Personal respect and respect for others

Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare

At Wycombe Abbey, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our care. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Our business is to know everyone as an individual and to provide a secure and caring environment in which each child can learn in safety. In all matters relating to child protection, the School will follow the procedures laid down in our Safeguarding Policy.

Our core values are trust, encouragement and mutual respect and thus we expect respect, good manners and consideration to be shown by everyone. Every pupil should be able to develop their full potential and feel positive about themselves as an individual. We strive to create an environment where young people feel supported to share worries and concerns, know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties and where support is both readily available and accessible.

We were delighted to have been awarded the Safeguarding Leadership Award through the Safeguarding Alliance in June 2021. The panel at the Safeguarding Alliance praised the “exceptional examples of safeguarding” that were highlighted and that the School clearly reflects that we are “committed to safeguarding children and young people”.

Safeguarding Team

The School’s Safeguarding Team is comprised of a number of Teaching Staff who meet weekly to review cases, to consider patterns and trends developing through the School, and to propose strategic responses as and where necessary.

This group has representatives from all the key pastoral areas within the School and they liaise carefully both internally with colleagues and also with external organisations such as the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and other Children’s Services. Further support is occasionally sought from specialist organisations such as the NSPCC, Barnado’s, Child Bereavement UK, etc.

Key Contacts

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Mrs Vicky Fawkes, Director of Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare: email
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads Miss Sophie Blunt (Wendover Housemistress and Head of Wellbeing): email

Miss Cat Hoyle (Rubens Housemistress and Teacher of English): email

Rev Penny Nash, Chaplain: email

Mrs Rebecca Sparks (Clarence Housemistress): email

Mr Nick Woods (Deputy Head (Strategy and Operations): email

Mrs Jessica Woodward, Teacher of Drama: email

Nominated Safeguarding Council Member Mrs Diana Rose

 

Pupil Support Booklet

At the beginning of term, all pupils receive a special booklet outlining what support is available to them throughout their time at Wycombe Abbey. Please take a look below.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey is centred on the needs of the girls. Our boarding environment nurtures the girls to: be flexible and creative; think critically and communicate ideas; work alone and in a team; respect themselves and others.

Our dedicated house staff get to know each girl in their care, helping her to flourish and to feel confident and secure. The main point of contact for parents is the Housemistress, who is supported by the Deputy Housemistress and Matrons. The Housemistress and Deputy Housemistress are members of the teaching staff; this dual role ensures excellent understanding and communication in all matters concerning the girls. The Senior Housemistress supports all house staff.

Strong friendships exist across year groups. At Wycombe Abbey the boarding is organised so that the girls sleep in mixed-age bedrooms. The girls also have ‘House Mothers’ who mentor them through their time at the School. The ‘House Mother/Daughter’ tradition means that every girl in a Senior House is part of a ‘family tree’ of girls who feel connected, look out for each other, and offer advice and a listening ear.

Our Health and Wellbeing Centre provides a high standard of care for all girls seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Throughout the day and night, at least one nurse is on duty at all times. The school doctor is available to see girls four times a week. A physiotherapist visits several times a week.

The School offers professional counselling support. Our counsellors, Mrs Claire Maddock and Mrs Heather Ashby-Rose work closely with the House staff and teachers to ensure that care is available to girls on an individual level or in groups.

Mrs Claire Maddock has been a School Counsellor at Wycombe Abbey since September 2020. Claire has a Diploma in Counselling from Bucks New University and has been working in schools as a Counsellor for over 12 years. She previously worked at Gillots School as the School Counsellor and is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Mrs Heather Ashby-Rose has been appointed as Wycombe Abbey’s second School Counsellor from September 2021. Heather has a BA from Leeds Polytechnic and a Diploma in Counselling from the Buckinghamshire College Group. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Heather previously worked as a Learning Support Assistant at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.

Ensuring girls know their voice is heard is particularly important in a boarding community. Girls are actively involved at all levels of Wycombe Abbey life. In House they meet twice a week for House Order where they can share ideas and are updated on news. At the whole school level, the Head Girl and Prefects regularly engage with the Executive Leadership Team and have weekly breakfast meetings with the Headmistress. Every year group also elects a representative to the School Council which helps to shape new initiatives.

Leading happy and fulfilling lives

Why Boarding

Boarding is the key to our continued success. The School has a culture that stimulates and inspires throughout the day, seven days a week, empowering girls to achieve their best, academically and socially. In our happy and close community, each girl is known, and cherished, as an individual. Consequently every girl’s potential, whatever that might be, is explored and fulfilled.

Girls learn to be independent, to value and support others, and to develop the skills needed for future challenges in a global workplace. Given the nature of boarding life, girls are able to enjoy a wealth of co-curricular opportunities. Each and every girl carves out a unique learning path according to her interests and has the space to thrive within our magnificent grounds.

Wycombe Abbey’s approach to boarding is sympathetic to the needs of today’s families. Girls have the opportunity to go home regularly and parents are actively involved in the numerous School events and activities.

