Aylesbury High School

The school is a selective girls' grammar school, and as such, entry requirements are dictated by the eleven-plus, now called transfer tests, although several students are admitted on appeal to Buckinghamshire County Council. In the fairly unusual event of free places, the school will accept pupils in Year 8 upon success in the twelve-plus and later upon reasonable evidence that prospective pupils are academically capable. A large number of pupils are also admitted to the Sixth Form from both local, state, and independent schools, though impressive GCSE results are required and competition for these places is high. The school educates girls from the age of 11, in Year 7, through to the age of 18, in Upper VI. The school has its largest intakes at Year 7 followed by Lower VI. On completing GCSEs, most girls stay on to complete their A-levels at the school's sixth-form. It is situated east of the town centre on the southern side of the A41, between Walton (to the west) and Victoria Park (to the east). This site was built and opened in 1959 by Princess Alexandra and is reflective of the modern, minimalist post-war architecture of the time. The school is housed in gardens, which the students enjoy, particularly in the summer. The school had been awarded specialist school status in Languages, which it kept until Summer 2011, when it gained Academy Status. Languages remain a particular strength at the school and are extensively resourced and promoted. Each girl is required to take at least one language to the GCSE level, and many take languages on to A Level and university. In July 2011 the school became an Academy.