Initially, APS lessons were taught at the nearby Grammar School Scout Hut adjacent to the playing fields, as well as the College House buildings vacated by Bowdon College on South Downs Road.
At first, only one wing was used at College House, but as pupil numbers continued to grow and the school become more successful the full site became occupied.
In 1948 a hut was built to house two additional classrooms, and for a few years the growing school thrived on the expanded site.
However in a rapidly expanding school space was at a premium and the Board set about exploring ways to expand. In 1950 a building became available for sale on West Road in Bowdon called Highbury House.
Formerly a Ladies College for both boarders and day pupils up to the age of 18, Highbury House had been purpose built as a school in 1873, changing hands only once in the 1920s. It has always been used as a school.
Once some minor repairs and decoration had been completed the senior boys from the school moved up to Highbury. The Head Master took an office on the ground floor opposite the dining room.
I remember Highbury with great affection. When we were in Year 7 [now Year 6], our classroom was right at the very top of the school. We always had to walk on the left on the stairs and had great fun when friends in the other class were going down as we were going up. The Head Master was Mr McKay and if you ever saw a boy sitting outside his office you knew they were in trouble!
