Europe , and South-East Asia . The School enjoyed another year of Olympiad successes , including one pupil being selected for the UK team in the International Biology Olympiad ; 22 pupils achieved music diplomas during the last twelve months .
Following the success of last year ’ s outdoor lunch for every member of the School community to celebrate the Queen ’ s Platinum Jubilee , a similar event was held in May to mark the King ’ s Coronation . Due to inclement weather the lunch took place under cover in four different locations , but all members of the community gathered together after lunch to sing the National Anthem . That evening , the newly formed 70-strong Winchester College Symphonic Wind Band gave its first performance . Comprised of pupils and teachers , the concert provided an extraordinary sound as musicians of all levels played together . The ensemble was guest conducted by accomplished trumpet player , educator and composer , Ryan Linham , a First-Class graduate from the Royal College of Music .
The School has now welcomed its second cohort of day pupils ( including girls ) into the Sixth Form . The transition from an all-boys boarding school has been more seamless than we could have hoped for , thanks to the meticulous planning of colleagues ; we look forward to welcoming 120 girl boarders into the Sixth Form following the completion of two new boarding houses , for which we now have planning permission .
Pupils achieved strong results in A Level and GCSE exams , with 40.7 % of A Level grades at A * and 77.9 % at A */ A . At GCSE level , 49.8 % of all grades were Grade 9 , with 71.9 % being Grade 9 or Grade 8 . The vast majority of pupils secured their first or second choice university places , including 31 pupils who have achieved their offers for Cambridge or Oxford entry , as well as those heading off to leading institutions across the UK and top international universities in the United States , Canada , Hong Kong ,
The School continues to expand and encourage its outreach programme and educational partnerships ; this includes another outstanding year for our Community Service , with 400 pupils taking part in over 20,000 collective hours of volunteering in the community . For the second year running , the School participated in the National Garden Scheme , welcoming over 700 visitors and raising over £ 6,300 for nursing and health charities . We continue to offer greater access to our Collections by opening the School museum to the public , free of charge , every afternoon during term time . The School , as lead sponsor , has recently hosted 21 events for Heritage Open Days , and welcomed over 800 visitors .
The College has a rolling programme for the preservation , maintenance and enhancement of its natural and built environment , with a focus on reducing its carbon footprint . Gas consumption has fallen by 30 % over the last five years , and this includes switching to 100 % use of electricity derived from renewable sources , and reducing waste .
Having commenced as Headmaster after a decade ’ s absence , I am delighted to report that the School ’ s enduring values are as strong as ever – as seen in its tradition of excellence , its commitment to the free and rigorous exchange of ideas , its embrace of individuals of widely varying backgrounds and experiences , and its mission to develop young men and women of character , intellect and purpose .
Ms Elizabeth Stone Headmaster of Winchester College
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