work with in the exams team. She is willing to do her utmost for the school, the exams department, students and colleagues. She has an eye for detail and has proved herself capable of working in high pressure situations with a calm approach and a smile. We will miss you Sally. Very best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

Dr K J Smith

MARK CORNISH It is sadly time to bid a fond, and perhaps slightly bewildered, farewell to the one and only Mark Cornish. Now, when I say “fond,” I mean it in the way you’re fond of that eccentric uncle who always tells the same jokes, but you love him anyway. And “bewildered” because, let’s be honest, many of us thought Mark was a permanent fixture in the corner of the Staff Work Room and that one day we’d walk in and find the desiccated remains of his body still clutching a bacon and egg bap. Mark, as some of you may know, qualified as a teacher a staggering 41 years ago. To put into perspective how long ago this was, when Mark first stepped into a classroom, disco was still cool, mobile phones were things you saw in sci-fi movies, and “streaming” was a description of

gaze. Covering for the endless stream of pregnant science teachers, who seemed to be popping out babies left, right and centre! After this period of maternity cover, he transitioned to the noble, some might say heroic, role of cover supervisor. This meant he got to experience the joy of teaching without the pesky long-term commitment, like a professional taster-menu enthusiast of education. He mastered the art of walking into a room of restless students, armed with a worksheet and the phrase, “Right, settle down, everyone!” – a phrase he’s probably uttered more times than he’s had birthdays. I would like to personally thank Mark for all the help and support he has given me over all these years. You have been an absolute rock. Your dedication, your unwavering calm in the face of Year 9 chaos, and your ability to find humour in even the most trying situations have been truly remarkable. You’ve guided countless students, supported your colleagues, and probably single-handedly kept the canteen in business with your breakfast baps.

your cold.

We’ll miss your unique brand of humour, your

He’s seen more curriculum changes

facts about the circulatory system to the best way to fix

than most of us have had hot dinners, and I’m pretty sure he remembers when chalkboards were cutting-edge technology and overhead projectors were considered high-tech wizardry. I believe he taught many of our current staff, some of which are

encyclopaedic knowledge of everything from obscure a leaky tap, but definitely not your knobbly knees! The school certainly won’t be the same without you. So, on behalf of everyone here, thank you, Mark, for your incredible 13 years at AGS and for your 41 years of service to education. We wish you all the very best in your retirement. May your days be filled with lie-ins, endless two-wheeled excursions, and absolutely no more teenagers asking, “Is Mr Smith not in today?”

now over 40, leaving life-long impressions on them. For 13 years, AGS has been Mark’s second home. Starting as a teacher, bravely facing down hordes of teenagers armed with nothing but a whiteboard marker and a steely

Ms C Turner

THE AYLESBURIAN

MAXINE JOHNSON Maxine joined AGS in 2012 as a Library Assistant and was an enormous help to me when I took over as Librarian in the following year. We worked well together as a team as Maxine’s practical personality and love of order was the perfect counterbalance to support my way of working. Whether we were running one of our quiet ‘mindful’ days or coping with students’ excitable (i.e. noisy) energy during one of our regular lunchtime quizzes, or suggesting books for students, Maxine was a constant source of support and help. From expertly locating “lost” books, to knowing exactly which student “forgot” to return The Hunger Games, Maxine has been the quiet hero of our library. However, there was more than one string to her bow in helping to keep the Library running smoothly! Maxine’s talents didn’t stop at Dewey Decimal! Due to our extensive diary of extracurricular activities she had to pick up lots of new skills to support our activity weeks whether it was origami, Christmas tree book art or Elizabethan mask making during Shakespeare Week. She was always willing to get involved and to learn something new to help students. There are so many memories, such as when she had to step in to be the Bingo Caller and completely bewildered students with her bingo references such as “two little ducks 22”. My only regret is that I did not sing with me at our annual Christmas caroloke. I wish Maxine all the best in her next chapter, and hope that she’s enjoying her early retirement in the Cotswolds.

Ms T Pushong

KAREN CRUSSELL Karen joined AGS in 2014 as Head of Religious Studies and since then has dedicated over a decade to shaping the minds and challenging the perspectives of countless students. Karen is a strong advocate for the importance of Religious Studies, recognising that students’ lives are profoundly enriched when given the chance to expand their knowledge of their own faith and the faiths of others. Karen fostered strong working relationships with the religious leaders and communities of Aylesbury. This enabled her to lead many school trips to visit the many religious buildings and communities based in Aylesbury, allowing students to be more immersed in their understanding of different beliefs. Many students and staff are grateful to have been part of other trips that went further afield, such as trips to the magnificent Hindu BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir near Wembley and the peaceful Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead. Karen often worked beyond the school community and became an active part of the local RS teacher network and contributed to development of the Local Agreed Syllabus for Religious Studies. While we are sorry to see her go, we wish Karen all the very best as she embarks on her next chapter pursuing more time for her personal interests. She leaves with our gratitude for her years of dedicated service.

Mr R Warner

STAFF LEAVERS

STEVE ASH This academic year marks the well-deserved retirement of Steve Ash, concluding an eventful and impactful career in education. Mr. Ash’s journey has been uniquely international. He joined the AGS Design and Technology (DT) department in 2019, but prior to this, he spent many years teaching in Spain, sharing his passion for DT while enjoying what he described as the time of his life. Indeed, a passion for design, technology, and sunshine are hard to beat— though we’re sure he now finds more than enough inspiration right here. As they say in the North East, “Steve had more than one career path, but you can’t build a teaching empire in a day, can ya? Especially not on a diet of Spanish tapas alone!” Upon returning to the UK, Mr. Ash initially stepped away from the classroom due to changes within the teaching culture at a previous school. However, a walk through AGS reignited his commitment to the profession, leading him to accept a teaching role here, and the rest is history. Over his five remarkable years at AGS, Mr. Ash demonstrated unwavering dedication, navigating the challenges of national lockdowns and inspiring thousands of students through numerous curriculum rotations and GCSE classes. Beyond his teaching duties, Mr. Ash was a strong advocate for Hampden House’s charity, Head Up. This charity, which supports the mental well-being of the military community by empowering individuals to recover their mental health, holds personal significance, as his own son, Paul, serves as a Trustee. Working alongside Mr. Taylor, Mr. Ash was instrumental in organising house charity events, including a 24-hour fitness challenge in the Foundation Hall, which successfully raised over £1,000 for the cause. Furthermore, many staff and students may not be aware of Mr. Ash’s lifelong passion for Music. He is an accomplished local musician and performs regularly with a band in the Aylesbury area. Mr. Ash now embarks upon his retirement, planning to enjoy his time by driving his motorbike and taking sunny international holidays with his wife, who has also recently retired. The entire AGS community offers its profound gratitude to Steve Ash for his time, commitment, and dedicated service to our students. We wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement.

Mr R Chambers

HOUSE LIFE

THE AYLESBURIAN

UNTIL NEXT YEAR...

Each year, as a head of house, it is nice to look over the year’s

DENSON HOUSE REPORT

achievements across house events. It is a time to celebrate the incredible efforts from students and thank them for their endeavour. This year is no different. First, the Brodie Trophy. After a fantastic September 2023, where Denson won the first 2 events, we were quietly confident we could have another strong start. While we didn’t come first in everything, as we did the year before, Autumn term saw us come third place in Cross Country followed by 6th in house badminton (the first time in a number of years we hadn’t placed top 3). Determined to bounce back, the boys placed 2nd in Squash. Notable mentions must go to year 11 who came third, year 7 and year 9 who came second and year 11 who came first. Unfortunately, combined with fifth in Rugby, we didn’t go into the Christmas break in quite the way we would have liked to. In football, a big congratulation must also go to year 10 and 11, both of whom came first in their year groups. One event which is always highly competitive is House Swimming. Once again, the boys in blue put in some fantastic performances. Among the senior team: Tom Poole won the Senior Backstroke competition, and came third in the individual medley; Joe Endicott came third in the Seniors Backstroke; and the senior team came second in the medley relay. In the inters competition, Alfie Toms won the Backstroke final and came second

came 2nd in their year groups! There is only one way to complete this year’s Aylesburian article. That is to celebrate one of Denson’s most notable achievements in the Watson trophy over a number of years. For those who were there on the night of Standing Bold in Blue, February 5th, is a night you will remember for a long time to come. I feel it is only fitting to allow the words of Director Glover to report on House Music 2025. These are the words taken from Alex’s Google Classroom House Music update. Last night, the stage was set. The cameras were rolling. The suspense was building. 6 houses. 3 songs each. One winner. After months and months of rehearsals, it was finally time. Time to dominate, as our great comperes George and Manas explained. Time to move on from our unjustified 6th place last year. We watched the strong performances in the inters individual medley; Rafi Gibson came second in the Butterfly; and Martin Tasev came second in the Freestyle. The Juniors also did fantastically well: Luca Dolan came second in the Backstroke, Marcus Xu came second in the Butterfly and Easy Eyetan came second in the Freestyle. In year 7, Alexander Erskine Crum placed third in Backstroke and Rohan Chana came second in the

of all the other houses, patiently waiting to get on stage. First up was Dr Hypenstein… … Myles’ bass and Ruben’s drums brought us in perfectly. Horns on point. Rhythm section produced a top tier

Breaststroke. Overall it was a great day for Denson house.

performance. The combination of

In the Watson Trophy, House Art is always a monumental

the flare with which we performed it

task. It includes the organisation of dozens of students and the leadership of a few. This year it was the vision of Joe Endicott, Harrison Jay and Josh David that we strived to create. With the help of a large group of key supporters (notable mentions go to Jackson, Brimmicombe, Eldridge and Yeneralski) we realised their vision - by the end of the competition, we had a fully functioning jungle, complete with a blue parrot above the entrance. Well done to all

the originality of the song choice and simply made everyone’s jaw drop. Ruben led us into the solo section. Time to shine. A beatboxing flute from Alex started us off, swiftly followed by Luke’s superb tone in his 8 bars. Sam produced a technical masterclass before transitioning into the bridge. An excellent Will brought us back in with

involved.

a magnificent last-minute addition

Another stand-out performance in the Watson competition

his fast fingers. Myles followed with

was in the House Quiz where Denson came joint 1st. Congratulations go out to year 11 and year 13, who both

to the piece, before Aarib shone with an astonishingly coordinated solo with a pause for his bass dip to get

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

AN UNDOUBTED AND FAMOUS VICTORY... the crowd going, with Ruben finishing with the best

for producing such a fantastic performance to end the

drum solo of the night. A strong horn section including

night.

the remarkable Adam closed our first with an array of standing ovations from the audience.

Hilarious comperes George and Manas improvised to add a well deserved bow to our set. Their class,

We were already looking so strong. It was time for piece

composure and comedy throughout the evening only

number 2: Accidentally in Love…

added to our production and provided smooth and witty transitions between our acts.

… Adyan’s fantastic drumming kicked us off, bringing in the collection of talent we have on guitars, with Leo

We waited nervously for the results. “The winners of

on bass and Joe, Robert and Ben on electric. They had

house music 2025 are…

passion, energy and composure to bring lead vocalist Ishaan into an upbeat and harmonious number, with

…DENSON HOUSE!!!!”

backing vocals from Oscar, Will, Seth, Rumeth and George. The string section involving Caleb, Justin and

Boys, we have absolutely smashed it out of the park.

Myles produced a sweet symphony to Ishaan and the

All three judges ranked us in 1st place, handing us an

band’s masterclass. Music theory expert Matthew kept

undoubted and famous victory since so far back that

everyone in time, to complete our second song. Only

we don’t actually know the last year in which we won the

1 to go. It was time for Runaway Baby with the best of

competition. Mr Nathan has reportedly given us a huge

them all, Denson House Choir…

98/100 points, which is the highest score we have ever seen in our time at AGS. It couldn’t have run smoother. A

Despite technical difficulties during the intro, the

HUGE WELL DONE to everyone involved.

whole band pulled together to open our last piece with a bang. With an eager choir waiting excitedly

Luke and I are so pleased to be able to hand it all over

in the wings, Rumeth sang his little heart out for the

to a fantastic set of musicians for the next few years. We

first two chorus’. Wireless Myles and Joe on bass and

know that Denson House and Denson House Music are in

electric guitar boosted our energy to get the audience

very safe hands.

whooping and cheering. They were loving every second of it all. The horn section of Luke, Adam, Will and Jack

A huge congratulations again, and Luke and I have

performed their horn stabs excellently in time with Leo’s

enjoyed every step of the way with you all.

awesome pop-jazz drumbeat. Srijan on keys, coupled with Josh’s brilliant bongo bonanza filled the stage with

Until next year,

a piece that could hardly be faulted. The breakdown arrived.

Luke and Alex

The slick, professional Denson collective entered onto

It has been a fantastic year, full of highs and lows. To

the stage. All ready in position, the breakdown began.

everyone who has done their part for the house, I offer

Beginning with the band’s foot taps, we moved into the

sincere thanks. In the poignant words of Alex,

horn section. Then you guys, the heart of Denson House,

Until Next Year.

joined in. The timing and precision of our choreography brought the audience to life as they clapped in unison. Sliding from left to right, our set finished with great style and class, as you all sang better than you have ever done. You should all be so proud of yourselves

Mr T Walker, Head of Denson House

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

HAMPDEN HOUSE REPORT

Another year of the Green Army has concluded, and

this year was strong, and I thank all in Hampden House

we ended on a high with a Brodie victory, joint with

who make it the positive family it has become. Well

Paterson for the first joint Trophy victory since 1968,

done to you all.

and only half a point off ‘doing the double’. What led to such a monumental achievement, and the ‘Glory’ that

It has been another busy year of House Events, and

Hampden House had been chanting the whole year?

this is due to the boundless support and hard work of

Read on to find out…

staff who organised and ran a busy programme of 16 House Events - all of the PE Department, Mr Barrie, Mr

As I entered my second year as Head of Hampden

Walker, Mrs Harris, Mr Nathan, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Tanji to

House, momentum was strong off the back of our

name only a few, for their continued efforts. A particular

Watson victory, and the House was hungry for

shout-out as always to Ms Chalk, for ensuring the

more. However, this would take more organisation,

spreadsheets kept up to date with the thrilling action -

commitment and participation than ever before, and

even when I was halfway across the world during House

it was down to the students of Hampden House to

Athletics!

embrace opportunities to get involved and step up. Whether it was in assemblies which brought the House

The Brodie

together, the return of our Christmas ‘Wrap Battle’ and our other Inter-Form Challenges, or our ‘Hampden-bury

Overall, the Brodie proved the crowning glory of

Festival’ display in House Art, the sense of community

Hampden, and we redeemed ourselves from a 4th

place finish last year. Beginning with House Cross

result with 3rd place.

Country, the ‘top field’ was the site of Hampden’s opening victory, with a 1st place finish overall, with

It was clear at this point in the year that Hampden

impressive performances from Hampden 10/11 finishing

House were doing very well in the Brodie, and had great

1st in the Inters, as well as some standout individual

potential, but would Tennis be our downfall? A joint

performances from Dewi Fordyce (Ha7) winning the

1st place result with Denson indicates the talent in the

Year 7 race, as well as Andrin Jose (Ha8), Morten Giles

House remains strong. Hampden 11 finished 3rd in their

(Ha9), Charlie Wade (Ha10), Oscar Bennett (Ha11), Jed

year, Hampden 7 finished 2nd, and a strong 1st place

Okai (Ha11) and Sam Hughes (Ha13), all finishing within

from our Sixth Form (Ethan Taank, Ashton Taank, Austin

the top 10 in their races.A brilliant start to the year.

Bhadri and Will Foster) earned us our third event victory this year.

Rugby is another highlight of the year. Sixth Form maintained its dominance over the competition,

As the year began to draw to a close, it seemed like

coming 1st, as did Year 11 led by Sam Wright coming

Brodie victory was on the cards, if we could catch up

Joint 1st - Year 7 also showed great promise coming

to Lee who was also doing very well. Only two events

2nd. While overall, Lee just pipped us to the post, we did

remained, House Athletics and the newly introduced

very well to come 2nd.

House Cricket. House Athletics arrived, and the Green Army arrived trained and prepared. On the day, there

Badminton also took place in the Autumn Term, and

were some exceptional performances from Mazino

although 5th place overall was not the result we

Onwah (Ha7), Dewi Fordyce (Ha7), Fionn Morgan (Ha8),

necessarily hoped for, a massive well done to the

Maro Onohwakpo (Ha9), Hayden Perkins (Ha9), David

Seniors team (Hanush Siddabattula, Nirukt Agrawal,

Onohwakpo (Ha10) and Dhoeton White (Ha12), all of

Gavin Biju and Ashton Taank) with their 1st place finish

whom won their events, as well as Emeka Awa (Ha7)

in their group, as well as a pleasing 2nd place for

breaking the school Year 7 shot record. We ended

Hampden 10 (Ishaan Ella, James Godley, Nevin Korala

overall in Joint 3rd place.

and Sagar Kollamsetty). Additionally, House Squash proved another event where Hampden proved to

Cricket was the final event of the year, and it was

possess some talent, where despite an overall 5th place

wonderful that it all rested on an event in which

finish, Hampden 10 (Eashan Patel, Nevin Korala, Ishaan

the competition was so strong. While undoubtedly

Ella and James Godley) finished Joint 1st. Hampden are

competitive, it is fair to say that Hampden dominated

lucky to have such passionate and committed racket

this competition, with Year 7, Year 8, Year 10 and Sixth

sports players.

Form all placing 1st in their respective groups. We are extremely gifted with cricket talent, and this tipped the

The Spring Term kicked off with Basketball, with our

odds of Brodie victory in our favour!

second victory of the year! Preparations were underway early, with the first requests for practice sessions

Congratulations to all in Hampden on our Brodie

coming here. Year 7, under the careful guidance of

victory (even if Paterson and Ms Chalk keep reminding

coach Laurent Pilana (Ha13) and captain Mazino

me it is ‘shared’), and a massive well done to all who

Onwah (Ha7), fought well to come 1st in their year, and

contributed. Can we do it again next year? Only time

further standout performances from Hampden 11 and

will tell...

Hampden 9 coming 2nd. House Swimming was then another popular event, though we were ultimately

The Watson

unable to redeem ourselves from last year, with another 6th place. That said, there were some significant

The Watson trophy is always hard fought, and requires

highlights from Dewi Fordyce (Ha7), Akein Korala (Ha7),

the House to come together at key points in the year,

Theo Bisset (Ha7), Louis Zientek (Ha10).

to create success. Although we were (just) deprived of retaining the trophy this year, there were still numerous

House Football is always a fun event to watch and a

highlights.

favourite of the House - all years performed well with Year 7 and Sixth Form won their groups, with exceptional

The year began promptly in October with Senior Public

performances from our Seniors Jacob O’Neill and

Speaking, where we brought insightful and original

Dhoeton White (both Ha12). Overall another strong

topics including ‘Are the arts inaccessible?’ by Rhys

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

Falzon (Ha12), ‘Ballots Behind Bars’ by Max Meader (Ha11) and a debate on the merits of the monarchy by Chris Thomas (Ha10). A 3rd place in this event laid solid foundations for the summer’s Junior competition. James Aherne (Ha7) performed strongly with 3rd place, and we also had speeches on sportsmen’s salaries by Souborno Dhar (Ha8) and procrastination by Prithvi Deveraj (Ha9). All did the House proud, representing their groups in such a challenging event (many’s worst nightmare) and the House finished 4th overall. Later, that term, House Chess saw our Juniors (Y7-9) perform extremely strongly, placing 1st in their group. An extremely welldeserved and admirable overall 2nd place laid foundations for another strong year in the Watson. House Art is one of the major highlights of the year, with the school buzzing with talk of themes, displays and busy lunchtime sessions. This year, the House decided to stage ‘Hampden-bury Festival’, a sprawling big top tent the centrepiece of a display, featuring a full cardboard band, wristbands on entry (created through collaboration by the House) and some truly exceptional individual pieces, drawing from culture, music and beyond. Many thanks to the House Art Captains across the years, led with passion by Ben Powton (Ha13) and the Head Boys of House, for all their dedication in organising and setting up the display - a real team effort. Many feared that we might be ‘robbed’, but with 5 extra points awarded to us for the quality of pieces, we won overall! Thank you to everyone who submitted pieces, and we are looking to repeat this success again next year… We were extremely lucky to be able to stage House Music again at the Waterside Theatre, and Hampden aimed to bring its A game after last year’s successful ‘comeback’. Led by the musical powerhouse that is Joseph Aloluwaloba (Ha13), we once again amassed our choir with dance moves (and some ‘fashionable’ wigs for our Y13s). This year, the audience was treated to our finest musicians performing the funky instrumental ‘Memories’ by Lucky Chops (arranged by Joseph), his younger brother Temi (Ha11) leading the

second song ‘Golden’ by Cory Wong, with Isaac Forward

Bockmuehl, Dominic Beattie and Gavin Biju. Their

(Ha11) leading the choir for an extravagant rendition of

unwavering dedication to the House has positively

Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘September’. We were optimistic,

impacted us all. As we wish farewell to Hampden 13, I

but very pleased with another 3rd place finish for the

would like to thank all of them for their contributions to

second year in a row. Many thanks to all involved, and

the House over the years. They will always be members

especially to Mr Nathan and Mr Dallas for their hard

of the Green Army, and I hope they can look back on

work in the weeks leading up to a wonderful night.

their time at AGS with fond memories as they continue

Maybe next year will be Hampden’s victory at last!

to succeed.

Many in the House are passionate about quizzes, and

Hampden is also very fortunate to have a (dream)

Tutor Group Prefects are often training up prospective

team of Tutors. Mr Sloan, Mrs Chiriac, Mr Brittain, Mrs

members of the notorious House Quiz teams. Myself

Budd, Mr Mohan, Mr Travers, Mrs Hunt, Miss Holliday, Mrs

and Mr Walker again took on the role of quizmasters,

Hearn and Mr Warne have shown unwavering support,

and the House performed well, with notable success in

and on behalf of Hampden House, I would like to thank

Year 7, Year 12 and 13 all coming 1st. Unfortunately, other

them for their dedication. Sadly, we said goodbye to

years were not so lucky, and our final placing was 4th

Mrs Chiriac as she left the school, to Mrs Hearn and Mr

overall, only a few points behind overall winners Denson

Mohan as they moved to other Houses to become Year

and Ridley.

7 Tutors, and to Mr Travers in his new role as Head of Year 7. While they all may have moved, I know they will

Finally, it is time to talk about House Writing. With a

all still (secretly) support the Green Army.

2nd place finish last year, there was appetite to build upon that success, and we had amassed a fantastic

It is always wonderful to see such a large number

editing team of Year 12s to support our Head Boys

of students have advanced to leadership positions

of House: Shaun Gamage, Will Foster, Rhys Falzon,

within the House including Junior Prefects, School and

Munashe Ndoro, Josh Emery, Jacob O’Neill, James

Senior Prefects. Particular mention goes to the newly

Seanor, Nick Clark-Williams, and design expertise in

appointed Buddies from Hampden 7, who will support

the hands of Hevin Johnson, Sharon Sepamalai and

the new Hampdenites in their transition to secondary

Abi Jothykumar. The theme this year was ‘Refuge’ and

school: Alexander Coe, Akein Korala, Casper Phipps,

pieces provided original angles on this, with a particular

Tharu Ranawaka, Hamish Leslie-Davis and James

highlight of mine being a piece by Cameron Raey

Aherne. Furthermore, Hampden House is safe under the

(Ha8) commenting on the refuge of a cat in hiding

leadership of our new Head Boys of House, Rhys Falzon,

from a dog. The overall quality of the pieces was also

Will Foster and James Seanor.

commended, with Distinction awarded to Munashe Ndoro (Ha12) for his prose ‘A Place to Land’, and Merits

Finally, a big thank you from me, as I have been so

awarded to Cameron Raey, Abdullah Moeen (Ha10)

proud of everything we have achieved. One of our new

and Temi Aloluwaloba (Ha12). Well done to all who

mantras for the year has been ‘No Hampden, No Glory’

submitted a piece, and contributed to our 2nd place,

- while I began the year cautiously optimistic of how

and especially those who made it into the magazine!

this would be embraced, I think we can hold our heads

Thanks should also go to the adjudicator Ryan Jay

high, and embrace the ‘glory’ that we have created for

(OA Phillips ‘06) who provided feedback to Captains in

ourselves.

person. With the events added together, Hampden achieved an impressive 25 points across all events, placing us 2nd. Thank you to all who contributed this year, be it pieces written, art created, or teams collaborated in - your involvement makes a huge difference. Final thoughts This year, I have been lucky to be supported by a wonderful team of Head Boys of House - Matthias

Mr J Taylor, Head of Hampden House

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

WE PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT!

Going on maternity leave, just before Christmas, saw me out of the pan and into the fire with our new family addition making mine a home of four boys (one a man-child!). The youngest member of Lee House, Gideon, was born at the start of the year and is already learning to walk and catch up with the rest of us. While I was busy juggling the chaos of the school run and Baby Sensory, Mr Dimbleby took the wheel. I would like to thank Mr Dimbleby for all his hard

LEE HOUSE REPORT

work and dedication running the House over the last two terms - thank you! It has been a busy year of House Events, so it is worth mentioning that none of this would be possible without the hard work of staff - the PE Department, Mr Nathan, Mr Dallas, Mrs Tanji and the other Heads of Houses, to name only a few! As we reflect on the past academic year, Lee House has shown determination, team spirit, and moments of sporting brilliance across a wide range of events. It has been a year of record-breaking performances, championship victories, and strong finishes. Although not the outcome we hoped for, in the Brodie we came in third place overall clearly showing our potential for next year. Congratulations to Hampden and Paterson House on their joint victory. A massive thank you to Mr Duggan and all the PE team for running the Brodie events this year.

When it comes to the Watson trophy, I

determination and passion across multiple

continue to live in eternal hope. Don’t

competitions.

we all? Next year has to be our year. It just has to be! Sadly, this year was

In the Spring Term, our Year 8 basketball team (Crispy

not our year and we dropped to 6th

Harmon, Jacob Mitchell, Daniel Tilley, Leo Lloyd, Luke

place in the Watson. Congratulations

Huckle, Tyler Simon, Kwaku Asamoah, Lexton Walmsley,

to Ridley on being this year’s Watson

Sam Gunn and Aydin Habib) came first in this event

Champions!

with Lee finishing 3rd overall. Well done to all who played!

We began the year with strength and stamina in House Cross Country, with

The House Swimming Gala was another highlight,

Lee taking stage wins in Year 7 (Pascal

where Sixth Form swimmers from Lee came 1st, helping

Kwarteng, Toluwani Lasisi, Tolani

the House to 2nd place overall. Special recognition

Olowosale, Charlie Allen, Krishi Brar,

goes to Jake Chesworth (L12), who broke the school

Kevin Irimia, Muhammad Bala and

record in the Senior Butterfly twice—first in the heat,

Ethan Braithwaite) and our Junior team

then again in the final! Well done, Jake - a brilliant

(Crispy Harmon, Leo Lloyd, Tyler Simon,

achievement! Jake also shone in the Senior Individual

Sam Gunn, Tobie Spilman, Freddie

Medley, and was part of the victorious Lee House Senior

Jarman, Harry Godden and Freddie

Medley Relay team. An incredible feat!

Palmer). This fantastic effort led to us finishing 2nd overall—a powerful

In House Football, Year 8 were joint winners with

start to the Brodie! Well done to all our

Paterson, and Lee placed 5th overall. On the tennis

runners!

courts, Years 8, 9, and 11 were all placed first and their excellence helped us build on our 5th place last year to

Our racquet sports saw some

secure 4th place!

great results, particularly in House Badminton, where Lee again secured

This year a new competition was introduced in the form

a solid 2nd place overall. Both our Year

of House Cricket. Despite a 6th place finish, Lee 9 took

8 team (Crispy Harmon, Luke Huckle,

the win (Harry Godden, Harry Johnson, Freddie Jarman,

Tyler Simon and Prem Shankar) and

Ayaan Kalra, Tobie Spilman and Freddie Palmer)—an

Year 9 team (Tejesh Devireddy, Harry

exciting glimpse into our future potential.

Johnston, Joe Yeardsley and Karthik Metikala) came first. In House Squash,

As the school year drew to a close, the final event was

Lee dominated again in both Year

House athletics where we achieved a 4th place finish.

8 (Tyler Simon, Daniel Tilley, Samuel

Year 7 were winners again - a superb addition to the

Gunn and Crispy Harmon) and Year 9

House - and we celebrated new House records with

(Joe Yeardsley, Harry Johnston, Freddie

Pascal Kwarteng in the Long Jump and the Relay Team

Jarman, Harry Godden), although

setting a new benchmark.

we finished 4th overall, a result that doesn’t reflect the individual brilliance

In the first Watson event of the year, Senior Public

shown on the court.

Speaking, Lee were placed 6th. We delivered a range of interesting and thought provoking speeches:

The House Rugby competition

Benji Colclough Moss - ‘Citizens’ Juries’; Jieon Park

showcased our grit and teamwork,

- ‘It’s About Time’ and Ravjot Arora’s on ‘Fake News’.

with Year 7 and 8 both securing wins,

Unfortunately, we also came 6th place in Junior Public

making us the overall champions—a

Speaking with Rabeeh Shifan - ‘The Cheetah’; Kwaku

remarkable achievement which stands

Asamoah - ‘How can social media affect gender

out this year! Well done, Lee House!

stereotypes and people?’ and Jonah Scott’s ‘Should we create a new Olympic Games?’ All the speakers worked

By the end of the Autumn Term, Lee

incredibly hard to research, edit and rehearse these

was in 1st place overall, a position

speeches over many weeks in preparation, and should

earned through consistency,

be very proud of their achievements in this event.

HOUSE LIFE

THE AYLESBURIAN

Unable to completely escape the

evening’s entertainment at the Waterside Theatre.

5th place that pervaded most of the

This year we dazzled with our performance of

events last year we took 5th place

‘Footloose’ with Emre Arslan on the vocals, Ishan

in House Chess and Art. Our House

Dhakephalkar, Toluwani Lasisi and Oscar Sachdeva

art theme this year was ‘Mythology’

all playing the saxaphone, Lucas Xie on piano, Sam

led admirably by our captains

Gill on guitar, Aryan Main playing rhythm guitar with

Kaushik Potnuru and Ismail Zaffar. We

Luca Annels on bass guitar and Lexton Walmsley

showcased a broad range of artistic

on the drums. Not forgetting the Lee House dancers

talent and I would like to thank all the

James Davies, Dan Poole, Ciaran Sidhu & Noah

House Art Captains and helpers for

Yeneralski who wowed us with their moves. Our

their dedication in organising and

second piece was ‘Every Little Thing She Does is

setting up the display: it was a real

Magic’ with Emre Arslan and Chandler Broce on the

team effort. Many thanks to Mrs Tangi

vocals, Lucas Xie – piano, Piers Morgan – guitar,

and the Art Department as always for

Sam Gill – rhythm guitar, Luca Annels – bass guitar

their hard work in organising this event.

and Alex Cooper on the drums. Our set finished with Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’. This time we

An area of real strength over recent

had Ben Giles on vocals, Joshua Mokaya – piano,

years has been House writing. The Lee

James Davies – guitar, Sam Gill – bass guitar, Piers

magazine entry on this year’s theme

Morgan – drums and Lee House Choir. Well done to

of ‘Refuge’ was placed 4th. Much

everyone!

credit should go to our editorial team. Well done to everyone who submitted

House News

a piece. I’d also like to thank Old Aylesburian, Ryan Jay, for all his time

Last year, I was very fortunate to have excellent

and effort spent reading and providing

support from a great team of Head Boys of House

feedback for each magazine.

