Winchester College

Focus

Celebrating the individual

Day fees 2025/26

$60,800

Boarding fees 2025/26

$82,200

Term dates

• Term 1: 31 August to 13 December 2025
• Term 2: 6 January to 21 March 2026
• Term 3: 14 April to 27 June 2026

Ages

13-18

Pupil count

726

Spear’s Review

Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1382, describes itself as one of the world’s most famous and distinguished schools.

Head Elizabeth Stone points out that its motto, ‘Manners makyth man’, although hundreds of years old, is ‘a surprisingly meritocratic sentiment’ for its time and continues to guide the school today through its values of curiosity, character, conversation, foresight and leadership.

Academic results are consistently excellent, and beyond preparing for GCSEs and A-Levels, pupils can embark on a programme of general cultural studies, ‘embrac[ing] the idea of learning for its own sake’. They can also play sports – cricket has a long and distinguished history at the school – pursue the arts or participate in a number of extracurricular activities, clubs and societies.

Winchester is a full boarding school for boys, with day places available – for boys and girls – in the Sixth Form only. From September 2026, girls will be welcomed to board in Sixth Form. 

In 2025, Winchester College merged with neighbouring prep school, The Pilgrims’ School. 

Academics

In 2025:

• 93 per cent of GCSE results were grades 7-9
• 75 per cent of A-Level results were A* or A

Head teacher

Elizabeth Stone was appointed headmaster in 2023, joining from Queenwood School, Sydney, where she was principal. She brings a wide range of previous experience from both co-educational and single-sex, day and boarding schools in Australia and the UK. Her previous roles included vice principal of Cheltenham Ladies’ College and three years at Winchester, as a maths teacher and under master. She was educated at Ascham School, and studied maths, German and law at the University of New South Wales before completing a master’s degree as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.

University and college destinations

A significant number Winchester pupils go to Oxbridge, Russell Group universities and leading US universities each year. In 2025, 39 pupils received Oxbridge offers, and nine students were offered places at Ivy League schools.

Admissions

The school recommends that prospective students visit in Year 5 via an open day or registrar’s tour. A registration form can then be submitted, and applicants can explore their choice of boarding house with a further ‘Housemaster at Home’ visit. All applicants to Winchester are asked to take the ISEB common pre-test and submit a report from their current school. Successful candidates will then be invited for an interview.

Notable alumni

Many ‘Old Wykehamists’ have gone on to do great things in the arts, politics and culture. Some notable alumni include:

• Raymond Bonham-Carter (banker)
• Hugh Dowding (commander in the Battle of Britain)
• Rishi Sunak (former prime minister)

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 1 hour

Location

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