WHAT? WHERE?

Tucked away beside the Cathedral and Winchester College, in the heart of Winchester, The Pilgrims’ School is a boys’ day and boarding prep Cathedral school. Named after its medieval Pilgrims’ Hall when the school was founded in 1931, Pilgrims’ has some serious history behind it: the school’s lineage has been linked to Winchester Cathedral since Saxon times.

Today, 247 pupils aged 4 – 13 are taught in manageable classes of a maximum of 16 with a ‘no ceiling’ attitude to learning that sees young leavers move on to top independent senior schools. The school, unsurprisingly, has a Christian ethos, but welcomes children whatever their beliefs.

FACILITIES

Pilgrims school Winchester outdoor chessboard

Beautiful wood cladded walls and tiled stone floors greet visitors walking into the main building, which was redesigned in the 17th century and sits on the site of former Roman and medieval buildings. To the rear, the site opens into a large quad, with a 20-metre heated open air swimming pool (‘The Puddle’) in the centre, used to teach boys from Year 1 upwards through the summer and into autumn (in winter, Pilgrims’ boys use the Winchester College pool).

The Pilgrims’ Hall dates back to the first half of the 14th century – a big draw for visiting history buffs. Still used extensively for music and drama, a West End-spec sound system brings 21st century production values to ambitious musicals featuring up to 90 and more pupils, with more behind the scenes.

In the Senior school-standard DT room, I spot decent kit like a laser cutter and 3D printer, along with a few very impressive speakers all designed and made by the pupils, who are allowed to listen to music while they work.

The River Itchen running through Pilgrims' School Winchester

Housed in its own purpose-built centre, the Pre-Prep building has good-sized play equipment and a separate, all-natural materials play area for the youngest and a mini-bug hotel currently under construction. It sits next to the gorgeous Deanery Garden and a tributary of the River Itchen. Leading out to extensive games pitches with views of the Bishop’s Palace and the ruins of Wolvesey Castle, it’s hands-down one of the most tranquil spots in the city.

Pupil at Pilgrims School Winchester day boarding prep boys

The youngest boys also get their fresh air by heading off to Forest School through a ‘secret’, ivy-clad wooden door that leads out to the Bishops Palace Arboretum and the school’s extensive Wolvesey playing fields. Set within the old city walls, they’re bordered by a ruined castle and the Bishop’s Palace.

SPORT

Football match being played at The Pilgrims School Winchester boys Prep

Sport is important at Pilgrims’, which holds its own against local rivals. Along with the open-air swimming pool, there are cricket nets on site, plus plenty of facilities a short walk away at Winchester College, including fives courts, sports hall, rowing facilities, tennis courts and astro turf, plus and a new sports hall and swimming pool.

Teams are competitive in football, rugby and cricket, as well as swimming, water polo, athletics and Winchester Fives. In recent years, Pilgrims’ boys have earned sport scholarships to Millfield, Bradfield, King Edward VI Southampton, Winchester College and Radley.

Big tournaments include ISFA (Independent Schools Football Association) cups at U13 and U11, the Rosslyn Park rugby sevens and national athletics and swimming competitions and the Independent Association of Prep School’s annual clay pigeon shooting tournament. The PE, Games and co-curricular programme also includes badminton, basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, orienteering, rowing, tennis, judo, karate, rowing, squash, sailing, tennis, golf, fencing and fishing. Phew!

MUSIC

Boy playing violin music lessons the Pilgrims School Winchester

A huge calling card for the school, the Music Department is strong – instrumentally as well as vocally. Alongside lessons for all taught by the Director or Assistant Director of Music from reception upwards, 29 visiting music teachers are brought in to teach the impressive 87% of pupils learning instruments (47% learn two).

The average mark in ABRSM assessments (the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music) is 124.3, the equivalent of a merit. Not surprisingly, it’s very rare here not to hear music piping out through open windows into the quadrangle, something the whole school community really embraces.

Previously part of neighbouring Winchester College, an independent boarding school for boys aged 13 – 18, the Quiristers of Winchester College Chapel Choir became part of The Pilgrims’ School in 1966, making it a double choir school. Choristers and Quiristers continue to be taught here as full or weekly boarders. Twenty-two Choristers sing with Winchester Cathedral Choir and 16 Quiristers sing with Winchester College Chapel Choir.

In 2021, nine Pilgrims’ leavers won music scholarships to Winchester, Sherborne, Harrow and Eton. Despite its size, Pilgrims’ fields a full orchestra (currently 58 boys) and has plenty of weekly ensembles too, including Sinfonia, Sinfonietta, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Big Band. It’s not all pomp and classics here either – School of Rock and Battle of the Bands are really popular with the young cohort too.

BOARDING

Pilgrims’ has 100 boarding places, with the youngest in Year 4 (age 9). There’s full and weekly boarding with the option to go home for the weekend on Saturdays. Dorms each have six or eight bunk beds and bright, themed murals on the walls, from Dr Seuss, Superheroes, Tintin, Beano and sports.

For those staying at the weekend, there are trips out to the beach, mountain biking in the New Forest, watching rugby at Twickenham, surfing or down to the river. I’m also whisked past the twice-weekly, boarders-only ‘Num Nums’ tuck shop by one of the cohort who confirms (with a grin) that the treat selection is pretty good.

THE HEAD

Tim Butcher Head master Pilgrims School Winchester

Tim Butcher became head master of The Pilgrims’ School in September 2023. Previously, he was Head of Prep school and Deputy Head at Hallfield School Trust in Edgbaston.

Butcher knows Pilgrims’ well. He attended as a boy and his affection for the school is clear. A Head Quirister, singing with the Winchester College Chapel Choir, and a first team player across all sports, he returned later as head of history and assistant housemaster in his early career before taking up the headship.