– Oliver Reading, Ayaan Raza and Ben Giles. I would like to thank them for all their efforts and all of Lee

Our performance in the Watson

13 for their contributions to the House over the years

competitions saw 3rd place in the

and wish them all the best for the future.

House Quiz competition, including impressive Year 9 & 11 victories. Despite

As Lee 13 moves on, I am delighted to welcome

the superb efforts of our House Music

the new Head Boys: Matthew Harmon, James

captains, we came 6th after a great

Godden and Ben Frampton. They have shown

great dedication in building positive relationships with younger students, leading engaging assemblies, organising events, and contributing behind the scenes. I look forward to working with them next year. I must also thank our superb team of tutors: Mr Jones, Mr Dimbleby, Miss Roberts, Mr Corby, Mrs Parvez, Mr Disley, Mr Crapper and Mr Chambers for all they have done to support both me and all our students during the past year. We are also delighted with the newly appointed Junior Prefects, Prefects and Senior Prefects. We have been able to promote Buddies from the current Lee 7, who will have the important role of supporting the new Lee 7 boys in September. Well done to Toluwani Lasisi, Muhammad Bala, Krishi Brar, Maxim Colinson, Kevin Irimia and Ashley Liu. While 2024–2025 was marked by ups and downs, it was also a year of progress and pride, growth and grit. It has been a year where records were beaten and students gave their all. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to House life during the past year for your hard work, commitment, and spirit. As we look to the future, we do so with confidence, unity, and the drive to push even further. And certainly, for the Watson trophy the only way is up…! Go Lee! With very best wishes, Mrs Harris Esprit de Corps

Mrs K Harris, Head of Lee House

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

PATERSON HOUSE REPORT Head Boy of House Team Perspective

we hope you carry this forward. Serving as your Head

If we brush past our failed promise of ‘winning the

Boys has been an honour and a privilege and we wish

double’, this year has still been a great success. Across

the best of luck to our successors. We hope, in some

every event, the Paterson spirit has been inspiring.

way, we’ve added to the spirit and joy of house life, and

Whether it was victory or defeat, the effort and passion

we will carry the memories of Paterson House with us

shown by everyone made this year one to remember.

long after we leave. #bleedpurple

Our performance in the Brodie was nothing short of

Matt Holcroft, Hugh Podmore, Nathaniel Thomey,

incredible with 1st place finishes in House Swimming,

Head Boys of Paterson House 2024 – 2025

Football, Badminton and Athletics, alongside many other great placements both overall and within each

BRODIE TROPHY

year group. This astonishing show of resilience and

The first Brodie event of the year was House Cross

determination from the House secured us a Joint 1st

Country. We were very lucky that the heavy rain we

place in the Brodie, meaning we share the trophy with

had been receiving that week decided to stop on the

Hampden, something that every member of Paterson

day of this event. The runners were ready and gave it

house should be proud of.

their all, leaving us in a 4th place finish. Not the best start to the year, but not the worst either. Well done to

Now, for the not so successful trophy, the Watson.

all those who participated, but a special mention must

Despite our 2nd place finishes in House Public Speaking

go to Finlay G (Paterson 7) and Lukas B (Paterson 9) for

and House Art, it wasn’t enough to compensate for our

finishing 3rd in their age range, and Edward J (Paterson

placements in other events. An impressive 5th place

11) and Raphie L (Paterson 11) for finishing in 1st and 3rd

in House Quiz marked a notable improvement on our

place respectively in their age range.

usual performance in this event, but after a harsh 4th place in House Music and a struggle for quality

We then moved into the House Badminton competition,

in House Writing, it wasn’t enough to pull us up the

which began with a tremendous first-place finish from

table and we ended the year in 5th place. Although we

the Paterson 10 team of Eshan M, Vedhanth H, Vainav

didn’t achieve the results we had hoped for, the mighty

V and William B. This was followed by a pleasing 3rd

Paterson’s morale did not fade; everyone in the House

place performance from Paterson 11 and then a 4th

gave it their all and bled purple throughout and that’s

place finish from Paterson 7. Paterson 8 then took to

what truly mattered.

the courts, and the team of Nithik P, Josh R, Sid H, and Sourish S won their age range. Mid-competition we

Looking back on this year, it’s clear that what made

were sitting at the top of the event table, something

it special wasn’t just the events or the achievements,

we haven’t been able to say in the trophies for a while.

but the people who made it all happen. To our fellow

The Paterson 9 team of Aadith M, Rishab K, Armaan S

Year 13s, thank you for the fun, the laughter, and the

and Sanjivan M kept up the momentum and won their

countless memories we have made together over the

event. A disappointing 5th place finish from our senior

last 7 years. To our form tutor, Mr Nathan, we’re grateful

team was not enough to allow the other Houses to

for your wisdom, guidance and most importantly, your

catch us up in the table standings and we saw our first

thoughts of the day that helped us all grow as young

House Event win of the year.

men. To Ms Chalk, your encouragement and belief in us have been a constant source of motivation, reminding

Inspired by our success in House Badminton, we moved

us of what we can achieve when we give it our best.

onto House Squash, which began with a very pleasing

We couldn’t have asked for a better Head of House,

second-place finish in the Senior stage. However, the

and we know our role as Head Boys would have been

remainder of the year group performances proved

impossible without your support. And finally, to every

to be very mixed meaning we could only manage a

member of the Purple Army, thank you for showing up

fairly average 4th place finish in this event, which was

with pride and effort to everything you did this year -

followed by a Joint 3rd place finish in House Rugby,

despite the tremendous performances from Paterson 9,

team finished in Joint 2nd place. When the points

10 and 11 who won their age group competitions.

were added together, it was a House Athletics win for Paterson House! With only 4 points separating all 6

As we finished the Autumn term, we were sat in Joint

Houses in the event, it was another close competition.

2nd place in the Brodie. Not a bad start to the year.

Well done to Jafar H (Paterson 11) who set a new AGS

The next event was House Basketball, which saw us

record in Discus, and to Edward J (Paterson 11) who set

finish in 4th place overall, but a special mention should

a new AGS record for the 1500m.

be given to the Paterson 11 team of Lennox W, Oisin P, Raphie L, Connor H, Thomas R, Jafar H and Michael O

The winners of the Brodie would be decided by the

who won their competition stage.

final event of the year – House Cricket. This was a new addition to the Brodie trophy and students were highly

Thankfully, the next event, historically, is one of our

excited to participate in this event. Following a mixed

strongest Brodie events - House Swimming. After a

set of results across the year groups, it appears that

few motivational words, the Paterson House Swimming

House Cricket may not be one of our strongest events,

Team made their way poolside ready for a day of

with us finishing in 4th place overall.

intense competition and managed a very impressive 1st place finish in the event. Great performances were seen

The points from House Cricket were added to the

from all involved, especially Finley G (Paterson 7) for

previous Brodie events and the winner announced. We

winning the Butterfly race and setting a new AGS record,

had done it. The Brodie Winners 2025 were – Paterson

Joe H (Paterson 12) for winning the Freestyle race,

House (well, joint winners with Hampden House) – but

Han T (Paterson 11) for winning both his Freestyle and

a win is a win! Given last year’s 5th place finish in this

Individual Medley races, and the Freestyle Relay teams

trophy, we have had a remarkable turnaround, which

from the Year 7, Inters and Senior sections who all won

would not have been possible without the commitment

their event races. Special mention also should go to Ben

and dedication from all members of Paterson House.

O (Paterson 13) whose backstroke was described by one of the spectators as ‘magnificent’. The final event for the Spring term was House Football. After a disappointing 4th place finish last year in the event, we were hoping to see some improvement this year. Following excellent performances from Paterson 8 and 9 in their event stages, we were delighted to find ourselves top of the leaderboard for this event – another Brodie win! As we moved into the summer term, we were sat in 2nd place in the Brodie, only half a point behind the current leaders, Lee House. With only three events left, every result mattered. Sadly, our performance in House Tennis was less than ideal as we finished in 5th place overall. However, the Paterson 11 team of Daniel Mc, Edward J, Thomas R and Jafar H added valuable points to our overall score through their event win. The next event of the year is the most highly anticipated Brodie event in the calendar – House Athletics. As the hundreds of AGS students filed up to the top field and settled themselves into their House area, the atmosphere was tense but filled with determination. The scores started to come through, Paterson 7 finished in 6th place, Paterson 8 finished in Joint 2nd, Paterson 9 in 1st, Paterson 10 in 2nd and the Paterson Sixth Form

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE LIFE

WATSON TROPHY

about 5 months before the actual event – discovering

The Watson always begins with Senior House Public

the level of musical talent in Paterson House, deciding

Speaking. This is an extraordinary event that allows

what songs to perform, auditioning singers and

young people to speak on issues that matter to them

negotiating over who was going to get the best music

and their lives. Our speakers Louis A (Paterson 10), Neel

rooms allocated to them for a rehearsal space. As

V (Paterson 11), Sebastien J (Paterson 12) and Keane

we were due to return to the Waterside Theatre for

L (Paterson 13) presented their topics of ‘Regulation

the competition, the excitement was intense. Under

of Social Media: Violation of Free Speech, or Essential

the musical leadership of Keane L (Paterson 13) we

Tool for Public Safety?’, ‘The Manipulation of Colour

prepared a varied set of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ by Cab

in Marketing’, ‘Is Comparison The Thief of Joy?’ and

Calloway, ‘She’s Always a Woman’ by Billy Joel and

‘Originality: The Soul’s Reflection’. The speakers all

‘She’s Not There’ by Santana. Opening the evening, our

gave exceptional performances and were rewarded

announcers Matt H (Paterson 13) and Ben O (Paterson

with a 2nd place finish in the event (only one point

13) brought a little bit of game show fun to the

behind 1st place!). Congratulations to all our speakers,

audience in the form of a ‘Name that Tune’ game that

in particular to Sebastien who was announced as the

really got them warmed up. As is now somewhat of a

‘Speaker of the Day’ for the competition. The second

House Music tradition, Mr Nathan took what felt like an

half of this event – Junior Public Speaking – took place

age to make the announcement of the results, building

in the summer term where we saw Olly K (Paterson 7),

the tension and anticipation for as long as possible.

Nithik P (Paterson 8) and Dinul P (Paterson 9) deliver

When it was announced that we were in 4th place, we

their speeches – ‘Was Mars was our original planet?’,

were a little disappointed, but we were so very proud of

‘Behind the Curtain’, and ‘The Power of Music’. After

what we had put together and performed. We went out

another pleasing performance from the Junior team,

and delivered the set we wanted, but more importantly,

the points from each event were combined and we

we had fun whilst doing it and that was the only goal

finished in 2nd place overall in House Public Speaking.

we wanted to achieve in House Music this year, so that made us winners. I think this is summed up well

The next event was House Art, a real favourite of

in a message sent to our performers after the event

mine. The Senior Captains led by Ben O (Paterson 13)

from our Senior Captain ‘House Music was an amazing

decided our theme, ‘A Night at the Movies’. With a giant

success (despite what our ranking might suggest).

Oscar statue created, a wide array of art to highlight

Each song sounded and felt incredible to be in and I

our theme including clapperboards, video cameras

hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did’.

and lots of popcorn made from various materials, we presented a display that welcomed those who viewed

There were a number of Paterson House musicians

the display to the Red-Carpet experience. With 145

for whom this was their last House Music event after

entries covering many different interpretations of the

years of commitment to Paterson House Music. Thank

theme and uses of artistic media, we were awarded

you. A particular note of thanks must go to Keane

a pleasing 2nd Place overall in the competition.

L, William J, Hugh P, Peter C, Saravanan VK, and the

Congratulations to all those who submitted entries to

many dedicated members of Year 13 who have been

the event, especially those who received Awards of

consistent members of the Paterson House choir. Also,

Excellence and Merits for their submissions.

we cannot forget Ben J who has been the technical backbone of the event for many years.

Next up was the most coveted Watson event trophy of the year – House Music. As always, preparations started

We moved onto House Writing, an event we struggled with last year. The Senior Team of editors led by the Head Boys of House prepared themselves to inspire the House to write on this years’ them of ‘Refuge’. The Editorial team worked through the 150+ entries that were received, selecting the best of these for publication in the House Writing magazine. Despite positive comments from the adjudicator about a wellbalanced collection of entries from across the year groups, good exploration of the theme in the writing and an ethereal cover design, it was not enough to see

WE ARE A TEAM us awarded more than 6th place in the event. A real disappointment for a magazine we were so proud of. Well done to Louis A (Paterson 10) who was awarded a Distinction for his entry ‘Over the Brambled Wall’ and to Sebastien J (Paterson 12), Nathaniel T (Paterson 13) and Evan C (Paterson 8) who were awarded Merits for their entries ‘Pheonix’, ‘La Cara en el Agua’ and ‘The Boom Bunker’. The only two events remaining to be discussed are House Quiz and House Chess, and as always, the less said about these two, the better. In House Chess we saw our usual finish in the bottom half of the table with 4th place, which was an improvement on last year, mainly due to 2nd place finish from our Junior team of Rishab K and Dinul P (Paterson 9), Evan C and Ben P (Paterson 8) and Elliott W and Sean B (Paterson 7). Hopefully next year we can make it into the top half of the finishing table! In House Quiz, we gained a 5th place finish overall. The Watson trophy events had not gone well for us throughout the year, so it was not a surprise that we finished in 5th Place overall. However, there was only 6 ½ points between the top 5 Houses overall, so it was a good year of competition. Other areas of House Life The House System is an integral part of life at AGS and offers more than just the House Events to the students. I have been delighted to promote many members of the House to leadership promotions including Year 8 Buddies, Junior Prefects, School Prefects and Senior Prefects. We have also been raising funds through mufti days for our chosen House Charity – Brake – a road safety charity that offers education in this area, as well as support to those affected by road injury. We have supported the work of the PTA through the House Stalls at the school fete to help raise funds for school projects. We have continued to develop our prefect led initiative ‘Mental Health Mondays’ as well as providing opportunities to offer congratulations to those around us through ‘Paterson Praise’ nominations. We have also continued our Paterson House Fantasy Football league, a fun way of bringing the House together. Manager of the Month awards are awarded in the following age categories: Years 7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13.

For the 2024-2025 season, the Managers of the Year for each age group were awarded to: Elliott W (Paterson 7), Matthew L (Paterson 9), Adi G (Paterson 10) and the winner of the Year 12/13 group and Overall House Football Manager of the Year was awarded to Luca F (Paterson 13). Thanks go to Luca F (Paterson 13) for running the league over this last year. The Paterson Head Boys of House this year, Matt Holcroft (Paterson 13), Hugh Podmore (Paterson 13) and Nathaniel Thomey (Paterson 13), have worked hard to inspire others in the House to get involved, delivered interesting and supportive assemblies and have coped incredibly well with the demands of their roles. They have been an absolute pleasure to work alongside over this last year. Their excellence was rewarded in the annual Head Boys of House Challenge that saw them compete in a number of tasks against the other Head Boys in the school. Our team triumphed for the 3rd Year in a row – we do officially have the best Head Boys of House in the school in Paterson! They may have failed in their promise to ‘Win the Double’ this year, but what they gave us through their leadership, encouragement and involvement has been worth so much more to all of Paterson House and we cannot thank them enough. I would like to wish Year 13 all the very best of luck for the future as they leave us. They have been a fantastic year to get to know, and I will miss them greatly as they leave us. My advice to you is to take every opportunity you can in life, don’t have any regrets and make the most of every day…. and most importantly, always remember to #bleedpurple. We are supported by an extraordinary group of Paterson House tutors who work tirelessly to support and encourage their tutees. We are a team and cannot succeed without them – thank you very much Mr Dudmish, Mr McIntosh, Mrs Bhui, Ms Genders, Mr Nathan, Dr Gardner and Mr Digby. Each and every member of Paterson Houe should be so proud of themselves, and the effort they have put into all that has been offered to them as part of the House system has been incredible. You are all essential to this wonderful community we have created – our Paterson House Family. We are a team, we are stronger when we work together, and I continue to be inspired every day by each and every one of you. Ms K Chalk, Head of Paterson House

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HOUSE LIFE

Phillips House: Forever Red, Red Forever Thank you to everyone in Phillips House for an amazingly fun and fabulously jam-packed year. Firstly I would like to thank our very special tutors, Mr Warner, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Brooke and Mrs Preston, Mr Gibbs, Mrs Tangi and Mrs Thomson who have supported their Tutor Groups with such care and helped them with

PHILLIPS HOUSE REPORT

everything from organising teams to preparing for assemblies and encouraging them to get involved even when it feels a little outside of their comfort zone. We have a hugely supportive community of staff in Phillips House and I would like to thank you all and extend a special thank you to Mrs Giles, Mr FernandezMould and Mr Shepherd for their support of Phillips House assemblies. Phillips House is a very special place and under the wonderful leadership of Ewan Crafts, Levi Mobisa and Will Crook, they created so many magical moments for Phillips House. Moments filled

with laughter, joy and steely determination

my heart and on behalf of all of Phillips House.

to perform at the highest levels. Weaving a tapestry of memories that threaded our different

In April 2025 we welcomed our new Head Boys

year groups together and which stay with us.

of Phillips House, Dominic Hardman-Mountford,

Our Head Boys are always supported behind

Daniel Obhakhan and Ethan Jarrett and we look

the scenes by a number of students who give

forward to seeing them lead with their unique

their time generously and work proactively and

vision to drive Phillips House forwards.

seamlessly together. I would like to mention in particular Harishan Sivakanthan, George Murden and Ethan Georgy, who have led our work on

Written: Mrs R Jackson

House Charity with extraordinary vision, drive and professionalism.

The Watson Phillips excelled in public speaking, with Junior

I would like to thank all my wonderful and

Public Speaking taking 1st place thanks to Elliot

beautifully kind, creative and hard working

Norton (Y7, 1st), Joe Housegoe (Y8, 1st), and

outgoing Head Boys. Firstly, thank you to Will,

Felix Dony (Y9, 2nd). Senior Public Speaking

who led with such precision, organisation and

placed 5th, with Hugh Woolley (Y10, 3rd), Shrihan

warmth. Will surprised everyone in our first

Koppuravuri (Y11, 5th), Vedanta Warad (Y12, 5th),

assembly with his clear ambition for Phillips

and Jack Lavery (Y13, 5th).

to win. He was the backbone of every event; reliable, hard working, creative and relentless

House Chess, Art & Music

in his passion and belief in Phillips House, and

Phillips won House Chess for the second year

leading by example, whether that was wielding

running, captained by Dom Hardman-Mountford

a paintbrush or a squash racket or singing in our

(seniors), Shrihan Koppuravuri (inters), and Lian

House choir, and no matter the demands on his

Gong (lowers), with senior students supporting

time, he always delivered with a smile.

younger players. In House Art, Phillips achieved 4th place, led by HBOHs Ewan Crafts, Owen

A huge thank you to Levi, who brought such

Walton, and Zach Cleary, with the theme “Time

energy, enthusiasm and charisma to all our

Travel” and a life-sized DeLorean crashing

events. Etched into my mind is Levi’s effortless

into a Tardis. House Music finished 2nd, with

back-flip in celebration of House Athletics. Levi

performances led by Thomas Harrington and

led our backing choir with grace and showcased

Ewan Crafts. Highlights included solos and

his great musical talent on the drums in House

ensembles from Sammy Townsend, Geordan

Music. In the Brodie, Levi shone just as brightly:

Atwell, Thomas Harrington, Ewan Crafts, Dom

brilliant in basketball and leading by example

Hardman-Mountford, Ethan Georgy, and Levi

and inspiring his team,whether that be on the

Mobisa, culminating in a powerful finale of “Use

football or rugby pitch, or on the athletics track.

Somebody” by Kings of Leon.

Finally, to thank Ewan who was at the very heart

House Writing & Quiz

of House Music and House Art and at times had

Phillips entered House Writing in joint first and

his art teachers quite worried for his A-level

maintained strong performance under Dom

portfolio. Ewan gave his everything to Phillips

Hardman-Mountford. The theme “Refuge”

House and sprinkled magic wherever he went. His

inspired entries across all year groups, with

performance in House Music was simply sublime

Asvin Sureshkumar earning a distinction and

and I will always remember the audible gasps

merits to Will Crook, Arthur, and Daniel Kiteley.

from the audience as he sang the opening words.

House Quiz, despite regular practice, finished 6th, contributing to lessons learned for next

Our Head Boys have inspired our younger Phillips

year. Overall, Phillips finished 3rd in the Watson,

students beyond what they could imagine and

narrowly missing top spot by 2.5 points.

have created a legacy that is beautiful, powerful and will last forever. Forever Red, Red Forever.

Brodie Cup & Athletics

Thank you Will, Levi and Ewan from the bottom of

While Phillips finished 6th overall in the Brodie

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Cup, there were many stand-out individual performances. Senior cross country took 1st, rugby achieved joint 3rd, and basketball was 2nd, with Year 9, 10, and Sixth Form achieving first-place victories. House badminton produced strong results, including 3rd place, and House tennis saw mixed results, with Yr11 achieving 2nd and Yr7 joint 3rd. In House swimming, Daniel Beadle and Pearce Clare won senior and inters breaststroke, Fraser Hearmon won junior freestyle and individual medley, and the junior (Yr8-9) swimming team achieved 1st overall. In House Athletics, new school records were set: T. Olufosoye (Yr9 Shot Put 11.11m), C. Onyebuchi (Inters 100m 11.13s), and the senior 4x100m relay team (48.36s). Additional individual achievements included Pearce Clare (800m 1st), Zach Cleary (800m 2nd, 1500m 2nd), Isaac Mills (Inters shot put), and Vlad Kabanov (Inters javelin). The inters relay also set a record (48.36s). Phillips retained the Pitch-In Challenge, covering 172.3km across swimming, rowing, and cycling. Zach Cleary, Phillips 12 PhREDy Winners Biggest Contributor to Phillips 7 to House Events: Josh Buthee Biggest Contributor to Phillips 8 to House Events: Anay Amith Biggest Contributor to Phillips 9 to House Events: Tebi Garci - Beech Biggest Contributor to Phillips 10 to House Events: Lian Gong Biggest Contributor to Phillips 11 to House Events: Shrihan Koppuravuri Biggest Contributor to Phillips 12 to House Events: Dominic HardmanMountford Biggest Contributor to Phillips 13 to House Events: Will Crook Best Performance Brodie: Tharun Mahesh Kumar Best Performance Watson: William Thackray Best Performance House Music: Ewan Crafts Best Picture: Alex Harris Best Performance Charity: Ethan Georgy and George Murden Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 7: Elliot Norton Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 8: Anay Amith Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 9: Felix Dony Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 10: Muku Malanda Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 11: Ethan Georgy Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 12: Ethan Jarrett Tutor’s Achievement Award Phillips 13: Harishan Sivakanthan Ben Emburey Award: Regan Footman Regan Footman is the deserved recipient of our Phillips House Ben Emburey Award this year. He is kind and thoughtful, willing to turn his hand to whatever needs to be done to support Phillips House and has been instrumental in the success of our House Assemblies. He has attended our Phillips House leadership meetings throughout the year, often acting as a ‘fourth Head Boy’. He prefers to be behind the scenes and has always sought to keep out of the limelight, despite my best attempts to get him at the front of assemblies or get his photo on our Phillips House board. He pushed himself beyond his comfort zone in House Music so that he could support Phillips House and not only participated in the choir but took on a very visible role with the

HOUSE LIFE

tambourine. Regan is a shining example of someone who is true and generous and has cared deeply about Phillips House, always working with dedication, humility and kindness. Thank you and congratulations again, Regan, on your Ben Emburey Award, Mrs Jackson.

Charity & Assemblies Phillips House community spirit flourished in assemblies and charity work. Year 13s welcomed Year 7s, and House assemblies featured pancake flipping, penalty shootouts, egg-and-spoon races, Pictionary, and staff vs HBOH Christmas Quiz. Phillips raised £443.50 for the British Heart Foundation through the Christmas raffle and Easter cake sale. George Murden & Ethan Georgy, Phillips 12 Welcoming our new Head Boys of Phillips Taking over in April the new Head Boys brought a plethora of new ideas. Dom wanted to focus on inclusion throughout the house: building friendship between the year groups and strengthening the sense of community within the house. Daniel had his impossible dreams of obtaining the Brodie Trophy once more. Ethan brought on emphasis on charity and encouraged students to use their house as a support network to its fullest potential. Bright ideas from the new Head Boys brought variety and chaos to assemblies. A highlight of the year was a house-wide (including teachers) knockout competition that involved rapid reaction time to steal a shoe placed between two competitors when the signal was given. It all came down to the final round between Mr Gibbs and Mrs Johnson which had the focus of the entire house. Mrs Johnson seized the shoe in a fraction of a second to win the competition for the prize of cookie voucher.

Dom Hardman-Mountford Phillips 13

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RIDLEY HOUSE REPORT

HOUSE LIFE

In the 2023-24 academic year Ridley House had won the Brodie trophy on the very last day of competition after a second place in house athletics edged us ahead of three rival houses who still held victory within their grasp. In 202425 we would repeat the feat, but this time it would be in the Watson trophy where we would be victorious. So we approached the new academic year in September 2024 as the holders of the Brodie trophy, although as the year progressed it never really looked likely that we would retain the trophy. Our strongest performance was in house squash, which we won. Our Year 7 (Charlie Robinson, Finlay Strachan, Will Hadgkiss and Seb Chadwick), Year 11 (Suran Godagama, Dylan Bhana, Jonathan Adeleke and Josh Tyack) and Sixth Form teams (Sam Griffin, Ossian Conely, Ray Rehman and Jamie Wilkins) all came first. Ridley were also second overall in house football, with the Year 11s finishing joint first and both our Year 7s and Seniors finishing runners up. This year also saw the start of a brand new competition in the form of house cricket. Given that we finished second overall, we were certainly pleased to see its introduction. Ridley 11 came first in their competition, to cap what was a very strong set of overall results from our Year 11s. In recent years Ridley has performed very well in basketball and especially rugby, but this was not the case this year, with fifth and sixth placed finishes respectively. We were also placed fifth overall in house athletics, although Ridley 9 came second in their competition. Special mention should go to Harry Smith who broke the school javelin record (and later came 12th in the country in the English Schools’ Championships) and Joshua Riemer who comfortably won the 1500 metres in very warm conditions. Third

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place finishes in swimming (despite the commendable performances of Elliot King in Ridley 9 and Josh Tyack in Ridley 11), badminton and tennis (despite Ridley 11 winning their competition) contributed towards what was a mediocre year for Ridley House in the Brodie trophy. The overall standings were as follows: 1st= - Hampden 41.5 points 1st= - Paterson 41.5 3rd - Lee 38 4th - Ridley 34.5 5th - Denson 33.5 6th - Phillips 21 Ridley certainly got off to a very slow start in the Watson trophy. Sadly we came last (again!) in house art (huge thanks to Josh Hilbocus for his tireless work as our overall captain). Despite the superb efforts of Winfred Gotah as both captain and performer we came 5th in house music after a great evening’s entertainment at the Waterside Theatre. But from here a charge began. We came second in the chess with both the Inters and Seniors also finishing as runners up. It was a very pleasant surprise to actually do well in the house quiz this year, with a joint first place finish (with both Ridley 8 and Ridley 10 winning their competitions). An area of real strength over recent years has been the house writing and this would certainly continue in 2024-25 as the Ridley entry on the theme of ‘Refuge’ was again placed first. Much credit should go to our editorial team led by Stanley Sturgeon in Ridley 13 and Lewis Beake in Ridley 12. Congratulations to Khizr Hussain whose piece ‘Blank Canvas’ was awarded a distinction and Sriram Coonachi, Elliot King and Caleb Enchill who all gained Merit Awards for their entries. As we entered the final event of the academic year - the junior public

HOUSE LIFE

A MEMORABLE YEAR

speaking, Ridley, Hampden and Phillips were all in with a realistic chance of victory in the Watson trophy. Ridley were certainly well placed as we had already won the senior competition in the Autumn Term after the performances of Anthony Unugboke, Khizr Hussain, Sufian Sheikh and Reon Adai (who gained the highest mark in the Year 10 competition). Our Junior team of Hashim Ashiq, Ayan Gupta and Dorin Stamati performed superbly to come second. Combining the Senior and Junior results together, Ridley emerged victorious and this was enough to pip Hampden to the overall Watson Trophy by the smallest of margins - 0.5 points. For the second year running Ridley House had timed the trophy charge to perfection. The final Watson Trophy standings were as follows: 1st - Ridley 25.5 points 2nd - Hampden 25 3rd - Phillips 23 4th - Denson 20.5 5th - Paterson 19 6th - Lee 13 The Ridley House Trophy (kindly donated by the Wyatt family) is awarded on a termly basis to a member of the house who has made a particularly important contribution to house life. This year the trophy was awarded to Charlie Robinson (Ridley 7) and Sonny Keegan (Ridley 8) for their contributions to many house sports competitions and to Dom Salum in Ridley 12 for all his hard work behind the scenes in the House art and writing competitions. Congratulations to all three recipients. It is always difficult to choose a house charity with so many vital causes to support, but from a shortlist of three, members of the House chose to raise money for Mary’s Meals, a charity that provides 3 million children globally with a nutritious school meal every day. One of the things that makes Ridley House unique is our annual house panto. This year was a return to ‘Treasure Island’. Our audience were treated to the usual mixture of high quality acting and corny jokes. Many thanks once again to our writer and director Mr Roberts. Finally, I would like to thank our superb student leadership team - Head Boys Ewan Gatt, Winfred Gotah and Anthony Unugboke. They led from the front in many house competitions and ensured that everything ran smoothly. There is no way that we would have enjoyed such a successful year without their efforts. My thanks to everyone in Ridley House who has participated in competitions or enriched house life during the past 12 months. You have all contributed to a memorable year. Special thanks to our superb team of tutors, who have supported them (and me) every step of the way.

Mr J Barrie, Head of Ridley House

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EVERYONE HAD SOMETHING NEW TO EXPERIENCE...

SCHOOL VISITS

On 9th – 11th June the majority of Year 7 left for the active learning centre in Cuffley, Hertfordshire for a brilliant 3-day residential adventure. On this visit, many tried new things and really enjoyed them, whether it was Rock-Climbing or simply just sleeping in a tent with others, everyone had something new to experience and take themselves out of their comfort zone! The activity sessions were amazing, with Laser Tag, and a game called 21 (a variation on hide-and-seek), along with many others, everyone had fun. Meal times were always welcome and the food was very tasty, with large portions of refuelling classics such as pizza and pasta. There was something for everyone. I personally had one main lesson that I will never forget during this residential, and that is teamwork. Teamwork was a really important part of most of the activities, for example, in Laser Tag we had to work in teams to defeat the opposition, and in Rock- Climbing we made sure our friends were safe helping to spot their progress up the climbing wall and taking turns to assist with the safety rope management. Overall the Residential experience was super fulfilling and enjoyable and we all wished we could stay for longer. Sadly though we had to say goodbye to the campsite and get back to School!

