Every two years, the opinions of the global Old Pangbournian network are surveyed. The Old Pangbournian Survey 2026 has provided invaluable, direct insight into how OPs view their connection with the College and each other, what they value most and where OPs can be better served.

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who took the time to respond. We particularly value the honesty, candour and constructiveness with which OPs shared their thoughts.

Whether celebrating what we do well or highlighting areas where we need to  improve, your feedback is vital to ensuring contact with OPs remains transparent and meets the needs of all alumni.

With 317 Old Pangbournians completing the full survey over a two week period in September 2026, the responses form a robust and representative sample, providing a clear roadmap for the future. Overall, sentiment is overwhelmingly positive and responses show a vibrant, loyal community eager to give back, connect and actively support both OP and pupil activities, clubs and career initiatives.

Who Responded: A Broad, Evolving OP Network

The OP respondent base reflects both the College’s unique and celebrated history and its modern co-educational identity:

• Respondent Decades: The largest groups of respondents were from the 1960s (21.3%), 1980s (19.7%) and 1970s (14.6%). Participation among recent leavers grew significantly, with the 2020s (12.7%) and the 2010s (8%) now representing a healthy percentage of total responses. See Figure 1 for full breakdown of responses by decade.
• Increased Female Engagement: Reflecting the College’s history prior to full co-education, 89.5% of respondents were male and 9.9% female. Positively, female engagement numbers significantly exceeded previous surveys. See Figure 2 for split by gender.
• A Strong Desire to Give Back: A massive 69% of all respondents volunteered their details for further involvement - close to double the number who volunteered in 2024. This includes a strong willingness to offer career mentorship, volunteer as Decade Ambassadors, speak at student societies, assist with the College archives and support OP events and clubs.

Figure 1 - Responders by Decade

Figure 2 - Responses by Gender

Communications & Events: Protecting What OPs Value

When it comes to staying in touch, 82.5% of respondents believe communication frequency is "About Right." See Figure 3.

• The Pangbournian Magazine remains the most popular and widely read communication, across generations and genders. The content of most interest includes OP News, Obituaries and News about The College Today. See Figure 4.
• Reunions & Formal Touchpoints: In-person gatherings, specifically Year Group Reunions, Formal Dinners (preferred by older decades) and Drinks Receptions (favoured by younger decades) were the preferred events. Campus and London events were of interest to the majority of OPs. 
• Lower Interest Areas: Regional event requests were specific to individual responder locations. Virtual/online meetings ranked lowest in interest across demographics. 

Figure 3 - Frequency of Communications

Figure 4 - Engagement with publications and media

Priorities Across the Decades: Clubs, Career Support & Connection

Needs and preferences across the OP network evolve at different stages of life. The survey highlighted clear trends across age groups:

Senior Decades (1950s–1970s)

• Key Focus: Historical connections, Obituaries, Archive Content, Chapel & Parade, March Past, Formal Dinners and the Over 60s Luncheon Club (which drew 21% interest). Chapel, Parade and attending a March Past were also primary drivers for returning to campus for reunions. 
• Clubs & Societies: High engagement with established groups, particularly the OP Golf Club (14%) and OP Yacht Club (17%).
• Barriers: Age, mobility constraints and travel distances are the obstacles stated that prevent physical attendance or active volunteering.

Middle Decades (1980s–2000s)

• Key Focus: Career networking, sector-specific industry groups and supporting current cadets/students through interview prep and career guidance. 1980s OPs also showed interest in Chapel & Parade, a March Past and Formal Dinners.
• Business Societies: Strong engagement with professional networking, such as Pangbournians in Business (17% interest).
• Event Preference: Convenient London-based evening drinks receptions or evening regional gatherings that fit around work and family schedules.

Recent Decades (2010s–2020s)

• Key Focus: Early career guidance, young alumni networking and serving as Decade Ambassadors.
• Event Preference: Accessible, lower-cost weekend or evening gatherings. Lower preference for traditional Parades, leaning more heavily toward networking, sports reunions and informal social gatherings and drinks receptions. 

