Academic Report 2024-2025

Academic Report

2024 - 2025

Introduction

The start of September brought the realisation that we were due to be inspected by ISI into sharp focus. Heads of Department spent much time ensuring department plans and paperwork were up to date. However, as we relaxed into the term, we benefited from the opportunity to examine our teaching in the light of the upcoming inspection, with the key point being to ask ourselves if we were really doing the best for each pupil in every lesson. By the time the inspectors finally arrived in March, we were confident in welcoming them and many teachers reported the strong sense of affirmation of a good job done. It goes without saying that the inspectors were most impressed by the girls themselves: several commented how genuinely amazed they were at the quality of work produced by the girls, not to mention the range of activities which they enjoy.

We are excited about plans for a new Careers Centre for September, one of the outcomes of a Careers Audit undertaken recently. Recognising the importance of this area of school life, we are moving Careers to the heart of the

school, next to the Courtyard Café and the Upper School Hub. Life at Wycombe Abbey is not just about the acquisition of knowledge; we also aim to teach girls to think creatively and boldly about the paths they wish to take in the future, and these conversations start early. As always, we are keen to hear from any parents who are willing to contribute to the Careers programme.

I hope you enjoy reading about a selection of the marvellous things the girls have been up to in lessons over the last year in this year’s Academic Report. I have recently watched the whole year group UIII play, and this captured brilliantly what Wycombe Abbey is about – with a brilliant script (written in-house), a nod to history, technology, pop culture and science, it gave the girls an opportunity to show that by working together, with a sense of humour, they can achieve a truly outstanding result.

Miss Emily Boswell Deputy Head (Academic)

Art

Enhancing the facilities available for all year groups is an aim of the department. This year we have invested in a commercial glass kiln, guided by the advice of our glass specialist teacher. This means that larger projects will be planned into the scheme of work for next year and we look forward to seeing these.

Our online Art exhibition with the Wycombe Abbey International schools continues to flourish. A selection of work from all years is published in an online gallery and parents of all schools can view, from Primary up to A level. This year we have been in contact with Oaks Christian School in Los Angeles and are working on a photography competition between the two schools. Life drawing has been popular, with an increase in sessions.

Photography has been enhanced by the appointment of a lead technician who is a professional photographer. The UIV requested make-up photography which was enhanced by ultra-violet photoshoots by creating natural poses and inventive use of props.

UIII have enjoyed working with the digital camera to explore close-up images of sliced fruit arranged on a light source. This was developed into collage pictures, dyeing, stencilled printwork, beading and applique in creative textiles. 2D software has also been explored to create nets for creative packaging.

The LIV portraiture assignment explored a range of mixed media, enhanced by photography using filters. Experimenting with a variety of printing methods such as etching, lino and collographs are always popular and creative. For activity days LIV worked in teams to market a pop-up restaurant business by using Graphics skills to design packaging, publicity and labelling of their cooked products.

UIV enjoyed working in teams designing silk painting and fashion garments culminating in a catwalk experience with a younger School audience. Lino cutting and printing as a reduction and onto fabric adds refinement and sustainment of observed natural forms.

The tufting workshop brightened up the grey days of January for LV and this year the girls used the tufting guns very skilfully. GCSE pupils continue to enjoy satellite projects of ice photography and fused glass. Some are inspired by visiting exhibitions, particularly the imagery inspired by Murray Clarke’s exhibition in Cork Street, developing repetitive imagery of designer clothing and incredibly detailed acrylic painting of sections of stitching created by knitting.

Sixth form pupils enjoyed a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum to study classical marble sculptures and the glass collection. The girls have an hour each week to study the various techniques of glass casting and fusing.

Pupils in exam years were very successful last Summer with grades of 8 and 9 at GCSE and A* and A at A level. Last year the university destinations for our pupils were America, Architecture at UCL and studying Material Science at Oxford.

Our year culminated in an Art Exhibition of GCSE and A level work in mid-June. We display the work of every candidate in LAC and the exhibition was also viewed during Dove Day where the work is enhanced by the DT examination pieces of furniture.

Miss Kay Williams Head of Art and Cookery

UIII photography using a light source

UIV ultra violet make-up photography

Biology

We returned from the summer holidays to find Laboratory B2 beautifully refitted. After months of working with architects to design Wycombe Abbey’s first wet/dry lab, we are delighted with the results. The space feels large, airy, and bright, with the layout flipped front to back. The dry area features ‘normal height’ chairs, a first for our labs, and spacious desks arranged in semi-circles, giving every pupil a clear view of the large CleverTouch board and space for their resources. The wet area includes a generous demonstration bench — the ‘whale tail’ — where pupils can comfortably learn practical skills. Air conditioning ensures comfort year-round, making the lab a popular spot for societies, tutor groups, and revision sessions. The success of the B2 refurbishment has inspired us as we look ahead to redesigning B3.

The 2024 examination cohorts celebrated excellent results, and we are proud of their achievements. We welcomed a new LVI cohort into the Biology Department and have been impressed by their enthusiasm for the A level course. A strong number of them took on the British Biology Olympiad, earning our best results yet, including Wycombe Abbey’s first-ever gold medal and a shot at the International Biology Olympiad. Several pupils also tackled the USA Biology Olympiad, overcoming challenging content and late-night exam times with determination. Both Lower and Upper Sixth have progressed well with their core practicals, using these sessions to build skills for exams and university. Mrs Wright and Dr Fernandez led inspiring weekly University Preparation sessions for UVI biologists, leading to many successful offers, including from Oxford and Cambridge. We wish them all the best in their next steps. Mr Whiteley has continued to support prospective medical applicants, preparing them for admission tests and organising numerous mock interviews, including with pupils from our partnership schools and new collaborations with other GSA schools. These sessions provided valuable experience with unfamiliar interviewers, simulating real-world conditions.

We’ve also refined our bespoke UIII and LIV courses and improved resources for our IGCSE and A level classes. Our technicians, Mrs Brearley and Mrs Page, have been invaluable, accommodating last-minute changes to ensure the best practical experiences. UIII and LIV pupils focused on core scientific skills like planning experiments, writing methods, and graphing data, while also delivering enthusiastic presentations and creating excellent written work. UIV to UV pupils made solid progress with their IGCSE studies. UIV particularly enjoyed their project on plant reproduction, carefully monitoring their broad beans — each assessed weekly by Mrs Wallace — and later planting them in the new Earth Garden in collaboration with the Geography Department.

One highlight was the optional rat dissection for UVI pupils. Rare in many schools, this session allowed pupils to observe anatomy firsthand, sparking curiosity and excitement — even drawing in a curious Physics class! It was especially rewarding to see pupils who had once been nervous about dissections now fully engaged and confident. Our prospective medical and veterinary pupils will carry these skills forward, but it was wonderful to see non-specialists equally enthralled.

Looking ahead, Mr Whiteley will accompany a group of UV and LVI pupils to Peru this summer, joined by Miss Rowley. They will spend two weeks on a riverboat exploring the Amazon, and we eagerly await their stories and photos.

Our biology societies continue to thrive. We now host regular meetings for Genetics, Neuroscience, and Bioethics Societies, as well as Young Scientist Journal and Neurodiversity Society. Labs are buzzing with activity during breaks, and attendance has grown as society leaders promote sessions via Teams. Thursday Tea hosts our popular biology drop-in clinic, where Mrs Wright and Miss Rowley offer 1:1 revision support. UIII pupils were thrilled to receive handwritten replies from Sir David Attenborough after writing to him, and the whole school signed a card to celebrate his 99th birthday — a highlight of the term.

UVI reviewing the 16 core principles ready for their A level exams

UVI reviewing the 16 core principles ready for their A level exams

Chemistry

From Woosh bottle explosions to ammonia fountains, this has been a vibrant and energetic year for Chemistry at Wycombe Abbey. Whether working through complex theories or engaging in hands-on investigations, our pupils have approached the subject with curiosity, focus and determination.

In the Lower School, pupils have enjoyed a broad and varied curriculum, with practical learning at its heart. UIII began the year by learning about laboratory safety and receiving their Bunsen burner licenses. They also enjoyed learning about chemical elements which of course involved many renditions of the Periodic Table song. The excitement continued in LIV, where pupils created their own pH indicators using red cabbage and tested a range of everyday substances. The colourful results prompted thoughtful discussion and strengthened their understanding of acids and alkalis. In UIV, the curriculum developed to include balanced equations and reactivity trends, with particular enthusiasm shown during the investigation into Group 1 metals—watching potassium burn with a lilac flame.

In the Sixth Form, our A level chemists have impressed us with their maturity and commitment to mastering advanced topics such as organic synthesis, thermodynamics and redox equilibria. The complexity of the subject has been balanced by a collaborative classroom culture, where pupils are encouraged to ask questions and reflect on their learning. Upper Sixth pupils took part in the ‘Up and Atom’ Carrington sessions in the Spring term, enjoying the opportunity to apply their learning creatively through experiments to make bath bombs, slime and soap.

We were also delighted to see university offers from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London to read Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering. This follows on from our pupils’ success last cohort with pupils reading Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Oxford, University College London, and Imperial College London respectively.