Ethan Braithwaite, Lee 8 Kushagra Dhakal, Denson 8

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A FRENCH ADVENTURE This year’s Year 8 French trip has been one to remember and we have created some amazing memories. It all started (very early!) on the 23rd of May 2025. We got on the bus at 3am and everyone was very excited and energetic considering the time. We drove to Dover to get the ferry and finally, after several hours on the coach, we reached our final destination: Centre D’Acceuil du Lac Sauvin, Arcy-Sur-Cure. The centre was located in the picturesque Burgundy countryside, in the small village of Lac Sauvin, which we would explore further during our walk on Day 3. When we arrived, we didn’t have much time to look around, as in typical French fashion, we had a 3-course dinner ready and waiting! This was served by the Chef de Table - this is the person who was nominated for every meal to clear up at the end and get the food at the start of each meal. Salad, spaghetti bolognese, and a yogurt for pudding - c’était super! We were thrown straight into speaking French, as we had to serve and clear dinner all in French - this took quite a while. After dinner we had some time playing where we could play whatever we wanted, for example, rugby, football, table tennis or even badminton. A lot of us entered into a competitive game of football or rugby (my team won the rugby game with the help of Mrs Johnson, much to Daniel’s displeasure!). After some sport, it was finally time for bed and to say that we were excited for our first night was a massive understatement. However, on était vraiment fatigués ! Day 2 was another busy one, we had to wake up at 8am and almost immediately had to serve a delicious breakfast - this was much needed, as our first activity of the day was the circus! The highlights of this were the trapeze, tightrope walking (the key is to not rush, and not look down), balancing exercises, and skipping rope (this was much harder than it sounds!). After that, we started making our own tartouillat apple cake - which would be baked whilst we had our lunch to refuel our minds, as we next had a French lesson in which we learnt about local food, such as escargots (snails) and many different cheeses. We also learnt lots of new vocabulary that was necessary for

SCHOOL VISITS

our trip to the market the next day, such as how to

Day 4 was one of my favourites as we did one of the

ask how much something costs.

best activities of the whole trip: Kayaking. But first, we had délicieux pains au chocolate and croissants with

Just before dinner, our tartouillats were ready - the

jam. We visited the town of Vézelay where we had to

judges (our teachers!) tasted and looked at all

complete a questionnaire of tasks, such as asking a

cakes, before determining the winning groups for

tourist where they were from and what their name was

appearance and taste. We also had the chance to

in French! This questionnaire also took us up the hill of

enjoy our delicious creations after dinner. The night

Vézelay where at the top was the Basilica of Sainte-

didn’t stop there though, as we soon jumped into a

Marie-Madeleine which we had learnt about in our

game of loto (bingo), marking a fun end to Saturday

French lessons. We also had a list of things we had to

evening.

find on the main road, such as a bakery, a plaque on a house, or a tourist info centre. We then went to the

By Day 3, we had all grown used to the early start,

edge of the hilltop which had some amazing views of

apart from a few late risers! This stopped happening

the beautiful surrounding countryside.

after Sunday, however, as our table competition had just started - every mealtime, everyone would go

After the tour we were allowed to wander down the

to the same table, which was their team. Each table

street where we all got these amazing ice-creams.

would earn points based on their Chef de Table’s

Then finally the time had arrived, time to go Kayaking!

ability to bring food to the table and clear away as

But before that we had to have lunch, next to the River

efficiently and quietly as possible. Tables earned

there was a football pitch where all of us played -

bonus points for answering questions about clearing

c’était super! Then we geared up and got onto the

away in French. Tables could also lose points if some

river after days of waiting. Even the teachers got in the

people on the table turned up late for breakfast. This

kayaks - Madame Roberts, Miss Copeland, Mr Taylor

competition lasted until the end of the trip.

and Miss Johnson. It was great! Splashing friends and teachers, falling in (a lot!) and laughing!

However, more important things were on our minds, as we soon set off for the town of Chablis, which

For our final evening and last meal in Burgundy, the

has a busy market every Sunday. Here, our job

star of the food that evening (in my opinion!) was the

was to find food which we would then prepare to

escargots (snails) - these divided us all on opinion. I

make our lunch, which was, unlike the cake, judged

absolutely loved them and ate loads, whereas Greg

on appearance only this time (luckily not taste as

wasn’t so keen… We then did the prize ceremony where

that meant we got more to ourselves!). So all the

many people won a lot of awards including me and

groups got to work to find the best starter, main and

Hector who won the ambassador awards.

dessert that they could find with €5 per person. In the market, there was a wide variety of food, which

Day 5 - The last day of the best trip. Another final early

we used to our advantage, to create a balanced and

wake-up call (3am!). It wasn’t the most energetic of

diverse meal.

bus journeys home either, as most of us slept the whole journey! We finally got back in the afternoon but this

Later, after we had enjoyed our lunches, and while

meant this wonderful trip was over. So, thank you to

the sun had started setting, we played pétanque, a

all the teachers for planning and helping on this trip. It

traditional French game. It was great fun, especially

was an amazing experience, one that gave us lasting

the tense final which was coming later. We were all

memories, great experiences, and, most importantly,

excited for the final between Kanyuan and Parikshith

lots of fun! Merci beaucoup!

which would be played after dinner, on the village’s dedicated pétanque terrain. We started our final - it was an exciting one as it was played first to three and it was 2-1 to Kanyuan and on the last one Kanyuan got the win. After that, we went on a walk around Lac Sauvin, and explored the beautiful French countryside, we learnt some vocabulary about the woods in French, and got caught in some extremely

Greg Lidford, Denson 8

heavy rain for a few minutes - il pleuvait des cordes!

Hector Kollias, Paterson 8

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL VISITS

CULTURALLY ENRICHING In October of 2024, twenty-something groggy

fans we suddenly appeared to be surrounded by.

teenagers, accompanied by the ever enthusiastic Miss Treherne and Mr Walker, began the journey

Day four saw us visiting the Washington monument

to Washington D.C., capital of the Land of the Free.

as well as a number of war memorials, notably that of

Since the presidential election was mere weeks away,

Vietnam, which acted as a poignant reminder of the

the politically inclined amongst us eagerly awaited

controversial military history in the States. Additionally

throbbing crowds while the others envisaged access

we visited the National Museum of African American

to the birthplace of fast-food. Ulterior motives aside,

History & Culture which was a great insight into

we were all buzzing as we got on the plane at T5.

the staggering contribution of Black sportspeople,

We arrived at a well-situated B&B on the outskirts

musicians, artists and public figures to American

of Central D.C. some 9 hours later after taking in the

society, especially at a time when the appreciation

culture shock of American car sizes on the drive from

of diversity in America feels increasingly like a taboo.

Dulles International (seriously, what are they trying to

We finished the day listening to the music of stars we

prove?).

had just encountered in the Museum such as Jimmy Hendrix as we dined in the global superstar of culinary

On our first full day in the capital, our high spirits

excellence that is the Hard Rock Cafe, which happened

had to be reigned in as we took an emotive tour of

to be across the street of the house in which Lincoln is

the Holocaust museum. This was an immensely eye

supposed to have taken his last breath, thus creating a

opening experience as we built on that which we

physical juxtaposition which was, I fear, lost on 26 very

already knew of the treatment of Jewish people in

hungry boys who were by this point more interested in

Europe during the 1930s and 40s through an immersive

what toppings to have on their burgers.

set of videos, pictures and in some cases physical examples and replicas. What was particularly notable

We saved some of the best activities for last, as day

were the stories of those who risked their lives to save

5 had us visiting the Library of Congress, as well as

others in acts of true heroism which the museum

the Supreme Court which had me feeling like a bit

did well to commemorate. That afternoon we made

of a fanboy as I imagined the great lawmakers of

the lengthy commute to Georgetown to watch the

American history in the same rooms as we were. Geeky

Hoyas play a college football match, which they won,

excitement aside, it was amazing to sit in the Supreme

appeasing the American football fan in me, after which

Court just feet from where cases which routinely

we were let loose in the suburbs of the Capitol for

redefine the Constitution are settled. Additionally, there

dinner and some retail therapy.

was a whole room dedicated to politically important media which gave us a final chance to see some of our

On day three we began again with our beloved

A-Level courses in person.

continental breakfast during which Nat singlehandedly raised the price of eggs with his ever-

Huge thanks to Miss Treherne and Mr Walker for

impressive appetite. Following this, we visited Arlington

organising and dealing with the logistical nightmare

National Cemetery where we saw the graves of

that is a school trip to America, as well as keeping us

historical American political and military figures and

out of trouble in a politically tumultuous time to be

watched the incredible precision of the Changing

in the Capitol. We arrived home on the morning of

of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To

Day 6 feeling groggy from the flight but relishing our

end the day we immersed ourselves in the classic

newfound Freedom from the US of A.

American pastime that is ten-pin bowling, made all the more American by the Washington Commanders scoring a last-gasp touchdown while we were there, prompting an eruption of cheers from the die-hard

Written : Ollie Costelloe, Phillips 13

THE AYLESBURIAN

GEOLOGY ROCKS During the Spring of 2025, the Year 11 geology class completed two exciting field trips. One day was spent on the south coast at Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove where we had the chance to look back in time at the striking cliffs which revealed what life was like in the Jurassic period. The other was at Bradgate Park near Leicester where we were able to investigate and find evidence for how the British Isles became what they are today. On an overcast Monday, Year 11 geology students arrived early in school before embarking on an exciting trip to Bradgate Park, Leicester, accompanied by our teacher Mr Jones and, of course, Mr Roberts from the Maths Department. Bradgate Park is more widely known for Bradgate House, which was home to Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Day Queen”. As geologists we were focused on the 560 million-year-old Precambrian geology, which is uniquely preserved, offering an insight into the evidence of early complex life. The highlight of our day was our opportunity to observe the Charnia Masoni fossils here. Originally discovered in 1957 by a schoolgirl before being officially documented by a geologist a year later. It was then realised that complex life had existed in this period (much earlier than previously believed). Aside from fossils, Bradgate Park displayed volcanic deposits in the form of laminated ash with dips, or ‘sag features’ seen from hot gas bubbles rising through wet muddy layers. This is evidence for ancient volcanoes that were a result of a

SCHOOL VISITS

subduction zone occurring in the

managed to crush his with his fingers and had to watch

northern fringe of the supercontinent;

as it slowly smeared down the ice cream parlour’s

Gondwana. We also discovered an

display lid - much to the owner’s delight…

exciting geological feature in the form of Boudinage structures. ‘Boudinage’ is

After a quick drive, we arrived at Durdle Door to see

possibly derived from the French word

the world-famous sea arch and yet again some

for sausage, ‘boudin’ form from layers

striking bedding that had been flipped 90 degrees and

of competent and less competent

was literally rising out of the beach into the cliff. We

rock built up before being compressed

took advantage of the well-defined beds to practice

under tectonic stress, forming lens-

recording a graphic log of the beach. Along the side of

like shapes. We also observed a wide

the cliff, we noticed a ripple-shaped pattern, which is a

variety of different-sized faults. A

geological feature called ‘ripple marks’ . These features

large example of this showed a right

tell us that at some point, that area of rock was under

lateral strike-slip fault with slickenside

the sea because these forms as waves move back and

displayed up close. This is needle-

forth in shallow waters. Perhaps more fascinating was

like scratch marks which indicate the

the Upper Greensand which was located 20 metres

direction of movement. We also came

up the cliff, proving that 125 million years ago (in the

across stress on a small scale in the

Cretaceous period) the UK was covered in shallow seas

form of micro reverse faults.

and swamps.

After a long day of non-stop geology,

The arch itself and Man o’ War Cove are special

we arrived back at AGS with our

because they have formed a concordant coastline

knowledge broadened and minds

which was only possible because the sea managed

blown at how much there was to see.

to find a weakness in the hard Portland Limestone, allowing it to reach the weaker Purbeck Limestone and

Just one week later, we were back in

clay behind, creating the cove.

the minibus, although this time with the sun shining and we were driving down

With a 3-hour journey back to school and the waves

to the sea! Mr Lavery was able to join

lapping against the warm sand, it was with heavy

us on our field trip to Durdle Door and

hearts that we had to leave. The trips will definitely be

Lulworth Cove. Upon arrival, we wasted

an experience that we will treasure for a long time.

no time and scrambled down to the beach at the Lulworth Crumple, where

Everyone agreed that the Geology trips were truly

we were exposed to some incredible

fascinating and insightful, allowing us to see the world

bedding planes that had been tilted

around us from a different perspective and inspired us

and then folded with multiple faults,

to take an interest into how and why our planet is the

all on a large scale. When we looked

way it is. We are very aware that this would not have

a little more closely at each bed, we

been possible without Mr Jones who put in a lot of effort

observed a pileup of shells which

outside the classroom to get these trips organised, but

we learned was called a ‘death

also in lessons to teach us despite the small numbers

assemblage,’ meaning a catastrophic

with his excellent slideshows and interactive lessons

event, like an underwater eruption or a

with the rocks, and of course ‘Silly Student!’. We are all

turbidity current, had caused marine

very grateful for his efforts, and we would like to thank

life to be crushed together, killing

Mr Jones for two exciting years.

millions of organisms in a short space of time. Time was passing quickly and after briefly seeing a grass snake we all agreed it was time for ice cream,m which was probably a highlight for everyone apart from Myles who

Myles Coe, Hampden 12

THE AYLESBURIAN

DE MADRID AL AYLESBURY

SCHOOL VISITS

After a very early start at Turnfurlong we had a mostly smooth journey - some travel sickness aside - to Madrid. After getting to the hostel and unpacking we went on a walking tour which took in the Plaza Mayor and Sol, where we enjoyed our first taste of Spanish food and culture. The group were able to visit the ancient Egyptian Temple of Debod and get a feel for the geography of this amazing capital city, before returning to the hostel in time for an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner, the limits of which several were happy to explore and challenge themselves with. During the trip we also had the opportunity to sample Spain’s most famous Chocolate con churros at the Chocolatería San Ginés. The portions were awe-inspiring and several managed to rise to the challenge. There was also a chance to visit the Mercado San Miguel, a market that has been turned into a centre for different food stalls. Visiting the monument to the Nationalist dead at the Valley of Cuelgamuros was a very thought-provoking experience. Although there was a thick fog hampering visibility, we were able to discuss the “Pact of Forgetting” which followed the dictatorship of Franco and the weather provided a handy metaphor for the concealment of, and difficulty to get to grips with, the past. From there we visited El Escorial, where we had an opportunity to sample freshly-cooked authentic local food and explore the magnificent monastery, where students were able to consider the Spanish Empire and its impact on Spain and the wider world. In a break from the rain we were able to see the Royal Palace and Cathedral and take some group photos. We visited the Reina Sofía, which gave us an opportunity to see another reaction to the rise of fascism in an artistic way in the painting “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso. We also paid a visit to the newly refurbished and lavish Santiago Bernabeu stadium where we were impressed by how steep the seating was and had an opportunity to buy gifts and learn about the importance of Real Madrid in European and Spanish football. We were able to visit the Prado museum to see the older works of art such as “Las meninas”, Goya’s black paintings, and Bosch’s fantastical visions of other worlds. After 4 busy days we came back to Aylesbury with a real feel for the city, the food and the culture of Spain; we remember that the famous saying about Madrid is “De Madrid al Cielo” - “from Madrid, to heaven”, indicating that people believe that is the only place they’d prefer to their city. Thanks to Mme. Malhi and Miss Treherne who were hugely helpful in helping the students find their way through the city, even having to pass through a protest march for International Women’s Day; thank you most of all to Mrs.Corbould for running the trip, with a patient and calm approach.

Mr O’Driscoll

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL VISITS

As all AGS trips begin, year 10 and 12 found themselves

out the extent of the Nazi’s atrocities. After that, visiting

at the break of dawn, stood outside the gate at

the Jewish Museum made the extent of these atrocities

Turnfurlong and waiting for the coaches to whisk us

all the more clear. After another somber, yet interesting

away to Heathrow airport; the AGS History trip to the

day, we finished by visiting the Reichstag building,

German capital had commenced. Our early departure

where we had the privilege of ascending to the glass

and smooth travels ensured we had enough time to

dome atop it. There, could take in both the stunning

not only make it to our hostel, but also time to begin

views of the city at sunset and observe the actual

indulging in the rich culture and history that Berlin had

parliament below; a true highlight of the trip.

to offer. With Miss Treherne leading the pack, we began our first walking tour of the city, visiting the Berlin Wall

The penultimate day was ever-so-slightly less tiring

Memorial and the surrounding Documentation Centre

than the other days, with the theme of walking being

and Viewing Platform, developing our knowledge of

continued. On this day, we visited the Memorial to the

the divide between East and West Berlin. After the year

Murdered Jews of Europe, which was personally my

12s were called for an unexpected photoshoot and told

favourite museum. It again carried the same theme

to pose as if it were an album cover, we were all more

as the others we had visited during the trip, with it

than ready to return to the hostel and get ready for an

being just as heartbreaking as it was fascinating. After

even busier following day.

another photoshoot outside outside the Brandenburg Gate, we then briefly stopped at the AMPELMANN shop,

Day two was off to another early start, with all of us

which was themed around the crossing men of East

groggily boarding the coach, ready for an even richer

Berlin, and was an apparent favourite of the AGS History

exploration of German history and culture prior to,

department; I don’t think any of us had seen Miss

during and after the Second World war. We were given

Treherne smile so much. After visiting the Tränenpalast,

the somber, yet fascinating opportunity to explore the

which further highlighted the division between East

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, located in

and West Germany, we headed back to the hostel,

the Berlin outskirts; many of us found this to be both

enraptured in an odd combination of sadness and

harrowing and captivating in equal measure. This

excitement at the thought of returning home.

was followed by us travelling to the beautiful city of Potsdam, where we had the chance to stop for lunch

Just like that, it was the fifth and final day of the 2025

and enjoy classic German cuisine, with the Currywurst

Berlin History trip. After averaging more than 10,000

becoming a favourite of the year 12s. We then

steps a day, we spent the final day at the Mall of

convened in front of the nearby Stasi prison, where we

Berlin, with many of us throwing our Euros at things

had the pleasure of being toured around by particularly

we probably didn’t need. Before we knew it, we were

knowledgeable tour guides, before getting back on the

back at the airport, then the plane, coach and all of a

coach ready to return to Berlin.

sudden, it was like we had never left.

After briefly stopping at the hostel, it was time for

All in all, the trip was undoubtedly a success, with many

an AGS movie night, with the year 10s watching the

of us learning so much, and gaining such a depth of

Minecraft movie, while the years 12s watched Mickey

knowledge of German history. The biggest thank you

17. This, however, harboured its own set of challenges,

goes to Mr Walker for all the organisation that goes

with Mr Walker being the unfortunate shepherd to guide

into trips like these, and Miss Treherne, Mr Taylor, Mrs

roughly 40 AGS students onto the train to reach the

Johnson and both Miss McLaren and Mrs McLaren

cinema. After miraculously reaching the cinema with

for their seemingly unending patience when putting

the whole group intact, the movie night commenced.

up with both year 10 and 12. Without all of them, this trip would not have had been anywhere as smooth

During day three, we then explored the Berlin city

and successful, so an especially huge thank you is

centre, with half of us visiting the DDR

warranted to all of them. As Miss Treherne wrote in the

Museum, whilst the other half went on a walking tour

postcard she gave to us, ‘well done for surviving the

of the city. Following a German Doner Kebab recharge

trip’.

stop for lunch, we continued visiting historically significant sites throughout the city, stopping at the notorious Checkpoint Charlie before going to the Topography of Terror; a museum that impactfully laid

EXPLORING THE OLD AND THE NEW

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL VISITS

YOUNG ENTERPRISE We have had another incredibly

Fun-Damentals - Company Review

successful year for Young

Managing Directors: Ved Gandhe, Hampden 12, and

Enterprise, with three companies

Andrew Johnson, Denson 12

made up from over 40 students in Year 12, successfully participating in

Team Members: Ellis Williams, William Stewart, Aditey

the programme. Each team worked

Allam, Matthew Draper, Veer Heran, Ronit Tailor, Joshua

hard to create excellent product

Olliffe, Ben Frampton, Frankie Joy-Young, Siddhaant

ideas that had the potential to

Srivastava

succeed in the real world. They included a maths-based learning

Beginning late September, as a collective, we were

game for children, products made

unsure where to begin. But with the invaluable

from upcycled bottle corks, and

support of Mrs Brooke, and Miss Hunt as well as our

a game to teach people sign

coordinator, Ms Chalk we were on our feet quickly.

language. I am incredibly proud

Holding a board election in the following meetings

of how well all team members

gave us more structure. Matthew, as admin director,

performed this year, how they

kept us continuously productive during meetings.

adapted so well to the challenges

Adi’s perseverance as Financial Director, despite the

they have faced, and I have really

difficult YE interface, kept the rest of the company

enjoyed sharing this experience

stress free. Our initial plan was clear: Capitalise on the

with them.

Christmas Season. After hearing a few ideas, we settled on handmade Christmas cards designed by Ved. We

Our most successful team this year,

all took part in the production process to ensure the

Fun-Damentals have provided an

highest quality. Our first interactions with the public

overview of their experience of the

were extremely encouraging at Year 12 Parents Evening.

programme.

With many fetes and Christmas markets, we profited £133 over the invested capital, leaving us with over £500 to work on our main product.

Written:

Coming into January, we needed a new main project

Ms K Chalk – Enterprise Leader

to get behind. An educational card game designed by

Andrew gave us just that. With crucial developments by Ellis, our creative director, and R&D by Ved (helped on by Ms McAndrew in reprographics), we gave birth to the first set of Fun-Damentals Cards! Now with a product we all knew had a lot of potential, we began production at a larger scale. We were able to make many more sets of cards, faster, and with less waste, benefiting the management and operations skills we had gained while developing our previous product. We all gained a lot more confidence too at approaching new people to share our product with and explain our journey. Our marketing team also worked hard to promote us on various social media, including our encounters with the mayors of Milton Keynes and High Wycombe! Response to the game was overwhelmingly positive. We sold out of all of our stock multiple times, forcing us into flurries of overtime in production. Over time our confidence in the company and ourselves grew going into the area finals. We came out of as the company with the best Company Report and Interview, meaning we were sent on to the Regional Finals! We also had competition success in other competitions, such as Meet the Dragons. Coming to the end of our run, we had £363 of profit total to distribute after the Regional finals. We also had a newfound appreciation for the world of business and the confidence that we too could thrive in such a competitive and rewarding environment. None of this of course could have been achieved without the help from all of our wonderful Centre Leads and the hard work from each of our members. Written: Ved Gandhe, Hampden 12 Andrew Johnson, Denson 12

SCHOOL VISITS

THE AYLESBURIAN

SENIOR DEBATING SOCIETY

speak for many students, however, in believing that the 2024 general election debate, held a day before the bona fide election on 4th July, was especially

What a year.

memorable. With appearances of AGS equivalents of party leaders from five UK political parties, this

From the first inter-schools Aylesbury debating

TV-style debate broke a few records. There were so

competition to the winners of the prestigious House of

many students packed into the Lecture Theatre that

Lords Debating Matters championship and hosting a

attempts at a headcount were quickly abandoned.

general election TV-style panel debate, in 2024-25, we

Still, it was an event that demonstrated the vast

truly did it all.

impact of the Senior Debating Society, and I dare say democratically involved the AGS student body,

The Senior Debating Society hosted 28 society

unlike any other.

debates from March 2024 to April 2025. Thanks to an improvement in inter-school relations, this society

All societies are fundamentally made by their

oversaw record numbers of debaters coming from

people, so it is pleasing to reflect on the profoundly

Aylesbury High School, participating both from the floor

positive impact my student colleagues have had on

and on the stage. We are pleased to share that not

this one. It is a little cliche, but there is genuinely not

only did this society preside over the development of

enough space in an article to sum up the impact

diplomatic ties with AHS, but we were fortunate to work

the 2024-25 committee had - so many efforts go

with Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School for the first time,

unnoticed yet form the bedrock of this community.

culminating in a first-of-its-kind student-led Aylesbury

Nevertheless, I would like to extend my gratitude

inter-schools debate cup, where we were paired with

to Hrishik Ganapathy Subramani and Emre Arslan

debaters from the Floyd’s society and took part in

as Vice Chairs and Vice Chair Emeritus James

friendly competition. It was a night to remember, and a

Davies. From the broader committee, the impacts

leap forward in Aylesburian consular connections.

of Ali Shahzad, Anthony Unugboke, Arnav Chauhan, Kerththekan Vamathevan and Laksh Mahajan

As for the debates themselves, thanks to the efforts of

cannot be overstated. From Aylesbury High School,

Emre Arslan we are pleased to say that in a dramatic

on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank

overhaul of debate archiving, every society debate

Serena Chahal and Emily O’Neill. Likewise, Lyla Foley,

is now easily accessible on Google Sheets, complete

Lily Taylor and Sarah Parkhouse from Sir Henry

with attendance, votes, location, debaters and a

Floyd. It has been a pleasure working with them. On

permanent written record of summaries. It is safe to

behalf of the 2024-25 Committee, we wish the next

say the Senior Debating Society has streamlined its

generations of Aylesburian debaters good luck: it is

technological operations due to this society’s efforts,

paramount that this precious forum of free speech

allowing the committee to focus on what matters most:

and friendship continues for years to come.

the motions. This year, we debated everything from TikTok to British values, smoking to private schools. Of

That duty, however, cannot be entirely left up

course, after Christmas, per tradition, we commenced

to (let’s face it) us lazy students. Therefore, we

the ‘short-prep’ debates to prepare for the competition

must finally extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs

season. ‘Short prep’ debates, as the name suggests,

Farmborough. Last year’s committee suggested

allow students 15 minutes only with an unseen motion

in their memoir in the Aylesburian magazine that

- a useful format for practising the skill of formulating

“without [Mrs Farmborough], debating at AGS would

arguments. Alongside these ‘serious’ debates, the

simply not be possible.” We would like to stress that

society enjoyed numerous light-hearted occasions,

message. A teacher picks up all the untidy loose

such as the inaugural Christmas Debate, “This House

ends: the paperwork, the practicalities of organising

Would retire Santa and replace him with the Krampus”

events and so on. And at the heart of it all, she is the

which saw 70 students attend. Others included

continuity - long after we are gone, there must be

the Valentine’s special “This House Believes That

someone to pass the torch on.

Valentine’s Day is a ‘ridiculous concept” and the Y13 final debate tied the year up with a tongue-in-cheek “This House Believes That AGS debaters would not even survive 30 seconds in real-world politics.” I think I

Manas Tannan, Denson 13

SCHOOL VISITS

THE AYLESBURIAN

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION All victories are won. Yet few teach us something about ourselves. Almost none make us question the game we used to play. The 2025 Debating Matters competition did. Friday, March 31 2025. A mix of unsuspecting AGS debaters lined platform two at Milton Keynes Central Train Station, gazing expectantly down the West Coast Main Line, hoping for an empty 8 AM carriage, or at least a locomotive where the drivers had not eloped to the picket fence. To our pleasant surprise, aside from the odd commuter, we had the coach to ourselves. A few smart selfies later, everyone settled down with a smile. Outside, the scenic property developments of West Bletchley swept by and gratefully out of view, replaced swiftly by the pastures of North Buckinghamshire and, eventually, one or two tunnels later, those of us not buried in our smartphones noticed the rolling fields had suddenly changed into steep hills, suggesting we were passing through the charming Chilterns. Later that day, we would be arguing in favour of building housing on the Green Belt in the House of Lords. As a sixth-form debater, in a way, we face the same problem as Westminster politicians: in our bubble, it is rarely possible to see the de facto application of our proposals. The only difference? As an MP or Lord, you are tucked away in the cushioned Whitehall, while we students call wonderful Walton Road home. And so, as our train penetrated through the rest of the Chiltern slopes, Anthony and I considered the implications of our (albeit unofficial) debate. We witnessed the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which bolstered our main argument, sail past and commented on the exemplar that Milton Keynes is, of which we would later suggest other parts of the UK should adopt qualities. The many brownfield sites in Bletchley did not go unnoticed, and the opposition’s strongest predicted argument stared us in the face: five years ago, breathing on the 0827 to London Euston on a Friday morning would be considered a luxury. In 2025, you could play cricket in the aisle.

Realising COVID-19 could mean

continuation of the housing crisis debate

the end of the line for our debating

with Lord Borwick - one of the judges - it was

career, as we stepped onto the

announced that AGS had won and would be

platform in London, we could not

competing in the finals. Another contemporary

help but feel overwhelmed. A tube

motion, Assisted Dying Should be Legalised, put

journey, water stop and Whitehall

Emre and Hrishik in a heated Lords Committee

tour later, we met with our Chiltern

room as the proposition. To say it was heated

Railways peers on Parliament

is doubly accurate: firstly, due to a noticeable

Square, basking in the magnificence

failure of the air conditioning, but also as it

of Churchill’s statue, himself

was packed full of students, teachers and

enjoying the sun.

others, all eager to pitch in on this explosive debate. Emotions ran high, and judges later

A flurry of pastries, fine bone China,

congratulated all the debaters for their

sugar cubes and tea was followed

equanimous and professional attitude. By the

by a whistle-stop tour of the Palace

end of the debate, no one in the audience,

of Westminster. Emre, an expert

including me, could agree on which side

in Parliamentary procedure, was

had won. It was, without a doubt, an elite

keen to demonstrate his extensive

performance from both sides, and the judges

knowledge to Usha, our guide.

all made comments to this effect. Ultimately,

Happily, I had recently revised

though, AGS came out as the winners, and a

Chapter Six of the Edexcel Politics

cheerful prize-giving ceremony was about to

textbook, so he had competition.

draw the day to a close.

