Winchester House School A GSG School

Sports

Polo

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2022, Antonia Lee, previously head of prep at St Helen’s School, part of the Merchant Taylor family of schools. Educated at Eastbourne College, she studied geography at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. A PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge only strengthened her belief she was ‘dark not light blue’. Her mother knew she was going to be a teacher when, aged five, she designed and delivered a reading scheme to a younger sibling. She’s taught adults and children (boys and girls) in both the state and independent sector.

Parents appreciate the fact she’s straightforward and reasoned. ‘She puts the children first in everything and gets the job done,’ one parent told us. Another said, ‘She’s not a showy head, she’s got grit.’ Early family life on a sustainable farm and a strong Christian faith instilled the importance of community, something reflected in her headship. Dementia Choir is for local care home residents and carers who are invited into school each week. She says, ‘They might sing but it could also be crafting etc. The old and young are a wonderful mix.’

The school motto is non nobis solum (not for ourselves alone) and this ethos made Winchester House a good fit. The fact it had recently joined the Stowe Group (in 2021, alongside Swanbourne House and Stowe School) meant support, investment and teamwork. ‘We share fundamental values and aims but keep our traditions and distinctive character. She says, ‘At heart I’m a collaborator not a dictator.’

Head’s study is a thing of beauty. We admired ornate carved oak wood panels, a large fireplace with beautiful heritage tiles, dotted lamps and rich furnishings that could be straight out of a Soane showroom. A parent interior designer helped put the look together. Head tells us parent body and alumni are a talented and generous bunch, quick to get involved and integral to school community.

In her free time, head likes to paint in watercolours and travel. She is particularly drawn to mountainous regions, saying, ‘I’m attracted to their beauty and majesty.’ She loves to ski and hike. She looks forward to her annual black tie birthday celebration at Garsington Opera with her two grown-up children. Head, who is recently married, lives on site with her husband.

Entrance

Non-selective into pre-prep with automatic entry to prep. All are assessed to identify learning needs and families meet with the head. Places are offered if it’s felt needs can be met. Pupils mainly local although many travel 45 minutes or more. Parents love the minibus network (not least to avoid notorious Brackley traffic at drop-off). Although nearly full, spaces do come up so worth asking. Transition plans tailored for each new pupil regardless of entry point, although key years are reception, year 3 and year 7. A few families from nearby base each year.

Exit

Nearly all stay until year 8 and go on to the big boarding schools within an hour’s radius. Unsurprisingly, Stowe is consistently the most popular given its proximity and that it’s in the same group (with this familiarity and a discount – 10 per cent for boarders and five per cent for day pupils). But WHS genuinely promotes choice and wants the best school for each child. Some go to Radley, Rugby, Uppingham, Oundle, Headington, St Edwards, Bloxham and Tudor Hall.

Our view

Founded in 1875, WHS moved from coastal Kent at the outbreak of WWI and then to Brackley in 1921. Remarkably, the school manages to be both town and country with its grand wrought-iron gated entrance on Brackley High Street and an impressive 19 acres behind. The main building, Manor House, is home to prep and was originally a grand family home and hunting lodge. Cobbled stones lead into a wood-panelled hall (with a friendly receptionist to greet you). Beyond are mahogany corridors, sweeping staircases with heraldic stained glass in leaded windows, decorative iron chandeliers, high corniced ceilings and many an open fireplace. Hogwarts comparisons aside, it has a fascinating place in British history as the place where barons met to pre-negotiate the Magna Carta. King John was due to join but it was deemed unsafe for him to venture so far out of London. In fact, London is now a mere hour away and Oxford, Northampton, Banbury and Milton Keynes just 30 minutes and are all well connected by transport links.

The school site is something of a jigsaw puzzle. Idyllic pre-prep (Bradshaw) is across a small road which, while not ideal according to some parents, for others provides opportunity to practise supervised road safety. Bright classrooms are festooned from ceiling to floor with colourful displays of children’s work. A spacious extension is home to nursery where learning through play involves den-making, bug-hunting and toasting marshmallows in Going Wild sessions. Constant free flow to covered area outside where play stations change daily and mirror the activities inside. There’s the sweetest scaled-down school gym with beams and vaults on the grass area alongside.

In reception lots of small-group work, differentiated in maths and literacy. PE, French (with a native speaker) and music are all taught by specialist teachers. Patient, experienced staff talk about being your ‘best self’ and the value of teamwork. One parent said the head of Bradshaw was ‘pure Miss Honey’.

Years 1 and 2 have more structured days and further specialist teaching preparing for smooth transition into prep. The library is a lovely spot to snuggle up with a book. Pre-prep have staggered playtimes. Some zoom around race circuit on trikes and scooters or jape on climbing frames. For quieter children, there’s reading, Lego, crafting and chatting benches.

In years 3 and 4, housed in own building (Seligman), pupils move towards specialist teachers, with specialist teaching in most subjects from year 5. Parents tell us that here things really ramp up. One said, ‘They’re prepared as they could be, but it’s punchy.’ Another said, ‘It’s busy but my child loved it and got stuck in. It’s why we chose the school but might not suit everyone.’ Possibly not for the faint of heart.

Every child has a tutor who helps manage workloads and balance sporting commitments as well as being the first port of call for pastoral concerns. Parents throughout school say pastoral care (and communication home) is exceptional here. Uniquely, first lesson of each day is for students to catch up on prep, missed lessons or to reinforce learning not fully understood. This promotes independence but also means no homework, to the collective relief of parents. One parent said children can gravitate towards DT and art in these sessions.