Beyond the classroom, Chemistry has continued to thrive through co-curricular activities and enrichment opportunities. In December, we were proud to host the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Year 10 Chemistry Challenge 2024–2025, which saw teams of four take on the fastpaced quiz that tested both core chemical knowledge and wider scientific thinking.

Lower V pupils have been following a restructured curriculum to that of previous years with more chance to revisit concepts and practise previous skills. September caused a bit of discussion in the Fifth Form as both year groups tackled the all important concept of the mole at approximately the same time.

As the end of the year approaches, we are preparing for the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge in June. This challenges Lower Sixth pupils with demanding preuniversity problems. Last year, a pupil was invited to attend the associated residential course at Cambridge after achieving one of the top Roentgenium awards. We are excited to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.

As a department, we are proud of our pupils’ achievements across all stages and remain committed to nurturing their curiosity, independence and critical thinking. It has been a pleasure to guide them through the year.

Mr James Young Head of Chemistry and Head of Science

UIII separating rock salt as part of our Separation Techniques topic

Classics

One of Wycombe Abbey’s greatest strengths is its rich and varied curriculum, and within the Classics department, we are especially proud to welcome the girls into the captivating worlds of Ancient Greece and Rome. From UIII to UIV, every pupil studies both Latin and Greek as part of the core curriculum, and approximately half the year group chooses to continue with one or both languages at GCSE. We are delighted to be one of the largest and most vibrant Classics departments in the country and we look especially forward to next year’s new A-Level cohort, which is shaping up to be one of the largest we have had in recent years, with 16 pupils choosing to study Latin, 11 pupils signing up for Classical Civilisation and a particularly impressive 5 for Greek.

You might be wondering: what exactly happens in our Classics classrooms and how do we manage to make the study of civilisations more than 2,000 years old still interesting and relevant? While pupils do learn the languages of the ancient Greeks and Romans, our lessons go far beyond vocabulary and declensions. We immerse students in the culture, history, and stories of the classical world; whether discovering the daily lives of ordinary Romans, enjoying the timeless charm of Aesop’s fables, or delving into literary masterpieces such as Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid

From the very beginning, we encourage our pupils to delve deeper into Classical literature, nurturing a love for storytelling, poetry, and myth. All our UIII Classicists have the exciting opportunity to explore myths from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, an epic poem in which the Roman poet weaves a sweeping narrative of transformation, spanning from the world’s creation to his contemporary era. Students read a selection of these captivating tales, select their favourite, and create their own version of the myth across five categories. This year, we were once again blown away by the imagination and effort poured into each submission. All winners received a prize from the Classics Department and were entered into the national Ovid Competition, hosted by The Cambridge School Classics Project. We are thrilled to share that one of our pupils was named RunnerUp in the Animation category, an outstanding achievement!

One of the highlights of our academic calendar is always our international trip. In October 2024, we joined forces with the Geography department to offer a pioneering cross-curricular trip for 40 pupils in LIV-UIV. We spent a glorious five days in the Bay of Naples, visiting a variety of places including Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Capri and Sorrento. Textbooks came to life as we climbed Mount Vesuvius with a volcanology expert and roamed through

the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, imagining what life would have been like for their inhabitants before the towns were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. Overall, the trip was a huge success, and we would love to run it again in the near future.

Trips remain one of our most enjoyed enrichment activities, and this year has been especially full. Miss Franks organised three theatre visits, catering to a wide range of ages and interests; Percy Jackson the Musical thrilled our younger pupils, while the older ones appreciated productions of Euripides’ Trojan Women and Sophocles’ Elektra. Our now annual visit to the British Museum, led by our resident Classical Art specialist Miss Pemberton, continues to be popular among our LV and LVI, while Mr Murphy and our Sixth Form pupils maintain close links with Eton College via the Classical Literature Discussion Group.

In-house, we are always delighted to welcome visiting speakers who broaden our pupils’ understanding of the Classical World. Dr Emma Greensmith delivered a captivating lecture on Sisterhood in Epic and Tragedy, while Dr Jess Venner offered fascinating insights into her research on Pompeii. We were also privileged to host Mr Daniel Tyrer, Partner and Global Head of Energy & Infrastructure at Linklaters, and Mr Alec Russell, Foreign Editor of the Financial Times, for a Careers Spotlight in Classics. They shared the many ways in which their Classical education has shaped and enriched their professional journeys.

All of us in the Classics Department feel immensely proud of the brilliant pupils we have the privilege to teach each day. Whether through lively discussions in Classics Society, thoughtful reflections in the Classics Book Club, or their enthusiastic participation in our trips, talks, seminars, and discussion groups, our pupils demonstrate that Classics at Wycombe Abbey continues to flourish.

Dr Christina Tsaknaki Head of Classics

Pot making at the Societies Fair

Annual trip to the British Museum

Computer Science

Our academic results were excellent last year. Our group of seven A level pupils performed well, with two going on to study Computer Science at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford. Computer Science continues to be a popular subject, and our pupils show that it sits comfortably alongside both art subjects, such as History, and more traditional options like Mathematics and Science. This year, we have a smaller cohort of three pupils, two of whom intend to pursue Computer Science at university. At GCSE, our numbers continue to grow, with approximately 35 pupils now taking the subject each year.

We continue to seek opportunities for pupils to engage in external competitions. The BEBRAS (Computational Thinking) Challenge is now embedded into our curriculum, with all Computer Science pupils taking part. Our LV pupils have shown particular enthusiasm for competitions, with more than half choosing to participate in both the Perse Coding Challenge and the UK Coding Challenge.

Following the retirement of our former Head of Department, Mr Porter, we welcomed two new members of staff. Mr Wilson has brought great energy and enthusiasm to the department and currently leads two groups of pupils working on their own web app development projects. Mrs Ettridge brings a wealth of experience to our GCSE classes and is supporting our

pupils to strive for academic excellence. Both have contributed significantly to refining teaching materials and enhancing learning across the department.

Artificial Intelligence continues to be a popular and exciting topic. We have expanded (AI) discussions in the Upper IV and introduced a robot car project, allowing pupils to explore how AI can control physical systems. A number of pupils are extending their AI projects through the Computer Science Society (CSS), and we look forward to seeing how these develop.

The CSS remains a vibrant and integral part of Computer Science life at the school. Our current UVI have continued to lead weekly meetings and support members in exploring a range of computing topics. As new Heads of Society take over in the Summer Term, we are launching two new strands: a Robotics Stream and a Programming Stream. These are designed to prepare pupils for more advanced competitions while also supporting the GCSE curriculum and encouraging further progression to A Level study.

The Computer Science Department has enjoyed another successful year, and we look forward to continued growth and achievement in the future.

Mr Ka Ho Wong Head of Computer Science

Robotics

Cookery

The Cookery Department is very active and is enjoyed by all year groups. The facilities are welcoming and organised. Our two experienced chefs, the weekend Cookery teacher and our domestic staff all take pride in maintaining the high standards.

Cookery Club’s focus is on cooking nutritious and wellbalanced evening meals. We aim to create a social environment to share the meals once most of the washing up has been completed! Skills vary to reinforce knowledge and girls are very quick to air their preferences for menus. We enjoy investigating recipes from different cultures and to explore ingredients and techniques e.g. shaping dumplings and making Mongolian Beef.

UIII in the Autumn term focus on knife skills and creating healthy and colourful Poke Bowls and Bruschetta, with opportunities for learning presentation skills through competition at the end of the lesson. Cultural awareness creates opportunities for experimentation using different ingredients such as Japanese and Chinese recipes for Gyozas, Te maki and Sushi using vinegared rice with raw vegetables as our Chef Yuki Brien is Japanese. Fruit scones using the rubbing in method brings in our British values.

LIV are more adept in knife skills and the focus is on teaching methods while learning through risk taking. We focus on encouraging the girls to cook more independently by selecting their ingredients and planning recipes and methods. The end of year culminates in a “Ready, Steady Cook“ session by following a recipe without having practical demonstrations. There is always a focus on presentation.

The LV this year have had a new initiative of well-being sessions; three lessons of an hour to have a taste of healthy eating and learning about food which stimulates the brain,

and choosing to eat energy and comfort food. The focus is on awareness, making and eating in the lesson. Recipes include ramen, protein based desserts, banana cake, breakfast granola with seeds and dried fruit, omelettes, couscous salad and the popular making of smoothies using fruit and vegetables.

The Sixth Form continue to enjoy the accredited Leiths Course, passing the online hygiene course before they can access the two and a half hour weekly lessons. The well-structured course includes menu planning, breakfast and brunch recipes, store cupboard meals which all use cultural ingredients. Girls upload photos of the dishes completed after each session onto the Leiths Education Portal. The practical examination is assessed by a visiting Leiths assessor during the Summer term.

Extra-curricular activities in the department include LIV Activity Day where pupils plan a pop-up restaurant dish as a team in the Summer term. Ingredients are chosen and girls split their teams into cooking, packaging, marketing areas.

The Modern Language Department have cooks who enjoy sharing their Spanish and German recipes. The UIII translate a recipe and cook the dish in their timetabled lessons. Often staff will encourage counting time in different languages when boiling tomato skins to peel, or frying spices. The Easter biscuit competition is very competitive between Houses and the judging by the Cookery staff and our school catering chefs is serious with points being awarded for the colour of the bake, the snap, the taste and the decorative icing.