However, Usha eventually caught on and, to the relief of our peers, our

That was, until Baroness Fox stepped into the

game of ‘Name that Lord’ was cut

centre stage.

short. In short, Baroness Fox argued boisterously to The first debate. Anthony and I

a room of pupils why freedom of speech is

were proposing. Much can be said

a crucial yet endangered species, and why

about the debates; however, I am

we must stand up to protect it. Although

keen to draw your attention to the

she (predictably) received mixed reactions

difference between ours and the

from the audience, I was grinning because it

British Parliamentary (BP) format,

suddenly occurred to me that at the very least,

which we utilise most in the Society

the organisation she champions, Ideas Matter,

and other competitions. All in

had a point. Ideas do matter, and I realised

all, it lasted an hour, double that

that the Debating Matters format had done

of BP. This gave us much more

a far superior job of making ideas matter.

time to exemplify our arguments,

Rather than treat the exchange of ideas as an

provide detailed evidence and

aggressive game of chess, as BP does, where

construct long chains of reasoning.

all the moves can be pre-planned or learned,

Perhaps even more importantly,

this form of debating taught us that the ideas

the emphasis was on questions

that matter are the ones that are intricate and

posed by our opposition, the panel

rarely found in short-form debating.

of judges, and other students and teachers. This was a significant

Therefore, AGS not only won the Debating

improvement over BP since it

Matters competition in 2025. It also challenged

altogether prevented unchallenged

our concept of winning. We left, questioning the

pontificating and forced us to be

way we debate at school.

clear and sharp with our points. After lunch in the Cholmondeley Room, which itself invited a

Manas Tannan, Denson 13

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL LIFE

The academic year 2024–2025 has been another period of significant growth and exceptional achievement for the Computer Science department. Driven by escalating demand for skills in key sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cyber Security, the department’s expansion has continued unabated. This year, we welcomed over 70 students to the GCSE programme and over 30 students at A-Level, solidifying the success of three consecutive years of departmental expansion. Throughout the year, our students have distinguished themselves in academic pursuits and high-profile external initiatives. The department is delighted to highlight two key extracurricular triumphs: Software Development Group The department successfully launched its inaugural Software Development Group, led by A-Level student Ismail Zaffar under the supervision of Mr. Chambers. This enterprise-focused group was established to allow students to engage in real-world application development by interviewing staff to identify and solve operational needs. The first successful project, developed entirely by Ismail Zaffar alongside his demanding A-Level studies, is a transition application. This iPhone/iPad application, developed using Xcode, is designed to help new students familiarise themselves with the school. The application is currently in its draft phase, with a release targeted for the end of the academic year. The European Astro Pi Challenge A team of six students achieved international recognition by having their program launched into space as part of the Astro Pi initiative—an annual coding competition managed by the European Space Agency and the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The successful team members were: Vedenta Warad, Ishan Dhakephalkar, Joshua Mokaya, Aryan Gorai, Amal Ayyappan, and Vaibhav Dachavaram. The students demonstrated outstanding commitment, collaborating during lunch breaks and in their own time to produce a Python program that achieved Flight Status. Their code was successfully executed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), running from 21 April 2025 at 15:55:05 to 16:05:01 BST. BAFTA Young Game Designers For the third consecutive year, our students have achieved success in the BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, with a student being shortlisted for their

COMPUTER SCIENCE

innovative work. 2022–2023 Shortlists: Humzah Awais (‘Pipes’) and Dhruv Kale (‘Word Pong’). 2023–2024 Shortlists: Lucas Xie (‘Cosmic Bird’) and Taman Nutakki (‘This isn’t quite right’). 2024–2025 Shortlist: Taman Nutakki was shortlisted for the second year running for his game, ‘RTS Chess’, a strategy-based variant of chess involving enemy defeat and bounty claims. We extend our sincere congratulations to all shortlisted students for this exceptional achievement. Being shortlisted for a BAFTA is a rare and prestigious recognition of their creativity and technical skill. The department’s extracurricular engagement is strongly underpinned by excellent academic results. For the third consecutive year, the department has achieved impressive outcomes at both GCSE and A-Level.

Mr R Chambers

At GCSE, 64% of students attained the top grades of 8 or 9, with approximately 75% achieving a grade 7 or higher. This commendable performance is a testament to the students’ determination and hard work. Mr. Chambers and Mrs. Budd wish to formally congratulate all GCSE students on achieving their full potential. A-Level results were similarly outstanding, with students meeting and exceeding their predicted targets. This year, we received notification that two of our A-Level students were ranked among the top 100 in the entire country based on their combined exam and coursework scores. Dhruv Kale and Nathan Townsend both achieved A* grades and secured places to study Computer Science and Mathematics at Oxbridge. As a mark of their achievement, both students were invited to a special event hosted by Netcraft on behalf of AQA. Dhruv Kale provided his reflections on the event: “The Top 100 day was really fun... It was run by Netcraft and they gave us a couple of nice talks about the interesting work they do, and the sort of projects that the summer internship students can be a part of. I was surprised by the scale and range of companies they worked with, and the company history was also impressive... In the end, there was a competition to exploit vulnerabilities in a highly exploitable cryptocurrency they had set up to steal from other teams, while protecting your own money. This was all done through the linux terminal, which was an amazing experience.” The department is immensely proud of these results. We extend our thanks to all students for their contribution to the department’s success and look forward with anticipation to the achievements that the 2025–2026 academic year will bring.

SCHOOL LIFE

THE AYLESBURIAN

Lunchtime Science CLub During the last academic year, several members of the Science Department organised and delivered a lunchtime Science Club, which quickly became a highly popular enrichment opportunity for students in Years 7 and 8. The programme offered a wide range of practical activities designed to enhance curiosity and engagement with Science beyond the classroom. In Chemistry, students constructed their own thermometers and experimented with techniques such as fire writing. In Biology, they successfully made floating gardens and drifted woodlice into Choice chambers, while Physics activities included the creation of crystal gardens and the assembly of simple telescopes. The weekly sessions were very well attended, with students demonstrating great enthusiasm and a willingness to dedicate their lunchtimes to handson scientific exploration. The club also fostered meaningful collaboration across key stages, as Year 12 Prefects provided regular support. Their involvement not only encouraged younger students but also offered them valuable insights into the demands and opportunities of continuing with Science in later years. STEM Projects As part of our STEM initiative last year, Year 7 and 8 students took part in a series of hands-on activities designed to develop practical skills and promote sustainability. Year 7 students were provided with microscope repair kits, where they gained confidence by disassembling and repairing their own pocket microscopes. Using the lenses, they went on to construct simple projectors from basic materials such as cardboard and paper. Year 8 students engaged in a more advanced challenge involving retro games consoles. Working with faulty devices, they learned to replace screens, repair buttons, and determine battery polarity by setting up their own test circuits. The task required careful problem solving, dexterity, and organisation when working with small components. Although the activity was demanding, students found it highly enjoyable. It not only reinforced their understanding of electricity from earlier in the year but also offered a unique insight into the evolution of

games consoles from the 1980s to

and researchers to learn how space agencies,

the present day.

satellites, and scientific innovation are helping to tackle climate change. They heard from

STEM Week -2025

an inspiring panel of professionals working

Year 7 and Year 8 Science students

on environmental projects and cutting-edge

enthusiastically celebrated STEM

research.

Week – Spring Edition 2025, showcasing great engagement and

Year 8 students were especially motivated

enthusiasm.

by the “hidden heroes” who shared their career journeys, showing how skills in maths

Year 8 students participated in the

and science can lead to impactful work in

Smokey Homes Project, a Practical

protecting our planet.

Action initiative based in Nepal. This project provided them with

Year 8 Chemistry At Work & Year 7 STEM day

an opportunity to apply their STEM

On Friday, March 14th 2025, Year 8 students

skills by designing an improved

at Aylesbury Grammar School took part in

cookstove aimed at reducing indoor

Chemistry at Work Day, joined by 24 girls from

air pollution.

Aylesbury High School. Supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the event gave students

Year 7 students drew inspiration

hands-on opportunities to explore the real-

from iconic tall structures such

world applications of chemistry.

Tower. They applied key engineering

Activities included crime-scene evidence

concepts to construct the tallest

gathering, pH testing for environmental

possible tower using only paper and

hazards, and an engaging “Bugs and Beasties”

tape. The challenge required not

session led by Richard Fishbourne, horticultural

only height but also stability, as the

TV producer. A highlight was a presentation

tower had to successfully support a

by the son of an asbestos surveyor who had

can of food at the top.

contributed to previous years.

During the week, a group of Year

Students came away with a stronger

7 students took on the exciting

appreciation of how chemistry underpins

challenge of building a roller

problem-solving in everyday life and

coaster using only four sheets

environmental management.

of card. Their goal was to design gradients and curves that would

On 14th of July 2025, round 180 twelve-year-

allow a marble to travel smoothly

old boys of Year 7 launched rockets, handled

across the entire track without

snakes, made rollercoasters and sat on a

stopping. Applying principles of

bed of nails. STEM Day gave Year 7 boys a

energy conservation, they paid

lively, hands-on introduction to science and

particular attention to the height of

teamwork. They launched rockets to explore

the initial drop and the shaping of

physics and engineering, built rollercoasters to

subsequent loops.

test forces and motion, handled snakes to learn about ecosystems, and discovered pressure

Students approached the task with

distribution on a bed of nails. The activities

great enthusiasm, experimenting

sparked curiosity, encouraged problem-

with different designs and

solving, and showed how STEM connects theory

celebrating each successful run.

with real-world applications.

On November 12th, Year 7 and 8 students took part in POP 24 live sessions, connecting with experts

Ms S Parvez Mr E Perry

SCIENCE AT KS3

as the Burj Khalifa and the Eiffel

THE AYLESBURIAN

After a flawless record from the qualifying round at Sir William Borlase winning 15 games, only drawing 1, AGS Chess Club arrived at the British Team Chess Challenge at Nottingham University in June. This would be our chance to prove ourselves against the best schools in the country. On our way there, the nervousness was palpable but determination and camaraderie kept us in shape to face Goliath. Rows of chess tables lined a huge auditorium, with each board tracking and sharing every move online. The technology and grandeur was daunting to say the least. After a pep talk from Dom the captain and Shrihan, the vice, we started the day off. We were faced with a tricky test against Wilson’s school: the reigning champions. All of our players gave it their best shot but ultimately fell short to a 3.5 - 0.5 loss with Ushakan getting a hard fought draw against a much higher rated opponent.

SCHOOL LIFE

The next round was against the hosts, Nottingham High School. This game tense but ultimately we drew 2-2 with Ushakan and Ismael winning for AGS. In the next match, we were up against Bolton School where AGS registered its first win of the tournament winning 3.5 - 0.5 with wins from Ushakan, Shrihan and Dom. The team’s hard work paid off in this performance, with a fantastic team effort securing our first win. Our penultimate round was against Bristol Grammar school who were similarly ranked to us. The tense encounter ended in an entertaining 2 all draw. Our final game was against Lancaster Grammar School. The day ended in another 2 all draw with Ushakan and Ismael capping off the team’s incredible performance. Overall we finished 13th with one win, 3 draws and only one loss, to the winning team. As a team we won 10/20 individual games, fighting hard against the best players in the country. A special well done goes to Ushakan for going undefeated in the tournament, on board 4, and ranking joint second individually. Entering the 2026 tournament, we hope to return next year, with our eyes on the podium. A huge thank you goes to Mr Dimbleby for the hard work he puts into organising and entering fixtures, as well as running our Chess Club and being there to support us each step of the way.

Ushakan Thushyanthan, Lee 8 Dominic-Hardman Mountford, Phillips 12

BRITISH TEAM CHESS CHALLENGE 2025

would end up being a lot closer and

THE AYLESBURIAN

During the summer of 2025, 38 students and 5 teachers made their way to Malawi as part of the AGS Malawi initiative. We were all delighted to have such a once-in-a-lifetime experience, discovering a new culture and meeting wonderful people. None of this would have been possible without the incredible work of Mr Corby. The trip came after almost 3 years of fundraising for many students and everyone was delighted to finally see their hard work pay off. On the 9th July, after most of the students on the trip had finished school, we left for Heathrow for our evening flight to Addis Ababa, which was part of our connecting flight to Blantyre (the second-largest city in Malawi). We arrived in Blantyre at midday, and after sending all of our donation bags that had arrived to Malosa, we headed for our first stay at Game Haven Lodge. Game Haven Lodge allowed us to have a very relaxed start to our trip and was where many of us saw our first zebras, giraffes and guinea fowls! We spotted these through some of the game walks and game drives the Lodge had to offer. We also visited Satemwa Tea Plantation, where we got to pick tea leaves ourselves and also went to a testing room to try all the variations of tea that they produce, including native teas like the “Zomba pearls”. Back at Game Haven we did some fishing (quite unsuccessfully however, as not even Mr Travers caught any fish). Finishing off the stay with a round of golf amongst the animals. Unfortunately, many of the zebras had taken a liking to our tee boxes. We then proceeded to the main part of the trip, with a 5-night stay at Chilema Ecumenical College. We began this stay with a welcome dinner on the night of our arrival. This allowed us to hear speeches from our Student Ambassador and their Head Girl. The

following day we split up in 3 groups for separate visits before all meeting up to put in the graft at the building site where we helped to lay the foundations of the new Malosa Community Secondary School by unloading bricks and digging holes. Over the time here we also visited a multitude of schools including Zambezi Pre-School, Likwenu Primary School, and crucially, Msalabani Primary and Secondary School. The Secondary School was built by the AGS Initiative in 2023 and we played the primary school at football and netball, where we (unsurprisingly) lost both games. On top of this, we had the highlight of the trip for most of us, the 3 main events with Malosa: the 2 cultural evenings and the bi-annual football match between AGS and Malosa. The cultural evenings were excellent with Malosa going first showing culture, and specifically traditional dances from across Malawi, and our cultural evening where singing was the main event with some dodgy singing from the Sixth Formers. This was all capped off by the biannual football match which we of course lost again, and the Farewell dinner and disco where we shared our last meal with the Malosa students and heard the final remarks from both speakers. Unfortunately, we would have normally had the Malosa students with us every day that we were there; however, this time it was not possible since it was their exam season. The students were therefore, only around in the evenings. Unfortunately this also meant they couldn’t help prevent us from getting ripped off in the trip’s famous 5000 Kwacha challenge in Zomba Market. However, despite this unlucky timing we still got to know many of the Malosa Students very well and are very excited to see them return to AGS for the reciprocal part of the exchange. After our great time in Malosa we departed for the final stretch of the trip. We drove an hour to Kutchire Lodge where we had a great time doing early morning Game Drives and evening Boat Rides. We managed to spot 4 of the Big 5 in Liwonde National Park (The Big 5 consisting of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalo and Rhino). A Rhino hasn’t been seen in Liwonde National Park for 2 years, so we wish better luck for the next group with a breathtaking view directly onto Lake Malawi (the 9th largest lake in the world). We were able to relax by the pool (not in it), while also visiting a local fishing village, and taking a boat out to Fish island before our flight home. At 3AM on 24th July we woke up to leave on a over 5 hour drive to Blantyre for our flight home to London. After a brief layover in Addis Ababa and Beira, Mozambique, we arrived in Heathrow and were home just after 9AM on 25th July. Everyone would like to express their gratitude to Mr Corby, Mrs Johnson, Mr Roberts, Mr Taylor and Mr Travers for supporting us throughout the trip, reminding us every morning to take our malaria tablets, and helping us to make the most of our experience. For anyone interested in the trip, we would highly recommend it as it’s an extremely enjoyable, life changing, and an unforgettable experience, and we wish it success for many years to come.

Aurman Brar, Lee 11

MALAWI 2025

to hopefully spot one. We then left for our final stay of the trip in Club Mak,

SPORT AT AGS

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

ATHLETICS The athletics club saw a continued high turnout for training each week, with boys across all ages working on developing their performances within their chosen events. Despite some injuries, including a dislocated knee, which ended training early, the boys have demonstrated high levels of dedication and motivation, which can be seen in their performances at competitions throughout the year. ESAA Track and Field Cup 2025 – Junior and Intermediate Boys This summer, Aylesbury Grammar School’s athletics teams delivered an outstanding performance in the English Schools’ Athletics Association Track and Field Cup. Both the Junior and Intermediate Boys teams represented the school with pride and determination, progressing from the county round to the fiercely contested Regional B Final.

At the county round held in Stantonbury on the 7th of May, the Junior Boys team secured a commanding firstplace finish with a total of 318 points. Among the standout performances were Luca Dolan, who scored 25 points in the 1500 metres and 20 points in the high jump, and Gabriel Huckle, who contributed 21 points in the 800 metres and 20 points in the long jump. Max Smith impressed with 15 points in the 100 metres and also featured in the relay team, which added a further 16 points. Freddie Lazaruk was another key contributor, scoring 18 points in the shot put and 12 points in the hurdles. The Intermediate Boys team also triumphed at the county level, finishing first with a total of 392 points. Chukwudi Onyebuchi led the charge with 27 points in the 100 metres and 22 points in the high jump. Seth Okesola added 22 points in the 300 metres and helped secure 17 points in the relay. Harry Smith delivered a powerful throw in the javelin to earn 22 points, while Tim Olufosoye added 19 points in the shot put. The team’s depth and consistency across all events were instrumental in their success. At the Regional B Final, held at Pringles Stadium in Nuneaton on the 16th of June, both teams continued to shine on a larger stage. The Junior Boys team finished in an impressive second place with 393 points. Luca Dolan once again led the team with a superb 28-point performance in the 1500 metres and 21 points in the high jump. Gabriel Huckle matched his earlier form with 23 points in the 800 metres and 21 points in the long jump. Max Smith

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

contributed 25 points in the 100 metres and was part of the relay team that added another 16 points. Freddie Lazaruk continued his strong season with 19 points in the shot put and 17 points in the hurdles. In the Intermediate Boys category, securing a well-earned second place behind Great Marlow School. With a total of 417 points, the team showcased both depth and talent across a wide range of disciplines. The sprint events were a particular highlight, with Chukwudi Onyebuchi blazing through the 100 metres in 11.1 seconds to earn a remarkable 32 points, the highest individual score for the team. He was ably supported by David Onohwakpo, who clocked 11.9 seconds for an additional 24 points. In the 200 metres, Dylan Richards and Hamza Sohail both impressed with strong runs, each contributing 20 points to the team’s tally. Middle-distance events also proved fruitful. Seth Okesola ran a swift 300 metres in 40.1 seconds, earning 21 points, while Ollie Usher and Joe Tilly added 38 points between them in the 800 metres. The 1500 metres saw Euan Conely and Jack Higgs combine for another 32 points, demonstrating the team’s endurance and consistency. In the field events, the team continued to excel. Chukwudi Onyebuchi returned to clear 1.65 metres in the high jump, securing 21 points, while Dylan Richards and Chris Thomas contributed in the long jump. The triple jump pairing of David Onohwakpo and Arthur Morley added a solid 28 points, with Onohwakpo reaching an impressive 11.10 metres. The throwing events were equally productive. Harry Smith delivered a standout performance in the javelin, launching it 48.10 metres for 26 points—the team’s second-highest individual score. In the shot put, Tim Olufosoye and Freddie Bowen combined for 33 points, while the discus and javelin events brought in further valuable contributions from Joe Tilly, Hamza Sohail, and Euan Conely.

Despite a modest showing in the hurdles, where Chris Thomas and Freddie Bowen earned a combined 21 points, the team’s overall balance and strength across all events ensured a strong finish. Their collective effort and determination were evident throughout the competition, marking them as a formidable force in school athletics. In summary, Aylesbury Grammar School’s athletes have demonstrated exceptional talent, resilience, and teamwork throughout the competition. Their achievements at both county and regional levels are a testament to their hard work and the support of their teachers. We are incredibly proud of all the boys who represented the school and look forward to building on this success in future competitions. Aylesbury District Competition Report On Wednesday, July 9th, the Aylesbury District Athletics Competition took place at Hemel Hempstead Athletics Track. This event brought together top performers from various schools across the Aylesbury region, showcasing impressive talent in multiple categories. Our team demonstrated outstanding effort and skill throughout the competition. Under the leadership of Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Duggan, Mr. Dudmish, Mr. Dimbleby, and Mr. Ramsbottom, our team earned numerous awards and placements, a testament to their hard work and dedication. Our team performed admirably, securing first place in the boys’ competition and proudly taking home a trophy! The members displayed excellent teamwork, with many achieving their personal bests in their respective events. Years 7, 8, and 10 all finished first in their categories, with Year 9 achieving a strong second place. Several individual performances truly stood out: Year 7: Pascal Kwarteng (100m), Emeka Awa (Shot Put), Titobi Olufosoye (Discus) Year 8: Luca Dolan (1500m and High Jump), Gabriel Huckle (800m and Long Jump), Max Smith (100m) Year 9: Tim Olufosoye (Shot Put), Harry Smith (Javelin), Toby Akintayo (High Jump) Year 10: Chukwudi Onyebuchi (100m), Seth Okesola (300m), Pearce Clare (800m), Freddie Bowen (Shot Put), Ali Davies (Javelin) These performances, along with many others, highlighted the depth of talent and diverse skill set within our team. Beyond individual successes, several moments throughout the competition embodied the spirit of the AGS team. One of the most remarkable came during the relay races, where our Year 7 and 8 teams both secured wins, demonstrating their ability to collaborate effectively under pressure. The competition was a fantastic day, filled with fun, competition, and a profound sense of school spirit. We look forward to building on these outstanding performances in future competitions!

Jeremy Ohadekwe , Paterson 8

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

BADMINTON Badminton at AGS has experienced significant growth

Bromsgrove School, they travelled

this season. Across all age groups, from U13 to U18, a

to Abingdon. There, they defeated St

total of 48 fixtures were played, with AGS securing an

Edwards School 6-0 before narrowly

impressive 41 victories. Notably, five teams achieved

overcoming Abingdon 4-3 to reach

a perfect 100% win record. Throughout the season,

the quarter-finals. In the quarter-

AGS participated in three major competitions: the

finals, they faced the eventual winners,

District League, the National School Sports Magazine

Reading School. Despite a strong

Cup, and the Bucks County Cup. In addition to these,

performance, the team ultimately

several friendly matches were played against high-

lost to opposition that included many

quality opposition, providing valuable experience and

top-ranked players. Congratulations

competition.

to all the players on a brilliant season, setting a high standard for future

U18 Badminton

teams to aspire to. The U16 B team,

The U18 A team, comprising Ishan Dhakephalkar,

captained by Ronak Daleer and

Drishith Paturi, Hanush Siddabattula (Captain), Ayaan

including Sree Kishorekumar, Srijan

Raza, and Akhilesh Gandluri, demonstrated exceptional

Kumar, Daniel Yap, and Gautham

form in three friendly matches against Royal Latin,

Parthiban, also participated in a

RGS High Wycombe, and The Oratory School, winning

friendly fixture and the Bucks County

all three encounters with a clean sweep of 7-0. The

Cup. Demonstrating the depth and

B team, consisting of Caleb Yap, Patrick Matthews,

dominance of AGS badminton, they

Anish Jakka, and Ben Fish, also enjoyed an undefeated

secured a comfortable 6-0 victory in

season, dropping only two games across their three

their friendly match. Furthermore, the B

fixtures. The clean sweep in every fixture underscores

team narrowly missed out on reaching

the considerable talent within the squad and the

the County final, losing to Webber in a

dedication they have shown throughout the season.

close contest.

Special recognition is due to the captains for their leadership and to all team members for their relentless

U15 Badminton

effort on the court.

This year, we successfully fielded both A and B Under 15 teams consistently

U16 Badminton

in friendly matches and the Aylesbury

The U16s had a busy and successful season,

District League. The A team, comprising

participating in friendly matches against Parmiter’s

Eshan Muralikrishnan (Captain), Aadith

and The Oratory School, the School Sports Magazine

Menon (Year 9), Swarup Hariprasad

National Schools Championships, and the Bucks

(Year 9), Vedhanth Hari, Dhruv Saboo,

County Cup. The A team, led by Vishnu Bandari

and Rey Totala, experienced an initial

(Captain) and including Sai Kaushal Chilamakuru,

setback with a loss to Royal Latin

Sanjeev Sunil, and Han Tan, consistently performed

in their first district league match,

to a very high standard throughout the season. In

followed by a friendly defeat against

their friendly matches, they secured convincing 7-0

Parmiter’s School. However, the team

and 6-1 victories against Oratory and Parmiter’s,

demonstrated resilience and went

respectively. In the Bucks County Cup, hosted at AGS,

on an impressive winning streak,

they triumphed over Chesham, John Hampden, and

defeating every other team they

Webber to be crowned Bucks Champions. However, the

faced, including a notable 5-2 victory

highlight of their season was their impressive run in

over Sir Henry Floyd. The B team also

the National Schools Championship. After comfortable

performed consistently, winning all

victories in the first two rounds against RGS and

three of their league matches. Well

done to Zohair Tawfique, Avyan Rana, Ishaan Ella, Neil Mukherjee, and Madhav Sreelal for their commitment and support of AGS badminton. U14 Badminton The Under 14 team, consisting of three Year 9 students (Aadith Menon, Swarup Hariprasad, and Rishab Karthik) and one Year 7 student (Shyam Sunil in Denson), had two valuable friendly matches against Oratory and Parmiter’s School, providing a strong foundation for the season. These matches effectively prepared the team for the Bucks County Cup and the School Sports Magazine National Cup. AGS hosted the County Cup, and impressive wins against Chesham and Chalfont secured their place in the final against Royal Latin. In a closely contested match, AGS emerged victorious, joining the Under 16s as County Champions. In the National Cup, after convincing wins against RGS and Bromsgrove, the U14s faced Sir Thomas Rich School, narrowly winning 4-3. However, their journey was halted in the quarter-finals by the eventual national champions, Reading School, in a close 4-2 defeat. U13 Badminton The Under 13 A and B teams competed in the District League, with the A team playing eight fixtures and the B team playing three. They achieved convincing victories against teams such as Princes Risborough and John Colet. Their only narrow defeat came against Royal Latin, making their season highly successful overall. Throughout the season, these teams involved the largest number of players, demonstrating the strength and enthusiasm for badminton within Year 8. They have shown considerable promise and are expected to continue their development and improvement in preparation for the national and county cups next year. This season, a total of 10 teams participated in 48 matches, achieving 41 wins and only 7 losses. This impressive record highlights the strength of our badminton program. All the boys who played, won, and trained throughout the season deserve commendation for their efforts and hard work. Well Done! Written : Mr N Gibbs

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

BASKETBALL

U12 Basketball

A convincing 61-4 home win against John Colet

The Year 7 basketball team’s journey began

served as excellent preparation for a crucial home

in November with 20 enthusiastic students

game against Challoners. In this match, a strong

attending the initial training sessions at

defensive performance was the key to success, limiting

AGS. From the outset, it was evident that

Challoners to just 6 points in the first quarter and none

the group possessed the potential to form

in the subsequent three. Once again, Luke, Leon, Mazino,

a strong team. Early training focused on

and Sai spearheaded the attack, while this time they

developing fundamental skills, including

were well supported defensively by Tharuja and Savija

ball handling, passing, shooting, and

Ranawaka, Ire Omoyele, and Tolani Olowosale. The final

court spacing. These skills were essential

score was a decisive 27-6.

in building individual player ability and enabling effective teamwork.

Chesham GS stood as the final obstacle to an undefeated season. Despite the challenge of a very

Several players quickly emerged as

small court, the team was determined to secure

leaders, demonstrating the desired playing

its ninth consecutive victory. From the tip-off, they

style to their newer teammates. Mazino

asserted control and maintained consistent scoring

Onwah, Sai Kotturu, Leon Porca, and Luke

throughout the game, ultimately achieving a dominant

Whelan consistently stepped up and led by

46-14 win and completing a perfect run of nine

example.

victories.

The competitive season commenced

The team has consistently improved throughout the

in late November with a comfortable

season, demonstrating dedication in training, strong

47-19 victory over St Michael’s. This was

defensive capabilities, and impressive scoring ability.

followed by decisive wins against Princes

They have successfully grasped and executed complex

Risborough (46-8) and Kingsbrook (40-7),

plays, which will undoubtedly benefit them in their

where the team performed exceptionally

future basketball endeavors.

well. Mazino and Leon consistently led the scoring, with valuable support from Sai

Congratulations to all the players who trained and

and Luke. Other squad members, including

competed this season.

Emeka Awa, Josh Dyett, Titobi Olufosoye, and Hugo Marshall, also played crucial roles by contributing assists, rebounds, and turnovers, allowing the team to maintain their dominance. The winning streak continued with two away victories against AVA and Buckingham, where the team demonstrated their offensive prowess by scoring a combined total of 115 points while conceding only 15. The next challenge was a tougher test: a series of three 4-on-4 matches against DCGS. The team successfully navigated this encounter, winning the overall series 79-74, further solidifying their credentials.

Written : Mr N Gibbs

U13 Basketball

hard-earned victory.

We would like to begin by saying a massive thank you to Mr Dimbleby and Mr Shepherd for dedicating their

Following a close match-up against Kingsbrook, our

time to train us every Wednesday after school. It is a

next game was a home game against John Colet.

privilege to share our experiences and reflections on

Although the height advantage of the John Colet

our AGS basketball season. Throughout this journey, we

players was a factor that affected our confidence, we

have faced remarkable highs and difficult lows that not

did not let that stop us from scoring. Thanks to the

only shaped our team’s dynamics but also significantly

buckets from Crispy and Ed, the amazing playmaking

impacted our own personal growth. The lessons learnt

from Shay and Rohan and the great shots from Othniel

during this phenomenal season will resonate with us

and Tyler Simon, we managed to get the edge over

well beyond the court.

them by 9 points, leaving the score to be a solid 36 - 27.

The season started with our game against

Up until now, even from the start of year 7, this team

Berkhamsted, and it took place in AGS. As the ball

was undefeated.

flew in the air for tip-off, the clock began its steady countdown. The match started excellently for our strong

But then, disaster struck for the under 13s team. Edward

under 13s team, with Ed Davies and Crispy Harmon

Davies had a terrible knee injury. This meant that,

effortlessly scoring into the double digits. As the match

combined with Crispy’s absence, AGS was looking

progressed, Berko managed to secure a few deserved

at a blank wall before the match against Chesham

points, though AGS still managed to come out on top

Grammar School. However, the team with merely

with a 48-21 win.

seven boys managed to raise their morale. In the first two quarters, AGS made a valiant effort to keep

In the flow from our last victory, we were confident,

up with Chesham, with scores tight. Ridhan Gurung

and from the very first whistle, it was clear that our

performed especially well in this match, being a great

hard work and preparation were paying off. With quick

ball controller. Tyler also contributed greatly and

passing from Othniel, Shay and Ryan, advancing the

played well in this match, but with the lack of available

ball to Ed or Crispy was a good option for an easy 2

substitutions, the team was soon filled with fatigue.

points. AGS proceeded to win a tough victory over The

The point gap widened ever so slightly, and the match

Buckingham School. The final score was 43-12 to us,

ended with a 21-27 defeat for us. Our streak was over.

with the top scorers being Crispy, Ryan and Ed. It was heartbreak for us, as another loss faced us Following our decisive victory over Berkhamsted and

against the Grange. No matter how hard Ridhan tried

Buckingham, anticipation was high for our game

to keep us ahead most of the game, the Grange got on

against Kingsbrook. Crispy kicked things off with an

top in the last quarter, beating us by 3 points.

efficient layup, setting the tone for a dominant first half. Ed displayed impressive shooting and passing

However, even in light of another injury, this time of

accuracy, complemented by Crispy’s consistent

Ryan Yang, and recent defeats against Dr Challoner’s

performance and the team’s efforts. We then took

Grammar School and The Grange School, the Under 13s

control in the first two quarters, showcasing excellent

Basketball team looks to make a comeback in future

teamwork between Crispy, Ed, Shay, Ryan, Rohan and

matches, at the time of writing, against The Mandeville

Benji. However, the second half presented a challenge,

School and Aylesbury Vale Academy.

and all was not well. We came back a little worn out, and several dead spots on the court affected our

Once again, we would love to thank Mr Dimbleby and

motivation. Kingsbrook, capitalising on this, began to

Mr Shepherd for organising these most exciting fixtures

close the gap. By the final quarter, the score was tied at

and giving us all the opportunity to represent our

37-37. Every attack and defence was a battle. With just

school.

