The Pilgrims' School

Since September 2023, Tim Butcher. A Pilgrims’ old boy, he went on to Lancing College, then studied history at Warwick and his PGCE at York. Started his career at Warwick School and next at Pilgrims’ itself as head of history and assistant housemaster. Various leadership roles followed at The Chorister School in Durham and Winchester House, as well as head at Perrott Hill.

As former head quirister, prefect, rugby captain and boarder, he holds a unique perspective on the Pilgrims’ experience, describing it as ‘transformational’, leaving a ‘deep affection for the school and huge appeal to be part of it as headteacher’. Amiable and sincere, he exhorts ‘excellence not elitism’, relishing the opportunity to ‘tie the heritage and pride of the past with the needs of the modern world’.

Parents find him ‘present’, ‘incredibly friendly’ and ‘perfect for the job’, saying he understands the school’s culture and connections. They are even more delighted that he has joined the Pilgrims’ parent choir.

His office overlooks the beautiful quad, windows open to catch the sound of student ensembles rehearsing below. His walls are filled with student artwork, and his desk with work. But this is his workplace only part of the time. During our visit, he cheered on some boys during a dress rehearsal and later joined others for the school’s traditional ‘family service’ style lunch.

Moved down from Shropshire with wife Bethan, also a teacher. The couple love walking and camping with their three children, saying they are ‘most at home on the UK’s wilder beaches and mountains’.

Pupils arrive in all years, whenever there is a space in the year group. Boarding available from age 8. Entry into pre-prep via ‘stay and play’ sessions, while boys entering prep sit standardised assessments in English, maths and NVR during a taster day, although ‘character and personality are as important as academic potential’. Prospective musicians play for the director of music. Choral scholars start in year 4 (choristers) and year 5 (quiristers).

Merging with Winchester College in September 2025. Leadership positions at the Pilgrims’ community will remain the same, but overarching governance responsibility will sit with Winchester College’s warden and fellows.

Seen by some as the ‘pipeline’ to Winchester College, Pilgrims’ is not in fact its official prep but is closely linked, with many (21 in 2024) boys moving on there. Around 60 per cent go on to other popular recent destinations including Eton, Radley, Sherborne, Bradfield, Canford, and Harrow. Many music scholarships every year.

Available from year 4, with full and weekly options available (but no flexi, to parents’ disappointment). Around 35 per cent board (20 per cent international, largely from Europe and Asia). Two boarding houses: choristers and other students in the main school, and the Q School for quiristers and other students. In both, boys are put in dorms according to their year group. All are beautifully decorated, with six to eight bunks each, lovingly styled to themes such as Beano (complete with comic strip blinds), Tintin, superheroes and sports, the latter with skateboards serving as bedside tables. Bookcases and games fill the corridors, and rooms overlook either Winchester Cathedral or the quad. Fifteen minutes reading before lights out.

Houseparents are all teachers with their own children in the school. All makes for a familiar and positive family atmosphere, say parents - and there are approachable matrons and nurses too. The boys enjoy access to Numnums (onsite tuckshop), games room and cosy, well-used cinema room. Friday is a popular comic book night.

Many of the boys have extensive rehearsal and performance schedules, but Sunday excursions include the likes of SeaCity and rock-climbing, all included in fees, with the majority staying on for weekend activities. Postcards home are written every Sunday and boarders are allowed mobile phones for 40 minutes on certain evenings (day boys are not allowed phones on-site).

Pilgrims’ has an exceptional musical pedigree and location, sandwiched in a quiet close between Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College, sharing facilities, services and traditions with both. Being greeted by the ethereal sound of the choristers rehearsing is pretty remarkable.

Based on its current site since 1931, the campus is a charming combination of ancient and modern, with large, light, airy classrooms against a backdrop of medieval and Georgian architecture. Pilgrims’ Hall, used for assemblies and hymn practice, dates back to the 13th century and was hosting an enthusiastic dress rehearsal of Joseph on our visit, complete with full student orchestra.

Unarguably a musical school but, says head, it’s a misconception that this is its singular strength. Yes, the culture ensures all students are engaged in music in one form or another, but it is not a pre-requisite to be a top musician, many just play or sing for enjoyment. The school, he says (and parents agree), is also ‘wonderfully academic’ and ‘takes learning seriously’. Parents of a pupil who transferred after struggling elsewhere noted that ‘within a term he was flourishing – teachers really get the individual’.

It all starts in pre-prep, situated between the main school building and deanery garden, replete with Hampshire hares and River Itchen behind. In the forest school (part of the curriculum from reception to year 3) in the grounds of neighbouring Wolvesey Castle, we watched youngsters playing pickup sticks in glorious sunshine behind the ruins. A striking environment and something parents value, describing the mothers’ day event in the arboretum as ‘really special’. PSHE is taught to all from year 1, sport, music and French taught by specialists from reception.

From year 3, pupils are taught in the main building, with further specialist teaching introduced in science, art and DT. From year 5, there’s specialist teaching for every subject. One parent commented that her son ‘absolutely loves every subject’ and that the school caters for everyone, including ‘the quirky academic’. Class sizes max at 18 but tend to be smaller (around 12 in the lessons we visited). Latin is offered from year 6, and from year 7, boys are streamed informed by pupil destination and ability. Separate classes for scholarship, Winchester and Common Entrance exams in year 8. ‘Teaching is superb,’ say parents. ‘We definitely made the right choice.’