Home away from home

The Houses

A girl’s house is part of her identity while she is at Wycombe Abbey. Between the ages of 12 and 16, girls live in mixed-aged dorms, developing friendships across the years. Older girls encourage and support their younger housemates.

Girls joining the School at 11+ spend a year in Junior House, before moving into one of nine Senior Houses. In their final year, girls move into the standalone Clarence House where they are able to enjoy more independence in preparation for university.

All houses are led by a dedicated and professional team. Each Housemistress works alongside the Deputy Housemistress, Matrons and tutor team supporting each girl’s academic, personal and social development.

Click the doors below to read more about our different houses.

Junior

Junior

A House dedicated to UIII (Year 7) to help pupils settle in and quickly find their feet.

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Airlie

Airlie

Airlie is named after Lady Airlie (1830 - 1921). A member of the School's founding Council, she was essential in the early development of Wycombe Abbey.

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Barry

Barry

Barry is named after Sir John Wolfe Barry (1836 - 1918), an eminent architect and engineer who received a knighthood for designing Tower Bridge. A member of the School's founding Council, he was a passionate advocate for girls’ education and instrumental in raising the funds for the construction of Barry and the other Outhouses.

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Butler

Butler

Butler is named after Henry Montagu Butler (1833 - 1918), a Master of Trinity College, Cambridge and Headmaster of Harrow for 26 years. As the founding President of Wycombe Abbey, his modern ideas and vast educational knowledge helped secure Wycombe Abbey’s reputation as a pioneering girls’ school.

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Campbell

Campbell

Campbell is named after Professor Lewis Campbell (1830 - 1908), a Professor of Greek at St Andrew’s University for 29 years. As a strong supporter of female education, he became the first Chairman of the School Council at Wycombe Abbey.

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Cloister

Cloister

The first Lord Carrington brought in James Wyatt, the foremost architect of the day, to redesign Wycombe Abbey. He captured the spirit of the age, transforming the old manor house into a neo-Gothic jewel, adding turrets, the cloister and battlements. Cloister is named after this architectural heritage.

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Pitt

Pitt

William Pitt, Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister, stayed at Wycombe Abbey as a guest of the first Lord Carrington. To mark such a guest, the House occupying the House Study in which he stayed became Pitt.

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Rubens

Rubens

The second Lord Carrington furnished the Abbey with treasures from his world travels. It is likely that he purchased the picture by Peter Paul Rubens that hung in the School's entrance hall. The artwork has disappeared without a trace but the name of the artist has left a legacy in the name of this House.

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Shelburne

Shelburne

Shelburne is named after William, Earl of Shelburne (1737 - 1805), who lived in Loakes Manor, the original name for the Abbey. A respected politician, he became Prime Minister, and was instrumental in bringing the American War of Independence to an end. He transformed the grounds and landscape of the School.

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Wendover

Wendover

Wendover is named after Viscount Wendover, the only son and heir of the third Lord Carrington. A keen cricketer, he grew up in Daws Hill, where he hosted the future Edward VIII at a match. He won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in World War One, tragically dying a few days later after being struck by shrapnel.

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Clarence

Clarence

Clarence House is named after Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence (1864 - 1892), the eldest son of Edward VII. Prince Eddy, as he was known, visited Wycombe Abbey as a great friend of the third Lord Carrington. This House is dedicated to our Upper Sixth as they prepare for university.

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Going home

Wycombe Abbey’s approach to boarding is sympathetic to the wishes of modern families. Each term includes two Short Leaves (three day exeats) and one Long Leave (Half Term). All girls return to their parents or guardians during these times. Long Leave holidays are around seven to ten days in length. During the rest of term, girls are allowed to spend a number of additional weekends at home.

We also allocate two weekends a term as ‘Closed Weekends’, where all girls stay in School and contribute to the creation of community through whole school events, activities and trips.

 

A Christian Foundation

Chapel, Faith, Charity

There is a strong sense of community within the School as well as an appreciation for traditional values and a respect for all faiths and backgrounds. Wycombe Abbey was founded as a Church of England school and Dame Frances Dove’s aims for the School to develop each pupil’s talents and foster an awareness of God and an understanding of the needs of others, remain cornerstones of our life together both in Chapel and across the wider curriculum and co-curricular activities.

Chapel provides a spiritual element to the girls’ wellbeing both as a physical location, where girls know they can come to be quiet, think or pray in the course of the day or evening, and also as a source of spiritual teaching. The whole School meets in the Chapel twice a week for a short service led by the Chaplain or visiting speakers. The girls themselves also lead services regularly as a House group or society.

We also hold Evensong on Sundays with a range of outside speakers as well as Holy Communion during closed weekends.

The Chaplain is keen to support those of all religious traditions who wish to explore their faith. There are opportunities for girls to do this on a structured basis, including Anglican and Roman Catholic Confirmation, the ecumenical Christian Union, Jewish Society and the Islamic Society. The Chaplain is part of the pastoral provision of the School. She is available to pupils and their families to discuss any matters of concern, irrespective of a pupil’s personal faith.

