February 2025
Winchester College appointed Mrs Katherine Cole as Housemistress of the first Sixth Form Girls’ Boarding House opening in September 2026.
Senior school
Winchester College
Winchester College is a co-educational senior independent boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Day fees
£45,954
Entry
School Exam + InterviewSelective
Updated 4 months ago
At a glance
Key facts
Head
Elizabeth Stone
Headmaster
Gender
Co-ed
Pupils
738
Location
Winchester
Urban setting
Day or boarding
Day and boarding
Age range
13 to 18
School type
Mainstream
Religious ethos
Church of England
Founded
1382
Sixth form
331 pupils
Entry points
11+, 13+, 16+
ISI inspection
Standards met
Inspected 2026
Show 6 more factsShow fewer facts
Nearest station
Reading (rail)
Saturday school
Yes
Bursaries
Up to 100% of fees
Scholarships
Academic, Sport, Other +1
A-level A*–A
92%
2025
GCSE 9–7
78%
2025
Overview
About Winchester College
Winchester College is a historic independent school offering education for boys and girls aged 11 to 18, with both boarding and day options. The school provides extensive financial support including means-tested bursaries and scholarships in academic, music, and sport. The school fees for 2026-2027 are £20,700 per term for boarders and £15,318 per term for day pupils. The school has a strong tradition of academic excellence and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Houseroom EditorialOur take
Houseroom Editorial
Our take
Independent co-ed senior school in Winchester for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier fees.
Best for
- Families seeking a senior school for ages 11–18, with thinking already on 11+ or 13+ entry.
- Families who prefer a co-educational setting over single-sex.
- Families weighing day vs boarding — both are offered.
- Children who can demonstrate strong academics at entry assessment — this is a selective school.
- Families comfortable with top-tier independent fees in exchange for the level of provision.
Watch-outs
- Fees sit at the top of the independent market. Factor in extras (uniform, trips, lunches, music tuition) before committing.
- Selective entry — assume some form of assessment at the relevant entry point. Plan tutoring or familiarisation early if needed.
AdmissionsApplication timeline
Admissions
Application timeline
- TBCOpen dayTo be confirmedOngoing registration11+ Open Events
- TBCInterviewTo be confirmedAvailable anytimeVirtual Tour
Not yet published: registration opens, registration closes, bursary deadline, assessment, offers, acceptance deadline.
UpcomingOpen events
Upcoming
Open events
Private tours by arrangement with admissions.
Fees & costFees
Fees & cost
Fees
£45,954per year · Day · 2026-27
Inc. VAT £45,954VAT TBC5 years: £248,902
vs London avg (£24,000)91% above
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Quick answers about Winchester College
Answered only from Winchester College's verified details on Houseroom, with sources. For anything else, ask admissions.
Financial supportBursaries & Scholarships
Financial support
Bursaries & Scholarships
What sets it apartDistinctive features
What sets it apart
Distinctive features
Div non-examined curriculum
longest continuous history of any English school
full boarding for boys 13-18
co-ed Sixth Form day and boarding
black gown tradition for Scholars
extensive bursary and scholarship programmes
Wykeham Links career networking
Beyond the classroomActivities & co-curricular
Beyond the classroom
Activities & co-curricular
sport
NetballSports Awards (Entry 13+ and 16+)SquashSwimmingSport Awards programmeFootball XVs (Our Game)BadmintonCricketMartial artsGolfTennisVolleyballSport AwardsBasketball
Show 5 more
FutsalFivesStrength and Conditioning ProgrammeRowingFootball
music
Choir (87% of Pilgrims' boys)Music EnsemblesMusic AwardsChoral ScholarshipsOrgan ScholarshipsQuiristersIndividual music lessons (250+ per week at Pilgrims')Music Awards programmeMusic (orchestral, choral, organ, individual lessons)Chapel Choir (with 16 Quiristers)
drama
Drama and Arts ActivitiesArt & CreativityDrama / TheatreLAMDA exams (100% pass rate at Pilgrims')
academic club
Div – multi-disciplinary programmeAcademic Olympiads / independent research / societiesClubs and SocietiesAcademic Journal - Sapentia (Pupil-led)Debating
service
Community ServiceCCF (Combined Cadet Force)Duke of Edinburgh Award
other
Societies & ServiceCo-curricular activities (50+ at Pilgrims')
On campusFacilities
On campus
Facilities
sports
Temporary Sports Facilities on Kingsgate Park (off-site)Sports Centre – 6-lane 25m swimming pool, squash courts, fives courts, studio, martial arts Dojo, Sports Hall (futsal, bKingsgate Park Temporary Sports Facilities (off-site)Winchester College Sports Centre
arts
