St Swithun’s School: Explore Reviews, Rankings, Fees, And More
Located amidst the scenic surroundings of the UK, St Swithun’s School is a highly regarded independent girls’ school known for its strong academic focus. In this guide, we take a closer look at the school’s reviews, rankings, and fees, offering clear insight into what families can expect. From its long-established traditions to its forward-thinking approach to girls’ education, this overview explores what makes St Swithun’s stand out.
Table of Contents
Key Features of St Swithun's School
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Hampshire County Council
- Pupils: 508; sixth formers: 139
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £10,846.80 per term; Boarding £18,332.40 per term (inclusive of VAT)
St Swithun’s School, located just outside Winchester, is a well-established independent girls’ day and boarding school known for combining academic ambition with a strong emphasis on character and confidence. The school educates girls from ages 4 to 18, with flexible day and full boarding options available. The community is diverse and international, with around 200 pupils in the prep school and over 500 in the senior school, representing more than 25 nationalities.
Set on a shared 45-acre campus, St Swithun’s benefits from close links with Winchester College, giving students access to excellent facilities across academics, sport, and the arts. The school consistently performs strongly in national measures and is recognised for supporting high achievement within a balanced and supportive environment.
Beyond results, St Swithun’s places particular emphasis on developing confidence, leadership, and resilience. Girls are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, take intellectual risks, and build the self-belief needed to thrive in later life. With a clear focus on helping students find their voice and practise leadership in a girls-only setting, the school positions itself as a place where young women are prepared not just for exams, but for the wider challenges of the modern world.
St Swithun's School Results
Latest Results:
- GCSE Results (2025): 77% 9-7
- A Level Results (2025): 71% A*-A
Past Results
- GCSE Results (2024): 79% 9-7
- A Level Results (2024): 68% A*-A
Teaching and Learning at St Swithun's School
St Swithun’s School in Winchester is recognised as a High Performance Learning (HPL) World-Class School, emphasising that all students have the potential for high achievement.
High Performance Learning Philosophy:
HPL is grounded in the belief that intelligence is not fixed; with the right strategies and perseverance, students can enhance their cognitive abilities. At St Swithun’s, this philosophy translates into teaching methods that encourage practice, resilience, and critical thinking.
Implementation Across School Levels:
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Senior School: Students are taught to approach subjects like mathematics through active engagement – working through problems, posing questions, and consistent practice – to deepen understanding and accuracy.
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Prep School: Young learners are also introduced to HPL characteristics, such as meta-thinking and creativity, fostering independent learning and intellectual curiosity from an early age.
Boarding in St Swithun's School
St Swithun’s offers a comprehensive boarding experience starting at age 12, providing students with single rooms featuring hotel-grade bathrooms, as well as communal spaces for socialising and building lasting friendships. The school’s 45-acre grounds offer access to a wide range of specialist facilities for arts, drama, music, science, technology, computer science, sports, cookery, and textiles.
Students can also utilise the library, a 550-seat auditorium, two swimming pools, 12 tennis courts, and a grass athletics track with all-weather field areas. Additional resources include higher education support, guidance from the student guidance team, university admissions department presentations, networking events with alumni, and a guest speaker programme.
St Swithun’s prioritises pastoral support in the boarding environment through programmes like Thrive, Positive Education, and Girls on Board. Students benefit from strong staff and peer-led support networks, experienced house-staff with specialised training, on-site healthcare, a full-time clinical psychologist, and a school chaplain who plays a key role in the pastoral team.
Extracurricular Activities at St Swithun's
Boarders at St Swithun’s will never again find such a diverse range of opportunities all conveniently available in one place. The school offers a selection of 140 co-curricular activities, clubs, and societies to choose from on weekdays, with options before school, during lunchtime, and after school. These activities encompass a wide spectrum, including cryptography, bell-ringing, astronomy club, along with opportunities in music, drama, sports, and academic drop-in sessions.
During weekends, there are more than 20 activities to participate in, such as pottery workshops, golf, watersports, as well as the chance to represent the school in sports matches, debating competitions, and Greenpower racing. Inside the boarding houses, there are regular evening activities like sushi-making, craft sessions, and competitive events. Additionally, boarding trips offer opportunities for theatre visits, dining out, shopping expeditions, country walks, ice-skating, and bowling, ensuring an enriching experience for boarders.
Admissions Process: Entering St Swithun's School
For Year 7 entry, families are advised to register before the end of Year 5. In Year 6, candidates sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, overseen by Ms Gandee, Vice-Chair of the ISEB Board. UK-based applicants then complete the school’s own entry assessments, while overseas candidates take the UKiset. Most pupils progress from the school’s own preparatory programme, with additional intake from schools such as Twyford Prep, Prince’s Mead, local primary schools, and a range of London preparatory schools.
For Year 9 entry, prospective pupils typically register in Year 6, sit entrance assessments during Year 7, and may receive early offers. Late applicants are assessed in the autumn of Year 8. Sixth form (Year 12) applicants are interviewed and assessed in their chosen A-level subjects during the autumn term of Year 11. Applicants whose first language is not English are also required to complete an EAL assessment, ensuring appropriate academic support where needed.
SEN Support
- Aspergers
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
- Dyslexia
- English as an additional language (EAL)
- Has SEN unit or class
- Mental health
- PD – Physical Disability
Testimonials and Reviews
Amazingly homely and happy; love
all their videos especially the one which Jackie did a great presentation on one of the houses 😁
Best school ever! All the teachers are…in my daughters words “epic”…whatever that must mean.
Very good school, with excellent staff.
The school is very good at providing humanistic care. You can tell by the words and deeds of the students that this is a school with rigorous academics and rich curriculum.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Swithun's School
According to our 2023 GCSEs League Table, the school is now standing at the 71st spot in the country.
Jane Gandee
There are approximately 200 girls in the prep school and 520 in the senior school across 27 nationalities.
St Swithun’s was founded as “Winchester High School” by Miss Anna Bramston, daughter of John Bramston, the then Dean of Winchester, with the ambition of educating “daughters of worthy citizens of Winchester”. Not having sufficient money of her own, funds were raised by subscription.
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