The Pilgrims' School
Encyclopedia
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester, is a boys' preparatory school
- with a co-ed pre-prep extension - in the Cathedral Close
in Winchester
, Hampshire
- an ancient capital of England
. The school is famous for The Pilgrims' Hall, which contains England's oldest surviving wood double hammer-beamed roof, which used to accommodate the pilgrims
travelling to Winchester Cathedral
. It is not to be confused with the Pilgrim School, Bedford
, built in 1962 (formerly called "Pilgrim Grammar School").
(nor Quiristers). The shower rooms and dormitories were refurbished in 2001.
and used to be taught separately in this building when they were a full part of the Winchester College
community. However, in the 1960s it became uneconomical for the college to organise a separate school and curriculum from the rest of the boys, who were from Years 9-13, and so from 1966 The Pilgrims' School welcomed quiristers to be educated with the 'Commoners'. The quiristers continue to sing and rehearse at the college, but are educated at The Pilgrims' School; staff at Q School are members of staff of both the college and of Pilgrims'.
Q School is situated on Kingsgate Street in Winchester
, close to the main school site.
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
- with a co-ed pre-prep extension - in the Cathedral Close
Cathedral Close
A cathedral close is an architectural term referring to the series of buildings that serve as appendages to a cathedral. These may include buildings housing diocesan offices, schools, free-standing chapels associated with the cathedral, and the houses of the bishop and other clergy associated with...
in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
- an ancient capital of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The school is famous for The Pilgrims' Hall, which contains England's oldest surviving wood double hammer-beamed roof, which used to accommodate the pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
travelling to Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. It is not to be confused with the Pilgrim School, Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, built in 1962 (formerly called "Pilgrim Grammar School").
Main School
There are seven dormitories, and the building mainly houses the Winchester Cathedral Choristers and the majority of 'Commoners' - those who are neither ChoristersChoirboy
A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble.As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" refers to someone who is considered honorable or conscientious.- History :The use of choirboys in Christian...
(nor Quiristers). The shower rooms and dormitories were refurbished in 2001.
Q School
Q School, short for 'Quiristers School', is the property of Winchester College, because the Quiristers sing in the College ChoirWinchester College Chapel Choir
Winchester College Chapel Choir is a renowned British choir that sings in the Chapel of Winchester College. When William of Wykeham founded Winchester College in 1382 he made provision for 16 boys called Quiristers to sing the Chapel services...
and used to be taught separately in this building when they were a full part of the Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
community. However, in the 1960s it became uneconomical for the college to organise a separate school and curriculum from the rest of the boys, who were from Years 9-13, and so from 1966 The Pilgrims' School welcomed quiristers to be educated with the 'Commoners'. The quiristers continue to sing and rehearse at the college, but are educated at The Pilgrims' School; staff at Q School are members of staff of both the college and of Pilgrims'.
Q School is situated on Kingsgate Street in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, close to the main school site.
Pre-preparatory Department
The new pre-prep wing opened in September 2007 and forms a key element of the school's 75th Anniversary Project. It accepts young boys from Reception through to Year 2, which they hope will continue at the prep school. Students of the pre-prep department are also able to enjoy the facilities of the main school.Headmasters
Listed in order of appointment:- 1931-1963 Humphrey Salwey
- 1963-1969 Rodney Blake
- 1969-1974 Martin Briggs
- 1975-1983 Stephen McWatters
- 1983-1997 Michael Kefford
- 1997-2011 The Revd Dr Brian Rees (current)
- 2011- Paddy Watson (designate - from September 2011)
Alumni
- Hugh MitchellHugh Mitchell (actor)Hugh William Mitchell is an English actor, best known for playing Colin Creevey in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Mitchell also voiced the character of Colin in the video game version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.Mitchell attended Pilgrims School, Winchester from 1999 to...
, actor - Johnny FlynnJohnny FlynnJohnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit are an English folk rock band signed to Transgressive Records. They are fronted by Johnny Flynn , an actor, poet and songwriter who cites W.B. Yeats and Shakespeare among his influences...
, musician - Jamie ByngJamie ByngJames Edmund "Jamie" Byng works for the independent publishing firm Canongate Books.-Family and education:Byng is the second son of the 8th Earl of Stafford and Jennifer May, brother to the author Georgia Byng and grew up in Abbots Worthy, Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College and...
, publisher - Jack DeeJack DeeJames Andrew Innes "Jack" Dee is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer known for his sardonic, curmudgeonly, and deadpan style.-Early life:...
, comedian - Patrick GalePatrick GalePatrick Gale is a British novelist who lives in Cornwall.His father was the prison governor of Camp Hill Prison on the Isle of Wight when Gale was born, and he was brought up in and around prisons...
, author - Jon SnowJon SnowJon Snow is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by ITN. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News.He was Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University from 2001 to 2008.-Early life:...
, broadcaster
See also
- List of the oldest schools in the world
- For information about The Pilgrims' Hall - the earliest double hammer-beamed roof in England, see Winchester