Akeley Wood School is a
coeducational
private primary and
secondary school, with an attached
sixth form
In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...
near
Buckingham. It is owned by
Cognita
Cognita is a global private schools group which owns and operates schools throughout the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, India and Chile. Between them, Cognita schools deliver eight different ...
, which is an independent schools company.
[School's homepage introduction.]
The school accommodates pupils aged 12 months –18 years old albeit not on the same site – stretching efforts across three separate schools; the Junior School, Tile House Mansion and the Senior School – Akeley Wood. There are approximately 900 pupils across the three sites.
History
Akeley Wood School was originally named Hillcrest School, and located in
Frinton-on-Sea. Hillcrest School moved, avoiding the
war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
, to
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
; and, in 1946, to Akeley Wood, where it was renamed. In 1973 the school changed from a boy's
boarding to a co-educational day school.
A junior division of the school was introduced, and in 1976 provision was also made for those pupils who wanted to remain at the school to take their Ordinary Levels (subsequently
GCSEs
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
). The school expanded in 1987 to accommodate a sixth form.
The school grew rapidly, requiring a new site, and in 1988 Wicken Park was purchased to run a junior school. In 1998 Tile House Mansion was purchased and the lower school was taken off site.
The Junior School includes a nursery and provides education for boys and girls aged from 12 months to 11 years. Pupils aged 11 to 13 years attend Tile House Mansion and pupils between the ages of 13 and 18 years attend the Senior School.
In May 2013 Cognita announced plans to construct a new Sixth Form centre which was opened in September 2013. The new facilities are based in the Stable Hall and include a careers centre, seminar rooms, independent study rooms, social and recreation areas over two floors and a purpose built kitchen.
Notable former pupils
*
Pamela Cookey
Pamela Asibie Cookey (born 2 September 1984 in Birmingham, West Midlands) is a former English netball player, usually posted to goal attack (GA).
Club career
In domestic netball, Cookey has played with Team Bath in the Netball Superleague sinc ...
, netball player
*
Samuel Ricketts
Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bib ...
, footballer
*
Tom Stephenson, rugby player
*
Greig Tonks
Greig Tonks (born 20 May 1989) is a Scottish former rugby union player who played for London Irish in the position of Fullback, Centre or Fly-half. He is currently a coach at Rams.
Career
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Tonks moved to England ...
, rugby player
*
Andrew Selkirk
Andrew Selkirk, FSA is Editor-in-chief of Current Publishing, and former Vice-President of the Royal Archaeological Institute.
Early life and education
Selkirk attended his very first dig aged 13 years old. He did his National Service in the ...
, archaeologist
External links
Official website
References
{{authority control
Private schools in Buckinghamshire
Buckingham
Cognita