We were impressed by the level of focus and challenge in classes. IT pupils in a modern technology suite barely looked up from their screens, so engrossed were they in their coding activity. One described an ‘amazing’ recent lecture on AI. A year 8 English class were amused by the absurdity of Animal Farm - a quick flick through books revealed essays of a length and quality more commonly seen at GCSE, with beautiful handwriting the norm. Emphasis on reading throughout, with large, well-stocked library and popular book club that staff attend alongside pupils for cake and chats.

A third of pupils have additional learning needs, mainly dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism, supported by SENCo, one junior learning support assistant and small team of TAs who ‘help discreetly’ in the classroom. Twenty students have one-to-one interventions funded by parents. Parents praise the learning support team, who they say are swift to pick up issues. One parent commented that ‘every teacher is aware’ and ‘no attention is drawn to the plentiful practical support’. Historic ‘higgledy piggledy’ buildings and grounds make wheelchair access challenging, although the school accommodates temporary mobility issues (eg a broken leg) by moving all lessons to the main building ground floor.

Hard not to be in awe of the astonishing quality of music lessons, choir performances and ensemble rehearsals as you walk around the buildings. We noted seniors cheering on their junior peers and stopping to listen attentively as they passed. In addition to the famed choristers and quiristers, the school hosts pre-prep, junior, senior and chamber choirs, as well as orchestra, big band and sinfonietta. Around 90 per cent of boys learn an instrument. The director of music is ‘inspirational’ and ‘a favourite teacher’, according to the boys. We were impressed by his capacity to hold a conversation whilst simultaneously conducting the junior ensemble playing Purcell’s Rigadoon. The boys were proud to relay that the choristers recently won a Grammy for their performance with composer Stephen Barton (a former chorister himself).

Drama ‘exceptional’, say parents. Performance is a central tenet of the Pilgrims’ experience: plays, musicals and the Christmas cabaret. LAMDA has a dedicated member of staff based in the atmospheric glass octagon.

Art and DT operate on a six-week rotation. During our visit, year 7 pupils were working independently on complex light box creations inspired by the cathedral, assisted by passionate DT staff. The dedicated studios are large, light and full of exemplary student work. Pupils were keen to point out their creations and every aspect of the facilities. An annual summer exhibition allows them to share their creations with their families, whilst competitions and displays around the building also celebrate pupil artwork.

Despite minor grumbles that the school is ‘not competitive enough’ when it comes to sport, parents confirm it plays a large role, with Wednesday and Saturday matches for all and plentiful teams. Whilst a predominantly sporty boy, who is neither academic nor musical, may not put this school at the top of their wish list, the atmosphere is positive and inclusive, with individual strengths and interests celebrated. An outdoor swimming pool, affectionately known as ‘the puddle’, offers lessons May to October, while other PE lessons include football, rugby, hockey, cricket and athletics. We watched junior cricketers being enthusiastically trained by three staff, the cry of ‘brilliant bowling’ encouraging players. Dozens of boys running to fixtures across the courtyard in sports kits carrying their cello and double bass cases on their backs was quite the sight. Large sports pitches enjoy views of Wolvesey Castle and the Bishop’s Palace – an enviable venue for PE, sports days and popular match teas.

Wraparound care from 7.15am to 7.30pm (supper club and evening activities have an additional charge), with over 50 free ‘commoners’ (the Pilgrims’ term for clubs), chess and skiing particularly popular. Clubs led by staff are included in fees, those run by external coaches, such as scuba diving, are chargeable.

Food has ‘fluctuated over the years’, but we’re told a new catering manager has made improvements. Pupils and parents value ‘wholesome’ family lunches, with members of staff serving and sitting with boys for conversation and community. On the day we visited, lunch was a roast followed by cheese and crackers, with lovely chatter around the room and cheers for sports fixtures announced at the end.

Parents say pastoral care is ‘exceptional’, and we noticed a real sense of camaraderie and confidence in communication between staff and the boys. Uniform is smart but complicated: tie and jersey colours are determined by roles in the school (choristers wear red, quiristers blue), with other variations for prefects and school council roles.

Pupils are animated, articulate and move joyfully between lessons through the extensive grounds. We noticed groups of different-aged children chatting by the tranquil fishpond in the quad. They stand for visitors, open doors for one another and greet everyone they meet politely.

Parents are a mix of rural, urban and international, as well as varied in occupation. The community is ‘strong and vibrant’, we heard, with parents of new starters feeling ‘instantly included’. The parent choir is a huge draw and there are frequent events such as quizzes, summer drinks and live music; more than half of parents are Winchester-based.

Parking is a bugbear, with drop off problematic around the narrow roads and cathedral grounds, and busy pick-ups ‘not young sibling-friendly’. But a local walking bus is in operation and the head is liaising with the local council, as well as expanding minibus provision to bring boys from St Swithun’s (where many of the boys’ sisters go).