square, football pitch and tennis courts. In the early 1960s it had 350 boys and girls, and was known as The Witney Grammar School, Witney. In 1960, the school celebrated its tercentenary and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited as part of the celebrations, opening new buildings and attending a garden party. Comprehensive It was converted to a state comprehensive school in 1968 after the tripartite system was abolished and was eventually renamed after its founder Henry Box. By the 1990s it had around 1,000 pupils. The school was granted Specialist College status in September 2001 for Modern Foreign Languages and was the first school in Oxfordshire to gain a second specialism, that of Science and Maths, in 2006. Nicola Edmondson was the school's first female head teacher, joining in 2007. The Henry Box School plays an annual football game against the Abingdon and Witney College in memory of former student Kevin Mott. 350th anniversary celebrations In 2010 the school celebrated its 350th anniversary. A book, entitled The Henry Box School — Its Place in History by Jane Cavell, was commissioned by the school and sold at Waterstones. Commemorative stained glass windows were also unveiled as part of the celebrations. The school also launched its house system, with the four houses named after notable figures from each century of the school's history. Academy status The school became an academy on 1 June 2012. It is now a part of the Mill Academy, a multi-academy trust along with Queen Emma's Primary School and Finstock C of E Primary School. Academic performance In 2004 the school was one of 67 schools recognised nationwide by the DfES for its academic record through assessing value added statistics, improved performance and high grade pass rates. In 2013, 64% of students achieved 5 good GCSEs or equivalent and 25% of students achieved the English Baccalaureate. 94% of students passed 5 GCSEs, and 26 students gained 8 or more A/A* grades. These were the school's best GCSE results to date. At A level, 25% of grades were A/A* and 16 students achieved 3 or more A/A* grades. In 2014, Henry Box School achieved its highest ever GCSE results for a second successive year. 65% of students achieved 5 A*-C grades including English and maths. 18% of grades awarded were A* or A, and 27% of students achieved the English Baccalaureate. A level grades were also good, with