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Boarding

Our boarding houses

We have two boarding houses, Main School and Q School. Both enjoy the same friendly, bustling, family atmosphere. The dorms have all been decorated with boys in mind. Each has its own, distinctive theme, including (to name just some) a superhero dorm, surf shack, Beano room, and sports den. They are well-furnished, light and airy, with plenty of space for home clothes, books, and teddy bears. The boys make their dorm a cosy home from home with their own duvet covers and posters and family photos on the walls. Each dorm has a radio alarm which is set to wake the boys gently each morning in time for breakfast. The shower rooms and bathrooms are conveniently arranged to adjoin the dorms, and full laundry facilities are provided in house.

Main School is within the main buildings at Pilgrims'. It is the boarding house for all the Choristers, the junior Quiristers and a large number of boys from all the year groups. Boarders have easy access to the school's sports and recreational facilities in the evenings and at weekends - the Puddle, cricket nets, adventure playground, IT room, Priory games room,  Briggs Library, the art studio, as well as a boarders' cinema room and Numnums, the tuck shop.

             

 

Q School is for senior boys only and is just a few minutes walk away. Q School boarders are walked over to the school in time for breakfast and return to Q School after supper and prep when it is time for bed. Q School is a large house with a spacious garden, table tennis, a pool table, games consoles and a cosy common room with sofas for film nights, book reading and snoozing. The Housemaster and his family live on-site, and there is also a matron in residence.

Who looks after my son?

In each house, the boys are cared for diligently by Houseparents, with an extended boarding family of house tutors, matrons and nurses. Other teaching staff from the school help with evening and weekend activities. We are also fortunate each year to host four gap year students, who act as older brothers and sisters to the boys. Everyone in the team is very approachable and easily contacted to answer any questions you may have about your son.

The Matron and the nurses have a workstation within Main School boarding, called The Hub, and there is a dorm set aside for those who are feeling unwell.

Q School also has a Matron, and a member of the boarding team is always on call throughout the night in both boarding houses.

 

Our Location

We are blessed with a truly idyllic location. Just an hour south of London by direct train, with easy access to all the major travel hubs, and yet we are surrounded by the stunning countryside of the South Downs National Park. The school is tucked away between Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College, within the secure and secluded Cathedral Close. Moments from our front door is the heart of the historic city of Winchester, or step through our back gate to find water meadows, countryside, and the South Downs Way.