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Our view
An ambience of calm envelops this magical boys’ prep school that sits in Winchester Cathedral’s Close. Known for nurturing gifted musicians, it’s also academically robust and not too shabby on the sports field either. Winchester College next door is an aspirational presence (about 40 per cent of the boys go on to the college), while the magnificent cathedral where the choristers sing offers daily inspiration.
Where?
An hour from London, tucked between the cathedral and Winchester College, the school’s historic listed buildings include the Priory - housing the music department - and the medieval Pilgrim’s Hall which dates back to the 14th century. An idyllic chalk stream runs through the grounds and a pretty bridge leads the way to the school playing fields in the grounds of the ancient ruins of Wolvesey Castle.
The pre-prep is housed in its own building with impressively neat and tidy classrooms, a hall and a small library area. Outdoors is a grassy play area with equipment and climbing apparatus, with a separate garden for reception that has a glorious view of the cathedral. Weekly forest-school lessons take place in the Arboretum and a purpose-built outdoor classroom.
You couldn’t ask for a more serene setting. While car access is limited, there is a network of school minibuses and The Pilgrims' Express escorts boarders to and from London on the train for exeats and half-terms. A Sunday-night bus back from south-west London for weekly boarders is also being considered.
Head
The passionate and enthusiastic Tim Butcher took up the headship in September 2023, returning to his alma mater and also his early days of teaching, when he was head of history at Pilgrims’. Formerly head of prep at Hallfield in Birmingham, this is his second headship, so he comes with a wealth of experience as well as a personal connection to his old school. Tim is an expert in how to raise boys in the modern world, building on the school’s values and reaching out to the local community with events. Mr Butcher tells us he wants the boys to get a wider view of the world beyond the cloistered walls of the cathedral close. He’s also keen to promote the fact that Pilgrims’ isn’t just for choristers and musicians – artists, sportsmen and academics are equally celebrated, and there’s no sense of elitism when it comes to music, with four tiers of choirs and ensembles allowing everyone to take part.
Admissions
The school takes a relaxed approach to selection, with reception-age children invited in for a ‘stay and play’ morning where their social skills and eagerness to learn are observed. For entry to Years 1 and 2, prospective pupils spend time at the school, including reading and doing maths to see where they’re at academically. Pre-prep boys automatically go up to the prep, while potential new joiners to Year 3 and above come in for a day – they’re buddied up with another boy and take standardised tests in maths, English and non-verbal reasoning, as well as getting stuck into a day of lessons and co-curricular. Again, it’s as much about character and personality as academic performance. There’s a strong Christian ethos at the school but all faiths – and no faith – are equally welcomed and Catholic services are available since the merger with Winchester.
Academics and senior school destinations
There’s a happy balance of traditional and forward-looking when it comes to academics. Lessons are taught in classes of no more than 18, with specialist teachers for sport, music and French from pre-prep. Younger pupils learn via topics such as Africa and Oceans, and natural resources like sticks are used for developing counting skills. For two hours every week, younger pupils head off to the Arboretum for forest school, led by a qualified Forest School leader whom the boys adore. There are plans to create a kitchen garden where pupils will grow their own vegetables, which will be used by the catering team.
More specialist teachers, collaborative learning and how to work with and understand AI are introduced further up the school, there is ample space for creativity and freedom of thought is encouraged. In Years 7 and 8, there is a dedicated scholarship class, as well as a separate Winchester Entrance class. As mentioned above, about 40 per cent go on to Winchester College, with Sherborne, Radley, Charterhouse, Canford and Eton also popular destinations. Scholarships are plentiful.
Co-curricular
The music department is housed in a stunning medieval building with separate teaching spaces and practice rooms. Many boys learn more than one instrument, and there are a huge number of individual music lessons scheduled weekly with two professional choirs, the Choristers (who sing in the Cathedral Choir) and Quiristers (who sing in the Winchester College Chapel Choir). There are also four school-run choirs giving everyone multiple opportunities to sing. Music and song permeate the whole school and it’s wonderfully inclusive, with choirs and ensembles to suit all abilities, and performances aplenty. Drama is strong too, with LAMDA a popular activity and the Year 1 Pilgrims’ Got Talent competition an annual highlight on the calendar.
Lots of sports fixtures are held on the Wolvesey and Winchester College playing fields, with the boys particularly excelling at football and cricket and the school having access to former professional cricket players and coaches at Winchester. They also play rugby and Fives, learn martial arts, and there’s an outdoor pool for summer-term swimming lessons and water polo.
A large, bright art room is adorned with pupils’ creations, from drawings and paintings to 3D designs. D&T has its own workshop; pupils take the subject from Year 3, and in Year 8 it is rotated with art.
After-school clubs, known as Commoners, give the boys a chance to socialise across age groups. As well as the usual roll call, there are fly fishing and falconry clubs (with a camera set up to watch the progress of the eggs in a peregrine-falcon nest in the cathedral), and even the opportunity to learn how to fly a small aircraft. Pupils can also do rowing and sailing in the summer term.
Boarding
There are two boarding houses for the 80-odd Years 4 to 8 boarders: Q School for seniors only, which is located off site, and Main School in the school grounds for juniors, seniors and choristers. The large, bright dorms are decorated with characters from children’s books and have space for sofas. There are also lovely, newly renovated shower rooms, a games room and a large TV room. Weekends are packed with fun trips to Paultons Park, Portsmouth Dockyard, Laser Quest and boat trips. Boarders and day plus boys also get to use all the school’s facilities during the evenings and at weekends, from the cricket nets to the outdoor pool.
School community
Pastoral care is robust (Pilgrims’ is a Steer Champion School for Wellbeing) with class tutors, boarding house parents and a six-day-a-week nurse team on hand. From Year 6, boys have a vertical tutor group to encourage mentoring and cross-year friendships, and everyone is part of a Set, which gives pupils a sense of belonging to a family. A director of wellbeing oversees all things pastoral including a Wellbeing Matters Parental Involvement Programme which ensures seamless communication with parents. Choristers have their own specialist tutors who take care of all their pastoral needs.
And finally....
We were struck by how happy, secure and focused all the boys at this lovely prep seemed. There’s a strong sense of discipline and respect, alongside a zest for learning, fun and, of course, music.