30 seconds left on the clock, both teams played tough defense. It seemed as if neither team would score,

We wish for another successful season when we return

but with only 10 seconds remaining, Crispy made a

to the courts in Year 9 with our full strength.

crucial layup, putting us in the lead by just 2 points. We maintained our defensive composure, and after what felt like an eternity, the buzzer sounded, securing our

Written : Ryan Yang, Shay Sangani and Othniel Donkor

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U14 Basketball

majority of our fixtures and the team has managed

The U14s have had a successful season winning 4

to develop throughout the season with most players

out of their 6 games played. We started the season

gaining notable confidence in all aspects of their game

with our usual fixture against St Michaels where

and our top players managing to maintain their skill

creative play from Gibril Toure, excellent scoring

year on year. Thank you to Mr Dudmish for coaching

from Kameron Nahim with good contributions from

us as well as all the other background work my various

players like Harry, Tim and others started our season

other members of the AGS Sport and PE Department.

with a win. The next game was against Aylesbury Vale Academy and as Gibril wasn’t present the burden of scoring came to Kameron and josh. As well

Tim Olufosoye, Phillips 9

as many baskets from Frasier and others and good defensive efforts from Vansh Bhindi and Jake sealed

U15 Basketball

the victory.

The U15 basketball team started off the season in November with a 33-14 win against St Michaels, with

Next game was against Princes Risborough School

Rudra Sharma having a good game scoring 11 points,

which we knew were a strong side from the fixture in

and Muku Malanda scoring 8 points for AGS.

the previous year and knowing we had a full team we had good hopes going into the game. Our previous

Next the team faced a decent AVA squad and with

thoughts were confirmed when they came out strong

Rudra Sharma, Hussain Rangwala, Muku Malanda and

from the gates scoring numerous baskets against

Jenson Chow playing well. The boys won the game

us but strong defensive hustles from Ed Wilson and

32-20. Next up was a fairly difficult 32-19 win against

Gibril as well as new appearances from players

RGS High Wycombe with Rudra Sharma scoring three 3

such as Raghav and Umar brought the game back

pointers and having 13 points. Going into the next game

for us resulting in a victory by one point. The next

the boys were confident that they could extend their

game was the opposite with us losing by one point

winning streak with a game against the Buckingham

although there were noteworthy performances from

school. And they did as the boys pulled out a blowout

players such as Tobi Akintayo, Josh Brown.

42-11 win with the whole team playing well. They knew this was not their hardest competition and there would

Our next opponent was Dr Challoners and we knew

be better teams they would have to face.

we had to start strong because of our defeat last season. Good plays and link up between Gibril Toure

Going into the next game against Chesham Grammar

and Kameron Nahim allowed us to quickly take the

the boys knew that this game would be difficult.

lead with Fraiser supporting with his 8 points and

Unfortunately the boys suffered their first loss of the

very strong defensive efforts from Musa, Baxter and

season to a strong Chesham team who beat us 47-31.

Mark allowing us to maintain it and limit them to 12

Rudra Sharma however put in a great effort scoring 21

points. The end scoreline was 52-15.

of the teams 31 points and he hit 4 three pointers. Muku Malanda also put in a great effort on defence getting

The last Game was against Chesham Grammar

several rebounds. Next up was a devastating 66-25

and remembering the referee and his sometimes

loss to the Mandeville School; however, Rudra Sharma

dubious calls we knew we had to bring our A Game.

played well scoring 12 points. Muku Malanda also

We started off very slow and the baskets just were

played well scoring 10 points, and so did Abdul Nafaay

not sinking causing Chesham to take a Large and

scoring 2 points. The Boys were slightly demotivated

early lead. Then we regrouped after the first quarter

going into their next game against Princess Risborough

and soon layups started being scored. We had

School but they knew they could win this game as

managed to pull the game back into contention

they had beaten Risborough last year. Unfortunately,

and going into the last quarter we knew we stood a

however, even though the team put in a great effort

chance. We were gaining momentum and with a 4

they still lost 52-30, with Rudra Sharma hitting several

point difference every basket counted. We scored

three pointers and scoring 22 of the 30 points for AGS.

a basket but due to questionable refereeing from their side. The game ended 21-25 to them. Strong

The boys were going into the next game with high

performances from Tim, Baxter, Ed and others. All

hopes to break this 3 game losing streak. Due to a great

in all we have had a strong season winning the

overall team effort, especially from Muku Malanda

and Rudra Sharma on offence and a great defensive

of the importance of staying focused throughout the

display from Oduwa Erese who got several steals on the

entire match and how small moments can make the

defensive end of the court. The team won the game 32-

difference in a tight contest. Even though the result

22 with Rudra Sharma scoring 11 Muku Malanda scoring

wasn’t what we hoped for, the team’s performance was

8, and a great overall hustle and intensity displayed by

commendable, and we gained valuable lessons from

the team. Next the team faced a devastating 86-36 loss

the experience.

to the Grange with Rudra Sharma scoring 13 and Henry Freeman scoring 7. The boys ended the season with

The fourth game, against AVA, was undoubtedly one

an overall 5 wins and 4 losses record. The team ended

of the most thrilling matches of the season. After a

with a good record overall but know that there is lots to

tense and hard-fought battle, the game ended in a

improve on for next season.

20-20 tie, sending us into overtime. It was in this highpressure moment that Tani stepped up, scoring the two crucial points, edging us to a 22-20 victory. Tani and

Rudra Sharma, Phillips 10

Keyaan both finished with 5 points, and both Temi and Michael contributed 4 points each. The team’s ability

U16 Basketball

to remain composed under pressure and execute

The season began with high expectations and

when it mattered most were a testament to the mental

excitement, and the team was determined to build on

strength and teamwork that had developed over the

the foundation laid by previous seasons. Early on, it

course of the season.

became clear that this year’s squad had the potential to accomplish great things. The players showed

As we reflect on the season, there were many standout

incredible work ethic, commitment to improvement,

performances that deserve recognition. Tani was a

and passion for the game from day one.

key player throughout the season, consistently leading the team in scoring and making critical plays when we

Our first game of the season was against St. Michael’s,

needed them most. Austin also had a fantastic season,

and it was a statement of our capabilities. We came

contributing both as a scorer and as a leader on the

away with a solid 33-12 victory, with Austin Sebastian

court. Keyaan’s consistent effort and strong defensive

scoring 16 points, Tani Abioye adding 10, and Keyaan

presence were vital to our success, and Lucas showed

Kiarre contributing 4. This win set the tone for the

exceptional playmaking skills, setting up many of our

season, demonstrating not only our offensive strength

best offensive plays. Meanwhile, players like Oisin,

but also our ability to work as a cohesive unit. Crucially,

Michael, and Temi made vital contributions in defense

the team showed solid defensive efforts, with Oisin

and rebounding, ensuring that the team remained

Patel, Michael Owolabi, and Temi Aloluwaloba securing

competitive in every game.

key rebounds, while Lucas Taylor played a pivotal role in assisting the offense. Tani Abioye, Ridley 11 The next game, against Buckingham, was another standout moment. We won in impressive fashion, 5022, with Tani leading the charge with 19 points, Lucas contributing 12, and Austin adding 11. The game was marked by an explosive offensive display, but it was Daniel Kitely’s dominance on the boards that truly stood out. His rebounding was a game-changer, giving us the extra possessions needed to secure a comfortable win. It was a performance that proved our team’s depth and capability across all areas of the game. However, our third game against John Colet presented a different challenge. Despite a fantastic team effort, we were narrowly defeated 19-22 in a closely contested match. Tani led the scoring with 9 points, and Keyaan contributed 7. The game was a reminder

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

Under 18 Basketball

Harmon collaborated to score 48 out of the 52 points

Coming into the season the team

which was greatly aided by a determined defensive

set high expectations wanting to

effort by the rest of the team.

build upon the success achieved last year. We were lucky enough

We kept this successful streak going and won

to already have a strong core of

convincingly against Aylesbury Vale Academy and

players who had played a big role in

our rematch against RGS which saw Ewan Gatt as top

the first team last year with the likes

scorer, remembering how to play basketball, whilst

of Luke, Hugo, Ewan Gatt, Pelumi

Luke Murphy and Hugo Pearson saw severe playing

Abioye and Winfred Gotah so the

time restrictions thanks to Mr Duggan feeling bad

aim was to stay undefeated. The

for the other team. Our next game at home was our

first game of the season eventually

second game against Sir Henry Floyd in which due to a

rolled around against Berkhamsted

mix of missing key players and complacency resulted

School, which with a convincing win

in our only defeat of the season 36-47. This was a

last year the same was expected.

disappointing effort; however, as a team the boys

The game was closer than

bounced back and used it as motivation for the last set

predicted with a win of 50-41 for

of games.

AGS and Pelumi Abioye surprisingly, for once, being able to shoot.

Chesham Grammar was our next challenge which involved facing their massive mullet monster. This

We kept this momentum going

however proved to be a breeze with a win of 57-17 led

into the second game at home

by Pelumi Aboioye’s 16 points and a notable step back

against RGS, with a big win of

three, supported by Luke Murphy with 12 points including

72-16, top scoring coming from

2 nice dunks and Hugo Pearson with 10 points and what

Luke Murphy as well as the new

some would call a gentle dunk. Not to mention Matt

addition of Matt Harmon attacking

Harmon who seemed allergic to scoring.

the basket well. This was a very convincing performance that gave

Our 2 last games of the season were both very close

us confidence going forward to the

against our rivals Dr Challoners. The first game resulted

next few games with our best team

in a win of 45-39, which saw Laurent Pllana, Hugo

performance of the season against

Pearson and Luke Murphy shooting well, leading us on

Sir Henry Floyd of 54-42. Luke

to our last game of the season: an extremely close one

Murphy, Hugo Pearson and Matt

point victory of 39-38. Some important blocks came from Hugo Pearson, Luke Murphy and Ewan Gatt in the last few possessions closing out a very successful campaign, finishing with a record of 8 wins and 1 loss, securing bragging rights as the best Under 18 basketball team in Bucks. We would like to thank Mr Duggan for his time and commitment to the AGS basketball programme, providing us with lots of fixtures and valuable moments that we will always remember.

Luke Murphy, Ridley 13

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

CRICKET

END OF AN ERA...

The U15A County Cup semi-final against Stowe School marked a historic moment for AGS sport, as it became the last ever representative match played on the school field before work begins on the new 3G pitch. It was a fitting finale, showcasing the commitment, talent, and spirit that have defined countless teams who have represented AGS on this surface over the decades. While this brings an end to an era, cricket remains a vital and cherished part of school life. We now look forward to an exciting new chapter through our partnership with Aylesbury Cricket Club, where our home fixtures will be played moving forward, ensuring the sport continues to flourish for future generations of AGS cricketers.

U12 Cricket A Team

Wickets: Milo Smith (5), Farhan Mahmood (4), Akein

We kicked off our season with a strong

Korala (3)

win against RGS, where Sai Kotturu

Highest Scores: Farhan Mahmood (64), Sai Kotturu (51*),

scored 44 and Farhan Mahmood

Toby Hutchinson (50*)

contributed 13*. Our bowlers shared the wickets, leading to a dominant

U12 Cricket B Team

performance.

Unfortunately, due to 1 of our games being cancelled, we only had 3 games this season. Despite that, we all

Next, we faced Doctor Challoner’s

can say we have enjoyed our time during our first of

Grammar School at home. After losing

many cricket seasons at AGS.

the toss, we batted first and scored 56 runs, with Farhan and Alexander Coe

Our first two games were pretty rough. We first played

top-scoring. We held them off until the

RGS in an away game where we won the toss and

11th over, thanks to wickets from Farhan

elected to bowl first. We limited RGS to 116 with a 3-fer

Mahmood and Milo Smith.

from Reshan but many ducks followed and we were bowled out for 36. We then played DCGS where we

Against Burnham Grammar School, we

opted to bowl first and thanks to outstanding batting

set a solid total of 130, highlighted by

from Toby and Olly we posted a target of 87. But DCGS

Farhan’s impressive 64 runs. Wickets

fearlessly took on the challenge despite Finn and Olly’s

from Sai Kotturu, Milo Smith, and Akein

wicket. Due to the two losses, there was a change in

Korala secured an important Cup win.

captaincy. Toby was to lead us against Berkhamsted Grammar School.

In our match against Berkhamsted, we batted first and managed 92 runs,

Our best performance was definitely against

with Farhan and Alexander Coe scoring

Berkhamsted. Not only because it was our first win,

29 and 19. Despite some great efforts,

also because it was the best we played. The opposition

including a notable run-out from

won the toss and decided to bat first, and after a well

Alexander Erskine Crum, we couldn’t

fielded first innings, we managed to limit them to 81,

secure the win.

with Ayushman taking 3 wickets. With help from our first 4 batsmen, and an amazing finishing innings from

Finally, against Reading Blue Coat, we

Finn and Gavin, we managed to chase that down in 16.2

scored 80 runs, with contributions from

overs.

Josh, Titobi, and Farhan. However, we struggled with our bowling and lost the

This season has had its highs and lows, but once we

game with six overs remaining.

found our feet we began to perform really well. Thank you to our coaches Mr Roberts and Mr Shepherd for

We played Chesham in a match that

such an outstanding season and we hope to see you all

included Sai Kotturu’s undefeated

next year.

51 and a mix of wickets coming from all types of bowlers. It was a very

U12 Cricket C Team

encouraging win.

I would like to thank the entire C team for winning our only game and for all the resilience and contributions

Our goals for next year are to have

to the only match we have ever played. A huge thank

more depth with the bat,and win

you to the entire team for very good sportsmanship

the toss. We have had a very good

and overall effort.

season and we would like to thank Mr Shepherd and Mr Roberts for a very enjoyable season. Stats: Runs: Farhan Mahmood (173), Sai

Josh Buthee, Phillips 7

Kotturu (110), Alexander Coe (86)

Farhan Mahmood, Denson 7

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U13 Cricket A Team Our season started off with a bang against RGS. After winning the toss and putting RGS into bat there was a stunning bowling performance by Max Smith. He took a hat trick and a total of four wickets. We bowled them out for just 63 with wickets contributed by Anay Amith, Lewis Yeung, Daniel Tilley and Haaris Dogar. When batting, we lost four key players, but Dennis Mahony and Sonny Keegan steadied the ship and took us to our first win of the season. Our next game was against our B team, with retirements coming from Sam Gunn, Rury Conely and a solid innings by Gwilym Walters. When it came to our bowling, another hat trick was taken but this time by Daniel Tilley and wickets were spread across the team. Our next two games against Dr Challoners and Berkhamsted were going to be tough. Against Dr Challoners, our bowling started well with a quick wicket, but, with a decision going against us, our energy decreased, allowing Challoners to set 130. After losing early wickets Anay and Rian batted well, but we struggled to keep up with the run rate and fell short of the total. After losing the toss at Berkhamsted, we asked to bowl. Max started us off with 2 quick wickets, but soon their 2 best batsmen both hit 50 and retired, putting us in a tough spot. We were given 171 to chase in just 20 overs. Despite this, Daniel and Max batted well, scoring 35 and 17 respectively, but it wasn’t enough to chase down this large total. Although we lost both of these challenging fixtures, we didn’t want this to affect our season. Next was Waddesdon. We won the toss and put them into bat, with another hat trick coming from Max Smith and taking a total of four wickets in one over. More wickets were contributed by the team. With a reversed batting order, our runs came from Sam Gunn and Sonny Keegan easily chasing down 35. Our next game against John Hampden was our first game at our new ground, Aylesbury CC. We batted first and crucial innings came from Lewis Yeung, Max Smith and Sam Gunn. After only making 94 it was going to be tough to

by Dennis Mahony, running out their key batsmen helped, but we could not defend our total with them chasing it down with a few overs to spare. After this, we played Reading Blue Coats, a school that we didn’t play last year. With high hopes, despite the absence of Captain Lewis, Daniel won the toss and we chose to bat. This wasn’t our finest batting innings; however, we bowled well, with Daniel and Max both bowling 4 overs and taking 2 wickets each. To round off our season, we played our final game against John Colet. With them wanting to bat first, Max and Daniel cleaned up their top order and Lewis took a hat trick and four wickets in total, cleared their middle order, and Rian finished it off. When it came to our batting, Dennis and Sonny opened and chased down the total with ease, despite losing Dennis at the end. Rian hit the winning runs to end our season on a high. We would like to finish by thanking Mr Gibbs, Mr Shepherd and Mr Singh for giving up their time and coaching us this season.

defend. Excellent bowling from Max Smith, Anay Smith and Lewis Yeung and incredible fielding

Lewis Yeung, Phillips 8 and Daniel Tilley, Lee 8

U13 Cricket B Team

highlighted that to win, we needed to excel in both

This past season was a testament to our resilience as

fielding and batting.

a team. We fought for every run and wicket, growing stronger together with each game. A huge well done

Keeping our heads high, we went into our next game

to everyone who stepped up and contributed to the B

against Princes Risborough. We fielded first again,

team, whether it was by scoring runs, taking wickets,

and with the boundaries being quite small, we quickly

making a crucial catch, stopping a boundary, or even

realised many shots would go for four. We adjusted our

just preventing a single.

positioning effectively, minimising the fours. Haaris and Abdullah bowled superbly in that game, setting us a

While the results weren’t always what we hoped for, the

chaseable target. It came down to a thrilling final push.

season was far from a disappointment. We had our ups

We needed 24 runs off 18 balls. Pavan and Abhinav

and downs, but we’ve seen remarkable improvement

batted exceptionally well together, pushing for singles

since the start of Year 7, carrying that momentum into

and hitting numerous boundaries. If a single wasn’t on,

Year 8 and continuing to progress. We’ve improved in

they still ran hard for it. We needed 7 runs off 3 balls

every aspect of the game, from our bowling and batting

when they unfortunately took a wicket. With 7 runs

to our overall confidence on the field.

needed off 2 balls, we just couldn’t get there. We ended another game with our heads held high, knowing we

Our first game was against the A Team. We lost by 76

could have won.

runs, but it was clear our confidence in the field had significantly improved from last year.

Our next game was against Reading Blue Coats, and our regular wicketkeeper couldn’t play. Arvin bravely

After our game against Dr. Challoner’s, we faced

stepped up to take on the role. Abdullah batted

Berkhamsted in what became our tightest game of

incredibly well, scoring 30 runs, and Agam managed to

the season. We batted first, with Pavan providing some

get a wicket. Viraj also bowled exceptionally, delivering

excellent batting and Arvin playing a long, steady

a wicket maiden. This was one of our closest games,

innings as our opening batsman. We posted a score of

as we needed only 6 runs in the final over. We were

83 for 8. We went into bowling with determination, but

unlucky to lose, but it was a memorable game with

the first five overs were challenging. Despite getting

many fantastic individual performances.

two wickets from Arvin and Agam, we took some hits, and our confidence started to wane. However, a

Our final game was against John Hampden. In the

direct hit by Haaris reignited our energy and helped

seventh over, Jasper took a fantastic catch. Lochy

us build momentum. There were some great bowling

nearly secured a two-wicket maiden but unfortunately

performances and a fantastic catch by Abdullah that

bowled a wide on the last ball of the over. Abdullah also

saw out one of their best batsmen. They were closing

took a brilliant catch, dismissing their best batsman

in on our total, and we desperately needed quick

and slowing down their run rate. Yevin and Sam both

wickets. Kian delivered, taking three crucial wickets with

batted well, each scoring over 20 runs, but they set us a

a superb bowling performance. A couple of run-outs

high target that we weren’t able to reach.

brought us even closer to bowling them out. Freddie then bowled and secured another wicket, bringing

Throughout the season, many players showcased their

us to nine wickets down. We were just one wicket

skills: Gwilym Walters and many others demonstrated

away, but luck wasn’t on our side. They managed to

great batting skills. Abhinav, Haaris, and others

chase it down, but we gained an immense amount of

displayed excellent bowling skills. Freddie, Abdullah,

confidence from that game.

and many others exhibited superb fielding skills. Even though it wasn’t our best season in terms of

Next, we played John Colet. This wasn’t our best game.

results, we all kept our heads high and consistently

We bowled and fielded exceptionally well, keeping their

celebrated our successes.

runs to a chaseable score. Abhinav and Arvin bowled particularly well, each taking a wicket. When it was our turn to bat, we started strong with Gwilym and Arvin forming a great opening partnership and scoring runs. Unfortunately, our run rate steadily dropped throughout the innings, and we ended up getting all out. This game

Lochy Clarke, Hampden 8 and Haaris Dogar, Ridley 8

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U14 Cricket A Team

weren’t quite at our best. Swarup and Freddie Palmer

The Year 9 cricket A team started an enjoyable

bowled well, with 3 and 2 wickets, respectively, and due

and action-packed season away to Stowe, the

to a few very good batters, we found ourselves with

best team we would play.

185 to chase. Harry Smith batted very well, scoring 64, but with no one else to support, we were 47 runs short

We lost the toss and were fielding, and after a

against a strong Reading side.

slow start due to a couple of very good batters, we were set 174 to chase in our 25 overs, with

Well done to Harry S for scoring 114 runs, at an average

Vrishab and Freddie J both taking 2 wickets.

of 28, Harry G for scoring 161 runs at an average of 32

With the bat, Freddie J scored 45 and Harry G

and Freddie Jarman scoring 74 runs over the season.

31, but no one else managed to chip in and we were left 40 runs short.

Freddie Jarman and Vrishab bowled very well throughout the year, with 6 wickets each.

Next up was a tough John Hampden side this was the county cup final from last year,

Thank you to Mr Ramsbottom and Mr Brittain for their

that got cancelled for weather many times.

help and support to the team throughout the year.

We lost the toss and were fielding, and due to our loose bowling and big hitting on their side, they scored 183 from their 25 overs, with no one taking more than a wicket. We had to dig deep, against the best bowling attack we would stumble upon all year. Harry G scored 65, and Harry S got 30, but without anyone else contributing to the scorecard, we fell 32 runs short against a very well organised John Hampden. Our next game was versus Dr Challoner’s and our first game at Aylesbury Town cricket club. Harry G lost the toss, again, and we were fielding, again. After our best fielding performance to date, we restricted them to 84 runs from their 20 overs. Freddie J took 3 wickets with Vrishab and Kaynu each getting 2. We comfortably chased down 84, with Harry Smith and Harry Johnston seeing it home, scoring 20 each. Next, we faced Chesham Grammar, the weakest side we would play. Harry finally won the toss and we batted first - posting our biggest score of the season, 201. Well done to Swarup and Dom for scoring 50’s, and an overall great contribution from everyone with the bat. We quickly bowled them out for 76, with Josh, Freddie Palmer and Vansh with two wickets each, sealing off a comprehensive victory. Winning the toss and bowling this time, against a well orientated Reading Blue Coats side, it was a long and hot 20 overs in the field, and we

Harry Godden, Lee 9

U15 Cricket A Team

that there was still a lot to play for this season.

Our opening game of the season was a district cup

Some compare this match to the Ashes, others

match against our B team in which we decided to bat

compare it to the cricket world cup. It was… the

first with solid performances coming from Ishaan Ella,

Trevor Whitby Cup. This is played annually for every

who made 66 not out and Hamza Sohail made a decent

U15 team against Dr Challoner’s grammar school

133 not out. These batting performances helped us

in recognition of Mr Whitby’s years of teaching at

achieve a monstrous total of 329 runs. We followed with

both schools. According to Mr DImbleby AGS had

a solid bowling performance which led to a comfortable

only won this cup twice in the last 9 years and we

win by 245 runs.

were the underdogs in this match as we had never won against Dr Challoner’s before. We were put onto

We went onto our second game of the season against

bat first, but as Hamza, our in form batsmen, was

John Colet with a great deal of confidence. We were

out early. We thought it was over, until Nevin made

put onto bowl first and thanks to bowlers like Charlie

an astonishing 35 and Arth made a beautiful 38.

Mcgrail, who took 3 wickets and Max and Vedanth,

This helped us get a total of only 131. Knowing the

who took 2 each, we managed to restrict them to just

strength of Dr Challoner’s batsmen and our opening

87 runs. We chased this with great ease with Hamza

bowlers failing to get their openers out we thought

continuing his decent form and making 47 not out

it was completely over and the glorious Whitby

and Hunayn scoring a majestic 17 runs before getting

cup would fall into the hands of Dr Challoner’s

unfairly run out by Hamza.

once again. That was until the magical spinning duo of Hunayn and Arth came onto the stage and

Next, we played against Dengbigh High School, where

pierced through the heart of the Challoner’s batting

we bowled first and obliterated their batting line up,

order with Hunayn bowling 4 overs for just 9 runs

getting them all out for just 37 runs, with wickets from

and taking 4 wickets and Arth taking 3 key wickets

Zac taking 2 wickets for 15 runs, Charlie taking 2 wickets

and 2 run outs. This dynamic duo helped keep the

for 11 runs, and Hunayn taking 2 wickets for 0 runs. Our

Challoner’s score to just 101, meaning the Whitby cup

openers, Will and Arth chased the total with ease and

was back where it belonged.

helped us win our third game in a row. Next, we played JHGS and batted first making 112 We moved on to our next game against Chesham

thanks to the likes of Joe Tilley who smashed some

Grammar. In the past we lost to them so the team knew

huge sixes making a total of 38. We kept them down

they needed to redeem themselves this season. And

to 86 all out with ease thanks to Kit who took 4

redeem themselves they did as Arth made a gracious

wickets for just 17 runs.

58 not out and Hamza made 40 runs. This led to a total of 143 runs. We knew that Chesham had the right

In our penultimate game of the season we played a

batsmen to chase this so we had to be at our best.

strong RGS side where they batted first and Arth took

We fielded and bowled exceptionally well with Charlie

3 wickets and Charlie wade took 2 helping to restrict

Wade taking 5 key wickets for just 18 runs. We ended up

them to 131. And in this run chase Will and Arth both

destroying them and getting them all out for just 76.

made a solid 20 and Ishaan made 61 not out leading to another win in the season.

Feeling unstoppable, we played our hardest match of the season in the semi final of the county cup versus

We finished our season against Waddeson and

Stowe. We bowled first knowing we had little room for

knew we had to finish with a flourish, and we did that

any errors in the field or with the ball. We fought hard to

by getting them all out for just 78 with Kit taking 2

keep their total as low as possible with our keeper Dylan

wickets and Joe taking 3 wickets. This led to a quick

making lovely diving stops to minimise their runs and

and easy run chase which was completed in the

Eashan taking 3 wickets for 25 and Zac taking 2 wickets

tenth over of the game.

for 16. Along with solid fielding, this led to Stowe scoring 154 for eight wickets. Despite a 78 not out from Hamza

Overall, we had one of our best seasons yet, winning

and 34 runs from Nevin we fell short of the target by just

every game apart from one match versus Stowe

15 runs, meaning our county cup run was over.

which could have gone either way.

We did not let this loss damage our morale as we knew

Hamza Sohail, Lee 10

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U15 Cricket B Team

who kept them to a low score of 140 runs. After this we

The 2025 U15 B cricket team

needed someone who could score some runs. This man

consisted of some big stars like

was none other than Reon Adai, who decided to play

Vedhanth Hari, Reon Adai, Sagar

the best innings of his school career and produced

Kollamsetty, Ibrahim Sohail, Madhav

a good knock of 38 runs. Unfortunately everyone was

Sreelal, Uday Gupta, Avyan Rana,

so amazed by Reon’s innings that they couldn’t focus

Jack Charnock, Sam Bett, Max

properly and eventually lost the match by 2 runs, with

Evans, Oscar Rose, Tom Webb and

no significant contribution from anyone else.

Thomas Payne, with appearances late in the season for the likes of Kit

After this loss we were determined to win our next

Chantrey and Aditya Govekar.

match against Dr Challoner’s. We batted first with Vedanth scoring 25 and others chipping in to

This leads us on to our first match

contribute to our final total of 127. A great opening spell

of the season against the U15 AGS

from Kit supported by the changes to Jack, Madhav

A team. The U15 A team batted first

and Avyan who all bowled some fiery spells, we won the

and scored 329 runs for 1 wicket.

game by 2 runs.

This 1 wicket came from some good

Now we played our final game of the season, which was

bowling from Ibrahim. After this we

the game where none other than Aditya Govekar would

came out to bat. Uday walked to

make his debut against RGS High Wycombe. Vedanth,

the crease with confidence and he

our captain, won the toss and chose to bat first. He

batted well for a composed and

allowed himself and Uday to open the batting. But after

classy 35 runs. Despite Uday batting

Vedanth gave away his wicket cheaply, the one and

well, the team could not support

only Ibrahim Sohail was brought to the crease. Ibrahim

him and were all out for 80 runs.

played gracious shots and this led to Ibrahim being stranded on a total of 47 runs not out, so close yet so

After this defeat. We knew we

far from a half century. The team scored a respectable

had to win our match against

total of 160 runs. After some good spells from our

John Colet School to redeem

bowlers we won the match by 5 wickets.

ourselves. We batted first and put on a respectable score of 138 runs,

The U15b team had a record of 3 victories and 2 defeats

Vedanth played a steady innings

but we couldn’t have done it without our coach, Mr.

and scored a total of 57 runs. Then,

Shepherd. So we would like to thank him and head

like a magician with a bat, Ibrahim

coach Mr Dimbleby for coaching us.

walked to the crease — calm, composed, and unshaken. With graceful shots and confidence, he scored a massive 13 runs. After tea we came out to defend our total of 138. It was a close match but some good bowling by Madhav who bowled so well that he took 5 wickets, and the catch of the season by Sam Bett, running back and catching one handed over his shoulder, really helped us in winning the match. After this hard fought victory. We came in with our spirits high and ready to play Waddesdon School. This match saw some good bowling by Vedanth, Sagar and Ibrahim,

Vedanth Hari, Paterson 10

U18 Cricket 1st XI

Reading Bluecoats T10 competition.

The senior cricket season kicked off in the Spring Term,

On arrival we were drawn to play

with nets early on a Monday morning, which were

against John Hampden first. John

attended by large numbers each week. These nets

Hampden amassed 116, despite

gave the squad the chance to bond given new year 11

some good blowing from George

players joining and some year 12s returning to cricket.

