Autumn Update from Aldenham School

At a recent Court Lunch at Brewers’ Hall the Headteacher, Governors and Staff of the Aldenham Foundation joined the Master, Wardens and Court Assistants as their guests.

The Headteacher of the Aldenham Foundation, Alex Hems, gave an update on just some of the fantastic activities that had been taking place at Aldenham School, saying:

“Some of you will be aware that a strong part of Aldenham’s identity is the firm conviction that children flourish when we recognise and nurture all dimensions of their lives – academic, yes of course, but also their personal and social development, which occurs when they have the chance to challenge themselves both inside the classroom and without, through a really rich and diverse co-curricular programme. This evening, for example when we return to school, it will be to one of the highlights of the school calendar, the House Music competition, in which rivalries will be intense, but pride in one another’s achievements and recognition of hitherto unseen talents will always be to the fore. 

“Looking to the wider co-curricular programme, Richard Platt, twice Master of the Brewers’ Company, who specified, when he founded our school in 1597, that archery should be part of the curriculum, would be delighted to know that it still is; more importantly, I think that stipulation demonstrates the extent to which he cared about the physical wellbeing of the students, as well as their intellectual growth. Roll forward just over 400 years, and 60% of pupils proudly represented the school across an ever-growing range of sports.

“Aldenham’s involvement with Association Football goes back to at least 1825. Last year our Boys' Football enjoyed another historic season, winning both the ESFA National Cup and the Boodles ISFA U18 Trophy. I am so glad that our fledgling Girls' Football programme is also going from strength to strength, with the 1st XI reaching the County Cup quarter-finals and the U15s progressing to the National Cup quarter-finals.

“…This summer our students achieved the strongest set of A level results that we have seen to date, with over 14% at A* and 70% A* to Bs... These results open doors for our students, enabling them to set out confidently on their journeys into adult life on the courses of their choice, equipped we hope with the crucial skills of communication, collaboration and critical thinking that they will need in this new AI driven world, where these very human attributes remain so important.”