Inspiring & Idyllic  

We are blessed with a unique location. An hour from London by train, with easy access to Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton airports but with the English countryside on our doorstep.

The school sits between Winchester College and Winchester Cathedral, in the secure and secluded Cathedral Close with grounds extending into the flint ruins of Wolvesey Castle.

Being in the heart of a vibrant city like Winchester means cafés, shops, theatres and a cinema on our doorstep, but step out of our back gate and you’ll find the water meadows, wildlife and the South Downs Way.

Town and Country  

An ancient flint wall forms the boundary to our games pitches; next to school, the Bishop’s Palace and the ruins of Wolvesey Castle. They really are in a league of their own.

Few school pitches offer such a setting. We use Winchester College’s grounds and facilities too, effectively extending our campus over the road and giving boys an impressive theatre, sports centre, museum (The Treasury) observatory and even more sports pitches. 

A tributary of the River Itchen flows through our grounds. Further downstream the boys can learn to fish and the nearby water meadows, made famous by Keats, are classed as a SSI or Site of Special Scientific Interest, because of the rare habitat they provide for wildlife. An Iron Age fort with a maze at the top of St Catherine’s Hill is within easy walking distance. This setting is a resource in itself, perfect for supervised adventures which inspire a love of learning. 

Ancient Roots 

Before The Pilgrims’ School, even older institutions played a part in educating boys in Winchester, with various  educational establishments here since Saxon times. A school for boys who sang in Winchester Cathedral’s Choir  can be traced to the Alta Schola, established around 676AD.  Our main school building was redesigned in the 17th century but sits on Roman and medieval constructions. The Pilgrims’ Hall, which we use every day for assemblies, music practices and performances, is one of the oldest buildings in Winchester. It’s so well preserved, visitors come from all over the world to see its magnificent hammer-beam roof, most likely constructed in the first half of the 14th century. 

The school moved to its current site in 1931. It became a Winchester school for non-choristers as well as the choristers. We’re now a forward-thinking prep school, proud of this heritage and looking forward to our centenary. 

In 1966, the Quiristers of Winchester College Chapel Choir joined Pilgrims’ and they remain of course today. Our Pre-Prep opened in 2007.  

Headmaster’s Welcome

I came to Pilgrims’ as a boy. I came back as a teacher, and now I'm very proud to be Headmaster. Like I did, boys arrive not entirely sure of themselves and leave, 9 years later, with a particular kind of confidence. Not the loud kind, not the performed, but the kind that comes from having been genuinely stretched across many different things. That’s what we’re doing here. Not producing specialists. Not selecting for one talent and building everything else around it.

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Aims, Purpose and Values

We suit boys who’ll make the most of the opportunities we offer, whilst also contributing to the school community. While founded on a Christian ethos, we welcome boys of all faiths and none and we aim to foster the character of every single Pilgrim.

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Prep School Reviews

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