AUTUMN 2026
Events Booklet
1
YEAR 5
MAKING THE MOVE TO SENIOR SCHOOL Prep Hall • Parents Welcome
Transition talk for parents
10 Sept (Thursday)
Prep School
Prep School
RECEPTION & KEY STAGE 1
STAFF AND PARENTS COFFEE MORNING Reception, Years 1 & 2 • Prep School • Parents Welcome
11 Sept (Friday)
8:00 – 8:40am
4:00 – 4:30pm
2
Autumn Term 2026
Prep School
PTA WELCOME BACK PICNIC
Prep School Field
All prep parents and students invited to attend
11 Sept (Friday)
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Events Booklet
3
Old Girls Association
OLD GIRLS’ DAY 2026 St. Swithun’s school
12th Sept (Saturday) 11:00 - 3:00pm
All former pupils and staff are warmly invited to attend Old Girls’ Day. This year, we will be marking milestone reunions for the Classes of 2021 (five years), 2016 (ten years), 2001 (25 years), and 1976 (50 years), though alumnae from all year groups are very welcome. The day will include a guided tour of the school led by current students, offering a chance to see how the site has developed over the years. There will also be time to reconnect with former classmates and teachers over lunch, and to revisit shared memories from your time at St Swithun’s. Further details, including timings and registration are via our hub: Register for OGA Day
4
Autumn Term 2026
SCHOOL MUSICAL:
BEYOND THE STORM Between Shakespeare and Disney • Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
Beyond the Storm is a theatre performance created for Italian primary and secondary school students. The project is inspired by William Shakespeare’s, The Tempest, and brings it into dialogue with some of Disney’s most beloved classics, including The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sleeping Beauty, and Frozen.
Senior School
Through music, dance, acting, immersive visuals and video projections, the audience is guided on a journey through dreams, magic, and reality, where different worlds come together to explore universal emotions such as freedom, forgiveness, power, love, and the search for identity.
15 Sept (Tuesday)
7:00pm
Prospero’s island becomes a symbolic place where the African savannah of The Lion King, the enchanted kingdom of Sleeping Beauty, the cathedral of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the icy landscapes of Frozen all coexist. Performed by young Italian artists, the show combines theatre and technology in a contemporary and engaging language, making Shakespeare accessible and meaningful for younger generations. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
Events Booklet
5
Whole School
INDOOR NETBALL AND TENNIS CENTRE (INATC) OPENING CEREMONY Indoor Netball and Tennis Centre
17 Sept (Thursday)
4:30 – 7:00pm
Join us as we celebrate the opening of our brand-new Indoor Netball and Tennis Centre. We warmly invite you to explore this exciting new facility, meet members of our community, and enjoy an evening showcasing sport at St Swithun’s. Arrive any time from 4.30pm to look around, followed by welcome speeches at 4.40pm. From 5.30pm, enjoy guided tours and an exhibition of our students’ sporting activities. Dress code: Trainers or soft-soled shoes only. To help us with catering, please reserve your complimentary tickets by visiting https://hub.stswithuns.com/events
6
Autumn Term 2026
YEAR 5 PARENT INTRODUCTION TO THE SENIOR SCHOOL Senior School Library
Including a Q&A with headmistress, Ms Gandee and head of admissions, Mr Rose.
22 Sept (Tuesday)
4:30 – 6:00pm
Prep School
Prep School
EARLY YEARS STAY AND PLAY Prep outdoor classroom
25 Sept (Friday)
9:30 – 10:30am
Events Booklet
7
GRANDPARENTS’ DAY TEA Prep school hall
Grandparents of Reception to Year 6 children invited to attend.
2 Oct (Friday)
2:30 – 4:00pm
Prep School
Senior School
SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Senior School
3 Oct (Saturday)
9:00am – 12:00pm
8
Autumn Term 2026
MUSIC SCHOLARS AND EXHIBITIONERS’ CONCERT 1 Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
The first of two concerts this term given by our music scholars and exhibitioners. A chance to hear our finest musicians performing as soloists and in chamber groups. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
7 Oct (Wednesday)
7:00pm
Senior School
Prep School
PREP SCHOOL OPEN AFTERNOON Prep school
9 Oct (Friday)
1:30 – 3:30pm
Events Booklet
9
Prep School
AFTERNOON SOUNDS CONCERT
Prep Library
Members of prep school community all invited to attend.