Mr Tom Dimmock Teacher in charge of Cookery

LIV Sushi

Millefeuille at Cookery Club

Leiths Course - Paella

Design and Technology

Design and Technology has been proud to celebrate an excellent year, with last summer’s IGCSE results reflecting the hard work and creativity of our pupils. Every candidate achieved a grade 7 to 9, a testament to their commitment and the department’s ongoing pursuit of excellence. The subject continues to thrive as more pupils choose to study a discipline that seamlessly blends practical making with academic rigour. Engagement with coursework remains high, with pupils embracing the freedom to explore their own design interests through client-based projects, creative ideation and iterative modelling. Workshop facilities and digital design resources, including CAD/CAM software, 3D printing and computer-aided modelling, have been central to their success.

This year has seen particularly exciting work from our UIV pupils, who have produced an outstanding series of biomimicry-inspired lamp designs. These projects demonstrated both creativity and technical skill, combining hand and digital processes such as laser cutting, CAD modelling and the innovative use of materials. LV pupils have made an excellent start on their IGCSE coursework, developing client-based briefs, conducting research and producing initial design work, showing great promise for the year ahead. LVI pupils have shown real maturity as they embark on their A level projects, laying strong foundations through research and development activities. They have also completed a series of design challenges, testing both their technical skills and creativity.

UV and UVI pupils have demonstrated exceptional focus in refining and completing their coursework, as well as preparing diligently for their forthcoming examinations. At IGCSE, pupils produced an impressive range of usercentred and highly functional outcomes, showcasing both creativity and technical proficiency. Notable projects included a custom-designed dog bed tailored to a specific pet’s needs, elegant accessory storage units, a sculptural vinyl record holder and a sleek, modern wine rack. One standout piece was a mobile outdoor garden storage facility, carefully engineered for both practicality and ease of movement. These projects combined thoughtful design with advanced making techniques, including joinery, CAD modelling and high-quality finishing.

At A level, pupils continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the workshop. A particular highlight was a beautifully crafted architectural desk made from American walnut, demonstrating a high level of craftsmanship, material understanding and bespoke design. All projects at

this level incorporated complex processes, from precision cutting and shaping to intricate hand-finishing, resulting in refined, professional-standard outcomes that reflected the pupils’ commitment to excellence.

The Greenpower Society continues to thrive, with pupils meeting regularly to design, test and build electric race cars. This provides an exciting context in which to develop valuable skills in engineering, teamwork and problemsolving. The department also supports other enriching extracurricular opportunities, such as the Arkwright Scholarship and the Tycoon Enterprise Competition. The workshop remains a creative hub beyond lesson time, where pupils pursue a wide range of personal projects, from furniture and lighting to intricately turned bowls, demonstrating both imagination and technical skill.

Mr John Doherty Head of Design and Technology

A level walnut desk

GCSE mobile outdoor garden storage

As well as the usual annual array of trips, workshops and productions, the Drama department has also enjoyed academic success this year. The most recent set of A level results were particularly notable in that they maintained the trend, across the last five years, of all Drama A level pupils achieving either an A or A* grade.

The LAMDA results from March 2025 were also of an exceptionally high standard with pupils taking Grade 6, 7 and 8 exams achieving 81% distinction and 19% merit grades. The visiting examiner was keen to point out in a subsequent email how impressed he had been with the standard of work, describing the pupils he met as: ‘grounded, industrious, joyous and academically, emotionally and intellectually engaged’.

This year the opportunity to take LAMDA as an Extra has been extended to UIII for the first time and four groups from this year group will be taking their first graded exam at Wycombe in June. Next year sees further changes to the LAMDA programme, with LIV and UIV pupils being

given the chance to take paired LAMDA exams for the first time. We hope that these changes will give pupils and parents a greater range of options and ensure the demand for LAMDA as an Extra remains consistently high.

Live theatre represents an important element of both the GCSE and A level exam syllabus and, as such, the GCSE and A level groups have been to see A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansbury and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller so far this year. Both these productions were received warmly by the pupils and provided a wealth of material for their written exam responses as well as provoking some lively discussion around preferred design choices and thematic similarities between the two plays.

There was another trip to the theatre in January, as part of the weekend activities programme, when the department provided the opportunity for all pupils to see a nostalgic production of Ballet Shoes in the West End. There was also the opportunity for pupils to take part in a make-up workshop as part of the weekend activities as

Fifth Form production of Alice

well as a Screen Acting workshop the following weekend, which focused on developing the techniques needed for acting for the camera rather than on stage. This particular skill has been useful for pupils hoping to join the National Youth Theatre Summer Programme over the last few years, as they have had to submit video auditions as part of the application process. This is a very sought-after opportunity, which attracts thousands of applicants, aged 14–21 years old, each year. I am pleased to report that four Wycombe Abbey pupils have been accepted in the last two years and that this year we had our youngest ever successful applicant, with an UIV pupil being accepted for the Summer course.

This year has been especially busy with productions, all of which have been of a very professional standard, enhanced by a new lighting rig in LAC Theatre. These began in early November, when the LVs performed Twelfth Night as part of the Shakespeare in Schools Festival at Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth, Cressex Community School (for an audience of Y7s) and LAC Theatre. This was a fun and

frenetic 30-minute version of the comedy classic – all set in a British seaside resort. In January, the Sixth Form Play, A Servant to Two Masters, was brilliantly delivered by a cast of ten LVI and UVI pupils. This was quickly followed by the Fifth Form production of Alice, a modern retelling of the Lewis Carroll tale, which was poignant as well as suitably anarchic and absurd. This production also involved a revolving stage being installed (temporarily) in LAC –an added complication that the cast dealt with brilliantly.

Further successful productions took place in a packed end to the Summer term this year, with over 35 members of the Fourth Form performing The Revengers in LAC and the entire UIII year group presenting the world premiere of Victorian World (both plays were written by our Head of Drama). The year reached a spectacular conclusion, as tradition dictates, with nine original plays being presented for the annual LV House Play Competition.

Mr James Harrington Head of Drama

Temporary revolving stage

Sixth Form play

Economics and Enterprise

Economics continues to be a popular A level subject with around 30% of the year group choosing this option. It is a subject that complements the study of other A levels such as Geography, History and Politics, for example, and pupils enjoy bringing their learning across other subjects into the Economics classroom, making for lively debate. With ongoing issues including conflict, the cost-of-living crisis, and increasing protectionism, all constantly in the news, we have enjoyed discussing how economic challenges might be overcome.

Last year’s cohort enjoyed a strong set of results with 89% at A*/A and 100% A*-B, enabling our leavers to take up offers for a range of competitive courses including Economics at Durham and UCL, PPE at LSE, Economics and Management at Oxford, and Economics, Finance & Data Science at Imperial College. Of this year’s cohort, 13 pupils are holding offers to continue their studies in Economics, PPE or Economics and Management at prestigious institutions including Oxford, Imperial and LSE. Combined honours courses continue to be popular choices. We encourage our Sixth Form to make use of Seniors Connect, our platform connecting Seniors, to engage with recent leavers. This is a fantastic way for them to find out more about what it is really like to study a course at a particular university. We are delighted that one of our Seniors kindly joined us during Future Ready Week to hold a Q&A with interested pupils about PPE at Oxford. Current pupils gained invaluable advice about the application process and greater insight into what the course really entails.

Just a few weeks into the Autumn term, we welcomed a number of RGS High Wycombe pupils to our Academic Forum which aims to stretch and challenge all pupils beyond the curriculum. We enjoyed discussing whether limited liability has gone too far, for example how government might impose greater accountability on corporations such as water companies. The Economist’s recent article on ‘the broken business model of British universities’ also provoked lively discussion as we considered whether, like banks, UK universities are too big to fail.

We were delighted to welcome Joshua McCallum, Chief Economist at Allstate to speak at a Career Spotlight on life as an Economist. He shared his career journey, working in both the private and public sector, and girls were particularly fascinated to learn about his time in Iraq

re-organising their National Budget. It was particularly pleasing to see such a range of pupils joining us for the evening, across both Upper School and Sixth Form.

It is encouraging how many pupils have engaged this year with external essay competitions; we have been impressed by the depth and variety of research that they have completed and their academic ambition. Many LVI pupils are researching economics-related topics for their EPQ or UPP and we look forward to reading their final essays which range from ‘To what extent are sweatshops morally justifiable in the context of economic development?’ to ‘To what extent does the English Premier League positively impact the UK economy?’

Several pupils have secured places at competitive summer schools, both in the USA and here in the UK at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London. These are fantastic opportunities for them to immerse themselves into the subject and explore beyond the specification.

As a small department of two staff, we continue to work hard to develop opportunities for extra-curricular activities in both Economics and Enterprise. Our weekly book club is primarily pupil-led, with girls meeting to discuss suggested books (not shorter papers or articles!) such as Paul Seabright’s The Divine Economy, a thoughtprovoking exploration of how religions compete for wealth, power and people. Business Tea has continued meeting on a weekly basis to discuss economic issues in the news, and the student-led Economics Society also meets weekly. Entirely pupil-led, breaktime presentations and discussions have been enjoyed on a range of topics, including the impact of Trump’s new policies, the economics of the art market, behavioural economics and game theory. For the latter, a lively game of split or steal highlighted the key principle of uncertainty.

