3 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LT
10 reasons to choose The Pilgrims' School
Main point of differentiation
The Pilgrims’ School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 91, and is the joint highest scoring prep school in Winchester, ranking in the top 25 in the UK. It is boys-only, a choir school, and has a very broad, if traditional, curriculum with a relative strength in music.
School fundamentals
The Pilgrims’ School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys between the ages of 4 and 13 years. It is also a Choir School. Boarding from Year 4 for the 30% of pupils who board. All are full boarders. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has an academically selective admissions policy from Year 3. It is a standalone prep school, and a member of the Winchester College foundation. The Pilgrims’ School fees range from £5,155 (Rec) to £9,792 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees are £12,455 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
The Pilgrims’ School has one class per year to Year 2, two from Year 3, three from Year 6, and an average class size of 13 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for The Pilgrim’s School leavers are one of 25 independent schools, mainly boarding. On average, 40% of pupils go on to Winchester College, 10% to Eton College, and 9% to Sherborne. 30-40% win awards and scholarships. Very few pupils leave after Year 6.
The Pilgrims' School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum and also includes PSHE, critical thinking, French, Latin. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs (there are over 40 clubs per week in total). In recent years the school has enjoyed national tournament success in general knowledge quizzes.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, Forest School to Year 3 and residential trips from Year 5.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music and languages throughout, for DT, computing and science from Year 3, and for all subjects from Year 5.
Sport at The Pilgrims' School
School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in sailing, swimming.
The Arts at The Pilgrims' School
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is part of the co-curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class two-thirds play in an ensemble, and almost all take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. 2 professional choirs, 4 school choirs orchestra and up to 10 instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs. School educates the 16 Quiristers of Winchester College and the 22 Choristers of Winchester Cathedral. These 38 Choral Scholars share the same academic and sporting day as the other pupils, in addition to their professional choral duties. They also have timetabled lessons for voice, piano, and an orchestral instrument. They all board. Most win music awards and scholarships to senior schools.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.20am to 7.30pm. 4 Minibus routes for the morning school run.
Find another school near The Pilgrims' School
St Swithun’s Prep School (1.6 miles); Twyford School (3.8 miles); Prince’s Mead School (4 miles); Rookwood Lower School (16.7 miles); Farleigh School (18.7 miles).
St Bede Church of England Primary School, Winchester (0.8 miles); St Faith’s Church of England Primary School, St Cross (1 mile); Western Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles).
Winchester College (0.6 miles); St Swithun’s School (1.6 miles); The King’s School, Eastleigh (9.4 miles); Brockwood Park School (11.3 miles).
Peter Symonds College (1.1 miles); The Westgate School (1.2 miles); Henry Beaufort School (1.9 miles).