Guest editors
OTH Captain
Winchester Football is the cornerstone of the school’s sporting culture. In this vein, it would be inconceivable for one of the hallmark events in the school calendar to not go ahead. We were lucky last year to have had the full XVs experience and it is something we will attempt to replicate this year. Winkies itself is already in a precarious position, with younger years not having been able to learn the game in its full beauty, so by putting on such an exhibition (hopefully with an OTH win) we hope to cement the importance of this great game. This year is particularly significant in the history of Winkies, being the first game after the end of Mr Mackinnon’s reign of terror as OTH coach. His legacy, having shaped the style of Winkies as we know it today, will continue under his worthy successor Mr Cunningham, and his wise words will be ringing in the ears of all those playing for OTH. The rivalry between the two sides within the school will come to a head later this week; be there or be square.
Caspar Byers (VI Book 1, Hopper's)
Guest editors
Commoners captain
What I looked forward to most upon returning to Winchester was the belated start to the Winkies season. In my past two XVs I have both won and lost. In light of losing last year, the only important thing to me and Commoners is taking back Pearl Pot. This year’s game will be very different. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no hots in Winkies. Historically, this has been Commoners’ secret weapon. To adapt, we have had to completely remodel the way we have trained, how we have selected our best team, and how our tactics will work on the day. So, Friday’s XVs will be a more free-flowing game, losing some of its characteristic grit. That said, any game with thirty people in a small space will see considerable chaos and physicality – the footballers can’t have too much fun.
William Johnson (VI Book 1, Phil's)
Winkies XVs
Watch the Match
While members of VI Book 1 will be cheering from the sidelines, unfortunately, COVID restrictions mean that parents and other year groups will not be able to attend in person this year. However, a live stream of the game will be available to allow us all to support the teams virtually.
Commentary will be led by Mr James Burridge with the assistance of boys from OTH, Commoners and College. A recording of the match will be available via the same link.
The timings on Friday 26 March will be as follows:
1415 Coverage and commentary begins
1430 Kick off
1500 Half time
1505 Second Half
1545 Coverage ends
A Message from the Headmaster
In today's message, the Headmaster reflects on the term and year just gone. He also introduces a song from music dons, Mr Oliver Tarney and Dr Nick Salwey who provide a more light-hearted look at the year's events.
A message from the Undermaster
Returning for Cloister Time
Dear Parents,
As we look ahead to Cloister Time, we will once again be operating a staggered return so that SAMBA testing can take place. We will be writing to all parents individually tomorrow (Wednesday 24 March) with an e-mail containing a link to the booking system and a unique identifier for your son, which will be required in order to make the booking. The booking availability will be as follows:
- VI Book 1 (Year 13) 0800 - 1830 Monday 19 April
- V Book (Year 11) 0800 - 1830 Tuesday 20 April
- VI Book 2 (Year 12) 0800 – 1830 Wednesday 21 April
- Middle Part (Year 10) 0800 – 1830 Thursday 22 April
- Junior Part (Year 9) 0800 – 1830 Friday 23 April
- Overspill (any year group) As required Saturday 24 April
Once again, a charge of £50 per student per SAMBA test will be added to Blue Bills to reflect the cost of the screening test. For those on bursaries above 50%, the cost will be waived. For those on bursaries below 50%, a pro-rata charge will apply. The cost of ad hoc testing during the term for students showing COVID-like symptoms will remain borne by the school.
The Director of Studies will also be in contact with parents and boys about the teaching schedule for the week beginning 19th April. In the meantime, the week is expected to run as follows:
- There will be no teaching on 19 April.
- Pupils will attend up to books the morning after their testing day.
- Remote lessons will be provided for all pupils yet to return.
- There will be no lessons for a year group during their day of testing.
Quarantine for the beginning of Cloister Time
We are aware of the complications in planning arrangements to return international pupils in April for Cloister Time. If you have booked a place on our quarantine facility at Winchester College, we will do our best to help you navigate all the details, and to that end we will begin direct communications with individual parents to make sure the quarantine details are bespoke.
If you have not booked a place on our quarantine facility, please do write to us with any queries relating to your sons' arrival in the UK. We will endeavour to answer your questions as quickly as possible.
To be clear:
- Parents booking with the Winchester College quarantine facility will not be required to book a COVID test in the week beginning 19th April.