In November 2024 our Tycoon Enterprise Competition team ‘Bag-ette’ were invited to the National Final in Canary Wharf. We were delighted to celebrate their achievements as runners-up in their age category, an impressive and well-deserved achievement. Following on from their success, this year a further five new LVI companies submitted their business plan and pitch videos to the Peter Jones Foundation and all were successful in securing start-up capital. Products range from scented bracelets, customisable shoe charms, make-up bags, recycled clothing and customised fluffy slippers! Teams have been supported by a mentor, either a Wycombe

Abbey Senior or local entrepreneur, who has both guided and challenged them through the process. We wish them luck in the competition.

In June, as the academic year drew to a close, all LVI pupils travelled to the BMW Mini Factory at Oxford to take a tour of the plant. This visit really helped bring to life concepts such as specialisation, economies of scale, and just-in-time production – as always, they asked excellent questions and really enjoyed their visit.

As another busy year ends, we look forward to what the 2025-26 academic year might bring.

Mrs Alison Kiln Head of Economics and Enterprise

“Following on from their success, this year a further five new LVI companies submitted their business plan and pitch videos to the Peter Jones Foundation and all were successful in securing start-up capital.”

Tycoon Enterprise Team; ‘Bag-ette’

Pupils across all year groups have continued to thrive in their exploration of a diverse range of literature, with superb A level results in particular testifying to the incredible progress made by pupils under the supervision of subject specialists who pass on their passion with such expertise and excellence. Whether we are basking in the beauty of Anne Michaels’ Bookershortlisted wonder, Held, or celebrating the captivating tales of Carnegie winners adorning the shelves of Hall Library, staff and pupils alike bubble over with excitement as we marvel at the writing that stirs hearts and transforms minds.

Alongside the staple texts of our curriculum, such as the ever-popular dramas of Blood Brothers, An Inspector Calls and Macbeth, we have introduced Geraldine McCaughrean’s dystopian thriller, The Supreme Lie, to our LIV classes, enthralling them with a tale of environmental disaster, disguise and deception. Meanwhile, the updated syllabus for IGCSE has brought us a compelling selection of fifteen new poems, ranging from the philosophical introspection of Pope to Carol Rumens’ tale of carpetweavers in Morocco. With Pride and Prejudice on the horizon for September 2025, this year’s cohort are certainly in for a treat, as we prepare to immerse ourselves in Austen’s world. One world we have particularly enjoyed visiting this year is John McRae’s, whose idiosyncratic takes on Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the online lectures platform, Massolit, have made him a firm favourite with us all.

While we make extensive use of the digital platforms at our disposal both within and beyond the classroom, nothing beats attending live theatre and we were fortunate to be able to take in Hamlet in Stratford, The Grapes of Wrath at the National, Blood Brothers in Aylesbury and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Barbican. These were complemented by in-house screenings of A Doll’s House and the film version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as we made the most of opportunities to experience texts in performance. So central has Shakespeare’s comedy been

to the department this year that we even chose to dress up as characters from the play to celebrate World Book Day. Our annual events, the Poetry Declamation Final and the Booker Prize Shortlist evening, once again provided a terrific opportunity for pupils to engage with literature beyond the curriculum, while we were delighted to welcome back Mariah Whelan for a seminar on Christina Rossetti, followed by an all-action poetry workshop.

It was a pleasure to welcome Wycombe Senior and former Poet Laureate Rose Evans to deliver a lecture at our inaugural ‘Women in Literature’ essay competition celebration event, as we expanded the challenge set before our LVI pupils to produce independently an essay on the texts and topic of their choice. This year’s Poet Laureate, showed superb initiative to arrange an online lecture on war poetry from Professor Tim Kendall. Rounding off the year in style, we were delighted to welcome Professor Nicolas Tredell to speak to the UVI and LVI, taking us on a riveting journey through sixty years of American Literature, culminating in the unexpected treat of two songs from the period.

While a love of literature remains at the heart of all we do in English, we are passionate about preparing pupils to be effective communicators who craft language with sophistication and style. Restructuring our approach to LV lessons to incorporate a greater focus on mastering the art of using language effectively has been integral to this, bolstered by a new booklet that has drawn inspiration from the emphasis on grammar, style and rhetoric seen at Oaks Christian School in Los Angeles. This has been an exciting season of developing our teaching of English Language, coupled with a greater emphasis on vocabulary, and we are looking forward to continuing to nurture a culture where pupils strive for excellence in their written and spoken English, taking delight in honing their craft and exploring complex concepts.

Mr Sam Lenton Head of English

English

Hamlet Trip

Rose Evans lecture

Geography

Geographers at Wycombe Abbey have once again demonstrated curiosity, critical thinking and a commitment to academic excellence throughout the year. The department continues to flourish, delivering a dynamic and contemporary curriculum that encourages pupils to engage deeply with the world around them.

Our most recent GCSE cohort achieved 100% grades 9–7, a reflection of the pupils’ diligence and the dedication of their teachers. At A level, 91% of pupils achieved A*–B. We are delighted that several leavers have secured places at leading universities to study Geography and related disciplines, including Oxford, Durham and Exeter. We wish all our leavers every success as they begin their next chapter.

In the Lower School, UIII pupils used Geographic Information System (GIS) software and virtual reality to explore tropical rainforests and global biomes. Their studies culminated in an investigation of our polar world, which led to a debate on the future of the Arctic. LIV pupils began the year by exploring population dynamics, developing an understanding of the challenges posed by ageing and rapidly growing populations. They followed this with a study of weather and climate, including in-depth study of rising extreme weather events. The year concluded with a thoughtful inquiry into global food security and the future of food—including sampling innovative food products and reflecting on sustainability.

UIV pupils examined the social, economic and environmental effects of fast fashion, before moving on to the complex topic of climate change. Their final focus was on the geography of Africa, where they explored how the continent is represented in global media and analysed the diverse challenges faced by different nations. Throughout, pupils were encouraged to think critically and compassionately about global issues.

Interest in Geography continues to grow. We were pleased to welcome 64 pupils into LV, and even more thrilled to see 74 pupils in UIV opting to study the subject next year. This strong uptake is a testament to pupils’ desire to become fully informed of contemporary issues and be globally aware citizens.

LV pupils have studied topics such as hazardous environments, river systems and urban change, while UV pupils focused on development dynamics, economic activity and energy. A highlight of the year was the LV residential field trip to Juniper Hall – a first for the department – where pupils applied fieldwork techniques and developed key analytical skills.

UIV Geographers enjoying the sites of Pompeii

At A level, Geography continues to attract passionate and committed pupils. The OCR specification enabled in-depth study of Earth’s life support systems, global migration, disease dynamics and human rights. Fieldwork remains a core strength of the course. Pupils investigated urban change during a visit to Stratford, East London, and completed their independent fieldwork investigations on a residential trip to Nettlecombe, Somerset. These experiences support pupils in developing independence, intellectual curiosity and a strong sense of place.

Pupils across all year groups took part in a varied and stimulating co-curricular programme. Academic extension included Geography Association lectures and in-house academic spotlight sessions, helping pupils to connect classroom learning with broader cultural, environmental and career themes.

A particular highlight of the year was the Lower School trip to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast with the Classics Department. Pupils hiked Vesuvius, explored the island of Capri and deepened their understanding of the region’s landscapes and cultural heritage—an enriching experience that brought the curriculum vividly to life.

Looking ahead, we are excited to expand our co-curricular offer in 2025–2026, including trips to Iceland, Denmark and Sweden, and local opportunities for our Lower School pupils. We remain committed to evolving our curriculum in response to real-world developments and global challenges.

Geography at Wycombe Abbey continues to be a forwardthinking, inclusive and outward-looking subject. We look forward to another enriching and inspiring year ahead.

Mr Simon Bannister Head of Geography

History of Art

Another dynamic year has unfolded for the History of Art department. The cohort of 2024 deserves the highest praise, with half of the students attaining the top A* grade in their A Level examinations. Several pupils also received offers from prestigious universities in the UK and the USA, including Cambridge, UCL, Yale, and Stanford—an impressive testament to their academic calibre.

In the classroom, a vibrant new Lower Sixth cohort began their History of Art journey by developing their skills in visual analysis across painting, sculpture, and architecture. Their studies progressed with an exploration of Nature in Art and Architecture, examining the work of artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Barbara Hepworth, Ai Weiwei, and Damien Hirst, alongside architectural masterpieces including Angkor Wat and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. From there, they delved into the splendours of the Italian Renaissance, encountering iconic works by artists including Botticelli, Michelangelo and Titian. These studies were enhanced by experiences outside the classroom, including a weekend activities trip where all pupils were invited to attend Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers at the National Gallery—a rare opportunity to view works from the artist’s final years. A few weeks later, Lower Sixth Art Historians returned to London to visit the Royal Academy’s Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael exhibition. This remarkable display offered a rare chance to study the genius of the Italian Renaissance masters up close. Particularly stimulating were the contrasting approaches to battle scenes in Leonardo’s The Fight for the Standard and Michelangelo’s The Battle of Cascina, which prompted thoughtful discussion on the expressive power of the face versus the body.