While nearly half of respondents (47%) expressed no interest in joining activity groups or clubs, the 53% who did leaned towards generational preferences as listed above. However, Nautics/Rowing (17%), The Car & Motorcycle Club (13%) drew consistent engagement across multiple generations. The Pangbournian Peloton (6%) appealed to the middle and more recent leaver decades.  A significant proportion of active respondents selected multiple clubs (e.g., combining OP Yacht Club, Pangbournians in Business and Pangbournian Peloton). 

Strength of engagement is particularly strong for the College’s gender focused societies and pupil mentoring opportunities:

• The Charlotte Drake Society: Focused on female career networking and mentoring, this society drew interest from 22.1% of all society-interested respondents. Crucially, this represents approximately 72% of all female survey takers, demonstrating exceptionally strong relative backing from female OPs. Conversely, female responders had lower relative interest in activity groups or clubs than male responders.
• The Andrew Simpson Society: The equivalent society for male pupils also drew healthy interest from male respondents interested in supporting societies.

How OPs Prefer to Give Feedback

When asked how OPs would like to shape the future of OP engagement, structured formats were preferred over live or virtual input meetings (only 6% interest).

Listening to Feedback

Building a strong and effective network means all voices are important, especially the more critical ones. While 40% of sentiment was explicitly positive and 56% neutral (most often due to travel or mobility limitations), only 4% of responses expressed any negative feedback. This feedback is critical to understanding areas where further focus is required:

• Changes to the OP model: One area where a small group of OPs, mostly senior responders, stated being unsettled was about recent OP Society changes and what the 'Option 3' EGM vote will mean in practice - 91% of OPs voted that the OP Society prevails but reorganises itself purely to administer the OP Society residual funds and assets, rather than forming as an independent entity (Option 2) or disbanding (Option 1). Some perceived (incorrectly) that they were no longer welcome on the College campus. There was also a stated wariness about the potential for future blurred lines between OP events and fundraising.  
• Historical & Event Experience: Another small group shared past experiences from their school days and personal misalignment with the College’s historical military/naval pathways.

The frankness of these responses is very much appreciated, as they allow us to address these concerns as we plan for the future. The enduring aim is to ensure all OPs feel valued and welcomed for life, whilst celebrating both the College’s legacy and the enormous historical contribution of the OP Society. 

What’s next?

Based on the survey findings, OP engagament will be focused on three primary areas:

1. Protecting and preserving valued events and communications: In addition to the regular formal OP dinners, focus will continue on milestone Year Group Reunions at the College. Drinks receptions will be introduced as a new event, taking place in alternate years to the formal OP dinners. Pangbournian Day will continue to be the dedicated opportunity for OPs to attend Chapel, Parade and participate in a March Past. The Pangbournian Magazine remains the central publication and supporting clubs (such as Over 60s Lunch Club, OP Golf, OPYC and Pangbournians in Business) and mentoring initiatives (i.e. the Charlotte Drake and Andrew Simpson Societies) are also key priorities.
2. Introduce Decade Ambassadors: Establish a group of Decade Ambassadors to advise and provide input, informing engagement plans. These representatives will help bridge communication gaps (such as the misapprehension that OPs are no longer welcome at the College) and ensure every decade continues to feel fully heard and represented.
3. Clear Boundaries Between Community & Fundraising: OP engagement is about connecting OPs with one another and the College and fostering a sense of community through shared interests, activities and support. The College will continue to ensure a clear operational boundary between OP activities and College fundraising initiatives, making sure the demarcation is clear in all contact and communications.

Thank you to all OPs for your honesty, candour and commitment to the College, to the Pangbournian Community and to your enduring identity as Old Pangbournians. Your insights ensure that the Old Pangbournian network remains a strong, vibrant and genuinely welcoming place for every generation.