13 Oct (Tuesday)
4:15 – 4:45pm
10
Autumn Term 2026
A TALK BY JAMES SHONE
INFLATING BALLOONS OF SELFBELIEF Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
Please email lectures@stswithuns.com to reserve seating.
14 Oct (Wednesday)
7:30pm
Senior School
We are delighted to welcome James Shone back to St Swithun’s this term. During James’ last visit, students, parents and staff were moved and inspired in equal measure and we very much look forward to his talk this term. Following a 16-year teaching career and a life-threatening set-back, James Shone has become one of the most successful educational speakers in the UK today.
James is a man who embodies a positive attitude to life, a determination to turn setbacks into springboards and a passion to increase selfconfidence in young people. He set up his charity ‘I Can & I Am’ in 2015 and James now visits hundreds of schools and businesses a year delivering his powerful pastoral messages to pupils, parents and staff to great acclaim. His underlying message is always about ‘inflating balloons of self-belief’. The charity also has a double decker bus which is used to visit schools and deliver workshops to pupils and staff to further embed James’s vital messages. Further information can be found at www.icanandiam.com. Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm.
Events Booklet
11
Senior School
St Cross Chapel, Winchester
SCHOLARS’ LUNCHTIME RECITAL
A selection of our music award holders will perform solos in the wonderful acoustic of the Chapel at St Cross. Members of the public are welcome to attend this event.
15 Oct (Thursday)
11am
12
Autumn Term 2026
MUSIC SCHOLARS AND EXHIBITIONERS’ CONCERT 2 Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
The second of two concerts this term given by our music scholars and exhibitioners. A chance to hear our finest musicians performing as soloists and in chamber groups. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
4 Nov (Wednesday)
7:00pm
Senior School
Prep School
AFTERNOON SOUNDS CONCERT Prep Library
Members of prep school community all invited to attend.
10 Nov (Tuesday)
4:15 – 4:45pm
Events Booklet
13
Senior School
SWITHUN’S LIVE! Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
Bands from St Swithun’s and Winchester College will be performing in a spectacular rock concert. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
10 Nov (Tuesday)
Prep School
EARLY YEARS STAY AND PLAY Prep outdoor classroom
All prep parents and students invited to attend
13 Nov (Friday)
9:30 – 10:30am
7:00pm
14
Autumn Term 2026
SCHOOL MUSICAL
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
25 Nov (Wednesday)
7:00pm
26 Nov (Thursday)
7:00pm
27 Nov (Friday)
7:00pm
Against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of change, The Sound of Music tells the inspiring story of Maria and the von Trapp family. Filled with soaring music, heartfelt emotion, and extraordinary courage, this beloved classic is a powerful celebration of hope, family, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. We hope you will join us to support our talented performers and celebrate the arts in our school community. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
Senior School
Events Booklet
15
PTA CHRISTMAS FAIR Prep school hall
Members of prep school community all invited to attend.
29 Nov (Sunday)
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Prep School
SCHOOL ADVENT SERVICE Winchester Cathedral
Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
29 Nov (Sunday)
6:30pm
Senior School
16
Autumn Term 2026
YEAR 3 & YEAR 4
PERFORMANCE Prep school hall
Parents of Year 3 and 4 students invited to attend.
3 Dec (Thursday)
6:30pm
Prep School
CHRISTMAS CONCERT Harvey Hall (main auditorium)
Performances from a selection of St Swithun’s musical ensembles including Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band and Brass Ensemble. Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
4 Dec (Friday)
Senior School
7:30pm
Events Booklet
17
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
NATIVITY PLAY Prep school hall
Members of prep school community are invited to attend.
8 Dec (Tuesday)
9:00am
Prep School
Senior School
SCHOOL CAROL SERVICE Winchester Cathedral
Members of the school community, parents and school guests are invited to this event.
10 Dec (Thursday)
10:30am
18
Autumn Term 2026
YEAR 5 & YEAR 6
CAROL SERVICE Hospital Church of St Cross
Parents of Year 5 and 6 students invited to attend.
11 Dec (Friday)
Prep School
Prep School
YEAR 1 & YEAR 2
CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE Prep school hall
Parents of Year 1 and 2 students invited to attend.
14 Dec (Monday)
3:15 pm - 4:00pm
2:30pm
Stay up to date with the vast number of events and activities around the school, by visiting our news page on the school website or by following us on our social media accounts.
St Swithun’s School, Alresford Road, Winchester, SO21 1HA 01962 835700 | office@stswithuns.com | www.stswithuns.com Registered Charity Number 307335