Meanwhile, the Upper Sixth focused on the theme of Identities in Art and Architecture, engaging with the diverse perspectives of artists including Jan van Eyck, Frida Kahlo, and Salvador Dalí, as well as architects Christopher Wren and Nayyar Ali Dada. Their studies culminated in an in-depth investigation of the Baroque period, where they explored the dramatic and emotive works of Bernini, Caravaggio, and Velázquez. They embarked on a revision tour of the National Gallery, where each pupil presented on a key artwork from the A Level syllabus, including Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait and Turner’s Rain, Steam and Speed. Their presentations were so articulate and engaging that they often attracted the attention of members of the public. They also visited the National Portrait Gallery, where pupils explored a range of works—from Tudor portraiture to Marc Quinn’s provocative Self, a 3D cast

of his head made from his own blood. The final stop was the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize exhibition, which offered a compelling lens through which to reconsider the A Level theme of Identity.

The department’s biennial trip to Italy during the Easter holiday was once again a resounding success. Upon arrival in Florence pupils were immediately immersed in the city’s vibrant artistic heritage. Over two days, they explored an exceptional range of Renaissance masterpieces, with a particular highlight being the unforgettable moment of encountering Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. In Rome, a peaceful convent hotel served as a base for discovering the Eternal City. Highlights included the grandeur of the Pantheon, the awe-inspiring collections of the Vatican Museums, and an early morning visit to St Peter’s Basilica, where pupils passed through the Holy Doors and reflected on the serene beauty of Michelangelo’s Pietà. The trip concluded with a visit to the Villa Borghese, where Bernini’s sculptures—so lifelike they seemed to breathe—left an unforgettable impression.

The History of Art Society also contributed to the school’s vibrant intellectual life. Highlights included a fascinating talk on Renaissance Rivals by Charlie Hall, and a muchanticipated visit from art historian Catherine McCormack, who spoke about her book Women in the Picture: Women, Art and the Power of Looking. Such was the enthusiasm for her talk that Upper Sixth pupils attended on their final day of lessons before study leave.

Special congratulations must go to a Lower Sixth pupil who represented Wycombe Abbey with distinction at the London Semi-Final of the ARTiculation competition, held at Dartmouth House. Drawing on the visual analysis skills developed through her A Level studies, she conducted independent research into Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Still #17. Her presentation explored Sherman’s use of self-portraiture as both homage to and critique of the stereotypical portrayal of women in Hollywood cinema. The judge, artist Sam Ayre, praised her presentation for its exceptional clarity, confidence, and depth of personal insight.

Ms Emma Bowen Head of History of Art

History of Art Trip to Italy

History, Politics and Law

What does it mean to go above and beyond? This question is one we grappled with in one of our first meetings in September and is one which guided our department’s direction this year. Across History, Politics and Law, we aimed to challenge our pupils intellectually and to create new opportunities for them to flourish.

For UVI, the Autumn Term meant UCAS and university applications. History, Politics and Law proved extremely popular, with nine girls applying for History alone. Applicants were individually mentored and benefitted from a university preparation programme which covered everything from analysis of obscure medieval legal records to discussions on the philosophy of History. Three girls saw success in external essay competitions, with one winning the Julia Wood Essay Prize, another winning the Fitzwilliam Essay Prize, and one coming runner up in the Sheffield History Essay Prize. In the end, 21 girls received offers to read History, Law or Politics at prestigious institutions, with eight securing Oxbridge offers – our highest ever number.

Building on last year’s success, enrichment opportunities abounded. In a Wycombe Abbey first, two UV pupils designed and delivered a Mock Trial which saw barristers battle it out over alleged match fixing in Lacrosse. As we have come to expect, both Mock Trials this year saw Fisher Library overflowing with eager observers and aspiring advocates.

At the end of last year, our A level Politics pupils were very much in their element as they rushed to organise a Mock General Election following a snap announcement by the Prime Minister. Over a two-week period, the corridors were abuzz with canvassers as the Courtyard Café became campaign HQ. Whilst the overall results did not

reflect the national picture, we were proud of the 82% turnout which far exceeded the actual election, showing just how politically engaged our pupils are. The LVI Politics class were particularly fortunate to attend the annual Politics Conference in Westminster where they heard from a range of outstanding speakers and had the chance to put questions to Michael Gove and Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

To support our evening enrichment programme, we welcomed six guest speakers this year. These included Kathryn Stone OBE who spoke about her time as the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland and Dr Mark Webb who delivered a session on life in medieval towns. One of the most valuable aspects of these visits was the opportunity for pupils to host the speakers at dinner, allowing them to practise vital soft skills.

In the classroom, we were particularly excited to launch our new Key Stage 3 curriculum. Designed to be more coherent and engaging, the updated course includes a depth study of the First Crusade in UIII, a new enquiry into Britain during the Second World War in UIV, and a particularly popular unit in LIV exploring the American Civil War and life in the Old West. At GCSE, we are equally enthusiastic as we prepare to launch our new GCSE course in September. This will feature a thematic study of China from 1900 to 1989 and a depth study of the Vietnam War alongside more familiar units on Nazi Germany and the Cold War. This will offer pupils rich opportunities to explore the complexities of modern history and international relations.

Mr

Neill George Head of History, Politics and Law

A pupil voting in the Mock General Election

Wreath laying ceremony at the Thiepval Memorial

LVI Pupils at the Westminster Politics Conference

Mathematics

This year we had outstanding exam results both at A level and GCSE, with our strongest ever performance at A level Further Mathematics from our largest ever cohort. Further Mathematics continues to be a popular A level choice, alongside the most popular course for Wycombe girls of A level Mathematics. Dr Logothetis led the University preparation programme giving tailored sessions to support both entrance paper and interview practice. Two Clarence pupils have offers to study Mathematics at Oxford.

Maths Society continues to thrive under the leadership of Mr Graham and the dedicated Mathematics department. From Topological Puzzles to Olympiad training, to competitions with Eton, it has been a hub of exciting mathematical activities. It is pleasing to see large numbers at Maths events throughout the year.

Samantha Graham, a San Francisco rocket propulsion engineer, gave a talk about the Maths of Rocket science including the rocket equation, why launch sites are close to the equator and what the space industry is really like. Then Pat Ryan, a British Spy during the Cold War (with a photographic memory) talked about her experiences in Gibraltar and Northern Ireland; as well as the challenges

of being a woman in the workplace in the 1960-70s. She also promoted her Cyber girls programme encouraging women and girls to code and to be involved in the computing industry.

Our pupils have excelled in both UK and American competitions, with outstanding results in the UKMT, AMC, Maths Olympiad for Girls and the Senior Maths Challenge, leading to multiple qualifications for follow on rounds and the British Maths Olympiad. A huge congratulations to our LVI pupil invited to both the UKMT BMO training camp at Trinity College Cambridge and the American Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP) in June - a truly phenomenal achievement!

The Junior Team secured qualification via the regional round of the Team Mathematical Challenge and will compete in the National Final this June, an impressive achievement. Maths celebrations extended beyond competitions, with Pi Day featuring fun, engaging challenges such as estimating circumferences of circles in the school grounds to reciting digits of Pi. An UIII girl recalled 110 digits, with a LV pupil reciting 260 digits of Pi!

Dr Iain Wallwork Head of Mathematics

Pi Day at Wycombe Abbey

Modern Languages

Following some excellent results at GCSE, IGCSE, A level and HSK for all the languages in the ML department, the academic year began with two new courses on offer: a one-year course in French or Spanish in LVI leading to the DELF and DELE B1 qualifications. This extension of our provision emanates from an absolute belief that proficiency in languages can lead to diversity of thinking, an ability to understand different cultural contexts and viewpoints, respect for others, and an openness to considering different ways to solve problems.

The European Day of Languages at the end of September always provides a timely reminder within the School of the importance of languages, and with beginners’ courses in Spanish, German and Chinese on offer in UIV, in addition to the two-year GCSE Italian course in the Sixth Form, we enable pupils to continue to try out new languages within the curriculum, as well as to enjoy the great breadth of languages that are offered as Extras. This is the last year of the current AQA GCSE specification for French, German and Spanish. The current LVs started the Edexcel IGCSE course and this has provided a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to be creative and imaginative in their preparation of the schemes of work and resources.

Our enrichment opportunities are regular and permanent fixtures in the calendar, and this year girls have enjoyed, amongst others, a visiting theatre company performing plays in French and German, visits to the BFI for study days on French film, a joint Chinese and History lecture at Marlborough College, overseas trips for pupils from LIV to UVI to Normandy, Paris and Seville, as well as the regular Grammar Clinics, News Clubs, Buddy sessions, cookery events and book clubs.

The new initiative of Pupil of the Week or Month in various languages has enabled us to acknowledge and publicly recognise the determination and resilience of our pupils. Not only do they continue to enjoy success in national competitions such as the Anthea Bell Translation Prize, the Sheffield University French Translation prize, the French and Spanish debating competitions, the Oxford German Olympiad, and the Linguistics OIympiad (in which UV pupils won a rare Gold Medal and three Silver Medals), but they also take every opportunity within the classroom to reflect on their own learning, growing in independence as they find strategies to immerse themselves in the culture and languages of the different countries.