Jackson and Tom Lowe. In reply a magnificent unbeaten 92 buy Billy

The playing season began against RGS with one team

Dodds was not quite enough to get

at home and one away. The First Team struggled in

us over the line, losing by 8 runs.

the field as RGS scored at nearly 9 an over ending their

Wins over both Reading Bluecoats

innings on 178 for 2. In reply a good 46 from Billy Dodds

and Reading School, plus a further

was not enough to keep us in the chase as we lost by

defeat by Dr Challoner’s, left the

73 runs. The Seconds did not fare much better in the

team in mid-table at the end of a

field as RGS only lost one wicket on their way to 153. The

very enjoyable day.

highlight of our reply was Rama Sangana’s 64 off 52 balls, but like the first team nobody else could support

The last match of the season,

him with a score and we lost by 35 runs.

bought about our first century maker of the season, as Zach

Next, the team travelled to Marlow Cricket Ground to

Cleary scored a brilliant 103 not out

play Sir William Borlase and here Billy Doods launched

against John Hampden and with

balls to all parts scoring 72 off 32 balls, as the team

his opening partner Geroge Greer

ended their innings on 125. Early wickets from Ved

also batting the full 20 overs we end

Ghande and Joe Harrison, meant Borlase never were

on 176 without loss. John Hampden

really in the game as they were bowled out for 71.

openers for a time looked like the target would be in reach, but the

Following the half term break, we were straight in to

introduction of both Ved Ghande, 2

play Dr Challoners. Batting first James Godden held

for 10 and James Godden, 4 for 23,

our innings together as he carried his bat for 59 not out,

off their 4 overs each, swung the

as others struggled and the team only manged 93 off

match as John Hampden fell 21 runs

their 20 overs. Despite some spirited bowling and Joe

short of their target.

Harrison taking 2 for 17 off his four overs, Challoners won by 5 wickets.

Thanks to the whole squad for their attitude, commitment and humour

The highlight of the senior season was a trip to the

throughout the season.

THE AYLESBURIAN

CROSS COUNTRY

SCHOOL SPORT

The cross country season commenced in October/November with the House Cross Country competition. This event provided an opportunity for runners from all year groups to try out for the School teams and compete in the ESAA Cross Country Cup. The Junior team comprised three Year 8 students and three Year 7 students, all of whom performed admirably. Luca Dolan delivered an outstanding performance, securing 1st place at the County Round held at Princes Risborough School. The Year 7 runners followed Luca’s strong lead, with Dewi Fordyce finishing 18th, Charlie Robinson 26th, and Finley Garman 30th. Sonny Keegan and Rushil Mantha both finished within the top 40, ensuring the team qualified for the next round. The Inter team consisted of Charlie Wade, Jack Higgs, Chuckwudi Onyebuchi, Ollie Usher, Euan Conely, and Eshan Patel. All team members ran consistently well. Ollie Usher was the top performer, finishing in 19th position. The other scoring runners were Charlie, Jack, and Chuckwudi, who placed 21st, 35th, and 36th, respectively. Unfortunately, the team narrowly missed out on a top 3 finish, which would have secured their qualification for the regional finals. The Senior team received a bye directly to the regional finals. The regional finals, held at Stowe, are always a challenging race. Both the Junior and Senior teams were eager to compete. The Senior team was a mix of students from Years 11 to 13. Edward Johnson led the team with an impressive 4th-place finish. Alex Glover and Zach Cleary ran closely together, finishing 31st and 37th, respectively. Stan Hornor finished 43rd, followed by Ben List in 56th and Vedanta Warad in 59th. As a team, the boys finished a very respectable 5th out of 12 schools. In the Junior team race, Luca Dolan continued his dominance, once again finishing 1st in the regional competition. Dewi Fordyce again

demonstrated his potential with an impressive 9th-place finish. Andrin Jose was the next team member to finish in 27th place, followed by Leo Lloyd in 31st and Charlie Robinson in 38th. Finley Garman completed the team performance, placing 48th. This collective effort placed the team 4th overall, just 5 points behind DCGS in 3rd place, narrowly missing out on qualification for the national finals. In February, Stowe School hosted the Bucks Schools Cross Country competition. This event provided an opportunity for our runners to qualify for the Bucks team and compete at the national finals in March. In the junior race, Luca continued his outstanding performances by finishing 2nd, only 33 seconds behind the winner. Dewi placed 14th in the Year 7 category, with Charlie and Finley finishing 20th and 21st, respectively. In the Inter race, Ed Johnson and Zach Cleary competed for a place in the Bucks team. Ed delivered a brilliant performance, winning the race by an impressive 25 seconds. Zach also put in an impressive showing, finishing 17th for the AGS boys. As a result, Ed competed at the National Cross Country Championships and achieved a commendable 39th place out of a field of approximately 350 runners. This was a fantastic result, well done, Ed! Written : Mr N Gibbs

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

FOOTBALL U12 Football

Next up, there was a crucial match against Lord

The Under 12 Football team have had a good season,

Williams. Due to some passionate defending from

with a number of great wins and a few humbling

Dennis Mahony and Lochy Clarke and impressive saves

defeats. The weather got the better of our two initial

from Luca Holliday, we secured a 1-0 win, which put

Saturday fixtures, but the team started well in the

us through to the semi-finals of the district cup. We

District League defeating St Michael’s and Kingsbrook.

then travelled to Reading Blue Coats for a friendly,

The team suffered their first loss v John Colet School

where we earned a hard-fought, thrilling 5-4 victory,

before securing victories v Princes Risborough, Lord

with our new number 9, Anay Amith, netting a superb

Williams, The Grange and Princethorpe College. A

hat-trick and our effectiveness to score from set pieces

poor performance v Reading Bluecoat stung, but good

became even more visible. The following week, we

victories followed v Mandeville and Sir Henry Floyd. A

played a friendly against Princethorpe away and won

heartbreaking 4-3 defeat in the Semi-Final v Cottesloe

10-1, with Aydin Habib scoring a great goal and Jeremy

brought our District campaign to an end.

Ohadekwe earning man of the match through a hat trick and a stint in goal. This allowed players to try out

The B team had great games v Reading Bluecoat and

new positions as both our keepers, Luca Holliday and

Princethorpe College but other fixtures were cancelled

Freddie Lazaruk, finished the game outfield.

due to the poor weather at the start of the season. Next was a friendly vs Sir Henry Floyd, where Max Smith It has been great to see over 95 students representing

scored a quick-fire hat-trick, along with a goal from

the Year 7 A, B, C and D Football teams this year.

Sonny Keegan, to secure a 4-1 victory. Jacob Mitchell and Ben Lambe produced a determined display

Written:

throughout. Our district cup semi-final was next, where

Mr C Duggan

we were victorious in a 6-2 win vs Cottesloe. Another hat-trick from our striker, Max Smith, and more goals

U13 Football

from Anay Amith and Jeremy Ohadekwe. Leo Llloyd,

The 2025 U13 football season was very successful.

Sam Gunn, Dennis Mahony and Lochy Clarke remained

Captained by Tumelo Imasiku we started our campaign

solid at the back and that was coupled with some

with a 6-1 victory against St Michael’s, with Sonny

great defensive play from Ben Lambe to see it out. We

Keegan scoring a hat trick and two from the skilful

are looking forward to playing in the final so we can

Kwaku Smit. We then travelled to Shiplake, where we

end the season in the positive way it deserves.

won 7-1, with the whole team playing amazingly. The next game was slightly closer, a 3-1 win vs Kingsbrook,

Written:

helped by a great, playmaking performance by Tumelo

Tumelo Imasiku, Paterson 8

Imasiku. Next up, we won 5-0 against Mandeville, with a sensational goal from Sam Gunn and a display of

U14 Football

speed and power from Gabe Huckle.

We had a rough start to the 2025 football season, with an unfortunate 3-0 loss against St. Michaels. We had

In the next game vs John Colet, we were caught on

some key players missing and this, along with the long

the counter, despite our dominance. We couldn’t quite

break between the last time we had played left us with

find the key spaces behind the opposition’s defence

lots to be desired going into the season.

due to our lack of a traditional number 9 and we lost 1-0. Despite this, debutants Aydin Habib and Freddie

Our next game was a notoriously difficult one,

Lazaruk had exceptional first games. Although we

Kingsbrook. We played brilliantly, with everyone on the

did have a setback in the form of our first loss of the

team showing amazing determination and grit. With

season, we bounced back and hammered PRS 7-0, with

Luca scoring a hat-trick in his first game of the season

Max, Sonny, Jeremy Ohadekwe, Jacob Mitchell and Leo

and further goals from Freddie Jarman and Morten

Lloyd all contributing goals to the team. Tyler Simon

Giles settled the game with a comfortable 5-1 win.

played fantastically as his skills were too good for the opposition’s fullback.

The following game was against Mandeville. We knew

this wouldn’t be an easy win so we once again performed with the same energy as our previous game. Luca won a penalty and up stepped Ben. He calmly slotted it away. Another goal from Ben assisted by Luca would put us 2-0 up. Towards the start of the second half Henry Purser gave away a controversial penalty that was flagged by Mr Dudmish. They put their chance away and that put the score to 2-1. This made us step up and play better than we had previously. After dominating in the second half. Luca got a chance and scored it, making it 3-1. The subsequent game in the cup was against John Colet. We created a lot of chances in the first half, with a long freekick from Jake Canning luckily finding its way into the net. Ben Ludlam was once again on the scoresheet with a lucky tight angle goal put away. At half time we were 2-0 up but with the uphill slope against us as well as the wind we were under constant pressure. Despite this we never gave up and defended well all game, with particularly good performances from Chris Hamer and Tommy Davies. After a brilliant block from Chris, the ball fell to Henry. The chance of a counter attack was on and with a good ball from Henry to Louis Smith who played Jason through on goal, he finished with his first touch of the game. This goal killed the game resulting in a decisive 3-0 win. The following game was against Lord Bills. Despite only a 2-0 win, it was a dominant display with too many chances to count. Ben managed to take one of his many chances through a 1 on 1 which hit the keeper but still managed to roll in. The other goal came after sustained pressure and a tidy finish from Harry Smith resulting in a comfortable win. Up next to continue the winning streak was PRS. Going into this game we anticipated an easy win. This turned out to be true, with goals from Ben and Morton within the first minute of the game. Goals were score by Jason, Chris, Ben x2, and Morton Giles. Leading to a comfortable 5-0 win. In our final Area Cup game we played the Grange. A tidy finish from Ben put us 1-0 up towards the end of the first half. We were the better team for most the game and demonstrated this with a comfortable 4-0 win. The goals coming from Ben x2, Freddie Palmer and Jason. In a friendly the following week we played Sir Henry Floyd, a game we were desperate to win. Inspirational words from Mr Dimbleby on the sideline motivated all of us to perform with determination and want the win more than them. Although we had been playing decent football, our keeper made an unfortunate mistake which put us one nil down. With constant pressure up top by Ben Ludlam the mistake was bound to happen. After a lucky, but deserved rebound, Jake put it away to make it 1-1. This made us step up a notch, wanting the win more than ever. We kept playing at a high standard, wearing down our opponents’ defence. This paid off, a poor clearance from them landed at Henry’s feet, he passed to Theo who scored an amazing goal from outside the box putting us 2-1 up. Ben was played through on goal and with a first time finish, put the score to 3-1, ending the game. Theo Chadwick, Ridley 9

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

A TEAM EFFORT

U15 Football We started our season in mid-September, facing Amersham in the County Cup, a team that we had never played before, and so we had no idea what to expect. We came out the blocks the slower team, however, and found ourselves 2-0 down after the first 10 minutes. Now, starting to figure out our opponents, we responded and due to a tidy hat-trick from Will and a sublime finish from Freddie, we scored 4 without reply, giving us a 4-2 lead at half time. The two teams traded chances in the second half before Amersham scored 2 in 10 minutes yet again, to bring the game to a dramatic 4 all. Both teams were pushing numbers forward in the latter stages, but couldn’t stop the game from going to penalties, where, despite scoring 4 out of our 5 penalties we were eliminated from the county cup. Our next game was also before Christmas, when we travelled to St Albans to face Sandringham, this time in the National Cup. This game, we wanted to give a strong account of ourselves to make up for the county cup loss, though this was difficult as a few injuries early in the game and a strong Sandringham midfield left us 2-1 down at half time. Despite us coming out the better team after half time, Sandringham took their chances and scored another 3 goals across the half, leaving us 5-1 down, before a couple of consolation goals late in the half gave us hope, but it was too little too late and we lost 5-3, sending us out of the National Cup. Our first two games after Christmas were against St Michaels and John Colet in the District cup, scoring 10 goals across the two games, with 7 different goal scorers, giving us a strong start to our campaign. After this, we played out draws against Princes Risborough and Lord Williams. The Risborough game ended one all, with Will getting the only goal, though it was a match we really should have won, missing big chances and lacking accuracy in our set pieces. The Lord Williams match was the penultimate game of the district cup group stage and it

ended 2 all. In the early stages, their long ball

U16 Football

and direct approach tested our defence and saw

The season started in disappointing fashion with two

them take a 1 nil lead quickly, but we steadied

defeats which meant an early elimination from both

ourselves and scored 2 good goals, Chuk with his

National and Country Cup competitions. An early exit

first of the season, giving us a slender lead at half

meant the team had the District Cup as their only

time. They came out after half time the better

chance for silverware.

team and as a result of this pressure, scored an amazing goal to level the tie. Across the last half

The District Cup started in mid-January with an away

an hour, both teams missed big chances and

game versus The Mandeville School. AGS went on

defences held firm, leaving the game to finish

to grind out a 2-1 win. AGS followed this win with an

2-2.

outstanding performance against John Colet. A bye against Princes Risborough and an impressive 3-0 win

Our last game of the group stage was a local

against St Michaels was unfortunately followed by a

derby, in which we faced the Grange. The match

loss at home versus Lord Williams. Despite this loss, AGS

was cagey and a few brilliant saves from Joseph

had all but sealed progress to the semi finals with only

and great defending from our back four, left the

one group game remaining versus the Grange. This

game goalless at the break. The second half, we

final group game was our best result and AGS battled

were dominant though and with Freddie getting

back from an early 3-1 deficit to clinch a 4-3 win.

his 5th goal in 7 games, we won 2-0 and secured our place in the semi final where we would face

AGS drew Royal Latin in the semi-final and laboured to

Waddesdon. The match started very untidily and

a 2-1 defeat. Despite some mixed results, Mr Davey and

a lot of free kicks and corners didn’t let us get

Mr Barrie have seen some very encouraging signs. The

into our flow. After a short period of pressure,

team has exceptional grit and determination which has

Waddesdon took the lead when a hopeful

seen them contest and ultimately edge some very tight

cross found their winger at the back post. We

affairs against decent opposition. Ekandayo Oyelade

responded well though, increasing our intensity

has been excellent in goal, showcasing all of the

and piling on the pressure before a pinball in

qualities of a top goalkeeper. The defence consisting

the box fell to Noah who scored his first of the

of Sam Dewhirst, Harrison Frost, Jed Okai, Jared Hill,

season. The match was gaining pace now as

and Cole Chapener has been very resolute as well

both teams started to figure each other out and

as having the exceptional ability to never appear

put together some nice phases of play. Despite

flustered when in and out of possession. The midfield

us being on top, Waddesdon grabbed a goal

of Martin Tasev, Raphie London, Daanyal Dogar, and

through yet another scrappy cross. In the second

Oscar Bennett have a blend of being combative out of

half we piled on the pressure and pushed players

possession and technically composed when on the ball.

forward but as a result of this, left ourselves open at the back, leaving Waddesdon to score

In the forward positions Joshua Woodward, Jaydon

a third with only minutes left and extinguishing

Mugonapaja, Lucas Taylor were devastating at times,

any hopes we had of a comeback, which was

and their pace and trickery were a great complement

a disappointing way to end a season that had

to Tomi’s Ashaolu ability to hold the ball up and bring

been our longest yet.

others into play as well as possessing his own threat running in behind.

Across the season, we had 9 different scorers and found the net 23 times, Will being the top

In addition to the mainstays of the squad there have

scorer with 11 goals. Highlights across the season

been some very good and important cameos from

include the derby wins over The Grange and

Lennox Waugh, James Whitmore, Warwick Hills, and

John Colet, which were the high points in an

Sam Barnes. The season is exceptionally short and

inconsistent season where we went out in the

experimentation opportunities are very limited. We

semi final of the district cup, but had some great

hope to give many more of you an opportunity to

wins along the way.

represent AGS at football in the future. Written:

James Godley, Hampden 10

Jared Hills, Denson 11

THE AYLESBURIAN

U18 Football First XI So far it has been a rather inconsistent and at times challenging season for the AGS 1st XI. The term has seen both several impressive victories, but also some heavy defeats. After 3 pre-season friendlies the competitive season began with the national and county cup competitions. We began the knock-out national cup with a comprehensive 8-0 victory away at The Reach School, Rickmansworth. In the next round we were drawn against local rivals Sir Henry Floyd. In a tight game we lost 3-1 with Toby Barnes scoring our goal. This was the end of our National Cup run. The County Cup is played on a group basis with AGS in the top division with the strongest 9 teams in the county. Everyone plays everyone once, with the top six teams advancing to the quarter finals. We got off to a bad start with a 4-0 defeat to the reigning champions Dr Challoners and then a particularly poor performance at home saw us lose to Chesham Grammar. Having lost our first 2 games the teams showed real spirit to beat Royal Latin 4-3 with a late Hayden Foster winner. We then defeated Cottesloe 3-0 on the road and showed further character to beat Sr Henry Floyd 5-2 less than 2 weeks after losing to them in the National Cup. Having put together a good mini-run, the team then suffered heavy away defeats at both John Hampden Grammar and Walton High. Our final competitive game of the term at home to Great Marlow fell foul of the wet weather so will be rearranged after Christmas. At this stage the standings in the County Cup are very tight and we may well need points from this game to advance to the quarter finals. Depending on results elsewhere there is also a chance of relegation to the second division, so this will potentially be a very big game. Defending as a team and keeping out the goals has certainly been a problem. But the group have never thrown in the towel and we have produced some

SCHOOL SPORT

encouraging performances. We certainly have the potential to get better as a team in the second half of the season. Just to mention a few individuals. Both Ben Tucker and Owen Mitchell have been ever-present in defence and have played in all 13 fixtures. Toby Barnes and Jacob O’Neill have scored 6 goals behind top scorer Max Sato on 8. Captain Sam Hughes has led from the front and also weighed in with 3 goals. Well done to everyone who has represented the 1st XI this term and we look forward to coming back stronger after Christmas. Played: 13 Won: 5 Drawn: 1 Lost: 7

Written : Mr J Barrie

NURTURING CHARACTER THROUGH SPORT

THE AYLESBURIAN

HANDBALL

Under 13 Handball This was our first year playing handball, and Year 8 students showed great enthusiasm from the very first training session. Our opening match was a friendly against Kingsbrook School. Both teams were new to the sport, and we played a 5-a-side, no-dribbling format. With goals from all outfield players and solid defending, we secured our first win. Next came National Round 1, hosted at AGS. We won all our group matches, including a tough game against John Hampden Grammar School (JHGS), thanks to sharp shooting from Sonny and Luke. After a convincing semi-final win, we faced JHGS again in the final. It was a close match, ending 6–7 after a last-second goal was disallowed. Scorers across the tournament included Tumelo, Aiden, Daniel, Crispy, Gabe, Luke, Sonny, and Ibrahim. As the season progressed, new players like Ridhan and Ryan joined the squad. We then travelled to Bournemouth for the Regional Finals. Despite missing Gabe, we topped our group with goals from Crispy, Ridhan, Daniel, Ibrahim, Aiden, Tumelo, and Jathin, and excellent saves from Alex and Caleb. In the semi-final, we were outmatched by a strong, physical team who went on to win the tournament. However, we bounced back to win the 3rd place playoff and earn a well-deserved medal.

Written : Daniel Tilley, Lee 8

A huge thank you to Mr Roberts and our Sixth Form helpers, Alfie,

Tumelo Imasiku, Paterson 8

Austin, and Matt, for their support throughout the season. We’re

Crispy Harmon, Lee 8

proud of our progress and excited for what’s to come next year.

SCHOOL SPORT

Under 15 Handball

goal in our third game, we lost one game out of four

Our season started with an away fixture against

and finished 2nd in the group. This meant that we had

Kingsbrook school with a squad featuring many new

to play the winners of the other group, which ended up

players. As a team, everyone played well to ensure our

being our rivals John Hampden. It was the closest of our

first victory of the season, with many more to come.

games, again ending in a 10-10 draw. Extra time was added, and John Hampden ended up as the stronger

The first national round was then upon us much earlier

team in the end, winning 14-12. This loss meant that

than expected. We finished 2nd in the group, winning all

we couldn’t qualify for the national finals. Although

games apart from a 10-10 draw to John Hampden. We

disheartened, we finished on a high, winning our third

went on to play a heated semi against Royal Latin. Our

place playoff 10-7 and collecting bronze medals.

opponents became very physical, trying to wrestle with Joe Tilley and at one point throwing Nevin

We would like to thank Madame Malhi for her coaching

Korala out of the air. However, we kept our calm and

skills and her work alongside Mr Dudmish to bring the

comfortably won, securing our spot for the second

team together. We thank the Y11s and 12s for coming

round. We then went on to beat John Hampden in the

in at lunchtime to really help improve us throughout

final and win the 1st round.

training. We also want to thank Tumelo Imasiku and Crispy Harmon, the two Y8s who joined to help us play

Next was a friendly fixture against John Hampden after

well at round 2. We wish good luck to them and the Y9s

a long break from the first round of nationals. This was a

in the team who are going to play next year.

much more relaxed match in which we came up with a big squad meaning that we rotated players throughout

We’d like to thank Nevin Korala, Joe Tilley, David

the fixture. We played 3 games against each other

Chelaru, Eashan Patel, Euan Conely, David Onohwakpo,

where we won, lost and drew with both sides playing

Kit Chantrey, Tetisimi Akinwumi and Keyaan Shah for

really good handball.

playing with us and putting in brilliant efforts and fantastic performances since the team started.

The month of May came and the squad departed for round 2 of the nationals - the regional final. We played

Written :

well as a unit, winning most of our games there in the

Nevin Korala, Hampden 10

group stage. But, due to conceding a late, controversial

David Onohwakpo, Hampden 10

THE AYLESBURIAN

RUGBY

SCHOOL SPORT

U12 Rugby This season has been hugely successful for both As and Bs. As for the A team we started the season slowly with 2 losses against UCS and Coldicott but quickly turned things around after the game against Cokethorpe and we kicked off our streak beating Borlase, KES and Dr Challanors Increasing the streak to 4. Then came the challenge of the Reading Blue Coat tournament. We all went into it with our spirits high, especially after Toluwani’s pep talk. A Lot of things happened during that tournament e.g Tom breaking his hand. But we still pulled through and after a whopping 36 tries scored, only 4 conceded and an extremely challenging final game we pulled through and won the whole thing. And we even got Mr Gibbs to say we did great so we must have done well. But I don’t think we would have won that tournament without Emeka scoring 11 tries. Now with our streak at 11, we were on fire (you can do the maths on how many games we played at the tournament because you are supposedly meant to be good at that sort of thing). Next came Claires Court - won, John Hampden - won. And now we were on to the last game of the season against Princethorpe College. After a whole 1hr and 30 min, we finally arrived, then we saw the pitches were literally swimming pools of mud. But no amount of

mud was going to stop us. After a really tight 38 minutes with the score 10-10, it was the last minute. We were on our 5m line and defending for our lives but sadly they scored and we lost. The winning streak had come to an end at 13. As for the B team, they had highs and lows but almost all of the team were new to the game. They came up against Waddesdon who could not handle the heat with the newest addition of Hez running through everyone. They absolutely hammered them 8 tries to 2, and ended the day on a high. Over the season, we have made brilliant progress, and it is amazing to watch as people who had never played before AGS come as far as they have. As far as we are concerned the only thing that matters is tries, so here are the top 3 try scorers of this season: Pascal in 3rd with 11 tries in 7 games; in 2nd Alexander with 12 tries in 11 games; and the person with the most amount of tries I have ever seen scored in a single season Emeka with a whopping 27 tries in 11 games. And I am sure he would have added to that total if it weren’t for called-off games. Finally a huge thank you to Mr Gibbs and Mr Mansfield for all of the time they have given us and for helping us to develop our game further. U13 Rugby A Team As a team, the U13A team had a brilliant season. From the lows of losing players to injuries and to the highs of winning against rivals, we have fought hard during the season and it has paid off. We began the season with our normal first fixture against UCS. We started the game well, keeping the score even, but sadly, after not playing with each other for many months, we suffered from lack of discipline. We let UCS score some easy tries, leading to a 20-70 defeat with Fionn & Max scoring our tries. Determined to play better together we went into the next fixture, The Oratory Tournament, excited to have the opportunity to play on a full sized pitch for the first time. We played well throughout, winning two out of our four games, with Mason, Max, Fred and Freddie all scoring tries. Aydin had an outsanding debut performance and Xavier won many penalties with his tackling. Daniel and Sam’s passing at 9 and 10 was brilliant along with Ed’s amazing line breaks. This gave us the confidence boost we needed Dewi Fordyce, Hampden 7 Josh Buthee, Phillips 7

to go into our next game against Sir William Borlase. Unfortunately, we lost two of our players in the run up

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

to our this fixture, Fionn to a broken collar bone and

all and managed to get a try back. We tackled well

Dennis to a broken foot. This was a big shock for the

and were able to keep it close in the second half but

team as we hadn’t experienced losing a player to a

Claire’s Court were just too strong and won by 4 tries.

serious injury before and it meant we had to re-shape

Lochy, Walter and Kwaku all had strong performances

the team.

throughout the game.

With Fionn and Dennis out, we welcomed a new captain

As a team, we’ve got stronger as the season has

and vice-captain, Daniel and Sam respectively, to lead

progressed with better ball handling, stronger tackling

us in our next game.

and more confidence. We bounced back from our losses and have enjoyed our Year 8 rugby season.

Ready to play, we went out onto the field, looking at

With two more games to go we hope to finish off our

a reasonably large team. However, we didn’t let that

season off on a high with two wins against Princethorpe

get to us and we played a strong game, with Gabriel

College and JHGS.

and Ed scoring their first tries of the season and Leo performing well under the high ball. The final score was

We would like to thank our amazing coaches Mr

a 35-0 win to us.

Dudmish and Miss Johnson for all their outstanding hard work and commitment to making us a stronger

Next we were ready to face a team who we had beaten

and better team this season.

last year, Latymer Upper School. With the absence of two of our forwards, we struggled in the scrums and

Daniel Tilley, Lee 8

rucks, resulting in a 10-0 defeat. Despite this, many

Samuel Gunn, Lee 8

gave their all, including debutant Greg.

Mason Fairclough-Leach, Denson 8

We were set to play King Edward VI Stratford next but

U13 Rugby B Team

sadly, they pulled out and the game was cancelled.

We would like to begin by saying a massive thank you to Mr Dudmish and Miss Johnson who have dedicated

Next, we headed down to Reading Bluecoats for a

their time to train us on a Tuesday and Thursday after

tournament. In the group stage we won 3 out of 4

school.

games and placed 1st in our group. This got us a place in the finals, where we played some very well organised

It gives me immense pleasure to talk about the

and big teams. We played Gordons, a team we had

amazing season of the AGS Rugby U13 B-Team. This

lost to in a previous tournament. This time, whilst we

team has had a fantastic journey this year with some

lost to them, it was a much closer score, showing our

great moments, crunching tackles, and brilliant rugby

commitment and perseverance in our defence had

played throughout the whole season.

paid off. We Started off our season away at UCS with not a Overall we placed 3rd in the tournament, with our last

great start suffering a 8-3 loss but with debutant Gabe

game abandoned, due to an injury, securing us a draw.

Huckle scoring a hat - trick promoting him to the A

Daniel scored his first tries of the season.

team. Unfortunately our game against Sir William Borlase was cancelled due to them not having enough

Our confidence had grown and we were excited for our

players.

next game, against an old rival, Dr Challoners. Having lost to them last year, we really wanted to beat them

For our next match we headed to London to face

this year. Storming to a 35-15 win, our hard work in

Latymer Upper School. After suffering a thrashing last

training paid off and we performed the best we had all

year this year was very different. With some crunching

season. Tumelo scored his first try of the season along

tackles coming from Alex Hubenov, Cameron Reay,

with Freddie, Fred, Sam and Walter all securing their

Aydin Habib and William Fenton, and our try scorers

names on the scoresheet

being Othniel Donkor, Luca Dolan with two and Aydin habib. Making the end result being 5-5. Showing how

Now we had Claire’s Court, a big team who we had

much the B team has improved.

lost to last year. Due to some lazy handling on our part, Claire’s Court scored first but we gave it our

Our next game was against the dreaded Dr Challoners.

After going 5-0 down in the first half and losing key players Gwilym Walters and Josh O’Hara, we managed to keep our heads up and score three tries in the second half making the overall score 8-3 to Dr Challoners. Our next challenge was Claires court and with the return of Dennis Mahony coming into the B team. As it was our first time playing on a full size rugby pitch. With some amazing tackles from Lewis Yeung, Dennis Mahoney, Gwilym Walters, Rury Conely and some incredible runs coming from Luca Dolan. The end score being 8-0, the amount of effort the team had put in was phenomenal. Now we head towards the end of the season with three games to go against Chesham, Reading Blue Coats and Princethorpe. Against Chesham we had suffered a 11-6 defeat with both Aydin Habib and Aiden Arul scoring tries along with Gabe Huckle, Luca Dolan and Jeremy Ohadekwe. We hope to do well against RBC and Princethorpe. It’s been a fantastic season for the B team and we look forward to the future success we will achieve with new coach Mr. Dimbleby, and our massive thanks to Mr Dudmish and Mrs Johnson for coaching us these past two years and we wish good luck with the new year sevens.

Lewis Yeung, Phillips 8 Luca Dolan, Denson 8

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U14 Rugby A Team There were many new rules this year but our team coped very well and used them as assets to our game with James Hegarty making yards for the team off pick and go scrums. And many other forwards helping in other set pieces, like our lineouts. There were many injuries this season, Ben Ludlam an important forward with pace and strength, Matthew Longsdale, a key tackler and towards the end of the season Malakai and Theo, again two key players to the team. This put us in an unfortunate circumstance, nonetheless we worked hard and put extra work and effort into training and fixtures. On behalf of the team, we want to thank everybody who attended training sessions and matches and those injured who kindly helped out. Our top try scorer was Josh Riemer, leading with 7 tries which helped us thrive in matches and in a few circumstances get the winning try. Conversions were new to this season and I thought that Baxter stepped up extremely well as our captain to get us multiple conversion points on the board. Our cup run started with the second game of the season. We were paired against Dr Challoners, a fierce rival of ours. It was a tough game, but we thoroughly deserved the win, with the final result being 19-15 to AGS. However, we could’ve scored about 50 points against them. We continued our winning ways with a positive victory over Pangbourne College, 26-15, and then a massive win of 35-0 against Sir William Borlase. Then there was a long trip to an away fixture against King Edward VI school in Stratford. We wanted to come away with a win. And after losing last year we were even more determined to

win. We pressured them with quick

U14 Rugby B Team

line speed and exceptional tackling

The year 9 B team has had an outstanding season,

from our forwards. This pressure

finishing undefeated in all of our matches.

forced mistakes and we pinned them back into their own twenty-

First Match

two for most of the second half. This

Starting the first match against UCS, already a player

pressure had to lead to something

short, Pradyun Reddy suffered an injury early on in

and did as AGS secured the victory

the match leaving us with only 13 players on the pitch

with a 21-14 win.

against UCS’s 15. We started off badly, conceding two tries and a conversion in the first half. But with two

The next round of our cup was

tries from our captain Reuben Ashton we started to

against the highly prestigious Stowe

regain our confidence, ending the first half only a few

School. We did not let this faze us.

points behind. In the second half, a quick two tries

We gave them a tough game and

from Gabriel Tosti as well as another try and three

only lost 19-12. I feel the team was

conversions from Morton Giles managed to get us the

slightly hard done by, with a lucky

win with the score being 31 - 19.

bounce that led to Stowe’s winning try. The team played extremely well,

Second & Third Match

and we controlled the game. We

Going into our second match against Windsor Boys

were unlucky not to progress further

with a full team we proceeded to win the match

through the competition.

convincingly with both Gabriel Tosti and Thomas Woodward scoring hat-tricks, James Hegarty and Ed

Going into our last game this

Wilson scoring two and Jack Gates scoring a try and

Saturday we will have won 5 and

eleven conversions winning us the game 77 - 5.

lost 4.

