Letter from the Head
Dear parents and guardians
As we come to the end of what has been another vibrant and purposeful term at Warwick School, this edition of The Warwickian is a celebration of the boys’ achievements across every facet of school life. Each page reflects the energy, curiosity, character, and ambition that define our community – and which continue to shape Warwick as a school where every pupil is encouraged to aim high, embrace opportunity, and thrive both now and in the future.
This term has been marked by the exceptionally positive findings of our recent ISI Educational Quality Inspection. While the report recognises strength across all areas of school life, we were especially proud to be awarded a significant strength, the highest accolade given by the ISI and achieved by only around one in ten school, for the breadth, inclusivity, and impact of our co-curricular and leadership opportunities. Inspectors saw what we see every day: boys throwing themselves into sport, music, drama, academic enrichment, clubs, societies, service, and leadership roles with commitment, enthusiasm and joy; and in doing so, building the character, perseverance, confidence, and sense of purpose that are the hallmarks of a Warwick education.
As you turn the pages that follow, you will find these findings brought to life. The magazine is, in many ways,
I
am deeply grateful to my colleagues whose dedication makes such a rich programme possible, and to the boys themselves, whose enthusiasm, courage, good humour, and willingness to step beyond their comfort zones continue to inspire”
the most compelling endorsement of the inspectors’ judgement. From national sporting success, musical excellence and artistic expression to service initiatives, academic endeavour, outdoor adventure and pupil leadership, the breadth of experience showcased here demonstrates exactly why the co curricular life of the school was identified as exceptional. It is in these experiences that boys discover passions, form friendships, learn responsibility, and develop the values that will guide them
long after they leave us.
I am deeply grateful to my colleagues whose dedication makes such a rich programme possible, and to the boys themselves, whose enthusiasm, courage, good humour, and willingness to step beyond their comfort zones continue to inspire.
I hope you enjoy this edition of The Warwickian and that it fills you, as it has me, with enormous pride in what our pupils have achieved this term. I wish you and your families a restorative summer break.
James Barker Head
At a glance
A selection of this term’s news and stories in one place
Tom’s Canticles premieres
We are delighted to celebrate Year 11 GCSE Music pupil Tom, who has composed a superb set of Canticles – a remarkable achievement for a young composer. Under the direction of Mr
Hancock, the Choir of St Mary’s brought Tom’s work to life in a stunning premiere performance last month.
Tom is a highly promising composer, organist and singer who dedicates much of
his free time composing and working at the organ.
We look forward to his future output and warmly congratulate him on this fantastic achievement
Year 13 netball creates fierce competition
Year 13 netball brought energy, laughter, and fierce competition as pupils from Warwick School and King’s High School came together for one of the most exciting joint house events of this term.
Across several action-packed lunchtimes, pupils formed mixed teams, battling it out on court to prove which joint house had the strongest
teamwork, smartest tactics, and quickest reactions. The pace was fast, the competition was friendly but determined and every interception and goal drew cheers from the spectators. The matches were even more entertaining when the boys got to grips with the rules of footwork and positioning! It was great to see all pupils embracing the spirit of the
The final positions were:
1. Brooke and Earhart
2. Oken and Seacole
3. Tudor and Franklin
4. Leycester and Yousafzai
And a joint fifth place after sharing the position with a draw; Guy and Tubman and Greville and Austen
Well done to all those that took part!
Celebrating Oxbridge offers
Warwick School is delighted to announce that five pupils have received offers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge this year – an exceptional achievement that reflects their hard work, talent, and commitment.
The successful pupils are:
• Hector - History, Churchill, Cambridge
• James - Philosophy, Sidney Sussex, Cambridge
• Michael - Psychology, Selwyn, Cambridge
• Thomas - Modern Languages, St Hugh’s, Oxford
• Yusuf - Medicine, Churchill, Cambridge game.
This outstanding collective achievement is a testament to the dedication of our pupils and staff. Each pupil should feel incredibly proud of their accomplishments so far, and we wish them every success as they continue their studies in preparation for the next stage of their academic journey.
With an additional six students from King’s High School receiving Oxbridge offers this year, an impressive 11 pupils from across the Foundation have secured offers from these world leading universities.
Huge congratulations to every pupil –we are very proud of you.
Inspiring the next generation: Bridge Street Brass Masterclass
On Friday, 13 February, the music department was delighted to welcome Bridge Street Brass, an outstanding quintet from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, for an inspiring afternoon of music-making and collaboration.
Their packed lunchtime recital was delivered with style and flair, uniting our brass family in a celebration of ensemble performance at its finest. The varied programme included Suite Impromptu (Marche) by Lafosse, a dazzling arrangement of La La Land, Gershwin’s 4 Hits for Five, McKee’s energetic Highball on White Pass, and Bernstein’s Maria and
Tonight from West Side Story. Each performance showcased the colour, versatility and expressive power of brass, leaving our students inspired by the group’s precision and professionalism. A short Q&A offered valuable insight into conservatoire life and the dedication required to perform at such a high level.