In our constant endeavour to foster good habits amongst all the girls, reflection has been very much at the heart of our dynamic and relevant curriculum, and each pupil now has a reading log and enrichment folder where they record all the independent learning that they are doing. This might entail reading a book or an article in a different language, but it could also mean trying out a recipe, listening to a podcast, or singing a song in a different language. Encouraging this breadth of engagement is central to our vision as linguists, and a talk and seminar led by Professor Tom Wynn from Durham University reminded us all of the possibilities brought about through studying and learning languages. With girls going on to study not only pure languages, but also Linguistics, History or Philosophy with a language, or indeed courses that incorporate a year abroad, it is evident that we are continuing to share our passion and vision.

At this year’s Clarence Leavers Service, the Headmistress spoke of two Seniors in particular who had forged an impressive path for women in their particular field: Elsie Bowerman, the first female barrister to appear at the Old Bailey and a key member of the suffragette movement, and Baroness Carr, the first Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales. The fact that both studied Modern Languages can surely not be a coincidence.

Ms Lucy Nott Head of Modern Languages

Trip to Paris

ML Finalists in the LIV Poetry Declamations competition

Music

The Music Department had an exciting start to the year with the completion of major refurbishment works to the Music School. These have included an expansion and modernisation of our current facilities creating fresh, open workspaces and new opportunities for academic and co-curricular music. Highlights of these works include a new, soundproof drum studio. This is not only a more appealing space for pupils to work in, but it also alleviates the issue of sound bleed from the previous drum room. The refurbishment also includes a new, state-of-the-art recording studio, connected to the Archer Recital Hall, Drum Room, and Theatre to enable high-quality sound recording, audio and video editing. This has already proved a valuable resource for pupils who are interested in Music Technology and Popular Music and will offer exciting opportunities for us to expand the scope of our Music Programme in the coming years. We also have a refurbished and expanded second rehearsal and performance space in Britten and Holst, a new Chamber Music rehearsal room and, in the heart of the Department, a two-storey atrium, which acts as a public space and additional performance venue. The Atrium includes a digi-wall which is a useful communications device and enables us to live-stream concerts from the Archer Recital Hall. We have also been fortunate in being able to acquire two new grand pianos to increase the flexibility of both the Atrium and Britten and Holst.

Academic Music has continued to flourish, with 80% of A level Music pupils achieving an A* and 100% of IGCSE pupils achieving grades 9-7. Our wider curriculum has also undergone significant changes this year. At Key Stage 3 level, we are making use of our new facilities with an increased focus on composition as well as equipping our pupils with a working knowledge of some standard music software such as Musescore and Sibelius. At Key Stage 4 we have changed our specification to the Edexcel/Pearson Music GCSE course, which provides both a stimulating and diverse programme of study and a more thorough grounding for those pupils considering continuing their Music studies to A level. One of the new GCSE set works is Defying Gravity from the musical, Wicked! and we took our current GCSE students to the Apollo Victoria Theatre in February to see the music live. A level students benefitted from a trip to the West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival in September where they were able to hear one of their set works performed, the Suite from Psycho by Hermann, along with other chamber works supporting their A level wider listening.

In March we were delighted to welcome the renowned Villiers Quartet for a day of masterclasses and chamber music coaching. The Villiers are the Quartet in Residence at the University of Oxford and, as well as having a busy performing schedule, are experienced in educational

The new recording studio

Villiers Quartet Masterclass

work. During the day they ran three simultaneous masterclasses for our most experienced string players across all year groups. They had a lunch with our Music Officers where pupils were able to question them on aspects of life as professional musicians and, in the afternoon they coached our chamber ensembles. The day ended with a short concert where the quartet played for all the participants of the day as well as involving a group performance of a work by the Danish Quartet where our pupils played along with the quartet. It was an inspiring and varied day which provided a valuable opportunity for our musicians, and we were delighted to see so many parents come along to support.

The strength of the academic programme very much depends on a lively and varied co-curricular programme. This year we brought together the three elements of our House Music Competition – The Competitive Music Festival, House Ensemble and House Singingto award an overall House Music Winner who were presented with the inaugural House Music Cup. Every member of school competed in at least one round of the competition which saw over 200 individual performances in the first round. Points earned by girls in Junior House and Clarence were awarded to their respective Senior Houses and Shelburne were the overall winners for 2024-25.

Outside school, we participated in the South East Schools Chamber Music Competition and were delighted that our Piano Trio won the Senior Category in the words of the adjudicators, ‘by some margin’. This is the second time Wycombe has been awarded the Senior Prize and their performance of the first movement of the Mendelssohn Piano Trio was mesmerising. Our musicians were invited to give a Lunchtime Recital at the Parish Church in High Wycombe where they received a warm welcome from a large and appreciative audience. Our singers also enjoyed joining forces with the Eton College Music Society, providing sopranos and altos for their annual choral concert, which this year was a powerful and moving performance of the Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem

This year we have made connections to teachers in two international schools with a teacher visiting from Elisabethenschule in Frankfurt and from Oaks Christian School in California. Both teachers fully immersed themselves in the Wycombe Abbey musical life, sharing their experiences with pupils and we look forward to collaborations with their schools in the future.

Mr Stefan Reid Director of Music

Music Atrium

Physics

The Physics Department at Wycombe Abbey continues to excel at Wycombe Abbey. Our Summer examination results were fantastic, with 98% of girls achieving 7-9 at GCSE (with 67% 9s) and 71% achieving A-A* at A level, including an impressive 42% with A*. Furthermore, we are delighted to be sending seven pupils off to read Physics or Engineering at University, including three to Cambridge, two to Imperial, and one to Oxford.

UIII and LIV are where we establish the bedrock of enthusiasm for Physics. It is exciting to watch the girls listen intently as they try to measure their ranges of hearing, or as they bounce around the room roleplaying gas particles! Our decision to move the Space topic from UIV to LIV has been successful, allowing the girls to experience cutting edge Physics and to engage with regular news articles on recent astronomical discoveries. We enriched this with a trip to the Leicester Space Centre, where LIV pupils watched an exciting planetarium show, saw some fantastic rocket science, and completed an independent exploration task. UIII and LIV also took part in the MARSBalloon Project. They designed experiments to be sent into space to test ideas for a future settlement on Mars, with the strict limitation that they could not be larger than a Kinder egg!

As ever, the UIII trip to Jersey continues to be a real treat. The girls worked with the Durrell Conservation Trust to learn about ecology and the environment, as well as our role as stewards of the planet. This helps the girls understand the important part we all play in our surroundings, as well as encouraging some of them to start thinking about possible futures. It has the further benefit of drawing several subjects together, from Physics and Biology right through to English and History, through visits to historic Elizabeth Castle and the War Tunnels as well as discussion of the work of Gerald Durrell.

As the girls move to UIV-UV, the curriculum naturally changes. A key aspect of every lesson is the plethora of demonstrations and practicals that we are able to offer. The girls were amazed to hear the Beegees playing through a strip of aluminium foil in a magnetic field, so too to build a radio with a battery and a file!

We entered strong cohorts into various levels of the British Physics Olympiads, with half our entrants bringing home golds, including one “top gold.”

Moving into Sixth Form, the girls start to move away from acquisition of knowledge and more into application. They not only learn how to construct electric circuits, but also

how to build sensors to automate heating and air conditioning. It was good to hear the girls giggle with amazement as teachers swung buckets of water over their heads, terrified of the impending catastrophe but ending up dry! A particularly fun event was the Weizmann Safecracking Competition, where the girls had to design a safe that used two Physics principles, and these were then put to the test by pupils of other schools. A cracking day out!

The annual Sixth Form Physics Conference is a showcase for Wycombe Abbey. Pupils presented 5 minute talks on Physics or Engineering topics of their choice, and we invited the local cluster of nine schools to share in the evening. It is a particularly special event because an external speaker comes to excite the pupils with stories of their career, as well as to judge the presentations. This year, the speaker was Daisy Moore-Bridger, a Physics teacher and former weather operations officer for the US military, who has served in Afghanistan.

We are delighted that a group of our Sixth Form girls won both the regional and national rounds of the highly prestigious UK Space Design Competition, with two of our girls achieving the highest accolade of being accepted to represent the UK at the international competition at NASA in the summer. We wish them the best of luck!

Looking ahead, we are currently developing our five-year plan. We have a keen focus on pupil outcomes and we are paying special attention to how we can improve the enrichment and engagement of our girls in the subject, including through the strengthening of digital skills. It is an exciting time to be a physicist at Wycombe Abbey!

Dr James Seddon Head of Physics

UK Space Design Competition

Psychology

It has been another outstanding year in the Psychology Department, marked by intellectual curiosity, spirited discussion, and a real sense of academic community. We were delighted to welcome Miss Calder into the department, who quickly made an impact and shared her love for Psychology. The pupils have once again risen to the challenges of the subject, and it has been a joy to see their confidence and independence grow as they engaged with the complexities of human behaviour.

LVI approached their A level studies with characteristic energy and excitement. From the outset, they impressed us with their eager engagement in lessons and the depth of their thinking around key concepts. Their introduction to the Approaches unit sparked particular interest, with lively debate as they compared and contrasted the Behaviourist and Cognitive traditions, and we were delighted to see so many pupils drawing thoughtful connections between early psychological theory and modern applications. The darker side of Psychology proved just as gripping, with students especially engrossed by the disturbing yet fascinating insights provided by the Obedience studies. Milgram’s notorious experiments never fail to provoke animated discussion, and this year was no exception. A number of students took their learning further by entering national essay competitions, and their carefully argued and wellresearched submissions stood as testament to their intellectual maturity and passion for the subject.

