Winchester school search
Winchester College and St Swithun's serve different pupils. The College is full-boarding for boys from 13 and co-educational at 16+, with day places then available. St Swithun's is a girls' day and boarding school from 11. Entry point and boarding need should decide which application is relevant.
Winchester’s two featured senior schools are not direct substitutes. They differ by gender, age of entry and boarding model before any comparison of ethos or examination results. A family should first establish which route is actually open to the child.
Winchester College takes boys at 13+ as full boarders. Registration for the standard route is normally due by 1 October of Year 6, followed by the school’s assessment process. A late enquiry can be made to the Registrar, but it should not be treated as equivalent to on-time registration.
The 16+ route is open to boys and girls, for day pupils and boarders. Applicants normally register by 1 October of Year 11 and complete subject assessments and interviews. Offers are conditional on demanding GCSE or equivalent results. The school opened purpose-built girls’ boarding houses in September 2026, so families using older material should ask about current house allocation.
The linked route through The Pilgrims’ School covers Years 7–8 before entry to Winchester College in Year 9. It is not an 11+ place in the senior school itself.
St Swithun’s is a girls’ school for ages 11–18. It offers day, weekly-boarding and full-boarding places. This makes it relevant to a girl seeking Year 7 or Year 9 entry, as well as to a Sixth Form applicant.
The main entry assessments take place in the autumn before admission. Sixth Form assessment is held in early November, and the school may consider later applications where places remain. Its current admissions page says applications for 2027 entry in Years 7, 9 and 12 are due now. Ask for the exact deadline and whether the relevant boarding category still has capacity.
Winchester College’s 2026–27 fee is £20,700 per term for boarding and £15,318 for a day place, including VAT. Registration costs £480. The Year 9 acceptance charge is £2,000, and deposits differ substantially by residence: £4,000 for UK families and £20,700 for non-UK families. Visa sponsorship support is another £1,440 a year where required.
St Swithun’s publishes 2026–27 senior fees of £19,272.08 per term for boarding and £11,403.37 for day pupils. Registration is £350 and deposits vary by route. Ask what weekly boarding costs and which extras apply to examinations, trips, music, learning support and transport.
Both schools offer financial assistance, but the terms are not identical. Winchester says means-tested bursaries can cover from 5% to 100% of fees, while its merit-based Founder scholarships carry a 25% reduction. Request the current St Swithun’s bursary timetable separately and do not assume an award before assessment.
Both schools lead to A levels. For a pupil entering at 16+, compare the exact subjects, required prior knowledge and timetable combinations. An international applicant should also ask how overseas grades are translated into the offer conditions.
At 13+, ask how the current curriculum aligns with Common Entrance or the school’s own tests. Changing country and starting boarding at the same time can create practical support needs, so discuss guardianship, weekend arrangements and English-language support early.
Winchester College is centred around its historic buildings close to the city centre. St Swithun’s is east of the centre on Alresford Road. A day pupil should check the real morning route and transport. A boarder should ask about weekly routines, leave weekends, airport transfers and what happens when the school closes.
The current fee and admissions evidence is for 2026–27 and 2027 entry. Later applicants should request the next published schedule. The United Kingdom country guide explains independent-school entry; the boarding guide provides questions for comparing residential care.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
St Swithun’s Senior School is for girls aged 11–18. It offers day, weekly and full boarding places, with GCSEs followed by A-Levels. The school’s nursery and prep provision is separate.
WinchesterWinchester College is boys-only and full boarding from 13. Its Sixth Form accepts girls and boys as day pupils or boarders from 16, so age and residence determine which route is available.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.