BURSAR’ S REPORT
PARESH THAKRAR
A
Winchester year is inevitably packed with high points. 2024 has been no different, albeit against the sober backdrop of VAT on school fees and a cautious economic outlook, on which I will comment further below.
The highlights reel
The highs? A record 147 pupils benefited from means-tested financial assistance – enabling each one to receive an education that would not otherwise have been possible. The £ 5m dedicated to bursaries is 50 % higher than in 2020, bringing the sum total of assistance since 2005 to over £ 40m. Behind these numbers sit the generosity of many donors, the wisdom of the College Investment Committee with a generational timescale to asset allocation, and the founding ethos of the College, which continues to this day.
The Winchester estate saw further milestones. The College took possession of the first phase of the Sports Centre. Immense thanks go to the Estate Bursar, his team and the Chair of the College Estates Committee, Bill Holland, who have worked tirelessly to deliver a spectacular facility amidst a difficult construction market. It’ s a delight to see pupils, staff and now local customers making full use of the facilities. The swimming pool section is expected in late 2025; this will complete the biggest project since the College ' s foundation.
The College’ s first boarding house for over 100 years saw construction begin in May 2024 with a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Kingsgate Park. Our contractor, Gilbert Ash, has made rapid progress with the cross-laminated timber frame complete in early 2025. The building is scheduled to be complete in mid-2026, ahead of the arrival of the first girl boarders.
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