What is a Winchester person?

Arriving at Winchester following months of anticipation, excitement and expectation was the fulfilment of a dream for me. The college was everything I could have ever imagined – and much, much more.

When I joined Winchester, I was struck immediately by its unique blend of tradition and modernity; and secondly, the passion for learning and ideas that's obvious in everyone you meet - don and student.

As Director of Sport at Winchester I want the boys to experience and enjoy the elation of winning, but also to recognise the lessons that can be learned from committing to a common goal and overcoming disappointments and defeats. Such attributes will continue to shape and influence our pupils well into their later lives.

As well as teaching English and being a Div Don, my role at Winchester involves helping those in the Sixth Form flourish and ensuring the school’s academic offering is as good as it can be. It’s exciting to work with colleagues and boys who value genuine intellectual endeavour and independence, and to teach in such historic surroundings: there aren’t many places where pupils can set their eyes on a Shakespeare first folio or follow in Keats’s footsteps while reading his poetry.

At Winchester there is such a strong sense of community. It isn't a huge school and feels almost like a home away from home. Staying indoors on a rainy day, chatting with friends, crowding around the radiator and sharing funny stories can be one of the most special experiences of your life.

James came to Winchester in 2018. Starting his career as a solicitor he moved from the law to take up the position of Head of History at Ludgrove School, where he, and his wife, Holly, were also houseparents. He teaches History, Div and plenty of sport across the school, and is a lay chaplain. He is a committee member for the Crown and Manor club and a school governor. James and Holly have a young son, Jonty. James enjoys playing a number of sports, reading anything by P.G. Wodehouse and trying to outwit the trout on the River Itchen. The family are actively involved in their local church and enjoy visiting family in Devon. James will take over as Housemaster of Turner's (Hopper’s) when Chris Good finishes his term of service in 2023.

Our drama ethos is in many ways a reflection of the values of the school as a whole: mass-participation is encouraged, excellence is sought and achieved, and a lot of fun is had by boys and staff alike!

I am excited to be working in a school that really embraces change and is promoting the use of modern technology in education. The school leadership team has continued to invest in our IT and infrastructure to create a modern learning environment within the backdrop of a beautiful, historic campus.

Climbing towers and using old keys took a bit of getting used to but I quickly discovered that the archives were full of wonderful things - letters signed by Elizabeth I, Anglo-Saxon Charters and pieces of quill still lodged in the pages of volumes where the scribe had sharpened his pen.

Gardening in the shadows of great buildings that have seen centuries of world events and working where many have once toiled, is very humbling.  

Our team of paediatric nurses know that teenage years can be a challenging time for some so we spend a lot of time getting to know the boys.  

My experience in teaching English, in both the private and maintained sectors, is perhaps a more orthodox background to being Second Master than my conducting and my work in music education. Both have proved invaluable in encouraging our pupils to listen and to develop their own convictions.

Community Service is a journey of self-discovery.  Our boys are encouraged to work out of their comfort zone. They learn to become self-reliant in challenging situations, to engage and empathise with others, and to give unreservedly and wholeheartedly of their time and talents. 

I have found that the academic curiosity among staff and boys at Winchester is hard to replicate elsewhere, with boys actively seeking out opportunities to learn long after their working day is done.

As assistant housemaster in Du Boulay’s (Cook’s), I tend to eat most of my evening meals with the boys as well as several lunches during the week. It gives me the opportunity to catch up with them on their day, talk about things that are coming up or general conversations on unexpected topics!

I love the atmosphere of a lazy Sunday. You can go in to town, play football or do whatever you like.