At Wycombe Abbey, supporting the community, whether global or closer to home, is an intrinsic part of School life under the Give Back initiative, which encompasses all the charitable activity at Wycombe Abbey. Some of the charities supported have been with us since the School’s foundation in 1896, whilst others are chosen each year by the girls themselves and co-ordinated by Charity Prefects. Our aim is to integrate charitable activity into the School curriculum, fostering in every girl an awareness of the needs of others.

Our Dove charities include Central Aid, based in High Wycombe; One Can Trust Foodbank, and the Melanesian Mission in the South Pacific. Wycombe Abbey has supported the work of the Melanesian Mission since the School was founded by Dame Francis Dove, working to improve education and access to Christianity in this remote region. Dame Frances Dove was one of the founders of Central Aid, which currently supports the poor in High Wycombe by providing and selling second-hand furniture and electrical appliances.

In addition, girls nominate and vote for School charities biennially. We are supporting Ripple Africa in Malawi and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service in High Wycombe between 2021-2023. Whole-School fundraising and individual House fundraising are a source of both great fun and donation for the chosen charities

Horizon, a local swimming club for disabled children, provides after-school sports clubs for children with physical disabilities and learning difficulties in the Buckinghamshire area. The weekly swimming sessions, hosted by Wycombe Abbey girls, develop the youngsters’ enjoyment of sport and their physical and social skills.

Happy, healthy lifestyle

Food

Eating healthily is particularly important in a busy boarding environment. The girls live life to the full and need the energy and satisfaction that comes from a varied, tasty and nutritious diet.

Our food is attractively presented with a wide range of options throughout the day, and those with special dietary requirements are catered for at every meal. Girls learn about healthy eating habits in the Wellbeing curriculum, and the PE department and Health and Wellbeing Centre advise on sports nutrition. Our Food Committee provides an opportunity for girls to discuss catering arrangements and to feed back on the most or least popular dishes.

Our Main School Dining Room (MSDR) caters for all girls during lunch. For breakfast and supper, Houses closest to the main school eat in the MSDR, whilst Houses located further away from the main school have dedicated facilities.  In Clarence, girls can choose whether they wish to cook for themselves in their house kitchens or eat at The Courtyard Café. Our café is open throughout the day and is a space where girls can eat, work, socialise and entertain parents and visitors.

Every day at break and tea time girls gather in their Houses or in the dining room for home-baked treats and snacks. Tutors share meal times with the girls as much as possible – ‘Tutor Teas’ are always popular. Older girls regularly participate in more formal lunches and suppers with visiting speakers.

Rest, refresh and revive

Balance

Fun and relaxation is at the heart of the balanced lifestyle that Wycombe Abbey provides. We offer a wide range of activities to suit every girl’s interests – and also the space to give the girls time to relax, switch off and have quality time to themselves.

Every week there are informal activities such as DVD nights, birthday celebrations and smoothie making. The younger years have ‘Early Beds’ a few nights a week where they spend time before bed with a member of house staff to reflect on the day and enjoy hot chocolate. Each House also has many fun events like ‘Dorm Feasts’ and House outings to the cinema, restaurants and boat trips throughout the term.

The many House competitions develop a vibrant House spirit. Girls learn how to work as a team, overcome differences, develop resilience and ultimately deepen friendships. There’s an inter-house competition for every girl, whether it is the sporting competitions at the end of each term, the music competition, the spelling bee, the debating competition or the Inter-House cup stacking challenge.

The LIV Guy competition for our annual bonfire night is especially popular, as is our UIV inter-house dance competition. Perhaps most popular of all is the LV play competition where the girls are given a theme, and take responsibility for devising the set, producing, directing and marketing.

Two weekends a term are ‘Closed Weekends’ (when girls stay at School) and special events are organised for the whole school community. These have ranged from ice-skating with an ice rink brought on site, a picnic and funfair for the Queen’s 90th Birthday, to outings to the pantomime.

Every weekend is packed with leisure opportunities for the girls to relax and enjoy life with their friends. Almost all the activities are included in the school fees and there is plenty of choice for each age group, both on and off site. Some of our recent weekend activities have included: Zumba classes, Spa days, trips to Thorpe Park, the Warner Bros and Harry Potter Studio Tour, skiing at the Snow Zone, shopping trips to London, punting in Oxford and orienteering in the countryside.

Socials are an integral part of life at Wycombe Abbey and we have well-established links with Eton College, Radley College, Winchester School, Harrow School and the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. Dinner parties, discos and informal ceilidhs are regular events. Yearly highlights include the Burns’ Night Ball organised by our Caledonian Society with Eton College and the Spring Ball with the Royal Grammar School, both wonderfully formal yet fun events.

Wycombe Abbey wants parents to feel part of our School life. There are many whole school activities for parents and extended families to enjoy together with the girls. Annual highlights include bonfire night with fireworks to music, and Dove Day, which incorporates an athletics competition, marquees for picnic lunches by House group, summer concerts and entertaining activities. Parents are invited to attend the Lecture Series curated by the Headmistress, and join us to watch termly concerts, plays, dance shows and weekly sports fixtures, both on and off site. Throughout the year parents and girls are invited to black tie House Dinners, drinks receptions and summer BBQs held in the School grounds.