Education
Outside the classroom , the school offers a wide array of musical , artistic and sporting opportunities , providing activities to appeal to the whole range of pupils . During the year in excess of 200 hours of music lessons were provided free of charge to our most talented music scholars , and a range of productions took place , ranging from Macbeth to closely contested House singing and Junior Drama Festival competitions . Our core sports of football and cricket are complemented by opportunities to play a wide range of other sports . We have been particularly fortunate to have had a strong group of 1st VI tennis players at the school who completed their third unbeaten season in a row this past term . Winchester football , or “ Winkies ” as it ’ s known on campus , also stimulates a healthy rivalry between houses when the XVs , ( pronounced “ fifteens ”), competition takes place each year . The construction of a new sports centre will provide state-of-the-art sporting facilities for the next generation of pupils .
The vast majority of our pupils leave for Russell Group or Ivy League Universities , with 67 % of 2023 leavers continuing straight into further studies at those Universities . A dedicated team help pupils navigate the increasingly complex task of deciding between institutions and courses ; the US is an increasingly popular destination with our 2023 leavers winning places at Harvard , Columbia , U Penn , Stanford , U Chicago among others . A growing number of leavers choose to take a gap year to follow their interests both at home and abroad . Regardless of destination , pupils continue their relationship with the College long after their departure from Campus , continuing to engage through Winchester College Society and the alumni network .
Co-Educational Sixth Form Following a successful launch of coeducation provision in 2022 , September 2023 saw a second cohort of sixth form pupils , including day girls entering the school . With means tested bursaries on offer to those who qualify , this has allowed the school to expand its offering to more local families , irrespective of their financial means .
Makyth Ventures Makyth Ventures is the school ’ s entrepreneurship and innovation hub for pupils . The goal is to inspire and equip the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills , exposure , and mindset to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation .
Maykth Ventures Ignite is an interscholastic entrepreneurial pitching competition organised by Makyth Ventures that involves a series of immersive and interactive online coaching sessions , culminating in an in-person finale at Winchester College . Last year we challenged students to tackle waste in their schools and find opportunities for change . Several schools participated including Harrow , Francis Holland , Rugby and St Swithun ’ s , with one of Harrow ’ s teams taking the winning title for their business proposition of switching to hemp-based school uniforms .
Education that keeps up with the world “ CATALYST ensures that education remains relevant in a world where change is the only constant .”
Building upon the school ’ s philosophy of holistic learning , the CATALYST by Winchester College initiative , now in its second year , offers dynamic online programmes for students aged 10-17 . Over 300 students from 15 different countries have now participated in CATALYST programmes . The curriculum continues to draw inspiration from the school ’ s Div programme , and encompasses contemporary topics such as innovation , AI , and societal ethics , bringing them into discussion through different tailored tracks : the Foundations programme ( for ages 10-13 ), the Horizons programme ( for ages 14-17 ), and the short , yet insightful courses offered through CATALYST Bites . Further extending its reach , the initiative has introduced CATALYSTx , partnering with schools and educational organisations worldwide to provide its unique curriculum and leverage the team ’ s proficiency in education technology ( EdTech ).
Feedback from participants continues to be overwhelmingly positive , with parents noting enhanced engagement and personal growth in their children . As one parent recounted , “ I was amazed to see my son actively engaged and having discussions about topics that I don ’ t usually hear him talking about . It was nice to hear him laughing and having fun while learning . I have observed that he has taken on a leadership role where I would have expected him to shy away . I am really impressed .” Students echo this sentiment , describing transformative experiences — “ I am a completely different person now ” — and highlighting the course as “ the best online course I ’ ve ever experienced .”
CATALYST is gearing up to introduce more programmes and short courses in 2023 / 24 , continuing its mission to develop curious , confident , and informed leaders .
14 | Winchester College - Annual Report 2023