St Swithun’s School: Explore Reviews, Rankings, Fees, And More
St Swithun’s School sits in the scenic UK countryside. Furthermore, this highly regarded independent girls’ school maintains a strong academic focus. In this guide, we explore the school’s reviews, rankings, and fees. Consequently, families will gain clear insight into what to expect. Additionally, this overview highlights the school’s long-established traditions. It also explores its forward-thinking approach to girls’ education.
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 sits just outside Winchester. This independent day and boarding school combines academic ambition with character development. Therefore, it builds strong confidence in its students. The school educates girls from ages 4 to 18. Moreover, it offers flexible day and full boarding options.
The community feels diverse and international. Specifically, the prep school hosts around 200 pupils. Meanwhile, the senior school includes over 500 girls representing 25 nationalities. St Swithun’s shares a 45-acre campus. Furthermore, it enjoys close links with Winchester College. As a result, students access excellent academic, sporting, and arts facilities.
The school consistently achieves strong national results. Additionally, educators support high achievement within a balanced and nurturing environment. Beyond exam results, St Swithun’s emphasises confidence, leadership, and resilience. Teachers encourage girls to step outside their comfort zones. They also push students to take intellectual risks. Ultimately, this builds the self-belief needed for later life.
The school helps students find their voice. It also promotes leadership in a girls-only setting. Therefore, the school prepares young women for the modern world’s wider challenges.
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
Educational bodies recognise St Swithun’s School as a High Performance Learning (HPL) World-Class School. This framework emphasises that all students can achieve highly.
High Performance Learning Philosophy:
HPL promotes the belief that intelligence remains flexible. Indeed, with the right strategies and perseverance, students can enhance their cognitive abilities. At St Swithun’s, this philosophy drives specific teaching methods. Consequently, teachers actively encourage practice, resilience, and critical thinking.
Implementation Across School Levels:
- Senior School: Teachers instruct students to approach mathematics actively. First, they work through problems. Next, they pose questions and practise consistently. As a result, they deepen their understanding and accuracy.
Prep School: Educators introduce young learners to HPL characteristics. Specifically, they focus on meta-thinking and creativity. Therefore, they foster independent learning and curiosity from an early age.
Boarding in St Swithun's School
St Swithun’s offers a comprehensive boarding experience starting at age 12. Students enjoy single rooms with hotel-grade bathrooms. Additionally, they use communal spaces for socialising and building friendships.
The 45-acre grounds contain many specialist facilities. For instance, students access spaces for arts, drama, music, and science. They also enjoy sports, cookery, and textiles areas. Furthermore, students utilise a well-stocked library and a 550-seat auditorium. They also swim in two pools and play on 12 tennis courts.
Additional resources include robust higher education support. The student guidance team also offers personalised advice. Moreover, the school hosts university presentations, alumni networking, and guest speakers.
St Swithun’s prioritises pastoral support in the boarding environment. Specifically, staff use programmes like Thrive, Positive Education, and Girls on Board. Students benefit from strong peer-led support networks. Furthermore, experienced house staff receive specialised training. The school also provides on-site healthcare, a clinical psychologist, and a dedicated chaplain.
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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