Posted on: 4/09/2023Amery Hill School Students Do it Again!Many congratulations must go to the Class of 2023 who have, yet again, achieved some outstanding GCSE results. Against a backdrop of two years of disrupted secondary education due to the pandemic and then the Government's decision to engineer GCSE grades back to 2019 levels, our students have shown that tenacity, courage and hard work can overcome many obstacles when learning within a school environment which is supportive, caring and highly aspirational. The school’s core values of Independence, Creativity, Active Learning, Resilience and Empathy and our school motto ‘Education for Life’ has helped ensure that our students are well placed to embrace all the challenges of this ever-changing world, with each and every one of them in the very best place to take those positive next steps into college, apprenticeships or training. We are incredibly proud as a school community and the achievements of the Class of 2023. Our students are all exceptionally talented and inspiring young people who have demonstrated all the core values and qualities that Amery Hill School stands for. The resilience they have all shown over the last five years is remarkable and we wish them all every success, health and happiness for the future.View Article
Posted on: 26/04/2023Sicily 2023Amery Hill School Year 10 students returned to Sicily this year for an action packed five days of tectonics, rivers, food and culture. Setting off in darkness, 48 students and five staff flew direct to Catania Airport passing over one of the main attractions of the trip – Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. It was clear from the steam clouds being generated by “Mamma Etna” (as Sicilians call her) that she was ready to greet us! The next day, after a coach ride up the mountain, cable car and four-wheel drive vehicle we were close to the summit of Mount Etna with a special guide to inform us. Conditions were perfect as we listened to information about past eruptions and took pictures off the huge caldera. Friday was a highlight for many students. The morning was a thrilling River Trekking activity session. Students got suited and booted in wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and waterproof boots and entered the chilly waters of the Alcantara River, created from snowmelt on Mount Etna itself. Scrambling over rocks, students were presented with an increasingly challenging series of waterfalls to jump off in this two-hour activity. The final water fall was estimated at seven metres high! The afternoon was more sedate with an opportunity for some retail therapy and the chance to visit an Italian pizza restaurant. The twist here was that all the students were shown how to make their own pizza, from kneading the dough through to choosing toppings, all under the watchful eye of the restaurant staff. After a late night, the final full day involved a short ferry ride to the island of Vulcano, after which all volcanoes are named. There were a few green faces, after the slightly choppy crossing, as the challenge of climbing to the volcano summit was contemplated. No cable cars here! Fortunately, due to the volcano currently being seismically too active and consequently too dangerous, a smaller summit was scaled instead with a local guide. This was challenge enough for some students and still provided some spectacular views. On our final day, we revisited the beautiful town of Taormina. Students had a last chance to enjoy some Italian food and buy souvenirs before we headed to the airport for the flight home and the chilly reception from the UK, not from the parents waiting to greet the students, but from the weather, after we had been spoiled by 20 0 C temperatures! We are hoping to return again in 2024 with next year’s Year 10 students.View Article
Posted on: 10/07/2023Prom 2023On 28th June, the students of Amery Hill School’s Year 11 bid farewell to their five memorable years of education with an extraordinary prom held at the prestigious Audley's Wood Hotel. The evening was nothing short of magical, filled with glamorous arrivals, heartfelt celebrations, and unforgettable moments. The prom night commenced with a red carpet reception, where students descended from an array of transportation options, ranging from tractors to sports cars and even diggers. The students, clad in their finest attire, made grand entrances that reflected their unique personalities and added an extra touch of excitement to the event. Inside the beautifully decorated marquee, the air buzzed with anticipation as the students eagerly embraced the night's festivities. The dance floor quickly became the centre of attention with everyone on their feet throughout the night. There was a really lovely atmosphere, with laughter, joy, and heartfelt goodbyes filling the air, creating a memorable finale for their time at Amery Hill. The Year 11 prom will undoubtedly remain etched in the hearts of the students as a cherished memory of their school years. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved, as it has not been a smooth 5 years of education for them (thanks to a global pandemic). However, they took this all in their stride and have really done themselves proud in their last few months with us. Everyone at Amery Hill wishes them all the luck in the world as they move forward into the next phase of their lives and start a new exciting chapter in their schooling. Check out the Prom photos 2023 GalleryView Article