Fanfare Team, The Undertones, Bold as Brass and the French Horn Ensemble
were all preparing for the upcoming Small Ensembles Concert. These boys took part in rehearsal-style workshops with members of the quintet. Each ensemble received specialist coaching, refining ensemble cohesion, musical detail and stagecraft. The day concluded with a showcase platform where our pupils performed with focus, confidence and maturity. This enriching event strengthened our
partnership with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and highlighted the exceptional talent, discipline and musical identity of the brass department. With the school also hosting a nonschool uniform day in support of Brass for Africa, it seemed only fitting to celebrate that fundraising effort with a live brass masterclass of such quality
and inspiration. Our pupils represented the school with pride and wonderful musicianship. It was an uplifting and fun way to round off the half-term. Congratulations to all the boys involved, and to our wonderful brass team for organising such a joyous occasion and for continually inspiring our pupils with their musical journeys.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS:
“Since I first visited the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the feeling and standard that you experience when you’re surrounded by incredible, kind musicians is nothing short of spectacular. The musicians from RBC, who delivered our brass masterclass went above and beyond, making this one of, if not the best musical experiences I’ve ever had.”
Patrick
“I really enjoyed this afternoon and got a lot out of it. It was hugely inspiring playing alongside musicians from professional bands, and useful to get different perspective and feedback.”
Barney
“The masterclass was a valuable and enjoyable educational experience that helped me develop my playing, both personally and as part of a wider ensemble.”
Lawrence
Bridge Street Brass commented:
“We had an amazing time working with such talented students in preparation for their concert in March. A rainy Friday afternoon before halfterm did not stop the sheer enthusiasm and joy for music making. Warwick’s music department is clearly creating a huge impact on the young people, and it was lovely to spend an afternoon in this environment. We are excited to hear how the concert goes; it will certainly be worth the watch!”
Music Conservatoire success!
We are delighted to share that Ben, Theo and Charlie (Year 13) each have multiple offers to attend Music Conservatoire from September 2026.
The process of achieving an offer is challenging and highly pressurised, with each institution requiring multiple auditions and interviews, testing a variety of musical skills including solo performance and sight reading with a highly competitive field of applicants from all over the world. For them to have received more than one offer each, as well as multiple scholarship offers, is testament to their dedication, talent and passion for each of the instruments they play and we are delighted for them.
Ben received offers for jazz drums from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music.
Theo will has offers for jazz saxophone from Trinity Laban Conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Charlie has offers for the cello from the Royal Academy, Royal College and Royal Northern College of Music as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Congratulations boys, we are very proud of you all!
Year 9 pupils showcase stunning clay creations
Mrs Francis’ Year 9 pupils have brought their creativity to life through a series of striking clay animal heads. Each piece reflects weeks of careful craftsmanship, culminating in beautifully glazed works that highlight their skill and imagination.
Saving lives – my stem cell donation experience
About eight months ago, The Anthony Nolan charity came to school and invited us to become donors. Although I was apprehensive at first, I signed up at the last minute, and I’m so glad I did. I was really chuffed (although surprised) when they contacted me a few months later to say I was a match for someone... I think it was then that it hit me... I could save someone’s life! A real person, who was going to die, could live by me donating some stem cells!
The process was so easy, and everyone at Anthony Nolan was really friendly. First, they came to my house and took some blood to make sure I was in good health. A few weeks later, I went to Nottingham Hospital to meet the team that would be there on the day of my donation and for them to talk me through how the day would go (they check every step of the way that you still want to do it - and they
are really clear that you can pull out at any time). Then, on the 22 December, it was donation day.
They hooked up to the machine that takes the blood – basically some blood out of one arm, stem cells extracted from my blood in the big machine, then blood minus stems cells back in through the other arm. They said a relatively small amount of stem cells are taken compared to how many are in your body, and the ones that were taken would be replaced naturally by your body within a really short amount of time. On the day of the donation, it took about five to six hours of me being hooked up to the machine. People have asked me if it hurts, but it wasn’t too bad, it’s just like having an injection, and then you can do whatever you want for the rest of the day.
That’s it - that’s all there is to it ... and then afterwards, I was holding my lifesaving stem cells. They said the person
would receive my stem cells pretty quickly (within days) and that I could meet the person (if I wanted to and if the person was ok with it) but not for two years. In the meantime, the team at Anthony Nolan would give me updates on how the person was getting on, if I wanted them to.
I really hope they (and their family) are doing well! And I am looking forward to hearing all about it.
Sign-up, and save a life, I really recommend it!
Oscar, Upper Sixth
Warwick Lent term 2026
The Lent term has proved yet again to be one of the busiest of the school year for our 11 committees here at Warwick Voice, who nonetheless continue to work hard to constantly find new and innovative ways to improve life for the Warwick School community.
