Education

Did you know that over 28,000 children and young people are educated in High Wycombe every day? That’s the number attending the town’s primary, secondary, independent and special schools, as well as the university. It doesn’t include the Hazlemere schools or the additional students that will use Buckinghamshire College Group when it moves here soon (see page 30).

Wycombe Abbey School

At the heart of town lies Wycombe Abbey School, established in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove to give girls a first-class education – an unusual ambition in those days. It’s now perhaps the most famous and prestigious girls’ school in the world, with pupils coming from all over the globe to be educated in High Wycombe.

Royal Grammar School

Meanwhile, the oldest and largest school in our town is Royal Grammar School. It was established on the site of the Hospital of St John the Baptist, Easton Street in 1562. The current site, with its attractive redbrick buildings on Amersham Hill, opened in 1915 providing a grammar school education for 200 boys. New facilities have been added over the last century and the school now educates over 1,400 day boys and boarders. Famous alumni include musicians Ian Dury and Howard Jones, comedian Jimmy Carr, professional sportsmen Luke Donald and Matt Dawson, and the late philosopher Sir Roger Scruton. Current Head, Philip Wayne, is Director of Music and organist at All Saints Church.

Buckinghamshire New University

Since it was established as a School of Science and Art at The Clock House in Frogmoor in 1891, Buckinghamshire New University has gone from strength to strength. In 1963 it moved to Queen Alexandra Road where it was known as a College of Further Education. Recognising its high standards of teaching, training and research, the government elevated it in 1999, and it became known as Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College. Then, in 2007, it was awarded full university status and became Buckinghamshire New University. With satellite divisions in Uxbridge, Great Missenden, Aylesbury and at Pinewood Studios, BNU is now a prestigious academic institution. Its recent accolades include being voted top UK university for student satisfaction and also for its students’ union, as well as being Daily Mail University of the Year 2024 for Student Support. In 2023, Jay Blades MBE was confirmed as the university’s inaugural Chancellor. More recently, the University unveiled its first Public and Community Engagement Strategy, which provides a clear roadmap for the University’s civic engagement activities over the next five years. One exciting collaboration kickstarting soon is between BNU and Chiltern Rangers, who are working together on creating an eco-friendly, warm and informative welcome to High Wycombe visitors. Working with other community groups, including Wycombe Arts Centre, Wycombe Museum and Wycombe Wanderers, the area will become more biodiverse with wildflower areas, pollinator filled beds, public realm artwork, signposts and more. Interested in volunteering on this project? Please register here chilternrangers.co.uk/become-a-chiltern-rangers-volunteer/