INSPIRED BY THEM: MARGARET GILMORE
Walking through Chamber Court
GCSE History exam before studying it at Pre-U level in the sixth form, because the school deemed the GCSE History curriculum too limited. We were concerned it might put him at a disadvantage. Five years on do we still think that disadvantage outweighs the wider benefits he received? I have to concede— no.
Of course exams remain a good measure of someone’ s ability to learn and concentrate under pressure. Winchester does that well, which is not surprising since there is an academic entrance exam to get in. But the wider teaching seems to have prepared those we’ ve spoken to for greater challenges in life.
There is another element which comes out in our interviews— the desire to give back to society. I have spent most of my career in public service, as a BBC Correspondent specialising first in foreign affairs, meeting world leaders in many different fields, then specialising in the environment, and finally reporting on terrorism and policing. Today I sit on the boards of independent public service regulators. It seems that a commitment to serve society is also something inculcated at Winchester. Oliver Goodall refers to this in his interview, adding,‘ Winchester made me more considerate of others and more accepting of the differences between people.’ Professor Elkington is driven by a passion to reduce tuberculosis deaths in poorer populations.
As you will have read, the Headmaster and the Warden develop this idea and these views have been captured through a series of interviews. Both share a vision which involves broadening horizons, embracing a more global culture at the school and celebrating diversity not just of thought but of gender, race and religion. Perhaps most importantly they both talk of seeking new ways to help educate those who can’ t afford to come to Winchester, reviewing and retargeting the bursary system, and investigating whether the online classes that worked so well during COVID could be adapted to reach those less advantaged, worldwide. And of course taking the historic but timely decision to admit girls.
I will give away no more— but read on and you will find some extraordinary and uplifting stories.
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