This term the Mental Health Committee and the Sexual Equality Committee took centre stage, respectively organising awareness weeks to further educate the school around Children’s Mental Health Week and International Women’s Day, adhering to our aims of promoting equality and equity within students at Warwick and within our local community.
For Children’s Mental Health Week, the Mental Health Committee organised a fantastic whole-school assembly focusing on the importance of belonging, while section assemblies were angled towards year group specific challenges, with the year 10s and 11s enjoying useful tips on how to manage exam stress and the importance of proper sleep. They ended the week by sticking to a classic student favourite and hosting a doughnut sale to raise money for Place2Be, a charity aiming to help children see mental health professionals early to prevent issues developing later in life.
For International Women’s Day, the Sexual Equality Committee delivered section assemblies around the theme of ‘Women who have changed the world,’ in which pupils in all years learnt of the lives and experiences of women in a range of fields, from Lise Meitner and her theory of nuclear fission to Hollie Davidson making history in rugby.
More good news was received by
The LGBTQ+ Committee delivered an assembly to Year 7 about the effects of words on others and the damage caused by casual homophobia”
the Sexual Equality Commitee, with the school being nominated for a national “Mo Award” in London for the innovative “Mo Marathon” run by students during Movember to raise awareness for men’s mental health. Sadly, we ran out of luck, narrowly missing out on the award, though all pupils should be proud of the great contributions to such a worthy cause.
Despite not having awareness weeks, the other committees continued to
The Charities Committee has had another charitable term with a nonschool uniform day and doughnut sale raising £5,000 for Brass for Africa
Mr Tapper-Gray
work hard to make adjustments and improvements where appropriate. The Teaching and Learning Committee has been participating in pupil interview panels for the MFL department, ensuring pupil input in teacher selection, and they have been displaying PASCO flyers around the school to provide further guidance on how to use AI as a learning aid.
ASSEMLEY
The LGBTQ+ Committee delivered an assembly to Year 7 about the effects of words on others and the damage caused by casual homophobia, while the Racial and Religious Equality Committee has continued to develop plans for a future Culture Day to celebrate the diversity of the Warwick School community.
The Eco Committee has proposed a new ‘Eco Week’ to the school, waiting for further pupil feedback on what it should focus on before it is officially launched in the summer term.
The school was nominated for a national “Mo Award” in London for the innovative “Mo Marathon” run by students during Movember to raise awareness for men’s mental health...
The Catering Committee has truly solidified its legacy this year, bringing back Southern fried chicken and curry sauce to the Friday lunch rotation due to popular pupil demand and hosting a Lunar New Year menu in celebration of the Lunar New Year with pancakes sneaking in for dessert to commemorate Pancake Day.
The Charities Committee has had another charitable term with a non-school uniform day and doughnut sale raising £5,000 for Brass for Africa, who strive to empower young people in Africa through music. This term also saw the launching
of the annual “Caps for Life” initiative, raising money for kidney research in honour of Mr Tapper-Gray who sadly passed away over the Christmas holiday and is very much missed from Warwick Voice.
As we say goodbye to the Lent term at Warwick Voice and our tenure as the prefects in charge, we look forward to the awareness weeks, non-school uniform days and doughnut sales that undoubtedly await in the next term, bringing the community ever closer, and making it ever so much more inclusive and welcoming.
1. 40-40-4
A huge cheer for the incredible sporting challenge undertaken by Angus Read (WS 2012-21). Angus completed 40 marathons in 40 European countries over 4 months, raising £12,440 for Cancer Research UK. Angus’s challenge started in 30C (86F) heat and ended in hospital with exhaustion when he completed his challenge on 13 December in London. He admitted to being a bit underprepared when he started, but said he had thrown himself “in the deep end” and “figured it out” as he went along. Angus ran a marathon on average every three days, some on planned circuits while others were made up as they went along, using the Strava app.
2. Wake Up Dead Man
Leopold Hughes (WS 1999-2006), continues an amazing career as a Film Producer with the release of Wake Up Dead Man (Knives Out 3) which he co-produced. Screened at the Toronto Film Festival, the film was released in cinemas and on Netflix at the end of 2025.
3. Dirty Business
Tom McKay (WS 1993-98) stars in Channel 4s powerful docudrama Dirty Business, which relates the tragic story of eightyear-old Heather Preen who was infected by E coli O157 and, two weeks later died, after stepping on a patch of raw sewage while playing on the beach. Dirty Business is a meticulous, intelligent, compassionate and fearless take down of the practices of privatised water companies in the UK. Tom plays Heather’s father Mark and says “This is something that will make you scream with rage and cry your heart out. I was on a plane when I read the scripts, and I think the person next to me thought I was having a breakdown – it’s incredibly upsetting and enraging, but there’s also humour in the midst of the madness”. Watch out, also in 2026,
for Tom’s return as Max K in series two of Channel 4’s six-part cyberthriller The Undeclared War.