Speaking with him, it becomes clear that Butcher is keen to throw off some of potential parents’ preconceptions about the school and share Pilgrims’ cultural capital with the wider community. He’s also mindful of what the future holds for his young wards: Having recently appointed a new director of Digital Learning, he’s keen to grow pupils’ understanding of complex technologies such as AI and machine learning and their relationship with the human mind.

ACADEMICS

Pilgrims School boy Winchester Hampshire Muddy Best Schools Guide

Very strong. The combination of specialist subject teachers and ‘no limit’ belief in children’s ability takes Pilgrims’ pupils confidently on to their pick of senior school. Pilgrims’ is academically selective, with formal assessments for joiners from Year 3. In 2021, a third of leavers, who mostly stay on until 13, won scholarships. Most (39%) were to Winchester College but other scholars went on to the likes of Eton, Sherborne, Charterhouse, Radley, King Edward VI, Canford, Marlborough, PGS, St Edward’s Oxford and Harrow.

PASTORAL CARE

Heads of Year, form teachers and vertical tutor groups work with the Deputy Head Pastoral, Director of Wellbeing and a Lay Chaplain to provide pastoral care, with boarding house-parents, nurses, and matrons additionally looking after the wellbeing of boarders. The Director of Wellbeing is a Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer and teaches mental health awareness to boys as part of PHSEe.

Recognising that different children respond to different adults, all Pilgrims’ staff are training in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Dedicated pastoral support is provided in groups and individually and there’s termly small group talking sessions for Year 7 with the Head Nurse and emotional literacy programmes for boys in Year 2 and 3 with the Director of Wellbeing.

QUIRKS

Choristers at The Pilgrims School Winchester choir music

Where to begin? The colour-coded Choristers, perhaps. Known as the Cs and Qs or ‘the reds and the blues’ 22 cathedral Choristers sing with the Winchester Cathedral choir while 16 college Quiristers sing with the Winchester College Chapel Choir (Choristers wear red jerseys, Quiristers wear blue). Along with French, taught from reception, Latin and ancient Greek are taught from year 6.

One of many after-school activities, known as ‘commoners’, chess is big at Pilgrims’ – but more unusually (and fun), it’s often played on a giant outdoor chess board. Alongside the usual sport and drama, the 40 – 50 commoners clubs on offer include origami, computer coding, fishing, karate, judo, knitting, chess, Mandarin, role-playing, board games, pasta-making, photography, fencing, fly fishing, Russian, knitting, water polo, and The Copernicus Society (first rule – never talk about The Copernicus Society…).

Special mention, too, for the fantastic Tardis right in the middle of the main library, built by a clearly very talented Design Technology teacher.

WRAPAROUND CARE

Pilgrims School Winchester Design Technology

For day pupils, breakfast club starts bright and early at 7.15. After Prep, boys can take part in clubs (commoners) from 5-6pm, with fun activities designed to develop partnerships and foster teamwork. After school care is also available for younger boys until 6pm and covers homework, reading as well as activities like Lego and construction followed by a hot, cooked meal before pickup. The library is also open after school and supervised by a teacher, enabling boys to do homework at school if they choose. It’s also a friendly space for boys to wait if parents are delayed on the school run.

ISI REPORT

Pupils at Pilgrims' school Winchester day boarding boys choir

The last ISI Report in 2023 rated Pilgrims’ as Excellent across all areas of provision for pupil achievement and personal development.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Day boys can’t bring mobile phones to school but boarders can use them for 40 minutes in the evening before devices are locked away. Boarders have device-free nights on Mondays and Thursdays, with the option to use the school’s iPads or landlines to call home.

TRANSPORT

Day boys arrive at two locations at opposite ends of the school met by the head and senior leadership team. Timings are staggered for the Pre-Prep who do a shorter day with the option to pick up before or after ‘commoners’ after-school activities. There’s also a morning shuttle minibus from the Winchester Science Centre, which has straightforward access from major routes, without entering the city centre.

FEES + SCHOLARSHIPS

Reasonable for the Pre-Prep, above average for the area for Year 3 and above, though past parents say it’s well worth it. Reception – Year 2 is £4,233 per term; Year 3 is £6544. Day pupils in Years (4 – 6) are £7553, for Years 7 – 8 it’s £7,624; boarders (Years 4 – 8) are £9,669. For Choristers and Quiristers (all boarders), the fee is reduced to £5,801.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Academics at The Pilgrims’ School are very advanced and previously, it has had a reputation outside of the school for being a bit of a hot house. However, current parents describe it as a happy and positive place. Pupils tell me they like the fact it’s single gender and are very positive about the teachers and cocurricular activities. While enthusiastic about the “incredible” experiences, one Chorister tells me his additional timetable demands can be hard going at times.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Bright, curious boys will thrive. The brotherly culture and impeccable manners gently instilled in the pupils will be especially reassuring for parents of boarders. There’s no guarantee of a place at the neighbouring Winchester College but many Pilgrims’ leavers do make the grade – or go on to other top UK independents.

Not for: Pilgrims’ is a top choice for plenty of different types of boys and families but the deep-rooted traditions may not appeal to all. The city centre location might prove tricky traffic-wise for parents of day pupils. That said, there are plans in place for more drop-off points outside of town and school buses to collect them.

Dare to Disagree?! Be my guest! To find out more about 2024/5 entry or arrange a tour, email admissions@pilgrims-school.co.uk. There’s an introductory film on the school here. The next open events will be in Autumn 2024.

The Pilgrims’ School, The Close, Winchester, 2O23 9LT. Tel. 01962 854189. pilgrims@pilgrims-school.co.uk

The Pilgrims’ School, Winchester

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