THE WYKEHAM JOURNAL 2021
applicants to join the school as Day Pupils in September 2022 . These are boys and girls who will be starting in VI th Book 2 . The results are most encouraging , in terms of both the level of interest and the quality of those who are applying . The next phase is to adapt four houses to welcome day pupils . This should not be too difficult , given the significant number of day pupils in the school historically . But nothing is entirely straightforward in repurposing old buildings . And we also need to create a separate facility for day girls ( in a site in Kingsgate Street , close to Flint Court and the classrooms ). These physical preparations are essential . But the real challenge will be ensuring the proper integration of day pupils into the life of WinColl ; and providing the support and pastoral care required .
The process of preparing for girl boarders in autumn 2024 is , of course , considerably more challenging in practical terms . We have outline permission to build a new Boarding House , which is an excellent start . We will , however , need to work closely with the local planning authorities and various statutory agencies in order to agree exactly what we can build in terms of size and style . We well appreciate the sensitivity needed in an historic City such as Winchester , on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . Indeed , nobody cares more than we do about protecting our natural and built environment , which is one of the great glories of the school . There are also options to convert existing buildings , which might supplement whatever we agree with the City Council .
These changes reflect our continuing commitment to make a Winchester education available to as many as possible . We are increasing the number of bursaries we offer . Our initial target is to have 150 pupils on bursaries by 2024 / 2025 — to include the new Wykeham Award for Sixth Form pupils from the state sector . The initial response has been excellent : we awarded 14 Sixth Form bursaries this year ( 10 to pupils from state schools ) compared to five such bursaries last year . But the 150 target is just a milestone , not a destination . We are fortunate that the Endowment , which funds our bursaries , is benefiting from the sale of Barton Farm for development and from the remarkable generosity of many Old Wykehamists and parents . I am very conscious that , without this support , our ambitions would be impossible to achieve .
I have concentrated so far on increasing access . We are also focused on learning . The Governing Body wants those leaving the school to be as well prepared as possible to thrive and to contribute to society . The core of our approach remains the pre-eminence of intellectual rigour and an enquiring mind . I believe that the non-examined curriculum gives Wykehamists an even greater advantage today than it did when I was in the school . In a world which is unpredictable , the suppleness inculcated by Div is , in my view , much more likely
NOBODY CARES MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT PROTECTING OUR NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT , WHICH IS ONE OF THE GREAT GLORIES OF THE SCHOOL .
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