4. Ralph on tour with the RSC Award-nominated actor Ralph Davis (WS 2003-14) has taken on the role of Hamlet with the RSC’s touring revival, which visits Truro, Bradford, Norwich, Nottingham, Blackpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, York and Canterbury between 24 February and 25 April 2026. Ralph is pictured in 2014 when he appeared in the school production of Hamlet in the Bridge House Theatre.
5. Disc Golf Champion
A keen hockey and tennis player while at school, Ben Holding (WS 2016-23) is also passionate about Disc Golf and has been enjoying training hard, playing and travelling across Europe for tournaments. As National Champion, Ben has had the opportunity to represent Great Britain four times so far. Firstly in Australia as part of the GB team and, last August, in Chengdu, China, at the 2025 World Games. The mixed team disc golf event involved 32 players from 16 countries. Ben, and his playing partner Rachel, had an amazing time and played some great disc golf, losing in the quarter finals to the subsequent winners, USA, who were top seeds.
6. Real Tennis Champion
Vaughan Hamilton (WS 2011-18) won his first major trophy as a real tennis professional in November, partnering world #2 John Lumley to victory in the British Open doubles, held at the Queen’s Club in London. In winning this prestigious title Vaughan becomes the youngest open champion since 2016, and the youngest British Open champion this century. It marks the end of a breakthrough year for Vaughan who has firmly established himself as one of the top 20 players in the world.
PAWS
Parents Association of Warwick School
update
Nearly New Uniform Shop
The PAWS Nearly New Uniform Shop offers Warwick School parents the opportunity to buy and sell pre-loved uniform and sports kit. We sell high-quality items on behalf of parents, retaining a small percentage of the sale price to support PAWS funds and cover administration costs. We also gratefully accept donations, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to PAWS. This term we held a sale in March, giving parents the opportunity to pick up additional items and replace lost uniform. A big thank you to all the volunteers who give their time to make these sales possible.
Our next sale is planned for May, with drop-off dates after the Easter holidays. Dates and further information will be announced in the weekly school newsletter.
Head Master’s quiz returns
The Lent term saw the welcome return of the ever-popular Head Master’s Quiz. Held in Warwick Hall, the fun-filled evening brought together teams of parents and staff for a lively but friendly battle for quiz supremacy.
Rounds included:
• Famous couples
• Music
• General knowledge
• Sport
• Warwick School.
Congratulations to our winning team, Brains and Brownies! A special thank you goes to Mr Barker for hosting the evening and crafting such engaging questions – our grey matter certainly received a thorough workout. Huge thanks must also go to Kate, who organised the event on behalf of PAWS, as well as the Catering, Events and Estates teams for all their
For more information please contact us at nearlynewuniformwarwick@ gmail.com.
efforts in ensuring the evening ran so smoothly. Keep an eye on the school newsletter for details of next year’s event.
If you have any questions, would like more information, or are interested in joining the PAWS committee, please email warwickschoolpaws@gmail.com – we would love to hear from you.
2025 ISI INSPECTION SUMMARY
Excellence that stands out: Warwick School has been awarded a significant strength.
Only a select few schools achieve a significant strength and we are proud to be one of them.
We are delighted to share the extremely positive findings from our recent Educational Quality Inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
Inspectors confirmed what our families already know: Warwick School provides an exceptional experience across every aspect of school life. They recognised that pupils thrive both academically and personally, make good progress from their starting points and achieve high outcomes, and develop the skills, character, and confidence to move successfully to the next stage of their education.
In addition, Warwick School was awarded a significant strength – the highest accolade given to only one in 10 schools. This rare distinction highlights an exceptional feature of the school’s provision that goes well beyond expectations and has a notably positive impact on pupils.
James Barker, Head
SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH: CO-CURRICULAR EXCELLENCE
Inspectors highlighted that Warwick School’s rich and stimulating co-curricular programme is a significant strength.
From sport, music, and drama to clubs and societies, and academic enrichment, pupils benefit from experiences that build confidence, resilience, and leadership, ensuring they grow into well-rounded, thoughtful, and ambitious young men, prepared to thrive beyond school.
ISI INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS:
Rich and stimulating co-curricular programme.
Highly successful programme that substantially benefits pupils of all ages.
High levels of participation enhance pupils’ confidence, resilience and self-esteem extremely effectively.
Pupils excel in awards, examinations and national competitions.
“The broad, inclusive and highly beneficial opportunities for co-curricular activities and leadership roles are a significant strength.”
“Experiences enable pupils to develop the confidence to take on new and challenging responsibilities”
SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH: CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Alongside benefiting from our rich co-curricular provision, inspectors found that pupils at Warwick benefit greatly from the wide range of opportunities available to take on leadership roles, become mentors and contribute to pupil committees. These experiences help boys develop the confidence to embrace new and challenging responsibilities, strengthening their character, wellbeing and leadership skills.
