Winchester College

Founded in 1382, Winchester College is a prestigious independent boys’ boarding school, rich in history and tradition, but with modern pedagogy and progressive approaches to learning. Female pupils will be admitted into the Sixth Form for the first time in 2023.

The school’s ethos is based on a commitment to academic excellence, character development, leadership, and a sense of service. The academic curriculum is rigorous, but a Winchester education provides more than just outstanding examination results. Pupils are encourages to investigate themes, explore ideas and see connections beyond the examined syllabus through “Div”, the school’s unique non-examined subject, and by entering competitions such as the International Mathematics and Science Olympiads.

In 2022, A Level results were 41.7% at A*, 76.3% at A*-A; GCSE results were 80.3% at grades 9-8, 91.2% at grades 9-7. A significant number of pupils go to Oxbridge (11% in 2022) or a Russell Group university every year, with an increasing number attend universities internationally – in 2022, pupils were accepted at Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, McGill, Middlebury, Milan, UPenn and Yale.

Every afternoon, pupils participate in a wide range of sporting opportunities. Football, rowing, cricket, fencing and golf are popular and scholarships are available to support athletes to national and international level.

One unique feature of Winchester College is its system of houses. The school is divided into 11 houses, each with its own distinctive character and history. The houses provide a sense of community and support for students, as well as opportunities for leadership and personal growth. The school’s motto is “Manners Mayketh Mann” – seemingly old-fashioned to a modern ear, but its proposal that one should be measured not by birth right but their personal qualities and achievements underlines the ethos of this school.