Winchester College

Winchester College is a public school in the city of Winchester in Hampshire, in the south of England. It is the 'original' public school and the model for later schools like Eton and Harrow. Officially called "Collegium Santae Mariae prope Wintoniensem", or "St. Mary's College outside Winchester", although the only time this name is used is when the college is being contacted by the water board. Instead, the college is commonly referred to as "Win: Coll:" or just "Winchester". Winchester has existed for over six hundred years and claims to have the longest unbroken history of any school in England.

History

Winchester College was founded in 1382 by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester and High Chancellor of England, who had previously founded New College, Oxford. Current and former pupils are still referred to as Wykehamists after the founder.

Related Topics:
1382 - William of Wykeham - Bishop - England - New College, Oxford

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The school's original purpose was to educate "seventy poor and needy scholars" with the intention to provide a basic level of education to them, such that the scholars could enroll in Wykeham's New College and train to become lawyers and clergy. Now, because the Scholars have only half of their school fees waived, the majority aren't as "poor and needy" as their medieval predecessors. Nevertheless, the school continues to offer bursaries of up to the full amount in cases of genuine financial need. Starting in 2005, new Scholars entering College, the Scholars' house, will have a basic scholarship of 25% with additional means-tested bursaries.

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The school also took a few paying students, known as "Commoners". Originally there were only about 10, rising steadily until the early 19th century, when their numbers were approximately equal to those of the Scholars. In the late 1850s and throughout the 1860s, the numbers expanded dramatically as nine new boarding houses were built. One more boarding house was built in 1905, bringing the total to the current 11 (including College, which continues to occupy the original 14th century buildings), and the total number of pupils to almost 700. A twelfth boarding house is currently in the planning stage.

Related Topics:
19th century - 1850s - 1860s - 1905

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From May 2003 the headmaster was T R Cookson, who succeeded Dr. Nicholas Tate when he resigned in 2003. Ralph Townsend, formerly of Sydney Grammar School, and recently took over from Mr Cookson in September 2005.

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