This standalone, high achieving state-funded sixth form college for 16–19 year olds offers an inclusive curriculum a supportive ethos, and a boarding education for less than £17,000 a year.

There are several things that Peter Symonds College has a reputation for. Being the largest sixth form college in the UK is one (it has 4,400 students), and being one of the country’s most successful colleges is another (it has an incredible 56 Oxbridge offers in 2021 and nearly 70% of A Level results are A*-B). The College is also one of around 40 state boarding schools in the UK, and it offers a more affordable boarding education for less than £17,000 a year.

Located in the cathedral city of Winchester, Hampshire, the College has some excellent facilities and a very university campus feel. The College is principally a day school, but it does have just under 100 boarding places. As a state boarding school, an education here is free; parents pay only for the cost of boarding, which is just under £17,000 a year; this may be one of the most expensive state boarding schools (many others have fees of around £13,000) but it is nearly two thirds less than the cost of a boarding education at a UK independent school. 

The college motto is 'Counting in ones', something that drive’s the college’s focus on each and every student, which is no easy task in such a large school.  gives you the independence to work at your own pace 

The College was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2020, a grade it has maintained for 16 years.

Curriculum

There are many advantages to being a large sixth form that specialises in A Levels; it can offer one of the widest range of subjects and give students the freedom to choose almost any combination.

There’s a choice of over 40 different A Level subjects, including law, the sciences, English, six different languages, business, psychology, PE, film studies and dance. The College also offers vocational pathways with BTEC and Cambridge Technical courses as varied as criminology, digital media, healthcare and sport.

Students are stretched and challenged. Many students take the Extended Project Qualification and study an area of interest in depth. There are also opportunities to take part in Olympiads for Computing, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Biology, as well as national competitions such as the Target 2.0 Bank of England Interest Rate Challenge, the Poetry by Heart competition, and the Cipher Challenge. 

Sport and the arts

Performing on stage or playing sport is very much a way of life here. There’s huge participation in both sport and the creative arts with over 200 students involved in music, 550 students playing for a College sports team, and 39 sports teams covering 19 different sports. 

The list of sporting achievements at local, national and international level is impressive, everything from netball, hockey and tennis to karting and cheer. There’s also a Talented Sports Performer Scheme to mentor students who compete at national level or above, and links to Southampton Solent University’s High Performance Academy. 

Beyond the classroom

Life at the College is varied, interesting and exciting. There are over 170 activities including debating societies, dance teams, self-defence and first aid courses, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and every student has one timetabled enrichment activity. Prior to Covid-19, the College was taking students on regular overseas trips to Kenya, Uganda, The Azores, Costa Rica, New York, Berlin and much more. 

As a standalone Sixth Form, the College is very focused on preparing students for university and working life. Students take on leadership roles such as helping out on open evenings, volunteering to represent the careers department and running in an election for a position in the Student Union. Events on campus include a Higher Education fair, careers day and workshops for applying to university, and there’s specialist help offered to those applying for Oxbridge and overseas universities, as well as students wanting to apply for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry.

The College has a very supportive ethos; The Hub offers an excellent drop-in service (you may even find a therapy dog there for support too); there are regular meetings with personal tutors and dedicated tutor time; and there’s a programme of drop-in subject workshops at lunchtimes. Ofsted inspectors praised the College’s support and guidance in its most recent inspection, saying:

“High levels of individual support contribute to the very low number of students leaving their courses early and the high proportion who achieve better-than- expected grades in their subjects.”

Academic results

The College has a proven track record in sixth form education. In 2021, 1,649 students at the College received offers of a university place, and just under half of these (694) went to Russell Group universities.

As a standalone Sixth Form, it is one of the very best in terms of Oxbridge offers and A Level results; it is one of the five top contributors of students to Oxford and Cambridge universities nationally alongside Eton, St Paul’s and Westminster independent schools. It’s also one of the favoured colleges for students wanting careers in science and medicine; in 2021, 75 students were offered places to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary science. 

In 2021, the College achieved a pass rate of 99% at A Level. 68% of grades achieved were either A*, A or B grades; 86% were A*-C.

75% of students on BTEC courses received Distinction or Distinction* grades. 

Boarding

The College is the only state sixth form college in the UK to provide boarding accommodation; there are 79 boarding places in two co-ed boarding houses within walking distance of Winchester. Both houses are run by residential houseparents and day houseparents, who organise various themed nights at the weekends. Boarders stay in either School House,  a Victorian house with large one, two and three bedded, high-ceilinged bedrooms or Falkland Lodge, apurpose-built, two-storey house with single and twin bedrooms. 

In October 2018, Ofsted graded the boarding facilities ‘Outstanding’ and inspectors noted that, “Boarders live in a supportive and inclusive community which enriches their experiences and positively influences their development. They feel valued and appreciate the opportunities to develop their independence and their confidence as they move forward to the next stage of their lives.”

Campus and facilities

Students really get the feel of university life here. The College has a fantastic campus in a city centre location with a mix of old and new buildings. Specialist teaching facilities include science laboratories, media suites, IT rooms, lecture theatres and language labs. There’s a Learning Resource Centre filled with hundreds of books, films, podcasts and documentaries; 600 individual study spaces; and access to over 250 PCs and laptops, projects. Students also have plenty of space for socialising, including a large refectory, student common room, and café.

Sports facilities are excellent; there’s a well- equipped gym, sports pitches, tennis courts, a sports hall, and sports pavilion.

Admission and fees

For both day and boarding places students need to complete an application form and attend an admissions interview, held anytime between October and March. The standard entry requirement is at least five GCSEs at grades 9–4 or equivalent, including maths and English; for some subjects there are additional grade requirements.

There’s a broad intake of students; while many students will have done exceedingly well at GCSE, equal numbers “will have more modest qualifications when they join”. 

Boarding fees for 2022/2023 are £15,600 per year for School House and £16,800 per year for Falkland Lodge. 

Are you looking for a place for your child, and want help from our school consultants? If so, click on the link below, and we will forward your request for information to the school or schools of the same type that we are confident have availability. This is a free service for our readers. Request Information