News & Diary
Winchester Weekly – 3rd February 2026
Weekend leave arrangements (Community Weekend for JP & MP pupils)
Please access the Parent Portal via the link below to inform us of your child’s plans for this weekend by 23:00 on Thursday 5th February. Log in, select ‘Interactive’ and ‘Weekend Sign-out’ to complete the form.
Weekend activities
LEAVE-OUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOARDERS (13th-22nd February 2026)
In preparation for Leave-out, all parents of boarders should complete the Leave-out Arrangements form, which is also accessed via the same route on the Parent Portal; under ‘Leave-out Arrangements’. Please complete the form at your earliest convenience. Thank you to those parents who have already done this.
As the UK considers restrictions on social media for under-16s, Australia has already taken decisive action. In this timely session, clinical psychologist and researcher, Dr Danielle Einstein, examines what Australia is doing, why the policy was designed as it was, and what the evidence tells us about young people’s mental health, attention, anxiety, and online behaviour.
Drawing on her direct involvement in shaping the Australian legislation, Dr Einstein explores the real-world pros and cons of a ban, how its impact will be measured, and how she responds to critics who argue restrictions go too far. She also considers where responsibility should sit along the spectrum of personal choice, parental guidance, school culture, and public policy and what families can realistically and confidently do to support healthy technology habits at home.
This session offers parents clear, evidence-based guidance on how to navigate childhood and adolescence in a digital world, whether or not legislation changes in the UK.
You can book your place via the link below.
Date: Friday, 6th March 2026
Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (refreshments from 10:30)
Location: Winchester College, School, College Street, SO23 9NA
The Charities Committee 24-hour livestreamed music concert is almost here! From 16:00 on Saturday 7 February to 16:00 the following day, over 100 pupils will perform around the clock in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Parents are very welcome to come along in person to enjoy some special events:
There’s no need to book or get tickets; entry is via Porters’ Lodge.
All money raised will go directly to GOSH to support patients and families, fund vital equipment, and drive life-changing research. Donations are greatly appreciated as the Committee works towards its £7,200 target (£5 for every minute of music!).
The main livestream can be found at the link below. There are separate streams for different locations/days. They can be found in the video description.
We are delighted to celebrate an outstanding initial set of university offers secured by our Sixth Form pupils. To date, they have received an impressive 38 offers from Oxford and Cambridge. These achievements reflect not only intellectual ability but also the curiosity and confidence our pupils bring to their studies.
This year has seen exceptional success across a broad range of disciplines, with strong progression into highly competitive fields including Medicine, Mathematics, Engineering, and Classics.
Beyond the UK, we are proud to celebrate early offers from leading US universities, continuing a long tradition of global success. Institutions include Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Chicago, and Duke.
The big game is nearly upon us.
Who will take home the Pearl Pot this year?
Will Commoners break OTH’s three year reign as winners?
Will the pitch be waterlogged?
All questions will be answered this Saturday, 7th February at 14:00.
For those who can’t be there in person, the usual livestream is available below.
Parents are very welcome to join us for College events. Upcoming events, including the Spring Lecture Series (link below) are highlighted in the newsletter.
Later this week, we welcome Professor Anna Whitlock and Rupert Soames to the College.
Professor Whitlock is a historian, author and broadcaster. She is Professor of the History of Monarchy at City St George’s, University of London and Director of the Centre for the Study of Modern Monarchy.
Chair of the CBI since February 2024, Rupert Soames OBE is one of the UK’s most experienced public-company CEOs, having served 11 years as CEO of Aggreko, followed by 9 years as CEO of Serco. He stepped back from full-time executive life in December 2022, and in September 2023 took up the Chair role at Smith & Nephew plc, the FTSE-50 listed medical technology company.
To access some of these events, you may need to be a registered user of the Winchester College Society website and logged in.
Parents Drinks in London
For those of you that have signed up to attend drinks at the Cavalry & Guards Club on 12th February, you will find your joining instructions in your email inbox. Please email Winchester College Society ([email protected]) if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there.
Past Parents’ Dinner – 6th March: We would love to welcome back parents of OWs for dinner in College Hall. Tickets are now on sale.
More information and registration
Bobber’s Boys: a talk about A Noble Company, a book by Shaun Hullis – 18 March 2026
Join us for a discussion about A Noble Company, a book about Hopperites during the Second World War.
Hong Kong Gala Dinner, Monday 23 March, 18:30-22:00, The Aberdeen Marina Club
Please join The Hong Kong Friends of Winchester College and the OW Hong Kong Guild at a Gala Dinner. The Headmaster, Ms Elizabeth Stone will be the guest of honour.
The Winchester College 1st Team produced a commanding 30–8 win over Downe House, built on strong defence and quick, controlled attacking play. Isabella [E] and Issy [I] were outstanding in the defensive circle, while Liv [G] and Sanvi [C] combined confidently in attack. Midcourt pressure from Sesika [E], Elodie [B], and later Poppy [C] kept Winchester firmly in control, with Anna [D] adding pace and precision at WA. The team now look ahead to their next fixture against Canford School.
The 2nds team, captained by Eva [G], delivered their strongest performance of the season in a convincing 28–3 victory. Julia [F] and Enya [A] moved the ball effectively through court, Erica [A] impressed at centre, and Truett [I] led a strong defensive effort. Mariia [E] and Annie [D[ finished confidently in the circle, rounding off an excellent team performance.
Experience an evening of outstanding student musicianship at the Winchester College Concerto Competition Final.
Three finalists perform major concerto works for clarinet and piano, showcasing exceptional technical skill.
The event features performances by Winston [X, clarinet], Coen [G, piano], and Laurie [H, piano], with adjudication by Toby Purser and accompaniment by Nicholas Salwey.
Join us in New Hall for this celebratory concert finale on 7th February 2026 at 19:00.