Our UVI cohort have been a real credit to the department in their final year. They began the year with the ‘Gender’ option and quickly got to grips with its varied explanations and complex debates. There was particular interest in the biological and evolutionary aspects of gender development, and students engaged thoughtfully with contemporary issues surrounding gender identity. The Schizophrenia and Aggression units generated equally compelling discussions. Pupils rose admirably to the challenge of weighing up intricate biopsychosocial explanations and demonstrated real sensitivity when reflecting on the lived experience of those

affected by mental illness. The exploration of deindividuation and Zimbardo’s contributions led to deep and reflective conversations, particularly around ethical implications and the role of situational forces in shaping behaviour.

Beyond the classroom, enrichment opportunities have been as vibrant and varied as ever. One of the most memorable highlights of the year was the return of Dr Guy Sutton for his ever-popular ‘Brain Day’. Once again, he captivated his audience with extraordinary case studies and thoughtprovoking insights from the world of neuroscience. The live brain dissection, for many, was a transformative moment, allowing students to see in vivid detail the very structures they had encountered in their textbooks.

Psychology Society has gone from strength to strength this year under dynamic pupil leadership. Their weekly sessions have covered an impressive range of topics, from memory and eyewitness testimony to moral development and cognitive bias. With thoughtful presentations, practical demonstrations, and the occasional debate, they have nurtured a real sense of excitement around the subject and created a space where younger students can explore Psychology beyond the curriculum. Their commitment and creativity have been hugely appreciated, and we are excited to see the next generation of leaders take the helm.

All in all, it has been a rich and rewarding year for the Psychology department. We are proud of everything our pupils have achieved, and we look forward with great anticipation to the new cohort arriving in September. We are saddened to say goodbye to the wonderful Mrs Coen who has been a most dedicated, caring member of the team. To our UVI leavers - thank you for your enthusiasm and your many contributions over these past two years. We wish you all the very best in your next steps and hope you carry your love of Psychology with you wherever you go.

Mrs Lauren Monteil Head of Psychology

Psychology Brain Day

Religious Studies

Religious Studies continues to flourish at Wycombe. The department goes from strength to strength with large numbers opting for the subject at both GCSE and A level and a significant number of pupils continuing to pursue degrees in philosophy and theology at leading universities in the UK, US and (for the first time) Italy. This is in no small part due to the expertise and enthusiasm of the teachers within the Department and we recognise how fortunate we are to work alongside dedicated colleagues and intellectually curious pupils in a school where the rigour of the subject is recognised and celebrated.

The start of the academic year brought a renewed focus on the Academic Qualities, with a concerted effort to embed the vocabulary and mindset of these into teaching, learning and reporting. Inspired by the Consultant Teachers’ recommendation that we embed a strategy from ‘Teaching Walkthrus’ in our goals for the year ahead, we have also focused on Planning for Reading. The fast paced, soundbite age of social media has led many pupils to feel daunted by the prospect of reading and deciphering longer pieces of text. We wanted to boost pupil confidence with planned comprehension activities that will hopefully build towards more proficient independent reading. In a model similar to the Advanced Reader scheme popular in prep schools, we decided to use quick multiple-choice tests as a way of checking comprehension and rewarding reading. We have seen particular success with Key Stage Three, with pupils in UIV extending their understanding of Situation Ethics, evaluating the criticisms of Utilitarianism and reflecting on the distinction between Eastern and Western philosophy - all while enjoying the gentle art of reading.

We have continued to look for ways to develop our co-curricular offering and, alongside the annual trips to Coventry Cathedral and the Oxford Academy Conference in Philosophy and Theology, we have also taken part in the St Andrews Ethics Cup. Despite the timing of the regional round making it impossible for us officially to compete, pupils have met regularly each week to discuss the Case Set and scrutinise issues ranging from the morality of teachers’ strikes to the permissibility of saviour siblings. We very much hope that we will be able to enter a team formally in the coming academic year and are grateful to Mr Puwar and Mrs Garcia for volunteering their time to oversee this opportunity. Philosophy Society remains a popular breaktime session with pupils presenting and chairing the discussion and we are also developing a Reading Relay with Oaks Christian School, California in the coming months.

Above all we are fortunate to enjoy positive relationships with the young people in our classrooms. As this year’s Clarence girls leave to begin the next chapter of their academic adventures it was touching to hear of their joyous memories of time spent studying philosophy, theology and religion. We are so proud of all that they have achieved and will go on to achieve and the small part that we have played in fostering their ambitions. It has been a truly golden year!

Mrs Amelia Khan Head of Religious Studies

Pupils touring the ruins of Coventry Cathedral

Screen of Saints and Angels at Coventry Cathedral

Physical Education

We continue to have small cohorts with strong results in both GCSE and A Level PE. Our GCSE candidates completed their practical moderation in March with encouraging feedback across all sports and A level pupils submitted their practical video footage to support their theoretical learning. We are hopeful for another set of great results this summer and are encouraged by the uptake of GCSE PE by the current UIV.

Curriculum

Our KS3 curriculum continues to be popular, informative and innovative, with all pupils learning about their physical and mental well-being in a multitude of ways. At Key Stage 4 and 5 we continue to offer a huge variety of sports and activities to ensure that pupils establish a love of being physically active and staying healthy. With our new Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing now in role we are looking forward to continuing our curriculum review and ensuring that pupils’ needs are met across all age groups.

Sports Events

The Sports Awards in April celebrated all the positive attributes that come from being involved in sport; sportsmanship, teamwork, athletic performance and leadership to name a few. We welcomed Alex Aljoe who gave an inspirational talk about launching her career into the male dominated world of Football journalism and she kindly handed out over 100 trophies to our prize winners.

The Highlights Dance Show gave opportunities for pupils from UIII to UVI to show off their vast range of dance and gymnastic skills. Dances included Ballet, Tap, Street, Contemporary and Musical Theatre with pieces choregraphed by both teachers and students. The show was a real spectacle and a true credit to all the hard work that goes into the dance programme throughout the year.

Sports Trips and Tours

This academic year sports tours have taken place to Flaine, Canada and Portugal. Our ski racers performed outstandingly in the British Schoolgirls Ski Races in Flaine, bringing back a haul of silverware and importantly no injuries! Over the Easter break our recreational skiers travelled to Canada and our tennis players went on their pre-season trip to Vale do Lobo in Portugal.

Athletic Development

With our new Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing, Mr Josh Wall, in post, it has been an exciting time for both the performance programmes and the athletic development of all pupils. We have already hosted talks on sports nutrition and managing life as a ‘student athlete’ as well as reviewing our curriculum and fitness access policies. The gym has also had a minor revamp in order to make this more accessible and user friendly.

Lacrosse

In this year’s county tournaments, we were crowned champions in the U12B and U14B competitions with the U12A, U13A, U13B and U14A all placing second. In the National Schools competition all teams, with the exception of the U15A, progressed through to the last 16 in the country. Despite missing out the U15A finished on a high and were crowned Division 1 champions. England Lacrosse were very grateful that once again we were able to host the U15B National Schools tournament which was a huge success.

Netball

Netball has had a very successful year with all age groups having a successful County tournament and the 1st team being crowned champions to progress through to the Regional Finals. Both our U12A team and 1st team also had great success in the Sisters n Sport competition, beating some strong sides and securing a place at the National Finals held at Loughborough University. Both teams played some outstanding netball to place fourth and first respectively.

The District Tournaments have been a great success again this year with all but one team placing first or second and we finished the season with some large block fixtures, for all U12 (A-J) and U13 netballers (A-F) vs Berkhamsted and Queenswood.

Swimming

It has been another successful year of Swimming at Wycombe Abbey, culminating in finishing fourth and fifth at the Bath and Otter Cup at the London Aquatics Centre, which is a national level school relay competition. To achieve such high rankings at a national level reflects the determined, hard-working swimmers we currently have in the School. They have also achieved great results individually, with many of them qualifying the county championships, and some going onto regionals and even national success.

Squash

After a series of competitive fixtures in the first two stages of the National Schools Squash Championships, we were pleased that one team from each Key Stage successfully progressed to the National Finals. Considering the varying levels of experience within the teams during this development year, the overall results are very encouraging.

Athletics

We had our first round of the Track and Field Cup competition this term and won the Regional Finals with both Junior and Inter teams and hopefully are progressing to the National Finals with the Juniors. We recently had pupils representing themselves at the Bucks Individual Championships with huge success and many girls gaining podium places in both track and field events.

Cross-Country

Several pupils ran in the Individual Cross Country Championships in February with our UIII team securing first overall with one pupil in UIII finishing in sixth place individually, earning her a place in the Primary Schools (Year 5-7) National Finals in April. Two pupils in LIV also secured spots in the English Schools National Finals after finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Our junior team were finally able to compete in the National Finals of the Cross-Country Cup after this was postponed in the Autumn Term. This was a fantastic experience, and we are extremely proud of the team for qualifying for this level of the competition.

