What is a Winchester person?

My aim is to ensure the young people in my care feel safe and secure in the wonderful environs of the College and develop into well-rounded, young adults we can all be proud of.

Even though I have been fortunate enough to travel to the savannahs of Kenya and the tropical reefs and rainforests of Belize, I have an inordinate fondness for the local wildlife of Hampshire.

Alex joined Winchester as the Head of English in September 2019. He has previously taught at Magdalen College School, Oxford, and the King’s School, Canterbury, where he was the Head of English and a Deputy Housemaster. He has degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of London; his first monograph was published in 2015, and he continues to research and publish work on modernist poetry.

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.

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.

Being a matron is a hugely varied role but I believe the core tenet is to ensure the pupils feel secure and happy. This involves knowing them well and ensuring they are confident that you will try to help them with whatever problem they bring to you.

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 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 will take over as Housemaster of Turner's in 2023.

Rupert teaches Classics and, his great favourite, first-year Div, as well as coaching football, tennis and, of course, Winkies. He does a valiant job of pretending to know all of the rules.

I have experienced the huge benefits of learning in an institution that recognises the importance of individuals and encourages you to try different things.

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.

Together, we prepare four weekly services alongside a number of extra engagements such as special services, concerts, tours, recordings and broadcasts.

A typical day might involve teaching a class about 16th century maps, discussing medieval manuscripts with a visiting researcher, and helping pupils to plan an exhibition in the school’s museum.

Our Design Technology centre, known as Mill, is the best aspect of the entire school for me. Mill’s facilities include two 3D printers, a metalworks and welding section, a carpentry area with sanders and cutters. Not forgetting my personal favourite, the laser cutter.