Ages 
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.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 312 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £16,074 - £27,612; Boarding £34,617 pa
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
Headteacher
Head
Antonia Lee
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
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.
- Open days
- October and November
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
Latest results
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Learning support & SEN
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
Pupils
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.
- Fee information
- Day £16,074 - £27,612; Boarding £34,617 pa
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
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