New Hall – concert hall and theatre spaceNew Hall – state-of-the-art concert hall and theatre spaceMusic RoomsArt SchoolTheatreMusic School – purpose-built, 55 teaching rooms, 4 Steinway grand pianos, Music Hall performance venueMusic School – 55 teaching rooms, 4 Steinway grand pianos, Music Hall performance venueArt Studios
boarding
Common RoomsDining Halls in Sixth Form Girls Boarding HousesDining HallDining HallsBoarding HousesNew Sixth Form Girls Boarding Houses
academic
Common Rooms and Study SpacesScience LabsChapelOutdoor classroom near River Itchen – geography and wildlife explorationLibraryOutdoor classroom near River Itchen (geography/wildlife)
wellbeing
War Cloister
OutcomesLatest exam results
Outcomes
Latest exam results
Outcomes2025 GCSE
93
of GCSE grades were 9-775
of A-Level grades were A*-A92%
A-level A*–A
78%
GCSE 9–7
DestinationsWhere leavers go
Destinations
Where leavers go
25%
to Oxbridge (2025)
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort | 157 | 150 | 140 | 140 | 130 |
| Oxbridge | 39 | 37 | 24 | 15 | 35 |
| US Ivy | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | — |
Top universities (2025)
University of Oxford21
University of Cambridge18
Imperial College London10
Durham University8
University College London7
University of Bristol6
University of Edinburgh5
London School of Economics4
CurriculumQualifications offered
Curriculum
Qualifications offered
GCSEA Level
In the newsRecent coverage
In the news
Recent coverage
2024
Winchester College had 75% of A-Level grades at A*-A.
May 2024
Winchester College held a groundbreaking ceremony for two new Sixth Form girls boarding houses to open in September 2026, with Gilbert Ash as the contractor.
AlumniNotable alumni
Alumni
Notable alumni
Anthony Trollope (novelist)Sir Howard Florey (Nobel laureate, pharmacologist)Peter Ustinov (actor)Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Prime Minister)Sir Roger Penrose (mathematician, physicist)Sir John Keegan (military historian)Sir Christopher Lee (actor)Sir Oswald Mosley (politician)Sir Martin Gilbert (historian)
Recommended next step
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Fit for your child
Is Winchester College right for your child?
Score it on travel, academics, support and budget.
Check fit for my childCommunityHouse system
Community
House system
Pupils belong to houses.
Pastoral careWellbeing
Pastoral care
Wellbeing
Tutor systemSchool nurseWellbeing hub
Winchester College provides a strong pastoral care system with each pupil supported by a Housemaster/Housemistress, tutors, a matron, and a paediatric nurse. The Health and Wellbeing Centre, staffed 24/7 by paediatric nurses, offers medical care and specialist clinics including asthma, allergy, and ADHD support.
RegulationInspection
Regulation
Inspection
ISI inspection, 1 Mar 2026
Met
CalendarTerm dates 2026/27
Calendar
Term dates 2026/27
Autumn6 Sept 2026 → 12 Dec 2026Half-term 16 Oct 2026–1 Nov 2026
Spring6 Jan 2027 → 25 Mar 2027Half-term 12 Feb 2027–21 Feb 2027
Summer21 Apr 2027 → 3 Jul 2027Half-term 28 May 2027–6 Jun 2027
PathwaysFeeder schools
Pathways
Feeder schools
1 offer
1 offer
1 offer
1 offer
Also considerSchools like Winchester College
Also consider
Schools like Winchester College
FAQQuestions parents ask
FAQ
Questions parents ask
What kind of child is Winchester College best for?+
Winchester College suits: Families seeking a senior school for ages 11–18, with thinking already on 11+ or 13+ entry; Families who prefer a co-educational setting over single-sex; Families weighing day vs boarding — both are offered; Children who can demonstrate strong academics at entry assessment — this is a selective school; Families comfortable with top-tier independent fees in exchange for the level of provision.
How much are the fees at Winchester College?+
Day fees at Winchester College are £15,318 a term in 2026-27 (£45,954 a year). Boarding fees are £20,700 a term in 2026-27 (£62,100 a year). Extras such as lunches, uniform and trips are on top.
When is the next open day at Winchester College?+
No dates are listed yet. Save Winchester College and we'll email you when booking opens.
How does admissions work?+
Winchester College is selective. Expect an entrance assessment at each entry point.
Does Winchester College support SEND?+
Winchester College offers some SEND support. Ask admissions which needs it can meet.
What ages does Winchester College take?+
Winchester College takes pupils from age 13 to 18.
Is Winchester College a day or boarding school?+
Winchester College offers both day and boarding places.
Is Winchester College co-educational or single-sex?+
Winchester College is co-educational, taking both boys and girls.
Where is Winchester College?+
Winchester College is in Winchester, SO23 9NA.
How do I contact admissions at Winchester College?+
Contact Winchester College by phone on 01962621100.
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