Aylesbury High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are, rightly, proud to attend this excellent school. They meet its exceptionally high expectations, excelling academically and flourishing into well-rounded individuals.

Pupils love learning and embody the school's values of 'boundless aspiration, resilient bravery, curious engagement and selfless generosity'. They rise to high levels of challenge in lessons and are excited to learn more. Pupils develop remarkable independence and study skills through the very deliberate work of the school.

This helps them feel confident and prepared for their next stages of learning.

Alongside the inspiring academic curriculum, pupils benefit from the many meaningful ...leadership roles that they take on. These provide pupils and older students with the opportunity to understand the positive impact they can have in their school and beyond.

The house system is particularly impressive, with pupil-led competitions that showcase talents, teamwork and organisational skills. The head girl and the pupil 'cabinet' are integral to the school. They work with the adult leadership team to address issues raised by pupils and to run large events, such as graduation ceremonies and fundraising events.

Pupils are overwhelmingly positive about their experiences at the school and about the nurture they receive that helps them achieve highly in a safe and vibrant environment.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school is unashamedly ambitious for all pupils. A meticulously crafted curriculum ensures that pupils build new knowledge and skills at an impressive rate.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is excellent. The school maintains the same high academic expectations for these pupils, ensuring they receive carefully adapted support where appropriate. Reading is embedded into the school's curriculum and culture, with pupils exploring a wide range of academic literature to develop increasingly sophisticated research, interpretation and evaluation skills in their subjects.

Teachers' subject knowledge is excellent. This means that pupils benefit from very clear explanations, helpful adaptations and rich discussions in lessons. Staff encourage pupils skilfully to develop extended answers in speaking and written responses.

Pupils know that they are expected to think hard and to articulate their ideas and opinions clearly. As a result, pupils discuss their strengths and areas for improvement confidently using a wide range of precise vocabulary that they are taught within the curriculum.

Pupils achieve exceptionally highly.

Teachers' checks on pupils' learning are used intelligently to identify any gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly. Pupils understand that learning is a process and that tests can help them to improve. They gladly work on developing their knowledge further.

Pupils are unafraid to tackle difficult work, ably demonstrating the school's value of resilient bravery. Students in the sixth form benefit from the same aspirational support as the rest of the school. They too achieve highly and, with expert unbiased careers guidance, move on to ambitious destinations when they leave.

This is a calm and joyful place. Pupils know that they are fortunate to attend this school. They love learning and demonstrate exceptional maturity in all lessons.

Pupils are highly respectful of each other. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and kind, which helps strengthen pupils' exceedingly strong attitudes to learning. When pupils experience difficulties, they know there is a strong pastoral team that will help them.

Staff work sensitively together to ensure pupils have the right support. Importantly, pupils know they are listened to. The school proactively seeks to understand pupils' well-being and provides help rapidly where there is a need.

Pupils develop strong moral and social characters through the carefully delivered wider curriculum. They are confident talking about inclusivity and diversity. Pupils are proud that their school encourages everyone to be themselves, find their own talents and value different opinions.

Staff help pupils to explore a wealth of important issues related to the world through regular assemblies and other activities. The huge range of clubs on offer then provides pupils with opportunities to develop their interests further, such as in law, computer science and philosophy to name just a few.

School leaders and trustees continually seek to improve provision for pupils.

They are meticulous in their evaluation of the school and make meaningful changes where necessary. The recent increase in the number of trustees has added further capacity and experience to an already very effective team. Leaders are mindful of staff's workload and take appropriate action to ensure that they provide support for staff's mental health.

Staff are proud to work here and value highly the training opportunities available. This is a highly effective school that is constantly adapting and evolving to provide the very best for its pupils and staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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