Cricket

Cricket continues to grow in size and strength with all A teams and Senior age groups now playing hard ball. We are hoping to add to our Cricket facilities over the coming years so that winter training can become a regular part of the sporting programme.

Tennis

This Summer Term we hosted the National Schoolgirls Doubles Tennis tournament. We were honoured to be asked to host for the first time in this tournament’s 103-year history and our tennis players stepped up to the occasion. Our U16 doubles pair were the last players on court at the end of the day battling it out to win and lift the very impressive, and heavy, trophy! U16s also progressed to the National Final of the School Sport Magazine Competition, which is taking place in the first week of the summer holidays. Our U19 pairing (who were also victorious as U16 back in 2023), had an outstanding day, with one pupil having only recently taken back to the court after an ACL injury, and were also victorious, crowning Wycombe Abbey double National Champions on the day.

Football

Football Club continues to thrive, with over 30 girls from UIII to UIV attending regularly and showing great enthusiasm. In the Spring Term, the U13s had their first taste of 11-a-side football against St Albans High School. Despite a 3-0 loss to a very experienced side, it was a valuable learning experience. The club is going from strength to strength, providing the girls with valuable match experience and opportunities to develop their skills and we look forward to building on this momentum moving forward.

Golf

The Golf simulator has been well used this year for curriculum lessons and for extras. We have a fully qualified and accredited PGA Golf Professional who delivers a great experience for all our golfers both on site in the simulator and off site at Wycombe Heights. We have also utlised the simulator by introducing Golf into our KS4 and KS5 curriculum lessons, which the pupils have really enjoyed. We are looking to enter some Golf competitions next academic year.

Individual Successes

Sailing: Two pupils, one in LV and another in LVI have had incredible Sailing results this year and both have now been selected to represent GBR in the upcoming European Championships.

Tennis: A LVI pupil has been selected to represent Sussex in the U18 National Inter-Counties tournament and is currently ranked in the 97th percentile for UK female open age tennis players.

Lacrosse: A pupil in UVI has been part of the England Talent Pathway and recently was called up to play for England U20’s in the Home Internationals. Her team were undefeated and crowned champions.

Netball: A pupil in UV has been playing for London Mavericks in the National Performance League and recently represented Scotland at the U17 Europe Netball Championships in Belfast.

Mrs Sophie Bryett-Windle Director of Sport

Junior Cross Country Finalists

Tennis - National Schoolgirls Doubles Champions U16 and U19

Libraries

The Libraries Department has had another fantastic year, consisting of literary events, reading challenges, quizzes, cosy reading days, author visits and a vast array of new books.

In the Autumn Term, we had our annual Reading Week. Various exciting events were planned, with the UIV Literary Quiz igniting some fierce competition. The Literary Society’s annual Pizza and Poetry evening saw pupils reciting beloved works and the highly anticipated Poetry Declamations Final also took place during Reading Week. A range of talks occurred throughout the week; Professor Tim Kendall from the University of Exeter delivered a fascinating lecture on World War I poetry; Mr Sam Lenton acclaimed Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost ; and Joseph Elliot, author of The Good Hawk, spoke to the UIII pupils about his novels, the experience of being an author and the publishing industry. The UIII pupils were also presented with a Bookbuzz book as a gift from the Libraries Department, which proved to be very popular as the pupils swapped their gifted book with other pupils in the year group to read more of the collection. Moreover, reading groups were bustling throughout the week and our School Librarians launched the Lower School Book Club for the year, which focused on Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express for the duration of the Spring Term.

The Spring Term consisted of a superb week celebrating World Book Day with a variety of activities taking place across the School. The Scholastic Book Fair was open during the week, enabling pupils to browse a range of books and stationery. The sales from the book fair raised more than £1600 in commission and we asked our local primary schools to enter a bookmark competition to win the commission money to stock their own school library. We had a wonderful array of entries and were delighted to donate the commission money to Castlefield School.

On World Book Day itself, the whole School got involved by dressing up to celebrate books. The costumes were marvellous this year, ranging from the Executive Leadership Team dressed as Jane Austen characters to UIV pupils bringing The Three Little Pigs to life. Furthermore, Christian Foley, a renowned spoken work artist, delivered writing workshops and a performance to UIII and LIV, which was a joy-filled evening celebrating the power of words and reading. Additionally, we had a range of competitions and quizzes taking place throughout the week in the Libraries Department, and we also launched our new reading challenge and audiobook challenge. The week finished with Fisher Library being set up as a cosy reading space, with bean bags, sofas and hot chocolates. The day was very popular, and it was a pleasure to see so many pupils taking the time out of their schedules to read with a hot chocolate in hand.

The Carnegie Shadowing Scheme commenced for another year in the Summer Term, fostering a nurturing environment for pupils to read and discuss a range of new fiction with our Librarian, Miss Smith. It is a thoroughly enjoyed annual book club and enables pupils from all year groups to sit down together to indulge in new, celebrated literature from a variety of genres. The scheme finished with the pupils voting to decide on the Wycombe Abbey winner of the Carnegie Award 2025.

The joy of reading has certainly been showcased this year, and we hope that the Libraries Department has further inspired the pupils to read more in their free time.

Mrs Susannah Morrisby Head of Libraries (Maternity Cover)

LVI pupils celebrating World Book Day

Cosy Day was thoroughly enjoyed by pupils during Reading Week

Careers

It has been another busy year as we strive to develop pupils’ career aspirations and support their exploration and planning for the exciting opportunities ahead of them.

We were delighted to launch Unifrog, a new Careers platform, across the whole school this year. Unifrog is a universal destinations platform now used by over 50% of all schools and colleges in the UK, supporting over 1.6 million young people to make informed decisions about their next steps after school and build successful applications. Pupils have enjoyed exploring the many engaging resources, including virtual work experience opportunities, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

In-person events continue to be a key priority, enabling pupils to meet with professionals. In November, we hosted our annual Wycombe Abbey Careers Seminar, welcoming 25 speakers from a wide variety of professions to join us for dinner and talks. We opened the evening up to LV pupils for the first time and all pupils from LV to LVI inclusive were involved, hearing from their choice of two speakers. Optional for UVI, it was encouraging to see a good number of UVI pupils also joining us. Career sectors represented included: medicine; engineering; marketing; law; journalism; the diplomatic service; music production and fashion. It was a truly inspiring evening with a real buzz in the air as pupils clearly enjoyed learning about their speakers’ career journeys to date, both the highs and the lows!

In January, we were delighted to welcome back to School a group of Seniors from the Classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014. They kindly gave up their time to facilitate a networking evening for our UVI pupils, enabling them to chat about careers and different pathways over drinks and canapés.

Prior to the evening, we ran an ‘Introduction to Networking’ session for pupils with an external facilitator and the evening itself gave the girls a great opportunity to put into practice their newfound skills. One pupil commented: “It was easy to start a conversation based on shared experiences at Wycombe, and particularly helpful to hear about how their time here has shaped their professional lives. … I feel more confident now than I did before about being in that situation.” We are very grateful indeed to the Seniors for giving up their time and we hope this event becomes a regular feature in the school calendar.

Throughout the year, we welcomed a wide variety of speakers to share their career journeys. We have hosted Career Spotlight events focusing on different sectors: Electronic Engineering, Economics, Storytelling and Classics. These events are open to pupils across all year groups to attend, and there is always time for Q&A and discussion. We enjoy opening these talks up to pupils from local schools and pupils from our five closest schools (St Michael’s Catholic School, John Hampden, Wycombe High, RGS and Highcrest) have been able to join us at various evenings across the year.

Work experience opportunities are vitally important for our pupils as they consider their options. During October Long Leave, six of our LVI pupils were fortunate enough to experience a short internship with Euronext in central London. They had the opportunity to learn first-hand about career opportunities in financial services and enjoyed time in different departments, a visit to a trading floor and a panel discussion with women in various leadership roles in the sector. Our pupils said it was an “honour to be able to ask them questions and hear their

invaluable advice” and that the “experience has made [them] aware of the diversity of jobs in finance”.

Closer to home, 12 of our LVI pupils aspiring to study Medicine, have been involved in regular, local work experience placements in High Wycombe throughout the year. Pupils have attended weekly sessions with two care homes, Growing Hope High Wycombe, Wycombe Hospital (via the Bucks NHS Trust Young Volunteer Scheme), Bowerdean Nursery School and Marlow Opportunity Playgroup (the only special needs playgroup provision in Buckinghamshire). Our pupils are very fortunate to access work experience on such a regular basis and we know that these formative experiences will shape their future careers in Medicine. We are very grateful to all the hosts and supervisors who give their time to support our pupils.

Pupils from School have enjoyed giving back to two of our hosts. In January we were delighted to host a group of children from Bowerdean Nursery School to attend one of our Lunchtime Concerts – they particularly enjoyed spotting one of our pupils playing the piano as she is on a placement with them. We also took a group of pupils to perform for residents and their families at Ryeview Manor Care Home. The visit was very much enjoyed by all who took part.

As the year draws to a close, we look forward to the new start, with our next UV cohort enjoying a Careers Day on their first day of term.

Mrs Alison Kiln Head of Careers

Euronext Internship for LVI pupils

Euronext Internship for LVI pupils