Winchester House

Winchester House was reopened and renamed (previously known as Truro) after receiving a £2.2 million refurbishment throughout 2010.  This house is now home to over 60 weekly and full girl boarders in Years 7-11.  It also accommodates over 20 girl day boarders. 

The House staff look after the pastoral needs of the students in their care and maintain a broad overview of their academic performance.  The College Health Centre deals with the physical welfare of students, referring cases to the local College Doctor or Dentist where necessary.

All main meals are taken in the College Refectory but Winchester also has a kitchen, well equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, oven, toaster, fridge, smoothie maker, kettles, mugs, plates, bowls, cutlery, etc.  It is here that afternoon and evening snacks and drinks are served. 
Winchester has received an extension which includes a state of the art IT suite housing 26 networked computers.  This facility is used for teaching during the day and by the Winchester boarders in the evenings for their prep sessions/film nights/down time.  All girls have the opportunity of using a computer on a regular basis and those on JHS+ in Year 8 and above may also use their own personal laptops.

A wide variety of activities and outings are organised throughout the year at the weekends, for example, trips to Alton Towers, the Norfolk coast, Brighton, Cambridge, shopping trips to Lakeside/Bluewater, Colchester Zoo, paintballing and Cadbury’s World etc.  College boarders regularly perform plays, hold concerts, talent shows, discos and quizzes. The full boarders also spend the weekends masterminding some culinary treats or artistic creations. Evening sport sessions are provided for the boarders once a week after prep and can be anything from netball, dance, basketball, football, dodgeball and indoor hockey and are only limited by the imagination.  Winchester also has an arrangement with the neighbouring local girls’ school to use their swimming pool once a week.

For recreational purposes there is a new extension which contains both the Common Room and the Games Room.  This area is stylishly furnished and has a very homely feel for the girls to enjoy each other’s company.  There are numerous facilities, including a wide screen TV with a DVD player, a multi-game table (pool, table-tennis, air hockey, table football, etc.), the latest Wii games and a PS2, as well as more traditional board games, cards and puzzles.  The girls can also use the networked IT suite to either continue with their private study or to contact family and friends. 
There is a designated practice room for aspiring musicians and there is a House piano and an electronic keyboard.  There is a garden area, which the boarders assist staff to maintain, with numerous garden furniture and garden games to enjoy in finer weather.  All of the modernised dormitories within Winchester accommodate 2/3 girls.  Laundry is completed in the purpose built laundry room.