JOINING PILGRIMS’

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions you will make and it can be difficult knowing where to start.   

We’re here to answer any questions you might have and look forward to hearing about your son. 

The best way to get to know us is to come and visit. Tours take place every Tuesday during term time, or join one of our Open Mornings. 

Our boys will show you around and you’ll be welcomed by the Headmaster, Tim Butcher and other members of staff.  You’ll get the chance to explore our school and grounds, which is next to one of the world’s rare chalk streams, you’ll visit the pitches next to Wolvesey Castle, surrounded by an ancient flint wall and you’ll have the chance to visit the Winchester College Sports Centre used regularly by the boys. If you’re interested in boarding, you’ll also get the chance to meet a Housemaster and other members of staff who can answer any questions.    

VISIT US      OPEN MORNING

We’ve visited – what’s the next step? 

Registering your son is the next step on your son’s path to Pilgrims’.    To register your son, for either Pre-Prep or the Prep, please complete the form below and pay the (non-refundable) registration fee of £200.  

Depending on which year group your son is entering, there will be a ‘stay and play’ session or taster day. This gives us a chance to get to know your son through some age-appropriate assessments. We give feedback on the day and then aim to give you the good news as soon as possible after that.    

REGISTER NOW

JOINING PRE-PREP

We look forward to meeting you and to welcoming your son to our Pre-Prep for a ‘Stay and Play’ session. 

This short visit forms the basis of our admissions process for Reception, usually no more than one year before your son starts school.  They take place every Tuesday in term time, but do get in touch if another day would suit you better.  
 
It is very similar to going to playgroup, and if he’s happy for you to go, we ask you to leave your son with us.  If it would help him to know you’re nearby, you are very welcome to wait.  

During this session, your son might play with the train set, Lego and other construction games, he can try on costumes in the role-play corner, enjoy an art activity, put together some puzzles, and play outside.

 

Usually, there’s just enough time for him to enjoy a story and perhaps some music before it’s time for you to collect him. 

The little boys who visit us are at many varied stages of their social and educational development. We do not look for any particular level of academic ability to offer a place. We look instead for boys who are sociable, happy to follow instructions, and ready and eager to learn. During their visit, we encourage them to investigate and create independently whilst following their interests or learning new skills.  

The Pre-Prep is an integral part of The Pilgrims’ School, and there is no further entry assessment for Pilgrims’ boys to continue to Year 3 of the Prep. Each boy’s progress is closely monitored by the Head of  Pre-Prep and the Head of Lower Prep,  ensuring the best preparation for transition to Year 3.   

 

JOINING THE PREP SCHOOL

Taster days 

You’ll want to be sure that The Pilgrims’ School is the best choice of school for your son and we do too. Our taster days, which include our entry assessment, are designed to help.  

Taster days can be for an individual or as part of a small group, most Tuesdays throughout the year.  Usually, no more than three terms ahead of your planned start date. They’re arranged by appointment, and your son will need to be registered with us first.  We take great care to ensure that your son feels welcomed and at ease, so it’s an enjoyable day. 

When he arrives, your son will be met by a Pilgrim of the same age, who will look after him for the whole day and introduce him to the boys in his class. Your son will spend the day as a Pilgrim, starting with the entry tests and then joining in with lessons, sport, lunch, breaks, snacks and activities, all of which will give him a good sense of what it would be like to come to Pilgrims’ every day. 

Boarding Tour 

If your son is joining as a boarder, your visit will start with a detailed tour of the boarding house with a Houseparent, who’ll explain the daily boarding routine and describe the activities and fun excursions which take place in the evenings and every weekend. Your son will be looked after for the day by a current boarder, who will give him lots more information about boarding at Pilgrims’.  Please note, we are unable to offer an overnight stay to boys who are not currently at the school. 

Our entry tests 

We use age-appropriate tests to assess your son’s current levels of ability and more importantly, his future potential.  This includes Maths, English, and NVR (non-verbal reasoning). Your son will be working with a senior member of staff, either individually or in a small group. Older boys (for entry to Years 6 and 7) will have interviews with specialist subject teachers and potential scholars may be given extension work. 

If your son is musical, he might enjoy showing Russell, our Director of Music what he can do or he can just attend a choir practice or an orchestral rehearsal. 

There’s no need to prepare for our entry tests, if there’s anything your son doesn’t understand, the teacher will be on hand to help.

 

 

The tests are done in user-friendly workbooks, and there is a lot of chat and sharing of ideas. Getting a sense of your son’s character and personality is just as important to us as his academic potential. We are looking for the best possible fit, academically and socially with your son’s wellbeing always front and centre.  

STARTING A NEW SCHOOL

After being offered a place, new boys are welcomed back to the school for another visit, to deepen friendships and to become more familiar with the school before they start.  

All new boys and parents are invited into school for an orientation day before the first day of term. By the time you join the school, we hope that you will feel very much at home. We make sure that you and your son have a clear idea of what lies ahead, so you both feel excited and look forward to joining.  

We find boys settle in easily at Pilgrims’ , but every boy is different. We’re here for you if there are any bumps in the road.  Once you have confirmed that your son is joining us, you will be looked after by the school’s administrators, who have lots of experience welcoming new families. Many are former Pilgrims’ parents, so they know pretty much everything about the school. 

Your son will be paired up with another Pilgrim in the same form. This helper is what we call a  ‘Substance’.  He’ll meet your son on his first day, although it’s highly likely they’ll have met already on a taster day. Boys may also be given a ‘Boarding Substance’ so they have a familiar face in the boarding house from the start.  

The Pilgrims’ Parents’ Association 

Our very active Pilgrims’ Parents’ Association (PPA) has year reps who will ensure that you meet parents of boys in your son’s class. They are a terrific source of information, as is the school handbook, which will be given to you. 

Ethos of The Pilgrims' School

Headmaster’s Welcome

We’re a forward-thinking school in the ancient capital of England with state of the art sports facilities and choirs of choristers who are part of an ancient tradition going back centuries. We offer academic excellence whilst fostering a sense of fun, so boys from Pilgrims’ leave ready for the world beyond the school gates.  

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