The next match against Tring proved to be just as successful, going from strength to strength with James

Overall I think that as a team we

Hegarty scoring a hat-trick and Louis Smith, Josh

have continued to punch above our

Brown, Aiden Deepak, Finlay O’Donavan, Reuben Ashton

weight and looking at opposition

and Jack Gates all scoring tries and conversions

teams, we are one of the smallest

winning us the game with another great score of 53 -

sides, but this doesn’t affect how

10.

we play. We play intelligently with the ball and our structure

Last Match

and we always have each other’s

The last match of the season was against Chesham

backs in defence. We’d just like to

Grammar School, a team that we had never played

congratulate the whole A team for

before, so we didn’t know what to expect. After coming

their brilliant season and we are

back from injury Ben Ludlam scored an impressive

already looking forward to next

hat-trick , James Hegarty scored 2 and Alex Emmins

season. Keep eating in the canteen

scored 1. A mention to Henry Purser and Umar Hassan

and the growth spurts will happen

who both made hard hits in the defence keeping the

soon!

pressure on to help us secure a victory of 29-10.

Finally, we just wanted to say that

Finally we would like to congratulate all the players

all this couldn’t be done without

who should all be very proud of themselves for having

Mr Roberts helping us learn new

nothing short of an outstanding season.

rules and developing our game. Thank you, sir. Hopefully, we can continue to play the great Aylesbury Grammar School rugby we know we can. Euan Conely, Ridley 9 and Joe Tilley, Lee 9

100

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U15 Rugby

knowing what to expect, we were able to play a decent

The season started with AGS having high hopes for

game and put 42 points on them, while defending our

the games ahead. UCS was our first game, where, on

tryline completely. Going into the game with a 6-game

a warm, sunny day, we picked up our first win quite

win streak, we were confident against KES, a team we

comfortably with a final score of 45 - 19. Next we played

had beaten considerably last season. We ended up

away at Pangbourne. Expecting a good game we were

winning the game 42 - 0, the second game like it.

pleasantly surprised to walk away with a 43 - 5 win. The third game of the season was our first competitive

Next was our second competitive game, against John

game this year, playing Chesham in the first round of

Hampden Grammar School, who we had beaten the

the National Vase. Having never played them before,

year prior. Despite their best efforts, JHGS were unable

we were unsure what to expect, but came away from

to stop us from scoring 57 points to their 17. Our first

the match with another 55 points under our belts.

game back after the half-term break was against Dr Challoner’s, our long-time rival, who we closely edged a

The following Saturday we faced off against Windsor

victory against last year. We finished tbis game with a

Boys’ School. Although we were missing our captain,

strong 59-5 with David C having an outstanding game

the team came together to put 54 points on the board

scoring two tries. Josh Dumbu aswell. Felix and Ollie

to Windsor’s 14. After having lost to them last year, we

also scoring tries with Chuck with yet another hat trick.

were excited to prove ourselves against Latymer Upper

Our next game was the next round of the cup against

this season. After a hard fought game, we did just that,

a very strong St Clement Danes side who beat us 31-14.

winning 33 - 7. The next Tuesday, we played Sir William

The score doesn’t truly reflect how close this game

Borlase’s, another school we’d never played before. Not

was. AGS tries were scored by Joe Tilley and Seth O

101

and although they beat us we dominated in the pack throughout the whole game with brilliant jackles, tackles and clears by players such as Louis Z, Natty H and Mukutwa M. We then moved on with our head high against a super strong Claire’s Court side who had vastly improved since our last altercation against them. Unfortunately we took another loss here, losing 31-19 with two tries from William B, and one from David Chelaru. Ollie Usher slotting the conversions for us. The wind was a huge playing factor that day and we unfortunately didn’t take advantage of the wind as much when we had it on our side. Despite these two hapless games, we moved onto our penultimate game of the season against King Alfred’s Academy who we had never played before. We started downhill and it took us lots of forward play and some silky hands from the backs for Hamish Hodge to dot it down for his first try at AGS in four years. A brilliant achievement. From there on, we dominated mauls, line outs, rucks and especially scrums, we didnt lose one at all for the duration of the game. And with our backs, back in their rhythm, we were able to finish the first half off 14-0. After two unfortunate games, finally our backs and forwards were clicking with William scoring underneath the posts after some brilliant link up play between Ollie Usher, David Chelaru and Freddie Bowen. Despite the game becoming a bit handsy, we were able to secure a 38-5 victory which could’ve gone either way but with good tackles from our 10 and 12, Ollie and Hamish and the rest of our team we sealed the deal and moved on to our final game of the season against Princethorpe College. We went into this game without our speed in Chuck, Josh and Seth and no subs but still managed to win comfortably 45-0. Forwards dominated throughout the game with one maul from a lineout going over 30 metres. Outstanding performances came by Freddie and Yacine who both scored braces. Pearce also scored a lovely try which came from the result of good support on the inside shoulder and a exhilarating hand off to the face. Charlie got his first man of the match this season with also an incredible performance kicking a 50-22. And with that, our 2024/25 season had come to an end and it sure was a good one. I would like to say thank you to our three coaches: Mr Dimbleby, Mr Corby and Mr Shepherd who have helped us improve tremendously and made us ready for the exciting rugby to come up in the following years. And last but not least I’d like to thank all our players who have turned up week in week out in all conditions to represent not just each other but our school as a whole. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

David Chelaru, Lee 10 James Tilley, Lee 10

102

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U16 Rugby

School. Despite some frivolous Instagram and Snapchat

After our fantastic season last year,

messages flying around in the days beforehand, by

the U16 boys started this one full of

the time gameday arrived the boys were fired up and

optimism. The team went into our first

well prepared. The young bucks, Joe Tilley, Chuck and

game buzzing, ready to face a strong,

Seth, all stepped up to U16 level, and the prima donna

well-drilled UCS side, despite forwards

Joe Gormally made his first appearance of the season

coach Steve being locked away in

after abandoning the team earlier in the year for some

the canteen cooking match lunch,

“special” hang-out time with Rambo and the first team.

leaving Mr Walker to coach the entire squad while also looking after his two

We started well, holding a very well-drilled, fast-paced

children.

Stowe side early on while creating some half-chances of our own and dominating every scrum. Despite a

The lads put on an impressive first

strong first half, we went into the break 12–0 down, but

display of the season. We started

the lads knew we were still firmly in the game.

strong, racing into a 28–0 lead at

In the second half we flew out of the blocks,

halftime, with Dilan scoring a first-half

immediately pulling the score back to 12–12 with well-

hat-trick against UCS for the second

worked tries from Joe Gormally and Dilan, who were

year running. However, in the second

cutting up the Stowe defence. After a frantic start to

half, fatigue set in and a few positional

the half, Stowe regained the lead, making it 19–12 to the

changes, including myself slotting in

visitors. The boys reacted instantly, with little youngster

at 12, meant the boys tailed off slightly.

Seth finishing off a perfectly executed cross-field kick in

Still, we came out 47–12 winners, with

the corner. Year 10 Seth then proceeded to score again,

Temi, Jafar and Conor adding second-

running the length of the pitch to put us 22–19 up.

half tries. Despite some huge defensive efforts — including two The following week the boys travelled

massive hits from Jayden Mugonapanja — Stowe’s

down to play a strong Pangbourne

quality proved too much in the final minutes, with

side. However, before the game,

late tries allowing them to edge a 31–22 win. Despite

disaster struck: an interesting late

the result, the lads took a huge amount away from

hamstring injury for Conor, which

the afternoon, and we are extremely proud of how we

somehow still allowed him to go to the

performed.

gym instead of training and then make a miraculous three-day recovery,

After this, with a few players missing, a new-look

meant we had to field a slightly ragtag

team won three games on the bounce against Tring,

team featuring a scrum-half at 10

Waddesdon and Chesham, all convincing, high-scoring

and a second row in the front row.

wins. Sam, James, Jafar, Tayyib, Jayden, Zach, Ethan

Pangbourne started fast, racing into

and Barney all got on the scoresheet across these

a 21–0 lead with three quick tries. We

fixtures.

responded with a well-worked try from Ben Swift, nicely converted by Isaac,

Unfortunately, our final game against Reading Blue

who plays prop. Despite a brave effort

Coat was cancelled, giving the season a slightly

from the team, we eventually fell to a

disappointing end. This meant the boys finished with six

tough 31–7 loss.

wins from eight games.

The boys reacted well, bouncing back

Before we hand over to Steve and Mr Walker, we’d like

with two quick-fire wins against Royal

to say a big thank you to all the lads who showed up to

Latin and Windsor Boys’ School, both

training week in, week out and delivered on matchdays.

dominant 40-point-plus victories. We’d also like to give a huge thank you to Steve and We then moved on to what we knew

Mr Walker for the time and effort they’ve put into the

would be the toughest game of the

season. We really appreciate everything you’ve done.

season against the infamous Stowe

103

104

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

1st XV Rugby Statistics: Played 16 - won 12 and lost 4. Pts for 614.

We travelled to Windsor Boys’ School next where you

Against 262. Sean Dover - 12 matches 20 tries and 33

can always be assured to receive a feisty welcome.

cons - 166pts. Tom Usher 51 pts, Cormac Clancy 47 pts,

They are never easy to beat so the fact that we got off

Ewan Gatt 45 pts. Of top 10 try scorers, 7 were backs.

to a quick start was really helpful. We quickly went up

Freddy Crafts, Isaac Tung and Tom Ludlam

by 20 odd points and then controlled the game well to

representing the forwards. Players to be involved in all

see out a comfortable victory 39-7. Disappointingly

16 fixtures: Tom Usher, Toby Evans, Matthias Bockmeuhl,

though, we suffered another key injury with ‘Man of

Tom Walsh and Joe Gormally. Players to have started

the Match’ Evan Chapman, a big money transfer from

every game - Only Tom Usher and Joe Gormally.

Sir Henry Floyd in the summer, suffering a concussion which would keep him out of action for the next 3

Our season consisted of a Wednesday - Bucks County

weeks. The situation was made worse when, on Monday

League and then a series of Saturday fixtures further

morning, the news broke of another concussion victim,

afield and of a more challenging nature.

Sean Dover. Three of our most powerful players were now on the injured list and the next few weeks were to

In the Bucks league, we were very successful winning

be a real challenge.

every game, beating Great Marlow, Chesham Grammar, Sir Henry Floyd, Sir William Borlase, Royal

Our first Saturday home fixture of the season was the

Latin, John Hampden and Dr Challoners. It proved

annual memorial match, where we remember the loss

to be a great developmental opportunity for the

of Charlie Dunne, Ed Dean and Tom Giles. The team

squad with anywhere from 25-30 players playing

were really motivated to put on a performance for the

most weeks. The team were able to use these games

large crowd which was in attendance. Latymer Upper

to work on their tactical shape and structure, with

were the opposition and they were on the wrong side of

player rotations building competition for places. The

a very motivated and determined AGS 1st XV. The final

success of our season, however, would be determined

score was a 43-0 victory with Ewan Gatt scoring two

by our performances on a Saturday circuit, against

tries and ‘Man of the Match’, fly half Ollie Jinks having a

high calibre opposition from Warwickshire, Berkshire,

stormer. However, you wouldn’ believe what happened.

Oxfordshire and London.

The ‘Man of the Match’ jinx struck again and this time the jinx hit Jinks! He injured his thumb and would not

The season started with a trip to University College

be available for the big game at King Edward School,

School, London and a very tight and high pressure

Stratford, the following Saturday.

game. We demonstrated that we were able to open up a good quality team but defensively, looked less

Our unbeaten run would be on-the-line as we took

assured. Sean Dover was the star of the day scoring

on KES without Charlie, Evan, Sean, Ali Shahzad and

all of our points, with two tries and a conversation. Will

Ollie. However, the tragedy of injury soon becomes an

Pringle gave everyone a scare when on attempting

opportunity for those lucky enough to step into their

to kick the ball off the field to end the game, his kick

boots. A new front row of a double Walsh and a Titley

looked more likely to be the perfect cross-field kick for

would need to give us a platform to play and young

UCS to win the game.

pup Conor Heatley would have to step up and look at steering the ship from fly half. We didn’t start well

We backed this up with a momentum building win at

and we gifted KES some early scores but slowly, we

Pangbourne College. This is never an easy place to

fought our way into the game and actually held our

go and win but on this day, we turned up with a very

own for a while. The game ended with a 32-17 loss but

determined attitude and a team ethos that I haven’t

outstanding in defeat were Alfie Harris and Isaac Mills.

seen for a long time. Despite a few injuries, the boys showed real resilience to fight off a Pangbourne

We went, battered and bruised, into our annual Live

comeback, with Toby Evans scoring the crucial try off

Stream game vs Shiplake College and hoped that

a cross-field kick. The celebrations and elation didn’t

despite the growing injury list, we could be competitive

last long though as I suspected that Charlie Kapinski-

and grab an upset in front of the large, hostile home

Noades had suffered a season ending injury, which

crowd. It was good to have Sean Dover back, after

proved to be the case with a torn ACL requiring surgery.

recovering from his concussion, and he made an

His power and strength would be sorely missed.

instant impact on the game, bursting the Shiplake

105

defence open and charging downfield to score the

with a couple of tries of their own before half-time.

opening try. However, the game slowly slipped away

The pack was outstanding, displaying total lineout

from us as we were simply out-powered by their tight

dominance and scoring from 3 driving mauls. Ben

five. The standout AGS player was Isaac Tung who was

Giles has done such a great job organising and leading

growing in confidence game by game, and making

this aspect all year and it was fitting to see it come

a bigger impact, demonstrating his improved lineout

together so well for the last game. Hooker Isaac Tung

accuracy and carrying ability. Following this game,

had another incredible game, scoring two tries and

both Ben Giles and Sean Dover were approached by

almost a third, being held up over the line. His Godzilla

Ealing Trailfinders and offered a pathway through

thighs have enabled him to become one of the most

university with high level rugby.

effective ball carriers within the team, despite his short stature. The backline, effectively marshalled by Will

Next up, the London Oratory School. This was to be a

Pringle, were on fire and Ewan Gatt finished off what

real test against a very good side and the horrendous

was an exquisite move to score the try of the season

weather conditions didn’t help the spectacle. That said

in the corner. For Tom Usher, Toby Evans and Joe

we were the better team in this game and deserved to

Gormally to have played in every game this season, it

win it. A 12-7 loss was hard to stomach when we had

demonstrates their real value and resilience within a

butchered two definite scores and conceded one of the

very tough campaign.

softest I’ve seen for many years. Ali Shazad was ‘Man of the Match’ and since returning from his concussion,

However, this proved to be a game of two halves,

was playing so well and demonstrating what a reliable

as Princethorpe were not going to roll over. They

scrummager and tackler he is. A number of players

dominated the second half, and despite a Tom

pulled out of this fixture at short notice and yet again, it

Walsh try, they narrowed the scoreline to 36-31. We

showed that when we aren’t at full strength, the depth

seemed to lose all structure in the second half and

just isn’t there to win these tight matches.

as the pressure built, our decision making worsened. Thankfully, the team managed to dig really deep and

The annual grudge match with Reading Bluecoat School

some heroic defence kept them out to seal the win.

was lost due to Storm Darragh and so our season game down to the big one, at home, to Princethorpe College.

This brings a highly successful season to a close, where

They are a quality outfit and had already beaten KES

we have won 75% of our fixtures with an overall points

twice this year. However, I was able to select a full

difference of +352. 39 different players represented the

strength team (apart from Charlie) to take on this

1st XV over the season which is a great developmental

last challenge. After a long season, the starting 15 for

opportunity, building for next year. Thank you to all

this game were the players who had battled through

the players for committing and sacrificing so much

significant adversity and challenge, to nail down their

to make this season so successful. Thank you to Ben

position in what we would consider to be the strongest

Giles, Freddy Crafts and Ollie Costelloe for captaining

team we had for 2024. Our first half performance

the team.

against Princethorpe followed suit and was the best 35 minutes of rugby we had produced all season. We raced into a 26-0 lead before Princethorpe responded

Mr. Ramsbottom

106

THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

2nd XV Rugby

point for every grand it costs to attend this school.”

Ah, the 2024/25 season—a journey

Tries were fast and furious and came from Daly, Oakes,

of grit, glory, and the occasional

Jacobs, DHM, Davies, and a hat-trick for Lowe, whose

facepalm. Coming off a strong 2023/24

brilliance unfortunately saw him poached by Rambo

campaign, the 2nd XV marched into

for the next flurry of games. The brilliance we showed in

the new season full of ambition, ready

this game proved to ourselves that we could be a force

to prove that lightning could indeed

to be reckoned with if only we didn’t fall asleep.

strike twice. Well, as it turned out, it was more of a light drizzle at best. With

Ah, Berkhamsted—a match where half the team was

a win ratio of 35% and a positive points

more interested in the girls’ lacrosse than rugby. This

difference of exactly +1 (because we

lack of focus showed, as we found ourselves 33-0 down

believe in minimalism), this season

at halftime. Duggs’ halftime pep talk—equal parts

gave us plenty to talk about.

terror and motivation—did, however, spark a revival.

We kicked things off with a trip to

Dascalescu muscled over for a try, and Davies followed

London to face UCS, a team that had

suit with a calculated tap and go on the 5 after much

given us a scare last year. But this

protest. Still, our brief momentum couldn’t undo the

time, we meant business—or at least

damage of the first half, and we finished the game

we did for the first half. Hanidu’s early

thoroughly humbled.

double and Daly’s cheeky interception had us sitting pretty at 19-0 after

Sluggish starts were becoming our signature move,

Overload’s conversions. And then… we

and against Tring, it was no different. Two early tries

collectively decided to take a nap. A

against us were answered by Lowe’s driving run and

sluggish second-half performance

Baruskas’ slick footwork. But then the lights went out—

nearly cost us the game. With some

metaphorically speaking—and Tring barrelled down the

stroke of utter luck we survived with a

hill scoring a flurry of tries and ran away with a 35-17

19-14 win , setting the tone for the rest

win. If inconsistency were a trophy, we’d have lifted it by

of the season: brilliant flashes of rugby

now.

brilliance followed by moments of baffling chaos.

McGill then trotted out with his Dame Alice Owens boys with the hope of enacting revenge; we were, however,

Our first home game was a mixed

determined to prove a point. A revamped line-out

bag of highs, lows, and one Viking.

move—christened after Lowe, back from his sabbatical

Facing an unknown King Alfred’s side

with the 1st XV—set the tone for a dominant first half.

we decided to play downhill in the first

By halftime, we led 25-7, thanks to three quick tries

half. This gave us an edge as Thomey

from Hanidu and two from Davies. But, true to form, we

and Overload put us 12-0 up. But as we

crumbled in the second half, leaving holes in defence

switched ends, King Alfred’s unleashed

big enough to drive a bus through. After some hushed

their 30-year-old, 6’5” Norseman

words of encouragement, through gritted teeth Duggs

who thundered downhill like a freight

set the team straight for a tense final 10 minutes, which

train, reducing our defence to rubble.

saw Lowe complete his hat-trick, and a stunned Jordan

Despite rallying to take the lead at

actually nailing a conversion for once. We hung on for

17-14, heartbreak struck in the dying

a 3-point win and sent McGill packing, his grin wiped

seconds as we conceded a late try.

clean.

Moral of the story? Beware of large Vikings on hills.

Our penultimate game took us to a pitch resembling a sandpit beside the River Thames. Battling winds,

Reeling from our last defeat, we came

drizzle, and questionable officiating (a Mohib try was

out swinging in our next game. Last

controversially disallowed), resulted in flared tempers.

year, Pangbourne had held us to a

Wright, unwilling to let a snarky remark slide, sparked a

frustrating 12-12 draw. This year? We

full-on brawl. Not to be outdone, Ossian sprinted across

absolutely obliterated them, 46-0.

the pitch to join the melee, adding a touch of theatre to

Eldridge summed it up perfectly: “A

a gritty game. It was now that Eldridge had had enough

107

and he bolstered through the defence

First, Dascalescu bulldozed his way through their pack

on the 5 to secure our only try of the

like a runaway train, followed by Obhakhan’s ankle-

game. Once again punished by sloppy

breaking sidestep special, leveling the score at 12-12.

defence two late tries by the oppo saw

The momentum was with us, the fans were roaring, and

us slump to a poor 19-5 loss.

then… enter Davies. In a stroke of genius—or something resembling it—he earned himself a stint in the sin bin,

And so, the grand finale arrived—a

leaving us down to 14 men for the dying minutes of the

home game against Princethorpe

match. Fancy getting yourself sin-binned in your last

College on a picture-perfect Saturday

game wearing an AGS shirt huh. Against the odds, we

morning. The air was crisp, the

dug in and nearly snatched the win. Nearly. The final

supporters plentiful, and the stakes

whistle came just a little too soon, and we had to settle

high: one last chance to deliver

for a hard-fought but frustrating draw. Sometimes,

a performance worthy of Duggs’

rugby giveth, and sometimes it just gives you a moral

approval and, let’s be honest, to leave

victory.

the fans with something more to cheer about than questionable line-outs. In

I won’t dwell on the stats; you’ve heard enough. All

a bold (or possibly desperate) move,

I’ll say is we ended with a positive points difference,

we opted to tackle the 90-degree hill

and the Year 12s now have a solid (if occasionally

in the first half, adopting a “damage

shaky) foundation to build on for next year. On behalf

limitation” strategy that was more

of the 2nd XV, a massive thanks to Mr. Duggan for his

survival training than rugby. But

unwavering commitment as coach and referee, and to

against all odds, we found a spark.

Miss Treherne for her always-on-point photography.

Twice, we came agonizingly close to

Despite the ups and downs, it’s been one hell of a ride—

scoring, only to be denied by bad luck.

and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Meanwhile, their pint-sized fly-half weaved through our defense like a hot knife through butter, leaving us 12-0 down at halftime. Now it was our turn to exploit the hill’s gravitational unfairness—and boy, did we deliver.

Alex Davis, Denson 13

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THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

U13 Rugby 7s

played a strong Eltham College side. With our size and

After enjoying our autumn season so much, many of us

pace, we were able to match this side, resulting in a

U13s couldn’t wait to get back to training. Only this time,

20-20 draw after they equalised in the last play of the

it was seven a side, rather than thirteen.. It was a new

game. However, we went into our next game positive.

game to us 13-year-olds, having never played it before.

We knew that if we could get a win here, it would

Training started quickly after the Christmas break, but

secure us a good position in our group. And win we did!

lots of excited year 8s turned up to our first session.

We beat the Dunottar School by 30-0, and the game

After being told about the tournaments up ahead

was stopped by the 30-point mercy rule! This put us

(especially about Rosslyn Park, the biggest rugby 7s

into a positive mindset for our next game against the

tournament in the world), we started our training,

Emirates Falcon International School all the way from

putting in everything we could.

the UAE! However, we had a few injuries. Daniel Tilley missed the game because of a hit to the head, and

Our first tournament was a Northampton Saints

Fionn Morgan had an injured thumb, which affected

competition at Stowe School. We wanted to win our

his catching. Despite this, we still went into the game

group, but we knew we would have to give it our all.

positive. Sadly, this team was just a class above us,

We walked onto the pitch excited for our first game of

beating us 15-35. We went into our next game with one

competitive 7s. After a quick team talk led by Daniel

thing in mind, winning by as much as we could so that

Tilley, our captain, and Fionn Morgan, our vice, we were

we could potentially come 2nd in the group by points

all ready for the first game. We played well as a team in

difference. We beat the Clyst Vale Community School

our group stage, winning all of our games. This put us

from Exeter 35-5, but was it enough? Amazingly it was

into a top group with the winners of the other groups,

and we finished ahead of Eltham College in the table

giving us a chance to qualify for the finals, which are

by the point difference of one try. Throughout the day,

to be held at the Northampton Saints ground, Franklin

everyone played very well, with tackles being made,

Gardens. First, we played Winchester House, but sadly,

good passing and tries coming from across the team.

we lost narrowly. However, we followed this defeat with

Despite being a bit annoyed about our placing, the

a game against Royal Latin, which we won! This meant

team got onto the minibus happy after a successful

that we came in 2nd place overall, securing us a place

day in London.

in the finals and a nice medal. Throughout the day, tries came from Fionn Morgan, Daniel Tilley, Sam Gunn, Ed

Over the season, we have improved so much with our

Bolt and Max Smith (who scored 10!).

7s, and were even improving game to game at the nationals. We would like to thank Mr Ramsbottom and

Pleased with our success at the Stowe tournament,

Mr Roberts who have helped us all season to play well,

we headed to our next tournament held by John

improve and love playing 7s.

Hampden Grammar School at High Wycombe Rugby Club, with high hopes of doing well. It was a league style tournament with points gained for a win. We won all of our games which left us playing against the hosts in the final game of the day. We were very evenly matched throughout the game until the last play when John Hampden snuck a very lucky try on the last play of the game, meaning we finished in 2nd place again! The tries throughout the day came from Max Smith (who scored 7!), Gabriel Huckle (with 4), Fionn Morgan, Freddie Lazaruk, Fred Grosse, Tumelo Imasiku, Walter Fradgley and Mason Fairclough-Leach. After a very early morning our squad travelled down to London for the Rosslyn Park National 7s Festival, the biggest of its type in the world! At our age group, there wasn’t a trophy up for grabs, you just played five other teams in your group. The day started well with a 35-5 victory over Bournemouth Collegiate School. Next, we

Daniel Tilley, Lee 8

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U16 Rugby 7s The boys started Day 1 full of optimism and excitement. Even with the very early 6:30 am bus the lads were energetic and raring to go. We started off the day with what we knew would most likely be our toughest game in the group against a physical and well prepared Bloxham side. We started well and thanks to early Chukwudi Onyebuchi and Jafar Hasan tries raced into a 10-0 lead at half time. We knew we had to start well in the second half to shut down any chance of a comeback from Bloxham and we did, after a good turnover from Isaac Mills, Conor Heatley was able to go quick and dotted down in the corner securing a very strong 17-0 win to start the

RUGBY 7s Reynolds who had won all of their games scoring 50 plus points. We started well and raced into an early 7-0 lead with Chuckwudi scoring yet another try. We then continued this going in 19-7 up at half time playing the best 7s we had played all day. The second half was equally as good with the lads coming out 38-12 winners with tries from Jafar, Chuck, Dilan and Isaac. This win booked us a spot in the prestigious Day 2 of the tournament. Our group for Day 2 was very tough featuring Oundle, Whitgift and Marlborough. The lads started off the day vs a strong Marlborough side whose quality eventually proved too much with the lads losing our first game 2819 with Chukwudi scoring a hat-trick of tries. We then

day.

played the well renowned Whitgift school who are seen

Upon hearing the other teams in

both sides losing their first game it was simple, whoever

the group drew, the team knew we had put ourselves in a fantastic position early on needing to win two out of two games to guarantee going through. After a brief from the rugby trainer and a few interesting celebrations later the lads played a well drilled churchers school and came out 17-12 winners with two tries from Chukwudi Onyebuchi and one from Dilan Barauskas securing the win. This left the team needing to beat an already eliminated Colfes team in order to top the group. However at half time due to a few poor errors and a Chuckwudi yellow card the boys found ourselves 19-12 down needing a big second half to come back. We responded well with a dominant second half winning the game 2619 with tries from Dilan, Isaac and Chuckwudi x2. This then secured our place as group winners and in doing so an elimination game against St Richard

to be one of the best rugby schools in the country. With won would leave themselves a chance to go through in the final group game and whoever lost would be out. After a poor start with Whitgift scoring off kick off the lads came into the game and went in 12-7 down at half time. A tremendous second half performance however allowed the team to come away with a superb 19-17 win claiming a huge scalp of Whitgift, Chukwudi and Dilan scored the tries for AGS and Conor converted very well to secure the win. This then left the boys in a winner takes all game vs a good Oundle school, this however proved to be a step too far for the boys sadly falling to a 38-5 defeat, with Seth scoring. This left the boys third in the group and out of the competition. The lads ended up winning 5 out of 7 and finishing in the the top 21 out of 280 schools there and were the only State English school to make it to the second day which was a huge achievement for the team. Big thanks to the Year 10 students for playing up, especially Joe Tilley and Chukwudi for playing the vast majority of the games with Joe playing 91 out of a possible 98 minutes. Also a big thank you to Mr Ramsbottom and Mr Roberts for taking and coaching the team this year.

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THE AYLESBURIAN

SQUASH The 1st team squad, and KS5 team, of Ciaran Sidhu, Alex Glover, William Longman, Samuel Griffin, Suran Godagama and Thomas Barlow started the 2nd half of the season with a win over Stowe followed later by wins over Dr Challoners & Eton. Other teams have had convincing friendly wins: the U13’s against Caldicott and the U15’s against DCGS & Eton. We had 3 teams competing in National Schools after successful stage 1 matches, with representation in KS3, KS4 & KS5. KS5 were drawn in stage 2 with hosts John Hampden, The Leys and Haberdashers and came home with 3 wins and a finalist’s spot at the nationals. Our KS4 team were drawn to play hosts North Leamington and Balcarras in their stage 2 group and also returned home with solid wins and a place in finals. Excellent effort all round from the squad of William Longman, Suran Godagama, Isaac Forward, Oscar Price, Myles Glover and Joshua Quinn. Our KS3 squad of Harry Smith, Jack Gates, Joe Yeardsley, Harry Johnston, Freddie Jarman and Sai Sangana hosted The Skinners and Haberdashers, remained unbeaten and completed the historic treble of all 3 age groups making finals. KS3, KS4 & KS5 travelled to Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham to take on the elite in the finals. With the top 8 schools in the country qualifying, the KS5 team finally finished a creditable 6th, beating Portsmouth and losing to Epsom College and Eton. KS4 finished an amazing 5th in the country with a win over Berkhamsted and Bishops Wordsworth and a loss to Wycliffe College. The KS3 also finished 5th in country with wins over Berkhamsted and Joseph Rowntree and a loss to Elizabeth College. At the end of the history making season the boys can take many positives from their performances and continue to build on these. This was a truly memorable and successful campaign and a massive achievement for all the students and school. Thank you to all staff who have helped along the journey. Mr D Withey

SCHOOL SPORT

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SWIMMING

The Inter team aimed to defend last year’s title. Strong swims from Fraser Hearmon (IM), Zientek (Fly), Talbot (IM/Backstroke), and Kabonov (Breaststroke) kept them

The 2024/25 swimming season began with the ESSA Team Relay regional competition, a traditionally strong event for AGS. Our Junior team, Luca Dolan, Marcus Xu, Dewi Fordyce, and Finley Garman, made an excellent debut, placing 2nd in the Medley and 3rd in the Freestyle relay (2:11.60). This secured them a top

competitive, with Max Manners providing valuable cover. Despite a dip mid-season, the boys rallied in the final gala to finish 3rd overall. The Senior team struggled with consistency and scored no points in one gala, affecting their title hopes. However, they performed well elsewhere: Beadle dominated Breaststroke, Chesworth excelled in the IM and Butterfly, and Tan and Toms delivered fast Freestyle and Backstroke swims. They finished 5th

25 national finals qualification.

overall but qualified for finals day.