Posted on: 8/04/2022Stubbs Farm 40th YearThe traditional annual Year 7 Geography visit to Stubbs Farm returned this March with the latest group of students doing a half-day tour of the farm. The last time Amery had visited was March 2020 and only days before the first national Covid lockdown was announced. Returning this time Mr. Stephens was reminiscing about how long Amery Hill had been visiting his family farm and let it slip that this was our 40th year! A long tradition that we hope to keep going. As usual Mr. Stephens was very generous with his time, meeting every group in the winter cattle sheds where he patiently explained to the children about the beef cattle kept on the farm, their feeding, conditions, age, weight, breeds and even how much they can sell for. With our school being in such a rural setting the students were very keen to listen to how our food is produced even if a few admitted that they were not meat eaters. The walk around the rest of the farm really showed of its size and organisation plus stunning views of the beautiful Hampshire countryside. The wooded area was made more interesting this year with a few extra trees down after Storm Eunice and a few startled pheasants! The students will be using the notes that they made on the day to write this up as their next assessed piece of Year 7 work.View Article
Posted on: 26/06/2023Amery Hill School Announces New HeadteacherAmery Hill School in Alton is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Headteacher, Mr Rob Jeckells, who will take up the position, in September 2023, after the summer holidays. Mr Jeckells is a highly experienced Deputy Headteacher from Kings’ School in Winchester. The comprehensive recruitment process included seeking external independent advice as well as involving a broad cross-section of Trustees, staff and students in the school. One of our objectives was to find a Headteacher who understands and shares our outlook, which is rooted in strong values. Throughout our discussions it was clear that Mr Jeckells, not only shares our focus on academic excellence and high achievement for all, but will continue to develop our ethos and vision in the future. We would like to congratulate Mr Mann, our current Headteacher, who has been appointed as CEO of Wildern Academy Trust and will take up his new position in September. Rob Jeckells said: ‘It will be my honour and privilege to lead Amery Hill School. I am a strong believer in the power of education to transform lives, and I’m ambitious to build upon the work of the current Headteacher and staff. The opportunity to lead Amery Hill School and serve the whole community is hugely exciting for me and I’m looking forward to leading the school into the next phase of its history.’ Lorna Vickery, Chair of Trustees, said ‘We are very sad to see Mr Mann depart and thank him for all the hard work and dedication he has shown to ensure the very best for the students at Amery Hill School. Mr Mann has worked tirelessly with the Senior Leadership Team, staff and Trustees over the last five years to strengthen the academic excellence of our school and maintain our caring ethos, whilst steering the school through the Covid pandemic. We look forward to a bright future for the school with Mr Jeckells, whilst wishing Mr Mann every success, health and happiness with his future career.’View Article
Posted on: 26/04/2023London Mini MarathonOn Saturday 22 April, 45 Amery Hill School students from Years 7 to 11 travelled to London to compete in the TCS London Mini Marathon, a 2.6km race for school aged students, which took place the day before the full London Marathon. It was an early start, leaving school at 7am, but the excitement steadily built on the way to St James’s Park where students had final drinks and warmed up. The event took place on a closed, secure route with stewards and a dedicated welfare team on the course to make sure all runners had a safe and enjoyable experience. Waves of approximately 250 runners set off at five-minute intervals with students following a fantastic route that started at Horse Guards Parade and went past St James’s Park, Buckingham Palace and Green Park before experiencing the thrill of crossing the world-famous finish line on The Mall. All of the runners received finishers medals and were exhausted but very, very happy! Speaking about the event, Head of PE, Mrs Naomi Jackson, commented, “We have a very enthusiastic and talented group of runners at Amery Hill School and they had an incredible day in London. Experiencing an event on this scale, with thousands of young runners participating, was fantastic for our students.”View Article