From the Second Master
Dear all,
PUBLIC EXAMS 2025: STUDY LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR V BOOK (YEAR 11) AND VI BOOK 1 (YEAR 13)
The Deputy Director of Studies (Mr Dominic Jones) has now published the study leave arrangements for the public exams in Cloister Time 2025.
Please find a link to the document here.
We will be in touch nearer the time regarding candidates who have an exam during the Exeat weekend.
COMMUNITY WEEKEND FEEDBACK – courteous reminder
Thank you to those parents who have already provided feedback regarding Community Weekends. We would be grateful for any additional responses.
The survey is anonymised, but there is the option to add your contact details if you would like to discuss your response.
You can complete the survey via the link below.
COMMUNITY WEEKEND FEEDBACK SURVEY
Iain Smith
Events
What's On
Parent Seminar: Study Skills: Tuesday 25 March, 8.00-8.45am
In our second parent seminar, the Headmaster and the Dean Academic will explore research related to self-regulated learning and discuss implications for pupil study routines. They will provide top tips for parents wanting to offer support to their children in the leadup to examinations. This is an online event.
School Play: Treasure Island, 20-22 March, 19:30-21:30
The cast and crew of this year’s whole-school production, Treasure Island, are hoisting the sails and setting course for adventure in just two weeks’ time, with performances on 20–22 March at 19:30.
Get ready for a rip-roaring voyage with swashbuckling sword fights, devious pirates, and daring escapades as we bring Stevenson’s legendary tale to life. With splendid period costumes and treachery lurking behind every mast, this is one journey you won’t want to miss!
Book your tickets HERE
OTH v Commoners VIs: Saturday 22 March. 13:00-16:00
We hope that the slightly warmer weather in March will make it an enjoyable spectacle for OWs and other visitors. To enhance the occasion there will be a beer and refreshments stall near College Canvas. Food will be available from 1.00pm. It will help us enormously, from a catering and security perspective, to know who is coming, so please let us know by registering in advance, HERE.
Please note, you will need to sign in to your Winchester College Society account to book.
Music
Concerto Concert
Winchester Chamber Orchestra delivered a captivating performance last weekend, featuring works by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. The evening began with a stunning display of musicianship by cellist Austin (G), who performed Tchaikovsky’s Nocturne and Rococo Variations with remarkable sensitivity and virtuosity. His refined tone and technical brilliance belied his years, holding the audience spellbound throughout.
Following this, the orchestra took on Shostakovich’s haunting String Quartet No. 8, arranged for string orchestra. Written in just three days and dedicated to the victims of fascism, this deeply personal and harrowing work was performed with intensity and precision.
The ensemble brought out the raw emotional depth of the piece, delivering a gripping interpretation that highlighted the composer’s anguish and defiance.
Winchester Chamber Orchestra continues to impress with their ambitious programming and compelling performances, and this concert was no exception.
Academic
Record Results in Chemistry Olympiad
Last week, the results for Round 1 of the Royal Society's Chemistry Olympiad were released and what the Wykehamists achieved was outstanding, with 24 Golds (top 8.3% of 16,216 entries), 27 Silvers, and 17 Bronzes won.
In particular, Oliver and Peiyan (both X) deserve mention as their scores put them in the top 30 candidates, with Oliver getting the 4th best score in the country despite only being in V Book. They have been invited to take part in the Round 2 training camp that will be hosted at the University of Nottingham in the Easter Holidays.
Our Lower School Chemists also did marvellously well. 9 V Book and 8 Middle Part pupils took part in the competition, and all won a medal of some description; a remarkable achievement, given that the exam questions are designed to stretch even the most able A-level Chemists.
In addition to Oliver, Holly (I), Harvard (X) and Barack (X) also won Golds.
Congratulations to all who took part!
Trips
Winchester Team Present at Tonbridge Science Conference
Last Friday, Catherine, (G), Eva (G) and Tony (K) attended the annual Science Conference hosted by Tonbridge School.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the team were invited to contribute, delivering presentations on astrophotography and its practical limitations, why some aircraft adopt movable (variably swept) wings, and investigating the effect of zero kelvin on matter.
Alongisde their own presentations, the pupils were able to attend other lectures on a variety of themes, including From Quantum Discoveries to Medical Breakthroughs.’ Keynote speakers discussed upgrading the ATLAS detector at CERN, developments in robotic surgery, and whether quantum mechanics could be used to explain animal magnetoreception.
It was a tiring but inspiring day enjoyed by all!
Societies
Wykehamists win over half available awards at Model UN Conference
Last Saturday saw a team of Wykehamists travel to Magdalen College School in Oxford for the Model United Nations Conference, with the Winchester team sweeping the prizes.
The two teams, representing Saudi Arabia and Ukraine respectively, won the awards for Best and Outstanding Delegation, with Tristan (F), Peter (F), Roman (F) and Patrick (D) making notable contributions.
Moreover, a number of individual pupils won prizes. Conor (B), Raul (K), Joshua (K) and Sarp (D) were awarded 'Best Delegate' in their respective committees.
Walter (B), Harry (K), Season (E) and Caspar (F) were awarded 'Outstanding Delegate'. Sarp (D), Hussain (X) and Joshua (K) were all awarded Best Resolution.
Overall, 24 out of the available 43 awards went to Winchester pupils amidst tough competition from several other schools.
Congratulations to all participants!
Academic
Clean Sweep by College in Wilson Pot
The inter-house science quiz took place last Wednesday, and College emerged as the winners in both the Senior and Junior competitions.
The podiums in both competitions were identical, with Phil's taking second place and Trant's finishing a hair's breadth behind them.
The questions proved tough for the seniors this year and College were able to bring out their impressive VI:1 roll to see off the houses, while their juniors showed that it will be tough for anyone to depose them in the next few years.
Congratulations to all participants!
Talks & Lectures
An Evening with Tom Bradby
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming journalist, editor and presenter Tom Bradby to the College for a discussion on his career in journalism, including positions such as the Northern Ireland Correspondent, Asia Correspondent, Political Editor and Royal Correspondent for ITN.
Our next lecture takes place on Thursday 27 March at 7:00pm, where we will welcome the former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly.
You can book tickets, and see our full lecture series, at the links below.
Academic
Wykehamists take second place in international quiz
Last week, the team of Annabelle (D), Matthew (X), Benji (X) and Edwin (X) took part in the 2025 UQC International Novice Invitational Quiz, finishing the day in second place.
The quiz is an academic general knowledge quiz organised by UQC, an American organisation that runs quizzes internationally for secondary schools and universities. Questions ranged from the Hecatoncheires of Greek myth to the word 'yeet'.
After two losses to The Perse School and Hills Road in the preliminaries, the Wykehamists went on to beat a team from the US as well as the eventual competition winners, Dubai International Academy.
Due to recording the second highest score, the team was given a bye into the 2nd place match where they once again went head to head against Hills Road. This time, the Winchester team came out on top, defeating Hills Road 250-150.
Annabelle finished the day as the highest scorer, accruing 425 points, well ahead of the next competitor on 340.
Congratulations to the team!
Parent Access to College
We would like to reaffirm that current parents are very welcome to visit the College with their child.
This includes the grounds and historic buildings of the College and regular events such as matches and concerts.
We hope this will give parents the opportunity to see the many facilities their children enjoy on a day-to-day basis, including the new sports centre.
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