The Inter team of Josh Fraser Hearmon,

At the Herts League finals in February, AGS enjoyed

Louis Zientek, Dan Talbot, and Vlad Kabonov finished 4th in the Freestyle and 2nd in the Medley, narrowly missing national qualification by just one second. The Senior team, Jake Chesworth, Dan Beadle, Alfie Toms, and Han Tan, dominated regionals, winning both relays and reclaiming the Division 10 Trophy from DCGS. At the national finals in November at the Commonwealth Games pool in Birmingham, the Junior Team exceeded their seedings, finishing 20th in the Medley and 27th in the Freestyle. The Seniors, having qualified 12th, produced an excellent heat swim to reach the final and finished 10th, a

a very successful evening. The Junior team (Dolan, Fordyce, Xu, Garman) won the Medley Relay. In the Inter category, Kabonov secured 2nd place. For the Seniors, Chesworth won both the IM and Butterfly, Toms won Backstroke, and Beadle won Breaststroke. The Seniors finished 2nd in both relays. Throughout the term, squad members also supported AGS swim club coaching, developing leadership skills while helping younger swimmers. Thank you to everyone involved in AGS swimming this year for your commitment and success. Well done! Medal Winners: Junior Team Medley Relay - Luca Dolan (Yr8) Marcus Xu (Yr8) Dewi Fordyce (Yr7) Finley Garman (Yr7)

result they can be very proud of.

Senior Team

The primary focus of the season was

Fly - Jake Chesworth (Yr12)

the Herts Swim League, with Junior, Inter, and Senior teams competing

Individual Medley - Jake Chesworth (Yr12) Breaststroke - Dan Beadle (Yr13) Backstroke - Alfie Toms (Yr11)

across six galas, where consistency was key. In the Junior team, Dolan, Xu, and Fordyce regularly secured toptwo finishes, supported strongly by Garman (notable Butterfly wins), Charlie Robinson (Backstroke), and Maxim Collinson (all-rounder). Their performances across all events earned 136 points and 1st place overall.

Mr N Gibbs

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SCHOOL SPORT

113

TENNIS The Year 11-13 squad started their winter national rounds with outstanding performances from Ethan Taank, Ashton Taank, Ben McCrory, William Pringle, Jamie Wilson, George Leonard, Ronit Tailor and John McIntosh. The team progressed to the later rounds with some impressive displays in the group stage against Stowe, John Hampden and RGS High Wycombe before losing narrowly to Magdalen in the KO stage. AGS entered the Glanville Cup, which is the elite tournament for all schools nationally. The squad won their rounds against Bishop Stortford, Sandringham and had a walkover v Berkhamsted and progressed through to national finals at the Lexus Tennis Centre in Nottingham. Despite a brave effort the boys had defeats against Culford, Ewell Castle, Holmfirth High and Abingdon and ultimately finished in a creditable top 16 position in the country. Congratulations to the squad of Ashton, Ethan, James, George and John who gained valuable experience and a great send off for Ethan and James who have played their last matches for AGS. The U16 squad had fixtures in the regional LTA tournament against John Hampden, Ouesdale and Dr Challoners with a mixture of results. The squad of Euan Conely, Dan McLarty, Harry Pomfret, James Godley, Avyan Rana, Uday Gupta, Freddie Jarman and Armaan Somani performed very well. The squad along with U14’s also played in School Sport Magazine National Schools and both age groups reached the finals at Clifton College in Bristol. U14 team of Freddie Jarman, Armaan Somani, Malakai Davison, Harry Smith and Jack Gates progressed through and both age groups performed well to both finish 4th overall. The U13 squad consisting of Emerson Smith, Roman Bozdag, Max Smith, Parakshith Basavaraju, Aakash Madhan and Luke Huckle had fixtures against the John Hampden, Dr Challoners and RGS High Wycombe, all with narrow losses. Overall, a very successful season for tennis at AGS. Padel has also become popular and we had 4 teams U18 A&B & U15 A&B competing extremely well at national finals in Bristol and Ilford respectively.

Mr D Withey

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THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL SPORT

115

ULTIMATE FRISBEE The Ultimate Frisbee team can look back on their season with real pride after producing a string of impressive performances and showing exceptional commitment throughout the year. Taking part in several friendly fixtures, including competitive matches against Windsor Boys’ and RGS Guildford, the squad demonstrated clear development, enthusiasm, and a real appetite to learn the sport. The defining moment of their season came at the UK Ultimate National Outdoor Championships in Leicester, where the team delivered one of their strongest performances to date. Against tough national competition, they secured an admirable 11th-place finish, reflecting their growth and teamwork across the year. Perhaps the most memorable highlight was their dramatic sudden death victory over Tonbridge Tekkers during the knockout stages, an exhilarating moment that showcased the squad’s determination and composure under pressure. A huge thank you goes to Mr and Mrs Rogers for their invaluable support throughout the season. Congratulations to every member of the squad for their hard work, team spirit, and the progress they have made.

Mr C Duggan

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THE AYLESBURIAN

A TEAM EFFORT

SCHOOL SPORT

117

It is with immense pride that I read through the reports that have been written covering all the sports and activities that students have participated in over the last academic year. The photos showing the students in action really bring their efforts and successes to life. Our aim as a PE Team is to create and support students to become people who have a lifelong love of physical activity. This could be on whatever field, court, pitch, gym that they choose but to really develop physical and mental well being it is crucial that we remain active. We continued our fundraising towards our 3G Sports Pitch which will be transformative for our PE curriculum and our Extra-Curricular activities. Seeing our community come together with a real sense of drive and enthusiasm is very humbling and we are very grateful for the continued support from a large number of people. It is hard to pick out specific highlights from the year as there were a number of highlights. To be the first state school to qualify three different age groups to the National Squash Finals was very impressive and a first for AGS. We had over 500 sporting fixtures, across 17 different sports and over 100 different teams selected for fixtures. Equally, over 50% of students in Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 were selected to represent AGS. None of the opportunities that students have would not be possible without the support from parents but also the extensive and wider Sport and PE Team. Within the picture showing the staff involved, 14 different departments contribute to our Sport and PE provision which shows a real passion for supporting students but also giving them opportunities to be active. I am hugely grateful to each and everyone for their support, ensuring our students have the opportunities that they want. I look forward to the continued development of Sport and PE at AGS.

Mr C Duggan Director of Sport

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THE AYLESBURIAN

PRIZE WINNERS

WILLIAM HARDING SUBJECT PRIZE YEAR 7 WINNERS

Art

Drama

German

Hugh Reevell

Elliot Norton

Harry Gupta

Dewi Fordyce

Classical Studies

English

History

Religious Studies

Alexander Erskine

Zayd Ahmed

Casper Phipps

Leon Porca

Crum

French

Mathematics

Science

Computer Science

Hamish Leslie-

James Aherne

Vetri Ravikumar

Titobi Olufosoye

Davis

Music

Spanish

Design Technology

Geography

Elliot Norton

Olly Keane

James Aherne

Adi Menon

YEAR 8 WINNERS Art

English

History

Rishik Vijay Visweswaran

Caleb Enchill

Freddie Manders

Max Smith

Computer Science

French

Latin

Religious Studies

Kesara Mohotti

Xavier Harris

Gabriel De Las Alas

Aarav Mehta

Design Technology

Geography

Mathematics

Science

Gwilym Walters

Jasper Fung

Shreyan Kothari

Xavier Harris

Drama

German

Music

Spanish

Joe Housego

Daniel Tilley

Mykolas Biddulph

Caleb Enchill

Art

Drama

History

Arthur Morley

Jonah Scott

Alex Harvey

Harry Godden

Biology

English

Latin

Physics

Raghav Sharma

Hribhav Agarwal

Hashim Ashiq

Alex Grimshaw

Chemistry

French

Mathematics

Religious Studies

George Goddard

Hristian Hristov

Alfie Terrell

Frasier Hearmon

Computer Science

Geography

Music

Spanish

Taman Nutakki

Meroj Rameshkanth

Kush Patel

Alex Deris

Design Technology

German

Samuel Edley

William Baker

JUNIOR PRIZE WINNERS

YEAR 9 WINNERS

HEAD OF YEAR AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Viran Canthaboo

Jasper Dymott

Hashim Ashiq

Rory Frost

Mason Fairclough-Leach Felix Dony

Kevin Irimia

Fred Grosse

Alex Harris

Zirui Wu

Beau Norton

Dinul Peramunugamage

THE OLD AYLESBURIANS’ ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY PRIZE Harry Myers

THE GLENN TURNELL CUP Harry Smith

THE HARRY HEWITT MEMORIAL SHIELD Adam Souidi

THE MIKE GRIFFIN CUP Oscar Rose

THE BEN PICKARD TROPHY FOR EXCELLENCE George White

THE BEN MCKENZIE CUP Akein Korala

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WILLIAM HARDING SUBJECT PRIZE YEAR 10 WINNERS Ancient History

Computer Science

Geography

Music

Vedanth Hari

Billy Fisher

Dylan Richards

Lucas Xie

Art

Drama

Geology

Kit Chantrey

Oscar Rose

Suhail Siraj Zarook

Joe Tilley

Biology

Engineering

German

Physics

Tharuga Pathirajage

Shauri Prasad

Sheyon Rajaratnam

Eldan Twelftree

Don

English

History

Religious Studies

Business

Ihsaan Islam

James Ratcliffe

Adam Souidi

Xander Jefford

Food & Nutrition

Latin

Spanish

Chemistry

Ryan McManus-Lawes

Euan Conely

Dylan Richards

Tharuga Pathirajage

French

Mathematics

Don

Benji Colclough Moss

Eldan Twelftree

Drama

Geology

YEAR 11 WINNERS Ancient History Jack Higgs Art Gautham Parthiban Biology

SENIOR PRIZE WINNERS

Vrishank Padakanti Business Daniel McLarty Chemistry Alex Chadwick Computer Science Rishi Patwardhan

Brandon Gekara Engineering Tanmay Vashishtha English Olly Rothwell Food and Nutrition Hrishi Gheewala French Risabh Bali Geography

Myles Coe German Oscar Bennett History George Greer Latin Gabriel Goodman Mathematics

PE Ben Swift Physics Rami Al-Kheralla Religious Studies Neel Varia Spanish George Murden

Rohan Appikatla Music

Thomas Ruck

Myles Glover

Ancient History

Economics

Further

Mathematics

James Seanor

Ronit Tailor

Mathematics

William Stewart

Art

English Language &

Ishan Dhakephalkar

Khizr Hussain

Literature

Geography

Matt Harmon

Biology

Leo Pargeter

Charlie Garrity

Physics

Hevin Johnson

English Literature

Geology

Alex Green

Business

Luke Marshall

Samuel Griffin

Politics

Oliver Faulkner

EPQ

German

Lewis Beake

Chemistry

Andrew Johnson

Psychology

Ronit Tailor

Food and Nutrition

History

Rhys Falzon

Computer Science

Senesh Chady

James Seanor

Spanish

Alfie Foster

French

Latin

Adi Allam

Drama

Billy Poole

William Stewart

Ancient History

Drama

Photography

Charlie Compton

Stanley Sturgeon

Hugh Podmore

YEAR 12 WINNERS

Lukas Nicholson YEAR 13 WINNERS

Design Technology Josh David

Psychology Nathan Townsend

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THE AYLESBURIAN

PRIZE WINNERS

HEAD OF YEAR AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT YEAR 10

YEAR 11

YEAR 12

Euan Conely

George Greer

Lewis Beake

George Maguire

Pip Jennings

Ben Every

Akilan Manivannan

Edward Johnson

Charlie Kapinski-

Shauri Prasad

Daniel Yap

Noades William Oakins

THE OLD AYLESBURIANS’ ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY PRIZE Sihath Millathe

THE RICHARD BENNETT PRIZE Myles Glover

THE STEPHEN SHIPPERLEY PRIZE FOR ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION Ismail Zaffar

THE KEITH SMITH PRIZE Matthew Gu

AWARDS FOR COMMITMENT TO ENTERPRISE Ollie Buckthorpe, Ved Gandhe, Andrew Johnson

SENIOR PRIZE WINNERS

THE ALEC LOWNDES KNIGHT AWARD FOR ENDEAVOUR Gabe Moulson

THE P J LARKHAM PRIZE FOR THEATRE Ben Jones

THE DISRAELI PRIZE FOR DEBATING Anthony Unugboke

THE THOMSON CUP FOR SPORTSMANSHIP Sean Dover

THE JOHN PRODGER CUP FOR SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT Ewan Gatt

THE BEATTIE CUP FOR MUSICIANSHIP Joseph Aloluwaloba

THE CHARLIE DUNNE ‘AYLESBURIAN’ AWARD FOR PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSE AND SCHOOL LIFE William Johnson

THE HARVARD BOOK PRIZE Thomas Barlow

PATERSON PRIZES - HEAD BOYS Joseph Aloluwaloba

Freddy Crafts

James Davies

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DONATED SUBJECT PRIZES Glover Prize for The Arts

Belger Prize for Further Mathematics

Sam Baxter

Nathan Townsend

Irons Prize for Art

Lloyd-Jones Prize for Geography

Ewan Crafts Dame Kathleen Raven Prize for Biology Joseph Fernando

Hrishik Subramani Brooker Prize for German Dominic Beattie

James Bowe Prize for Business

Ferris Prize for Latin

Luca Forchione

Charlie Compton

Raven Prize for Chemistry

Miscampbell Prize for Mathematics

James Quinn

Oliver Reading

Fleet Prize for Computer Science

Brown Prize for Mathematical Physics

Ismail Zaffar

Dhruv Kale

Webb Prize for Economics

Professor Mead Prize for Music

Connor Bright

Thomas Harrington

Deeming Prize for English

Mackrill Prize for PE

Manas Tannan MacLeod Prize for English Language and Literature

Toby Barnes Furneaux Prize for Physics Aaron Hemming

Ruben Munday

Jones Prize for Politics

Chiltern Hundreds Prize for EPQ

Freddy Crafts

Kerththekan Vamathevan

Helliwell Prize for Science

Owen Prize for History

Alex Glover

Manas Tannan

John Hunt Prize for Spanish

Furley Prize for French

Nathaniel Thomey

Dominic Beattie

DENSON PRIZES FOR EXCELLENT A LEVEL RESULTS Nirukt Agrawal

Samuel Griffiths

Ayaan Raza

Joseph Aloluwaloba

Aashish Gudeti

Oliver Reading

Ayman Ashraf

Joshua Hilbocus

Oliver Redwood

Dominic Beattie

Umar Iqbal

Ishaan Sehgal

Gavin Biju

James Koleoso

Aryan Somani

Reuben Bithell

Thomas Leung

Ben Tucker

Gaurav Bothra

Abhinav Mannepalli

Anthony Unugboke

Connor Bright

Jyoji Marshall

Henry Wallington

Luke Brimmicombe

Luke Murphy

Anthony Walsh

Ollie Costelloe

Sacha Page

Tom Walsh

Isaac Gibbs

Keerthan Pakeerathan

Winfred Gotah

Genthushan Piratheepan

FOUNDATION GOVERNORS’ PRIZES FOR OUTSTANDING A LEVEL RESULTS Harry Collier

Dhruv Kale

Hrishik Subramani

Freddy Crafts

Laksh Mahajan

Daksh Surana

Harry Davies

Kaushik Potnuru

Ethan Taank

Alex Glover

James Quinn

Manas Tannan

Aaron Hemming

Hanush Siddabattula

Nathan Townsend

FOUNDATION GOVERNORS’ PRIZES FOR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A LEVEL RESULTS Sriram Ambati

Jasper Gray

William Johnson

Nicolae Dascalescu

Matty Holmes

Ben Jones

Josh David

Benjamin Hunt

Rafik Moussaoui

Edward Fails

Soham Jain

Gammy Uloyok-Job

Regan Footman

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THE AYLESBURIAN

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT As we look back on another exceptional year at Aylesbury Grammar School, we are delighted to share the remarkable progress made across our development initiatives. The momentum and focus behind our Pitch In campaign have continued to grow, fuelled by the generosity, commitment, and energy of our entire AGS community. We were thrilled to begin the academic year with a significant milestone funded through the Aylesburian Annual Fund: the complete renovation of our Sport and PE offices and classrooms. This transformational project has provided a modern, dedicated learning environment for our GCSE and A Level Sport and PE students, facilities they have long deserved and are now able to enjoy every day. To launch the year’s fundraising efforts, we hosted a vibrant Touch Rugby Tournament at Aylesbury Rugby Club, raising both awareness and support for Pitch In. Throughout the year, further campaigning and fundraising continued across the AGS community, supported by the extraordinary dedication of the Pitch In Campaign Board. Made up of Old Aylesburians and AGS parents, the board generously gave their time, expertise, and enthusiasm to guide the campaign. We are especially grateful to our Chair, James O’Sullivan (Hampden ‘91), and extend heartfelt thanks to all board members for their tireless commitment. Building on the success of our 2024 event, we were excited to host another hugely successful Giving Day, which paved the way for the 2025 Pitch In Challenge, held on 26 and 27 March. This wholeschool event once again brought the AGS spirit to life, as students competed passionately in their Houses to cover the greatest distance, whether running, swimming, or cycling. Sponsorship from friends and family spurred on every form, creating two days of palpable excitement across the School. We are proud to share that the Pitch In Challenge raised an outstanding £111,000, including Gift Aid and match funding, from 922 generous donations. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the strength and unity of our community. A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated, or championed the event, your support made this success possible. Thanks to this extraordinary community effort, combined with the funds raised since the Pitch In campaign launched in March 2024, we reached a historic milestone: during May half-term 2025, we broke ground on the new all-weather, multi-purpose 3G sports

Delivering a project of such scale ahead of schedule is a remarkable achievement and a powerful demonstration of what the AGS community can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose. Over the past 18 months, alumni, parents, carers, staff, students, and friends of the School have united in an extraordinary way to bring this vision to life. To our entire community: thank you. Your generosity, partnership, and belief in the future of AGS have made this possible. We look forward to another year of progress, gratitude, and continued ambition for our students.

pitch at the heart of our School. We are immensely proud that this £820,000 project, supported by more than 1,000 donors, together with trusts and grant-making bodies, will be completed a full year

Mrs A Cox

ahead of schedule, ready for students to use from September 2025.

Development Director

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Our Inscribe a Plaque initiative continues to resonate

please get in touch at development@ags.

with the parents of outgoing Year 13 students, offering

bucks.sch.uk. Your guidance can have a lasting

a meaningful way to contribute to the School’s

impact, helping our students achieve their

fundraising efforts. The initiative is also available to Old

potential.

Aylesburians, providing another avenue for supporting AGS. For a one-time donation of £250, parents can have a plaque inscribed with their child’s name, which will be permanently displayed in the Sixth Form Centre. It offers a unique opportunity for the AGS community to leave a lasting legacy, celebrating their connection to the School and marking their child’s time here in a very special way.

OLD AYLESBURIANS We are saddened to report the loss of several cherished Old Aylesburians. Richard Fitzjohn (Hampden ‘84) passed away on 15th September 2024, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of July. Richard, a Deputy Head Boy at AGS, went on to Worcester College, Oxford, and had a distinguished career in human resources, working for companies including Ford’s Dagenham, Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, Powerhouse, Royal Mail, Thames Water, and Homes England. He was also elected as a Councillor on Wantage Town Council in 2023. George Butcher, who passed away at home on 21st October 2024 aged 97, was a much-loved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and

AGS COMMUNITY AGS is far more than a place of learning; it is a vibrant community of staff, parents, alumni, friends, and professionals who come together to support the School’s vision and purpose. From fundraising events to mentorship programmes and inspirational talks, the generosity and engagement of our community continue to make a real difference. Over the past year, we have welcomed back familiar faces at reunions, prize givings, public speaking competitions, House Music, subject talks, career days, and our Inspirational Speakers programme. We are especially excited to be growing our mentoring programme, utilising the expertise of our incredible Old Aylesburian and parent network. Anyone interested in getting involved is very welcome to contact us.

great-grandfather. He taught English at AGS in the 1960s and 70s and was remembered for his dedication to students, his warmth, and his creativity in the classroom. Frank Delaney, who dedicated 30 years to AGS as Chief Physics Technician, also passed away recently. Frank was instrumental in establishing squash at the school, guiding teams to seven National Schools Championships, and helping to found the Hampden Squash Club. He will be remembered for his contributions to the Science Department, his commitment to sport, and his lasting impact on the AGS community. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Richard, George, and Frank. They will be remembered with great fondness by the AGS community.

We also held a successful mock interview session for medical students, supported by AGS parents and Old Aylesburians, providing invaluable practice ahead of university interviews. Looking ahead, mock interviews for Oxbridge applicants will begin in the new academic year. If you have expertise in medicine, law, or Oxbridge applications and would like to support our students,

ONCE AN AYLESBURIAN, ALWAYS AN AYLESBURIAN

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THE AYLESBURIAN

COMMUNITY EVENTS On Tuesday 19 November 2024, Old Aylesburians gathered at BrewDog Waterloo for a memorable evening as part of the Pitch In initiative. The OA Social provided the perfect opportunity for alumni to reconnect across generations and learn more about the campaign to transform AGS facilities. Guests enjoyed lively conversation and heard from Headmaster Mark Sturgeon, benefactor Stephen Shipperley, and Campaign Board Chair James O’Sullivan, who encouraged OAs to “pay it forward,” continuing the legacy of support from past generations. Our annual Question of Sport Quiz Night took place on Friday 31 January 2025 in the Foundation Hall and was a resounding success. Seventeen teams competed across 12 rounds, featuring the famous picture board, a mystery guest, and observation rounds, with knockout and league competitions adding to the excitement. Hosted expertly by Iain Digby, and supported by the IT team and prefects, the evening raised over £8,000 for the Pitch In campaign. Congratulations to Wycombe Wanderers, the overall winners, and thanks to everyone who made the event so enjoyable and successful. On Tuesday 27 May 2025, the AGS community came together for another fantastic Golf Day at Chiltern Forest Golf Club. With Old Aylesburians, parents, students, and staff taking part, the day was full of camaraderie and friendly competition. Congratulations to our U18 winners – Alfie, Tom,

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Joe, and Tom – and to the overall winning team of Headmaster Mark Sturgeon, Chris Duggan, Iain Digby, and Iain Wilson. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this special day celebrating sport and community. In remembrance of those no longer with us, the 1st XV Rugby team competed in the AGS Memorial Match against Latymer Upper School. The match honoured Ed Dean, Tom Giles, and Charlie Dunne, and it was a poignant reminder of their lasting impact on our community. We were also grateful to Dr Daniel Fazakerley (Denson ’02) for an extraordinary Cambridge Research Trip. Twelve Year 12 students, six from AGS and six from AHS, explored world-leading research into metabolic health and diabetes at the Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. From hands-on lab work to Q&As with undergraduates and postgraduates, the students gained invaluable insight into scientific research. Our sincere thanks to Dr Fazakerley, Dr Dearden, and the team for providing such a unique and inspiring experience. Finally, on Monday 30 June 2025, we welcomed 21 recent Old Aylesburians back to share their experiences since leaving AGS. From university and apprenticeships to gap years and work, their stories offered Year 12 students a wealth of insight and guidance as they consider life after school. This annual “Sharing in Expertise” session is always a highlight, and we are grateful to our alumni for giving up their time to inspire the next generation.

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THE AYLESBURIAN

OLD AYLESBURIANS

Rt Hon Shailesh Vara (Hampden

Tom Larkin (Hampden ‘09)

‘79)

Tom returned to AGS to deliver

We were honoured to welcome

the Keynote Address for Year

The Rt Hon Shailesh Vara back

8 Languages Day, sharing how

to AGS as Guest of Honour for

his language skills shaped his

Senior Prize Giving. A former

career as a TV news producer

Head Boy and founder of the

and inspiring students to

Debating Society, Shailesh went

appreciate the opportunities

on to become the UK’s first

and confidence languages can

Hindu MP, serving from 2005

bring.

to 2024. He returned to inspire our senior prize winners with a memorable address.

Richard Trenam (Hampden ‘65)

Angus Drummond (Phillips ‘07)

During October half term, we

We were delighted to welcome

were delighted to welcome

Angus to our Inspirational

Old Aylesburian Richard

Speakers Programme.

Trenam back to AGS from

Diagnosed with muscular

Calgary, Canada. It was

dystrophy at 23, he founded

wonderful to share the School’s

Limitless Travel, the UK’s leading

developments and hear his

disability travel company,

fond memories, highlighting the

inspiring students with his story

lasting bond our alumni have

of resilience and innovation.

with AGS.

Luc Hinson (Paterson ‘13)

Julian, Patrick, Gabe and Abshly

We were delighted to welcome

Thank you to these four Old

OA Luc Hinson back to AGS

Aylesburians who returned this

for our Inspirational Speakers

term to share their journeys

programme. Luc shared his

from university applications

journey from AGS to a career in

to Degree Apprenticeships,

PR, brand strategy, and running

offering valuable advice on

his own business, emphasising

balancing study and work, and

the importance of trusting and

transitioning from A-Levels to

believing in yourself. Sixth Form

life beyond AGS.

students engaged thoughtfully, gaining valuable insights from his experiences.

Daniel Painter (Denson ‘11)

Daniel Patton (Ridley ‘14)

Daniel returned as guest

As part of our Inspirational

adjudicator for Senior House

Speakers Programme, Daniel

Public Speaking. He praised

spoke about confronting

the speakers, offered detailed

prejudice, staying true to

feedback, and his guidance

yourself, and supporting others,

was greatly appreciated.

leaving a lasting impact.

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Finn Bell (Lee ‘19)

Paul Buckland (Phillips ‘84)

Finn visited AGS to speak to

Paul, former Devonshires

the Law Society, sharing his

partner and consultant,

experiences in commercial law,

returned to LawSoc to share

solicitor apprenticeships, and

insights from his career and

the selection process, offering

offer guidance to aspiring law

valuable guidance for aspiring

students. His ongoing support

lawyers.

as a mentor and Foundation Governor highlights the impact of our alumni.

Nic Patmore (Ridley ‘08)

Ryan Jay (Phillips ‘06)

Nic visited AGS to share his

Professional copywriter Ryan

journey into law, offering advice

returned to AGS to judge

on work experience, building

the 2025 House Writing

a professional reputation, and

Competition, praising the

interview insights, highlighting

creativity and imaginative

the importance of passion

responses to the theme Refuge.

and commitment in the legal

We’re grateful for his time and

profession.

inspiration.

Ben Treacher (Lee ‘09)

Dr Guy Gratton (Lee ’88)

We were thrilled to welcome

In January 2025, we were

back Ben to adjudicate

thrilled to welcome Dr Gratton,

House Music at the Aylesbury

Associate Professor of Aviation

Waterside Theatre. An

and the Environment at

accomplished saxophonist who

Cranfield University, who shared

has performed internationally,

his expert insights with our

his presence added a special

A-level Physics and Chemistry

touch to this prestigious AGS

students.

event.

Joe Kearney (Paterson ‘17)

Daniel Fazakerley (Denson ‘02)

Thank you to Joe for returning

Daniel visited MedSoc to

to speak with Sixth Formers

share his journey into medical

about his civil service career,

research, discussing career

sharing insights on skills, entry,

pathways, key metabolic

and the value of languages.

mechanisms, and his team’s experiments.

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THE AYLESBURIAN

OLD AYLESBURIANS

Liam Hyde (Ridley ‘15)

Aymaan Sheikh (Ridley ‘22)

Liam returned as guest of

Aymaan, an experienced

honour for Junior Prize Giving,

debater and judge, returned

inspiring students, staff, and

to AGS to adjudicate Junior

families with his motto: Try, Fail,

Public Speaking, praising the

Iterate, highlighting resilience

speeches and offering valuable

and learning from setbacks.

insights

Bill Duling (Denson ‘22)

Kavi Morjaria (Ridley ‘20)

Bill returned to inspire Year

Cardiff University dental

12 linguists on Sixth Form

graduate Kavi visited Med Soc

Orientation Day and engaged

to share his journey, offering

Year 10 students in French on

insights on student life, the

topics from semantic bleaching

UCAT, applications, and

to forensic linguistics.

transferable skills. His talk was both inspiring and informative.

Jonathan Harty (Ridley ‘11)

John Gardner (Hampden ‘15)

Political strategist Jonathan,

John inspired our Chemistry

Chief of Staff to Labour MP

Society members as he

Marie Tidball, spoke to Year

explored the cutting-edge

12, sharing insights on politics,

applications of AI tools in

history, and the importance of

advancing the study of

staying informed.

Chemistry.

Marcus Dudley (Phillips ’01).

Tom Ward (Hampden ’06).

Marcus returned to AGS to

Tom returned to speak to

speak to sixth-form students

the Chemistry Society about

about his journey in automotive

his research in theoretical

engineering and his role as

chemistry, sharing insights into

George Russell’s Race Engineer

his academic journey and the

at Mercedes F1, sharing

use of AI and computational

insights into the world of elite

techniques to understand and

motorsport.

predict chemical systems.

Daniel James Andrew (Ridley

Matt Kemp (Phillips ’10).

’98).

Matt returned to AGS to offer

Daniel returned as part of

valuable work experience

Chemistry at Work Day to

opportunities, guiding Sixth

present on Green Aviation

Form students and providing

and the future of sustainable

insight into his professional

aerospace technologies.

field.

CLASS OF 2025 Brunel University of London

The class of 2025 went on to to study

Cardiff University

at a number of different institutions,

Durham University

embarking upon a wide range of

University of Bath

courses. Other students began

University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Derby University of East Anglia (UEA) University of Essex University of Exeter Hull York Medical School King’s College London, University of London Kingston University Lancaster University University of Leeds University of Leicester Loughborough University London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London Liverpool John Moores University University of Liverpool Manchester Metropolitan University University of Nottingham Northumbria University, Newcastle University of Oxford Oxford Brookes University Princeton University University of Plymouth University of Portsmouth Queen Mary University of London Royal Holloway, University of London University of Reading Swansea University University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of Surrey UCL (University College London) University of Warwick University of York

apprenticeships or took a gap year.

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

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Nurturing Character since 1598 Aylesbury Grammar School is more than just a School. It is a community and a family built upon 425 years of history. As a School we inspire and nurture our students to explore for themselves who they want to be and find their place in the world.