Pupils themselves speak of the clear personal gains they make - from forming lasting friendships to building resilience in times of change and learning how to achieve a healthy balance between academic work and life beyond the classroom.
ISI INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS: Leadership is embedded in school life. Pupils benefit from the development of organisational and decision-making skills.
Additional opportunities to hone leadership skills are offered through the Combined Cadet Force, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award School and the Floreat Awards programme.
A culture of services runs throughout the school Pupils have a sense of civic responsibility.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND PROGRESS
Our pupils consistently achieve excellent GCSE and A level results, reflecting the strength of our teaching, our curriculum, and the curiosity and commitment of the boys themselves. Our recent outcomes clearly demonstrate the very high achievement of our pupils: A level
ISI INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS:
A higher proportion of pupils achieving the highest grades since 2023.
Teaching inspires intellectual curiosity. Curriculum extends beyond national curriculum expectations.
Provision for seven classical and modern foreign languages.
Pupils achieve highly and progress to ambitious next destinations including leading universities, degree apprenticeships and higher training.
“Pupils’ wellbeing and physical and emotional safety are prioritised”
PASTORAL CARE AND WELLBEING
The inspection report also highlights the strong emphasis we place on pastoral care and wellbeing. Pupils’ physical health, mental health and emotional development are all well supported by highly trained specialist staff. Inspectors noted the positive, respectful relationships across the school, the calm and considerate behaviour of pupils, and the value they place on being part of an inclusive, welcoming community where everyone feels safe.
ISI INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS:
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing are well supported.
Trained specialist staff in the Aspire and Wellbeing hubs.
Positive relationships between staff and pupils.
Inclusive ethos that celebrates individuality and difference.
Pupils develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
FUTURE READINESS
Inspectors found that pupils develop strong future ready skills through a robust financial literacy curriculum and practical enterprise projects. They benefit from impartial careers guidance from Year 7, personalised university application and interview support, and a secure understanding of democracy, politics and ethical decision making.
ISI INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS:
Strong grounding in financial literacy
Hands-on enterprise projects building business acumen
Careers guidance begins in Year 7
Tailored university application and interview support
Clear understanding of democracy and political systems
Strong emphasis on ethical decision-making
Comprehensive digital safety education
“Pupils are prepared to make informed decisions about their future academic, career and financial pathways”
Warwick School, Myton Road, Warwick CV34 6PP 01926 776400
WSS-admissions@warwickschools.co.uk warwickschool.org
This term, we were proud to launch the first edition of Studium, Warwick School’s new Journal of Teaching and Learning, which brings together a series of innovative research projects led by our own teachers.
This publication shines a light on the
reflective practice taking place across our community and highlights our ongoing commitment to an education rooted in character, belonging, wellbeing, and intellectual curiosity — The Warwick Way.
By engaging in research, evaluating their practice, and sharing their findings, our teachers model the curiosity,
humility and courage we aim to instil in every pupil. Their work not only enriches classroom experiences today but also helps shape an educational environment where every young person is inspired and supported to thrive, now and in the future.
You can read Studium on our website: https://www.warwickschool.org/studium
Lent term English in
As well as being the term of World Book Day, the Lent term has been another highlight in the English Department calendar with our challenging Cogito Lectures, special assemblies and exciting competitions. Below are just a few snapshots of the term in English…
The
Launch of the
Reading Excellence
Award for Year 10 and 11
WThe Year 7 Christmas
Carol Writing Competition
In December, Mrs Taylor challenged Year 7 to participate in our annual Lower School creative writing competition, inviting Year 7 to craft a tale inspired by ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was set in a modern context. The winning entry was written by Shuvan, who cleverly re-imagined Dickens’s classic tale. Well done, Shuvan!
orld Book Day felt like the perfect opportunity to launch our alumnisponsored Reading Excellence Award for Year 10 and 11. Posters are up and the challenge is on for pupils to choose and read at least five of our ten 2026 Reading Excellence books before October 31 2026. Those who choose to join us to read this year’s texts, many of which are also on the Warwick School Reading List, will be invited for a discussion about their reading. In December 2026, one of them will be granted the Excellence Award and a £50 book token to help them to continue their reading journey.
Cogito Lectures for Year 11
Throughout the Lent term, our supracurricular talks, the Cogito Lectures, continued to run for our Year 11 pupils. While there was no panto this term, pupils did enjoy broadening their academic insights into our exam texts.
Many thanks to the English staff for delivering these exciting lectures and to our pupils for their enthusiastic response to the programme. We look forward to starting Aspire with our fantastic Year 10 pupils in the summer term!
