St Swithun's School, Winchester
Encyclopedia
St Swithun's School is an independent school for girls in Winchester
, Hampshire
. The school consists of St Swithun's Junior School (age 3-11) and St Swithun's Senior School (age 11-18). Boys are admitted to the Junior School up to the age of 7.
The school is consistently towards the top of the GCSE and A-level league tables and almost all girls continue to university, including Oxford and Cambridge, and all continue to some form of Higher Education and training.http://www.stswithuns.com/University-Destinations see University Destinations
The school has a good reputation for lacrosse
, and is among the best in the south-east,(Tatler Schools Guide 2012) having won many tournaments and with one member of staff currently holding a position in the England Women's Lacrosse squad.
Current headmistress Ms J Gandee describes the school as 'unashamedly but appropriately academic' and a place where girls are expected to work hard in class and at homework but then invited to put books away and have a go at something completely different with the understanding that the best learning is often achieved through inital failure but then perseverance to succeed.
Academically, St Swithun's has achieved some of the highest scores in the county, culminating in the school's best ever recorded results for both A level and GCSE in 2011.In terms of national league tables these results placed the all-girls boarding school 18th in the national independent schools A Level results and 23rd in the national independent schools GCSE results. (The Times August 2011 and The Telegraph September 2011).
The School has moved twice in the past, and moved to its present location overlooking the Hampshire Downs on the edge of Winchester
in 1931.
foundation but girls of other faiths are welcomed. Whilst pupils of all faiths are expected to attend the school's worship, the school is sensitive and responsive to the different cultural, racial and linguistic backgrounds of its pupils. The school has very close ties with Winchester Cathedral
.
Hyde Abbey is the boarding house for most of the full boarders from U4-L6. However some full boarders do reside in High House or sometimes in the other senior boarding houses. However there are also some weekly boarders.
The school also offers numerous sports facilities. These include 8 lacrosse pitches, 13 tennis courts (1 indoors), 6 netball courts, a 25 metre indoor swimming pool and a multi-purpose sports hall.
In 2003, the PAC (Performing Arts Centre)- now 'The Harvey Hall' - was opened, and it has a large auditorium to sit over 700, and also includes a Studio Theatre, Green Rooms, Box Office and a smaller SPS (Small Performance Space).
Candidates for academic scholarships are selected based on the results of the Common Entrance examinations (11+ and 13+) and are invited to attend an interview soon after completion of the examination. Sixth form scholarship candidates (16+) are selected based solely on the results of academic assessments in the subjects that they intend to take at A level.
Music scholarships may be awarded each year to suitable applicants at 11+, 13+ and 16+. The minimum Associated Board standard required for music scholarships is Grade 5 at 11+, Grade 6 at 13+ and Grade 7 at 16+ on two instruments.
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...
. The school consists of St Swithun's Junior School (age 3-11) and St Swithun's Senior School (age 11-18). Boys are admitted to the Junior School up to the age of 7.
The school is consistently towards the top of the GCSE and A-level league tables and almost all girls continue to university, including Oxford and Cambridge, and all continue to some form of Higher Education and training.http://www.stswithuns.com/University-Destinations see University Destinations
The school has a good reputation for lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, and is among the best in the south-east,(Tatler Schools Guide 2012) having won many tournaments and with one member of staff currently holding a position in the England Women's Lacrosse squad.
Current headmistress Ms J Gandee describes the school as 'unashamedly but appropriately academic' and a place where girls are expected to work hard in class and at homework but then invited to put books away and have a go at something completely different with the understanding that the best learning is often achieved through inital failure but then perseverance to succeed.
Academically, St Swithun's has achieved some of the highest scores in the county, culminating in the school's best ever recorded results for both A level and GCSE in 2011.In terms of national league tables these results placed the all-girls boarding school 18th in the national independent schools A Level results and 23rd in the national independent schools GCSE results. (The Times August 2011 and The Telegraph September 2011).
History
St Swithun's was founded in 1884 by Miss Anna Bramston, the daughter of the Dean of Winchester. Not having sufficient money of her own, funds were raised by subscription. The School's ethos has always been to educate the whole child rather than just look at academic achievement.The School has moved twice in the past, and moved to its present location overlooking the Hampshire Downs on the edge of 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...
in 1931.
Faith
St Swithun's is a Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
foundation but girls of other faiths are welcomed. Whilst pupils of all faiths are expected to attend the school's worship, the school is sensitive and responsive to the different cultural, racial and linguistic backgrounds of its pupils. The school has very close ties with 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...
.
Houses
St. Swithun's has 2 houses which cater for the L4s (year 7): Le Roy for boarders and Chilcomb for day pupils. From U4 (year 8) and up all pupils are sorted into senior houses, for boarders respectively Hyde Abbey, High House, Earlsdown and Hillcroft; for day pupils Caer Gwent, Davies and Venta. Once students reach U6 (year 13) all pupils, whether boarders or day pupils, become members of Finlay.Hyde Abbey is the boarding house for most of the full boarders from U4-L6. However some full boarders do reside in High House or sometimes in the other senior boarding houses. However there are also some weekly boarders.
Facilities
St Swithun's school offers boarding facilities for girls of any age who enrol in the senior school. Boarders are offered a wide range of co-curricular activities both in after school and weekend programmes.Weekend activities include, bowling, cinema trips, theatre trips, film club, photography club, shopping in London, theme parks, sewing and crafts to name but a few. The library is open on Saturday morning for those wishing to study or research; the swimming pool is open all day Sunday. The weekend activities co-ordinator publishes a programme at the beginning of each half-term.The school also offers numerous sports facilities. These include 8 lacrosse pitches, 13 tennis courts (1 indoors), 6 netball courts, a 25 metre indoor swimming pool and a multi-purpose sports hall.
In 2003, the PAC (Performing Arts Centre)- now 'The Harvey Hall' - was opened, and it has a large auditorium to sit over 700, and also includes a Studio Theatre, Green Rooms, Box Office and a smaller SPS (Small Performance Space).
Entrance
As for many other independent schools, candidates for entry to St Swithun's must sit the Common Entrance Examination.Candidates for academic scholarships are selected based on the results of the Common Entrance examinations (11+ and 13+) and are invited to attend an interview soon after completion of the examination. Sixth form scholarship candidates (16+) are selected based solely on the results of academic assessments in the subjects that they intend to take at A level.
Music scholarships may be awarded each year to suitable applicants at 11+, 13+ and 16+. The minimum Associated Board standard required for music scholarships is Grade 5 at 11+, Grade 6 at 13+ and Grade 7 at 16+ on two instruments.
Former Swithunites
- Dame Mary Warnock (born 1924), influential philosopher
- Lady Amelia Northbrook (born 1960), ex wife of Francis Baring, the 6th Baron Northbrook.
- Fi GloverFi GloverFiona "Fi" Glover is a BBC journalist and presenter and, until March 2011, the host of BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live.-Career:...
(born 1970), BBC radio presenter. - Emma ChambersEmma ChambersEmma G. Chambers is an English actress. Her work includes the role Alice Tinker in the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley and Honey Thacker in the film Notting Hill .-Early life:...
(born 1964), Actress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Chambers