Headmistress' Welcome Letter - Academic Year 2025-26
Dear Parents and Guardians,
With enthusiasm we begin the new academic year, believing that living up to our enriching legacy; together with the tireless efforts of dedicated team we will be able to further nurture boys into capable young men of character, intellect, and integrity.
This year is particularly special in the history of Aitchison College as we celebrate our 140th anniversary. Over the coming months, the College will host commemorative events, including inter-house and open competitions, cultural and academic showcases, along with special publications that reflect our valued traditions and vision for the future. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our boys and the wider community.
Celebrating Student Achievements
The past year was one of remarkable accomplishments:
Academics: 38 A-Level Blazers, 70 AS Badges, and 95 IGCSE Blazers were awarded, alongside 18 international distinctions, including Top in World, Top in Pakistan, and Best Across accolades as per the result announced in August 2024.
Sports: The boys excelled in cricket, squash, tennis, and riding, winning at home and abroad. One of our cricketers proudly represented Pakistan on the U-19 national team.
Co-Curricular: Students won 73 Best Delegation and 430 Individual Awards in debating, MUNs, entrepreneurship, science, and the arts. Our science society launched Pakistan’s first high school fuel-powered rocket, and our societies hosted major conferences, plays, and festivals with participation from hundreds of boys.
University Admissions: The Class of 2025 earned prestigious offers from Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Oxford, UCL, Toronto, and LUMS, among many others – an inspiring reflection of their hard work under supervised guidance.
Teachers and Professional Development
Our experienced and committed teachers continue strengthening their expertise through international conferences, Cambridge PDQs, and targeted professional learning. This year, we are further deepening our focus on active learning, reflective practice, and integrating digital tools to better prepare our boys for the challenges of higher education and the world beyond.
Career Counselling
Our counselling team remains committed to guiding boys with university applications worldwide. Parents are encouraged to remind their sons to follow deadlines, and engage fully with their assigned counsellors. Dedicated support is available after school hours throughout the week.
Summer Programmes & Leadership
Leadership and sports camps over the summer prepared prefects, captains, and society leaders for the year ahead. Every boy will actively participate in at least two societies, many of which will contribute to the 140th anniversary heritage projects that foster pride and belonging.
Sports and Physical Well-being
Sports remain integral to our curriculum. Starting this year, participation will be mandatory on two designated days every week. Inter-house events, team practices, and cross-country runs will continue, ensuring every boy remains actively involved.
Character and Pastoral Care
Character development is central to our ethos. This year, we will emphasise resilience, empathy, and responsible digital citizenship, along with honesty, humility, and perseverance. Heads and Housemasters will regularly meet boys to ensure individual care and guidance.
Assessments
- The assessment for Half-yearly (for all year levels) and Final exams (C1 only) will have a weightage of Homework and Monthly test. In the Half Yearly Examinations, the Matriculation, FA, FSc., C1, C2, H1 & H2 will have 80 percent weightage, while the Summer Homework plus regular homework and Monthly Test will have 10 percent weightage, respectively. Boys will receive 5% marks on submitting all the work and 5% on the quality of work submitted.
- The C1 students will need smart cards for the Cambridge Examinations. Kindly get this done during winter break.
- Any spelling changes or date of birth verification, if needed, should be done by December 2025 with the required documents.
- Medical leave during Examinations is only approved if the student visits the College Doctor on that day and time; otherwise, no retake is approved.
- The February tests will be taken as prequalifying tests for the registration for Cambridge Examinations through the College.
- It is mandatory for all senior school students to sit for the Mock Examinations. If boys are not in the proper uniform (with proper haircuts) for all the examinations, they will be fined, and their names will be removed from the boards (even if they have won any colours).
- As per the College policy, the maximum number of subjects a student may sit is 9 at the IGCSE level. If you choose for him to appear in more, the results are neither added in the transcript nor will any academic concession be granted. If a boy misses an internal exam because of the Cambridge Private paper, he will receive an ‘X’ for that paper, which will also be included in the transcript.
General Reminders
- All boys have to carry school bags only from Aitchison College. If he is carrying any other bag, he will be issued one against his school number, without any notice.
- The House Council will be chosen by the middle of September to support the development of leadership abilities at each year level. Interested boys will fill out a form and submit it to the housemaster/housemistress. The boys will make a short speech in their respective houses, and on the designated day, the house will vote to elect a representative. The elected boys will change on a rotation basis after two months.
- No phones, smart or simple, are allowed to be switched on during the day. The boys are allowed to use phones only after school. If a student is found using the phone, it will be confiscated for the term. If it is not being used but is switched on, it will be taken away for a week for the first time and for the whole term if caught a second time.
- To further improve the pastoral care, the Year Heads will be meeting all boys in the respective year groups every term.
- The expected code of conduct and Honour code is available on the portal as well. It is important that you and your son are aware of these.
- The academic detention system will continue. A letter will be sent home, which will mention the date and time in advance so that you know when your son needs to be picked up from school.
- Uniforms and proper haircuts are extremely important. Any student without a proper uniform and haircut will be sent home from day one. However, repeated violations may lead to serious consequences.
- From Monday to Thursday, we will hold special classes through our Academic Council members to provide extra academic help.
- For any queries, kindly direct your son(s) to contact Dr. Muhammad Kamran, the deputy headmaster, or my office.
We look forward to an enthusing year ahead, full of opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate together as Aitchison marks 140 years of excellence.
Sincerely,
Amina Kamran
Headmistress