Address: The Close, Winchester SO23 9LT
Website: thepilgrims-school.co.uk
Founded: 1931
Pupils: 220, all boys aged 4-13
Fees: £4,500-£13,000 per term
Head: Tim Butcher
Religious Affiliation: Church of England, welcoming all faiths and none
Entrance Procedure: Selective; stay and play or assessment
School Visits: Termly open mornings and individual tours bookable every Tuesday during term time
Contact: [email protected] or 01962 854189
Curriculum
Teachers bring expertise to their individual subjects, creating a learning environment where curiosity thrives and a love of learning is nurtured. Each individual is supported and challenged appropriately, with regular assessments, reports and parents’ evenings to keep families closely informed. The curriculum is structured to build knowledge and a love of learning with daily sport and a wide range of courricular opportunities. There are tailored pathways towards senior school entrance and scholarships.
Sport & The Arts
The sport, music and drama offering is exceptional, with the latest ISI inspection acknowledging music across the board as a ‘significant strength’. Most boys learn at least one instrument and there are multiple choirs in addition to the choristers and quiristers who sing in Winchester Cathedral, at Winchester College and for professional recordings. The school’s sports opportunities and facilities expand over the road to Winchester College, allowing all boys to find their strengths at a high level.
Pastoral Care
The Pilgrims’ is a STEER Champion School for wellbeing and recognised as ‘great for pastoral care’. Tutors take great care to make sure boys balance growing up and managing feelings with character building activities and school work. Boys thrive with this continuity of care as well as benefit from daily interaction with boys from different year groups. Staff are fully invested in the wellbeing of every single boy as an individual.
Exit Destinations
Pilgrims’ boys go to a variety of senior schools, including state schools. Forty percent go to Winchester College and ten percent to Eton.
Head’s Philosophy
To value character as much as academic success. I say there is ‘more to a Pilgrim’ because of the opportunities we provide. We want boys to be interested and interesting, so we combine academic excellence with plenty of extra curricular fun to nurture kindness with a gentle confidence in our boys.