World Book Day 2026
n addition to celebrating World Book Day this year, our annual assembly and competition celebrated 2026 as the National Year of Reading. The theme for this is Go All In and our assembly this year explored why reading is worth that level of effort. Two stories emerged from the compelling Literacy Trust research published in 2025: the first that we are reading less books; the second that those who read regularly perform better in school, have stronger empathy, and experience less stress.
IReading builds emotional intelligence and the feeling of being socially and globally included. We experience a striking closeness to characters whose lives might be vastly different to our own. Helen Coffey wrote that being able to read, with the capacity to explore ‘infinite’ stories and worlds that it gives us, is ‘the closest thing to a miracle many of us will ever experience’ and we want all of our pupils to understand the wide-spread benefits that it brings to our day-to-day life.
In the spirit of the day, the English department invited the school to Go
All In to uncover the identity of six iconic literary characters. On Thursday 5 March, pupils were read to in every lesson and in each one needed to guess the hidden name of the character it described.
Pupils who collected all of the character names, which included Dracula, Alice and King Arthur, joined us in the English corridor the next day to reveal their answers and win sweets.
Excitement levels were high and we were delighted by the huge number of pupils who not only participated but also solved our literary quiz.
Warwick School was proud to host the 2026 Warwick Sevens on Saturday, 7 March. This provided an excellent opportunity for some of the top rugby schools in England and Wales to showcase their skills and abilities in the exciting seven-a-side format of the game.
The weather stayed dry as over 50 teams and 600 players took part, from Under 13s to Under 16s.
Warwick’s U13s topped their pool of five teams playing some fantastic sevens. A 45-0 win over King’s Macclesfield and 40-10 win over Wimbledon College were notable victories on a successful day.
The U14s also topped a tough group, their best win coming against RGS Worcester, who they had lost to the week before. This set up a semi-Final against Kirkham Grammar School, which Warwick won 19-7 and therefore a cup final place against Sedbergh. The final lived up to the billing with the scores tied at full time and therefore ‘Golden Point’ had to be played. This was a dramatic finish to the tournament and as darkness fell, Rupert stepped up to get the deciding try and ensure Warwick was victorious!
The U16s began the day with a narrow loss to Kirkham Grammar in the last play.
However, the team bounced back and showed good character, winning four games in a row, including a 31-14 win against King’s Macclesfield which meant they ended the day with silverware, winning the Shield.
The day is a massive logistical challenge which wouldn’t have been possible without the help of many people. This event showed the best of Warwick School’s staff, with a big thank you to teachers, coaches, grounds, catering, estates, marketing, parents and referees. A special thanks to Mr Maguire and Mr Hesketh for organising a fantastic event.
Warwick chess - a term of exceptionalsuccess
From outstanding tournament performances to national recognition as arbiters, Warwick pupils have enjoyed an extraordinary run of achievements this term. Here is a round-up of the latest highlights from our thriving chess community.
Warwick chess players shine in Isle of Wight!
Half-term brought success as Billy and Gregory travelled to compete in the prestigious Isle of Wight chess festival.
Billy took part in the Masters section, scoring an impressive 4 points, including draws against
both an International Master and Grandmaster Danny Gormally — one of England’s leading players.
Gregory, a former champion of the U1600 section, returned to superb form. Winning his first four rounds, he faced the only other unbeaten player
in a tense four hour final. He emerged victorious, finishing with a perfect 5/5 and becoming a two time Isle of Wight champion.
A huge well done to both boys for their outstanding performances.
Gregory: an A star arbiter
At the English Chess Federation’s (ECF) flagship school rapidplay, held at Eton College on Sunday 18 January, Gregory once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the most promising and youngest chess arbiters in the country. He was selected as one of the officials for the event and did a magnificent job.
The ECF Director of Home Chess praised him, noting:
‘I was particularly impressed by young Gregory who handled everything I threw at him with remarkable composure. From managing reserves to observing the top boards in the final round of the Open, he was flawless. What struck me was that Gregory was younger than a good number of the competitors – and yet he commanded the room effortlessly, with minimal assistance. Talent, it turns out, does not check your date of birth before turning up.’
GREGORY SHINES AGAIN FOR WARWICKSHIRE
The strong run continued over the weekend of Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February, when Gregory represented the Warwickshire A team on Board 4 in the junior wing of the 4NCL, scoring an impressive 3/5 and helping The Bears secure an excellent secondplace finish.
On 7 February, he also served as Deputy Chief Arbiter for the Warwickshire Primary Schools Team Championship at Solihull School — once again demonstrating calm authority, outstanding organisation, and great maturity. Gregory even presented the certificates and medals at the prizegiving ceremony. Congratulations to Gregory for continuing to excel both on and off the board.
Warwick chess team’s historic run continues!
On Friday, 27 February, the chess team played in the third stage of the English Schools Chess Championship against Stowe School.
