From the Second Master
Sixth Form Application Deadline
We had a very successful Open Day for prospective pupils and their familes on Saturday 1 October. The deadline for applications is 6 October.
Black History Month
Throughout October, attention will be given to topics related to BHM in lessons. For example, second year biology pupils will be studying the circulatory system, including the work of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931), an African-American surgeon, who in 1893 performed the first successful open-heart surgery. There is also a display of relevant literature in MobLib to encourage pupils to discover new authors and perspectives.
Weekend Arrangements for Boarders
Please use the link below to inform us of your child’s plans. This link will now take you to the Parent Portal: please log in and then select Interactive and Weekend Sign-out to complete the form. Guidance on Sign-out options available for boarders this weekend can be found here.
New Housemaster
The View from College
On my first night in College, it rained so heavily that Chamber Court flooded. By the end of the week, there’d been a change of Prime Minister and the Queen had died. Despite these inauspicious auguries, though, my first month in College has been a very enjoyable one—full on, but fun. Both the Collegemen and the staff have made me, my wife Ellie and son Harry feel very welcome.
The top years have been supportive, thoughtful and set a wonderful example to the lower years. The first years have taken the whirlwind of these first weeks in their stride and have already made some noteworthy contributions to the life of the school.
There have been the occasional bumps in the road—dorm raids in the small hours; catching some top years crossing Chamber Court at one o’clock in the morning, supposedly on their way to do some Chemistry revision—but these are vastly outweighed by all the positive interactions with the Collegemen that make up my working day.
And it’s a fantastically beautiful place to live and work. Walking back to my flat late one night, having checked that all the lights were out in the Upper Chamber, I noticed a halo’d full moon over Chamber Court and took a photo on my phone. It was only when I showed it to Ellie the next morning that I spotted a solitary Chamber light had gone back on. Perhaps some more late night Chemistry revision?
Dr Alex Latter, Master in College
From the Bursar
Parent Survey
I would like to invite you to participate in the ISC Parent Survey 2022. This survey is designed to help Winchester College, and the wider independent school sector, understand parents’ decision-making process when choosing a school for their child. This is especially important in the lead up to a General Election when we expect at least one political party’s manifesto to include proposed tax changes, which would affect every parent in an independent school.
You can find out more in the attached letter. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and the survey website will remain open until 09:00, Monday 31 October. Please be assured that all responses are treated in strictest confidence and your answers will only be used to perform aggregate analysis for our school and the sector as a whole.
Paresh Thakrar
Houses
Singing Competition
The annual House Singing competition will take place next Sunday, 9 October, with the Houses competing for the three cups:
· The Robertson Cup (Bobber Pot) for the best performance of a unison song
· The Schuster Cup for the best performance of an unaccompanied song in harmony
· The Julian Smith Cup for the best performance of a classical song
This year’s adjudicator is the accomplished singer, conductor and educator, Emily Dickens. For 8 years, Emily sang soprano with Voces8, the critically acclaimed British vocal octet. She was a founder member of the Winchester Cathedral Girls’ Choir, under the directorship of Sarah Baldock, our Director of Music, and her grandmother taught piano at Winchester College for many years. We are delighted to be welcoming her to judge House Singing.
The competition is in New Hall this Sunday at 1830. This event is open to the College community and families. There are no tickets and seats are limited to two per family. Pupils will not be able to sit in the auditorium seats. Doors will open at 1805. Running time c. 2 hours with no interval.
Sustainability
Solar Farm Field Trip
Last week A-level Geographers and some members of Sustainability Society visited land near Denmead that the College has leased to ENSO Energy. The company is aiming to build a 50 MW solar farm on the 230 acre site, which would provide electricity for ~12,000 homes.
The group saw an existing solar farm and the ENSO Energy employees leading on the project talked about the development of solar farms and the socio-political issues involved in their planning and delivery, before answering pupils' questions.
Sport
Congratulations to Sixth Form pupils Wilf La Fontaine Jackson (Toye's) and Ethan Baker (Furley's) who have achieved selection into the full Hampshire CCC U18 Academy programme. Both boys have invested significant time and effort into their cricket. They will be involved in winter training at the Ageas Bowl in preparation for Academy, and potentially 2nd XI, matches next summer.
The Soccer XI has had a positive start to the season, defeating Ryde School 7-0 in the first round of the ISFA Cup, and beating Bede’s School for the first time since 2016.
Finally, a special mention to Sixth Form entrant Sophia Liu (Trant's) for her
progress in sailing. Having finished in the top 50 in her category at the European Youth Sailing Championships in Greece during the summer, she is now attending training sessions as part of the selection process for the U18 Great British squad.
Pictured: Winchester cricketers at Broadhalfpenny Down, with the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay
Social
Black Tie Event
On Saturday 1 October, 86 V Book pupils enjoyed a trip to Downe House for a three-course dinner, followed by dancing to Winchester's rock band Arcane, topped off with a chocolate fountain.
This weekend pupils are attending a social evening at St Mary’s Ascot, and on 5 November we will be hosting St Mary’s Calne for ‘Tacos, Tiaras and Trainers’.
Main banner image: Arcane on stage at Downe House
Talks
Be yourself: everyone else is already taken
On Tuesday 11 October, we welcome Sir Graham Wrigley, the founder of investment firm Permira, which now manages over £50 billion. He was knighted for his work as the Chairman of British International Investment PLC, facilitating British investment into Africa. He has worked extensively in Nepal, is Chairman of the Himalayan Trust, and was one of the inspirations for Winchester pupils conducting English lessons online this summer.
Sir Graham will talk about how Oscar Wilde’s advice (and a chance meeting with Sir Edmund Hillary) inspired him to follow multiple careers, from mainstream private equity to private sector development in Africa.
Curriculum
Relationships & Sex Education
As part of the statutory RSE curriculum, in tutor hours pupils have been thinking about healthy friendships and relationships, respect, boundaries and the connection between good relationships and good emotional wellbeing.
Our first parent consultation will take place in November, where parents are warmly invited to learn more and to give feedback about the teaching of relationships and sex education. In the meantime, your attention is drawn to the College’s updated RSE policy, available at the link below, which gives further details on what is taught, and when and how it is taught. If you have any comments on this policy, please contact Tom Quayle, Surmaster.
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