- Parents of boys quarantining elsewhere will need to book a COVID test as part of the normal staggered return in the week beginning 19th April.
Mrs Coxon and Mrs Cullerne will be in touch with all who have booked quarantine with us to take you through the final preparations for your sons’ return.
Leave-out
Present restrictions on international travel have made it particularly difficult for our international pupils. With plans for the return at the beginning of Cloister Time now far advanced, we would like to continue to reassure our international parents that we are planning to keep some boarding facilities open during the Leave-out, so that pupils can remain at Winchester if they need to. There will be a charge for this service.
With all good wishes,
Dr John Cullerne
A message from the Second Master
Sundays and the first exeat of next term
The last two Sundays of this term have been very successful both for the boys who remained at school and for those who spent a limited time at home. Our asymptomatic screening programme using one of the most sensitive tests available (SAMBA II) at the beginning of term identified no positive cases of COVID-19, and we have conducted only one precautionary symptomatic test, which was negative. Parents will understand our need for a phased return to normal operations, which mirrors the approach set out by the UK government. The success of this is due to parents being extremely careful with their sons before and during the remainder of this term.
With this level of care in mind and looking ahead to next term, we would like to retain our current Sunday arrangements next term. The first exeat of Cloister Time is due to begin on Saturday 1st May at 1800 and to finish on Monday 3rd May at 2115. This is only a week after the completion of the staggered return, and examinations for Years 11 and 13 will begin on 4th May. After much discussion, we have decided to retain the exeat, but with the provisos that pupils must not use public transport to travel to and from home, and that they remain within their household bubbles over the exeat period. The school will remain open for those pupils who choose to remain here, or who are unable to travel home, and we will be offering a range of extra-curricular activities for them over this period.
With best wishes,
Mr Nicholas Wilks
A message from the Director of Studies
Academic Announcements
Boys in V Book and VI Book 1 completed their first set of mock exams yesterday and will be receiving feedback from classroom dons during the course of this week. Guidance given to boys in how to approach feedback can be found here. Conscious of the need to give boys reassurance and structure over the Easter break, amidst all of the continuing uncertainty, a central document outlining what boys can expect during the second set of Mock examinations in Cloister Time (4 -15 May) will be issued to boys at the start of next week.
All best wishes,
Dr Tom Thomas
News
Final of the Kenneth Clark Prize
This highlight of the VI Book Div year took place in New Hall on Friday evening, with a virtual audience and virtual judge in Dr James Fox of the University of Cambridge. Four finalists competed, covering varied subjects, ranging from Belle-Epoque Antwerp to Mao’s China; from the 19th-century German states to post-war America. Dr Fox judged each and every finalist outstanding, but he presented the Gold Medal to Sterling Blakey (VI Book 1, Toye's) who spoke about Anselm Kiefer's Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom. Many congratulations to Sterling, and the other finalists.
News
Model UN
At the end of February a 10-strong delegation from Winchester participated in an online Model UN Conference run by Magdalen College School Oxford. They represented China on a number of Committees, dealing with resolutions on topics ranging from the Libyan Civil War and Indo-Pakistani tensions, to the rights of the child and overfishing. Our team finished a respectable 5th out of 25 schools and many won individual commended and highly commended awards, including Matthew Howard (MP, Chawker's) who can be particularly proud of his achievement in winning “best young delegate” award in the Economic and Social Committee.
News
Chemistry Olympiad
The RSC UK Chemistry Olympiad is used to select the country’s team of four pupils to compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad. There is almost always at least one Wykehamist on that international team, last year it was Rtvik Patel. Round one is used to find the best 25 to be trained up and then narrowed down to four plus one reserve. A gold medal in round one is a significant and impressive achievement in any year group. Although the competition is aimed at upper sixth, we always do particularly well in VI Book 2 and even V Book. This year, despite the difficult conditions, we have won 9 gold medals in round one (1 in VI Book 1, 5 in VI Book 2 and 3 in V Book). Rtvik Patel was the only entrant from VI Book 1, and once again managed a near-perfect, unbeaten score.
News
Sports Kit
To purchase new sports kit for Cloister Time, please visit the school's supplier at the link below.
House from Home
Hopper's
Former Head of House, Tristan Gauthier, reflects on Hopper's sporting triumph and the bonds formed along the way in this week's House from Home.
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