Having already overcome a tough Solihull side in the second stage, following an earlier success as one of the top-ranked teams in the regional qualifier at Birmingham, the team were anticipating another gruelling match.
However, the team consisting of Billy, Gregory, David,
Alex (team captain), Ajay and Monty had other ideas. They utterly overwhelmed their opponents in a clinical display, emerging as 6-0 winners.
The Warwick team, which has already gone further than any of its predecessors in the event’s history, now faces one final match to earn the right for a place in the prestigious grand final.
Many congratulations to all the boys and best wishes for the next match!
Chess success on home soil
The Warwick Junior Open took place on home soil on Saturday, 10 January. This junior chess tournament, rated by the English Chess Federation (ECF) and organised by the Warwickshire Chess Association (WCA), attracted a large turnout of boys from both the Junior and Senior Schools. There were some terrific individual performances - much to the delight of Mr Lam who was on hand to present the prizes in his capacity as Head Coach for the WCA.
Highlights:
l U18 Group B: Ajay won a silver medal, drawing his final round game against teammate David, who was the outright winner of the section and earned another gold medal.
l U18 Group C: Monty produced a tour-deforce to win U18 Group C outright and take home a gold medal.
Congratulations to everyone - you did yourselves and school proud!
Music
By Mr Mann
Every music department in the country has the significant challenge of finding ways to balance musical excellence (and the potential exclusivity that it can result in) at the same time as providing musically meaningful opportunities that enable everybody in the school community to get involved and find their place in music. This balance has been well and truly struck throughout the term by our fantastic music staff, with so many concerts curated by them to provide platforms for musicians already outstanding as well as those developing, as well as soloists, small ensembles and large ensembles alike across a whole host of genres.
Mr Storer’s wonderful tradition of Jazz at the Bridge got musical proceedings off with real zeal at the start of term, with the Jazz Lab, Big Band and Little Big Band in outstanding form. A number of really sensitive and stylish numbers were on offer, spotlighting all of the Upper Sixth leavers in the concert, with Seb and James, alongside Sarthak performing Laufey’s From the Start with a beautiful Bossa beat that really brought the audience in, before Jazz Evo, comprised entirely of Upper Sixth boys, brought the party and musical fireworks with League’s Quarter Master. Ben and Theo
gave a stunning performance of Yes or No by Wayne Shorter that underlined why the both of them are continuing on to conservatoire to launch their professional careers as jazz musicians from September.
Bridge House of Rock is another outstanding tradition that draws in a crowd, and our boys absolutely rocked the stage again this year, with no staff band required as our Upper Sixth gents again led by example! Jamie opened with an outrageous guitar solo, accompanied by Archie’s fantastic vocals and Jasper’s punchy drums with a Van Halen tribute to set the scene, and the rest went from there. It was particularly exciting to hear the Garage Band give their inaugural performance, this group being crafted to provide further opportunities for boys to get a band experience if they haven’t yet had it, and the future is clearly very bright; each band brought their own style to the music they performed, with some incredibly agile performances, not least from Vendetta, whose cover of Skyfall had the audience in the palm of their hand (toi toi, Barney, Year 10, who led the line with fantastic vocals!).
The Foundation Chamber Concert was another storming success, with pupils
across Warwick School and King’s High, as well as a promising new music scholar coming up to us from the Junior School next year showing how well our pupils can take the lead on their own ensemble music making. This concert features mainly Baroque and Early Music, with a crumhorn ensemble and plenty of continuo playing throughout and represents some of the highest quality classical ensemble music making that happens in the local area (and some might say, more widely, with justification!). It was humbling to see how mature, authoritative and musically shaped these poignant performances were;
sincere congratulations to all involved in what was an absolute gem of a concert. There have been a couple of new concerts introduced to our schedule this term. One new format that has already taken place is the Small Ensembles Concert, a platform for the smaller groups
that work so hard each week on more intimate music. Appropriately, this was held in the closer setting of the Rosconn Auditorium, and the boys put on a highly varied and exciting evening of music. It was exciting to see various permutations of ensembles, with many boys remarking afterwards that they loved the chance to see some ensembles they have never previously heard. Our congratulations to the boys involved in this concert, which is a new tradition that will grow and develop in the years to come having got off to such a strong start.
The Foundation Symphony Orchestra (FSO) concert, which with its spirit of collaboration and inclusion with schools
across the foundation, was truly excellent. The FSO and its other Foundation counterparts, including the String Ensemble and Wind Orchestra, sounded utterly amazing, with a rich and grandiose sound – the audience was wowed by all their repertoire on offer, all of which is high level that one would expect to see being performed on a professional stage. With GCSE and A Level coursework also due for the end of term, as well as some more platforms for soloists including ‘Music and Cake’ (Thursday lunchtimes), ‘Drivetime Concerts’ (Wednesdays after school) and the ‘Music Award Holders Concerts’, there is still plenty of opportunity for our boys to thrive under the expert guidance of a team of committed and passionate music teachers. The balance that they manage to strike, between high expectations and enjoyment, excellence and inclusion, technique and musicianship, is something that never ceases to amaze me, and is the principle reason I know our department to be itself a balanced, healthy and happy one. My sincere thanks to them all, and to all of the boys for their hard work, commitment and good humour in their efforts this term; they really are a lovely group of people to work with!