In upper school, the three sciences are taught individually and by specialists. Latin from year 6 but a commonsensical option to drop this and focus on key skills if the child is not benefitting. From year 7 there’s a religious, moral and ethical programme. Many teachers have been here for several years and some for decades. Quite a few are, or have been, parents so there’s no parent/teacher divide. Children are clearly the focus and are known as individuals – something parents say is evident in conversations about next schools which start in year 5. Expect lots of preparation for CE including mock interviews/exams and a full scholarship programme from year 7. All children encouraged to have a go and will be supported, say school. Last year there was the largest haul of scholarships for a number of years

Proactive at identifying learning needs and putting plans in place, a dedicated SENCo and seven trained LD staff provide support for learning needs such as dyslexia, ASD, dyscalculia. Thoughtful provision means as little withdrawal from the classroom as possible. Stretch for high achievers with programmes such as the Saturday ‘Mastery Morning’ of lectures on a vast range of topics that promote curiosity and deep thinking but also self-knowledge and healthy development. An on-site school counsellor and the first six sessions are free of charge, with further, longer-term plans actioned if needed.

There is wheelchair access to most of the school and school would make further provision if this became a requirement.

A highlight of our visit was watching year 4 practise yoga while having a sound bath in the darkened (but still v impressive) sports hall. Team sport is huge so it’s great to see a more introspective and holistic focus as well. Main offerings for boys are rugby, hockey and cricket, and for girls, hockey, netball and cricket. Tennis, athletics also offered and an extensive range of clubs, including equestrian, tennis, squash, rowing and table tennis. Sport is a reason many choose WHS as both the professional-quality coaching and facilities are unbeatable. There’s a full-size AstroTurf for hockey and netball and nine acres of beautifully kept sport fields, including seven rugby pitches (with excellent drainage – it’s sometimes the only usable school field for miles during soggier months). There’s also the cricket field, nets and a pavilion for match teas. Manicured lawns lead to a small heated outdoor pool (dry robes for the chilly dash to the changing rooms), which is open in the summer term and first half of Michaelmas. Parents tell us it’s perfect for fun swims or those learning, but not so good for intermediate swimmers. Competitive swimmers use the pool at Stowe and younger years use Brackley swimming pool.

The charming Secret Garden tucked away through a small archway is used for exploring nature, outdoor learning, marshmallow roasting on open fires and as a break hangout for older pupils. Each section of the school has its own playground with exciting play equipment. A mini football pitch is popular with boys at break time. One parent said they’d like a greater emphasis on girls’ football.

Not the hullaballoo lunch we often see, Winchester House has four elegant dining rooms, organised into age groups and served family-style by teaching staff. The menu is varied with a decent mix of new cuisines and the usual favourites. One parent felt more choice and monitoring would be helpful for pickier eaters, but a consensus that meals were healthy, sufficient and enjoyed.

Plenty to shout about in music and around 80 per cent of older pupils have tuition, choosing from every instrument imaginable. The concerts are ‘pretty spectacular’ and everybody gets a chance, from budding musicians to aficionados. The art department (complete with a kiln, 3D printer etc) has explorations of different media and styles, including 3D art and printing. Specialist taught drama on the curriculum to year 8 and over half take LAMDA. It’s auditions for school plays and children sign contracts to show they’re committed. Exciting news that the (currently a little shabby) hall in the quad courtyard is about to have a complete state-of-the-art makeover to the tune of £300,000 – money raised by old and current Housians – and will be ready by summer 2025.

Four houses inspire hearty competition in fun events like the house shout with weird and wonderful costumes (staff and parents as well as children). Head wears all the houses’ colours, saying, ‘I’m neither one house nor no house but 25 per cent each.’ Around 46 clubs run each week, and many, such as art, squash, chess, gymnastics and debating, are included in fees, with others like skiing (at Milton Keynes) and golf charged as extra. Wraparound care from 7.45 to 6.30pm including options for breakfast and supper.

Boarders

Boarding from year 3 but takes off in years 7 and 8 with most boarding at least two nights. Boys are in the more aesthetic boarding house upstairs in the main school building and girls are in a prosaic, purpose-built block. They make up for this by customising the dorms with fairy lights, posters and own bedding. There are games rooms, televisions, and kitchens in both houses and children flow between. Both parents and pupils enthuse about the boarding offered at WHS and special taster nights to dip a toe in the water. Boarders have varied and fun after-school – Wednesday post-match movie night is especially popular.

Money matters

Means-tested bursaries and five 110 per cent bursaries are available from year 7 across the Stowe Group (with a commitment to continue through senior school at Stowe). Fees are towards higher end for preps in the area.

The last word

It’s all systems go at this dynamic, mixed-ability and co-ed prep. Sport is next level with outstanding coaching and facilities, but Winchester House also boasts strong academics, impressive endeavours in arts and top-notch pastoral care. High quality, sparky and caring teachers provide a rich and rounded education that prepares pupils well for the big beast senior schools. Winchester House School ticks a lot of boxes for happy parents who see their children become confident and resilient pupils ready for all of life’s adventures.

Special Education Needs

We provide a broad, inclusive curriculum with all teaching staff recognising the full potential of each child. Support is provided through a variety of methods including extensive in-class support across the classroom range, small group work and individual withdrawal sessions. The school is fortunate in having an occupational therapist on site, a visiting speech and language therapist and an educational psychologist visits the school on a termly basis. Several learning support teachers also teach various aspects of the curriculum eg maths, history, classics. On entry to the school, in addition to a screening process, parents are requested to inform the school of any previous assessments. There are strong home-school links with regular meetings and workshops for parents. 10-09