Winchester College

Focus

Celebrating the individual

Day fees 2024/25

$52,600 (incl. VAT)

Boarding fees 2024/25

$71,100 (incl. VAT)

Pupils

726

Ages

13–18

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 welcomed to board in Sixth Form. 

Academics

92 per cent of GCSE results are grades 7–9. 

69 per cent of results at A-Level are A* or A. 

University and college destinations

A significant number Winchester pupils go to Oxbridge, Russell Group universities and leading US universities each year. In 2024, 25 graduates were headed to Oxbridge, and 10 students bound for Ivy League schools. 

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. 

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 and a maths test. 

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 1 hour

Location

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