Foundation Ne s
The latest from across Warwick Schools Foundation
Launch of Summer Orchestra Course
This term, we introduced our new Summer Orchestra Course which takes place this July.
Designed for boys and girls who want to take their music-making to the next level, this exciting summer opportunity offers two tailored streams for beginners and intermediate instrumentalists.
During the course, young musicians will:
• Develop a host of new skills
• Learn from a range of expert staff
• Gain new techniques to further their playing
• Grow in confidence as they perform in a pupil-led concert at the end of the course.
All this takes place in a friendly, supportive environment where pupils will make like-minded new friends and can enjoy making music in the Foundation’s first-class facilities. Secure your place at: warwickschoolsfoundation. co.uk/orchestra-course
Pupils from across the Foundation join for an exceptional concert
The Foundation Symphony Orchestra (FSO) concert in March brought together more than 80 talented musicians from across the Foundation for an exceptional evening of musical excellence. The event showcased a true spirit of collaboration and inclusion, with performances from both Senior pupils and those in the Prep and Junior Schools. Every pupil plays an integral role in the Orchestra, contributing to the richness and energy of the ensemble.
The FSO exemplifies the outstanding opportunities available to our pupils, offering them the chance to perform to a professional standard under the guidance of our specialist staff and within our world-class facilities. The standard of performance on the night was nothing short of remarkable - fully aligned with the calibre expected of seasoned professionals on stage.
I cannot believe there is anywhere which truly lives more by the values we espouse”
Dear parents,
It has been a short but exceptionally vibrant term. As I write this, the sounds of the Foundation Concert are still ringing in my ears, and the events of the last week of term, which always create a wonderful crescendo on the campus as we head towards the holidays, are yet to take place.
We have now completed our first cycle of the new inspection framework. It is quite something that the schools on this site have all achieved a much coveted and rarely awarded ‘significant strength’, with Kingsley’s report yet to be published. Most recently, Warwick’s report was released, with many of the school’s wonderful characteristics being captured by the inspection team. From Early Years at Warwick Prep, Changemaking at King’s High,
and co-curricular and leadership roles at Warwick, the depth and breadth of the educational expertise and the opportunities for our pupils across our schools which flow from that, is something about which we can all be proud.
Our work together as schools also deepens year on year. The Junior Foundation Symphony Orchestra is now an established part of our musical calendar, as is The King Henry VIII Consort, which links the Foundation, St Mary’s and The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick. It is the living embodiment of a tripartite relationship which has existed since 1545, when the Trust was established and a new charter for Warwick School was granted.
Sharing the best of our combined expertise across the schools for the
A note from the Principal
benefit of every pupil, is an important and unique part of how we develop our provision. A particularly important joint initiative is the Foundation Digital Wellbeing Morning for all Year 7s at each of our three schools, taking place on the last day of term. This event has been designed to support students in developing safe, informed, and healthy habits in their use of digital technology, including: ‘understanding algorithms’, ‘managing screen time’, and ‘taking back control’.
It simply remains to wish you all a happy Easter break and to thank you for your continued support, which enable your children and our schools to thrive.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Nicholson Foundation Principal
A memorable Orchestra of the Swan concert
On Tuesday 3 March, Warwick Hall welcomed a full house for a memorable evening with the Warwick Schools Foundation’s resident ensemble, Orchestra of the Swan. The concert, Four Notes and the Truth, featured special guest and internationally acclaimed cellist Sterling Elliot. The audience was completely absorbed from start to finish, with resounding applause for Sterling and the Orchestra of the Swan musicians.
We look forward to welcoming Orchestra of the Swan back to Warwick Hall in June as the final concert of the 2025/26 season. The concert will be a celebration of a significant milestone, the Orchestra’s 30th anniversary, and honouring an extraordinary musical journey.
Stay tuned for further announcements about the new season throughout 2026/27, there will truly be something for everyone to enjoy.
Tickets for the 30th anniversary concert are now available: https:// www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk/show/ orchestra-of-the-swan-programme-tbc
Hedgerow Heroes plant for the future
arwick Schools Foundation was proud to partner with Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Warwick Schools Foundation Multi-Academy Trust to plant more than 120 meters of new hedgerow.
WThe project forms part of CPRE’s nationwide initiative, Hedgerow Heroes, launched in 2021 to support the national campaign to increase the number of hedgerows by 40% by 2050. Hedgerows play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, capturing carbon, and improving our natural landscapes, making them an important focus for environmental action.
