SCHOOL NEWS from the Head Master

It is a great honour to contribute to this latest edition of ODyssey in my first year as Head Master of Dauntsey’s. My predecessor, Mark Lascelles, often remarked that Head Masters are merely custodians of a school whose heritage stretches back to the 1500s. It is both humbling and daunting to see my name inscribed in the Dining Hall alongside the great Head Masters of the past. Like them, I am committed to guiding this remarkable institution forward, navigating the challenges and opportunities of what we might now call the Artificial Intelligence age.

Every generation faces its own unique challenges. It is tempting to believe that we live in unprecedented times, though I suspect every leader in history has felt the same. What is certain, however, is that UK independent schools are contending with an intense period of economic and political pressure—one that threatens the future viability of some institutions. Many of these challenges are beyond our control. The COVID pandemic, of course, had a profound impact, particularly on boarding schools. The years since have brought rising costs, fuelled in part by the conflict in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis. Now, we face the introduction of VAT on school fees, alongside sharp increases in National Insurance contributions, business rates, and the minimum wage. While we are not alone in experiencing sustained financial pressure—the maintained sector has suffered from underinvestment for decades—these developments make it an especially testing time for schools like ours.

Yet I remain full of optimism. Dauntsey’s is a remarkable community, and we have every reason to look to the future with confidence. Our pupils are everything we would hope them to be: ambitious in their intellectual and physical pursuits, brave in taking on new challenges, and compassionate towards themselves and others. This year, we have framed these qualities as the ABC of the Dauntsey’s Experience—a philosophy that will serve them well both now and beyond the school gates. We have outstanding facilities, dedicated and talented staff, and deeply supportive parents. We are, without doubt, a thriving school.

The pages of this magazine offer many examples of our pupils’ endeavours— both those still at school and those who have carried the lessons they learned here into the wider world. While examination results are, of course, an important measure of success, the true test of a Dauntsey’s education lies in the character of the young adults who walk out through our front gates for the final time. If the stories shared in this publication are anything to go by, we have much to be proud of.

As I am sure William Dauntesey intended, we remain committed to serving our local community. Around half of our First Form pupils come from local primary schools, and we are proud to support a large number of Service families. In recent years, we have significantly expanded our partnership work with local schools, ensuring that as many children as possible are given the opportunity to benefit from our resources—a contribution that, regrettably, has been overlooked in recent political discourse.

To ensure we can continue providing these life-changing opportunities, we are reaching out to our wider community and inviting you to support Dauntsey’s with our efforts. Your help is more vital than ever to ensure that a Dauntsey’s education remains accessible to talented young people from all backgrounds. There is so much more we want to achieve in widening access and deepening our partnerships, and I hope you will join us in safeguarding the legacy of William Dauntsey and the many leaders who have shaped this school into what it is today.

I hope to see many of our OD community at future school events. I am always delighted to hear stories of Dauntsey’s in years past and equally keen to share our exciting plans for the future. Do get in touch if you would like to visit, you can be sure of a warm Dauntsey’s welcome.

John Davies, HeadMaster