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School profile Verified 18 August 2026

Westminster Private schools

Westminster School

Little Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3PF

Westminster School is a private secondary-stage school in London, Greater London, with a published age range of 12-19.

Private school Co-ed Ages 12-19 Sixth form Boarding school
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
12-19
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
12-19
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Dean’s Yard gives Westminster School a setting unlike that of most senior schools: the community works in the historic precinct beside Westminster Abbey, with the surrounding life of central London close at hand. Westminster’s roots reach back to the Abbey’s Benedictine community in the fourteenth century, and Elizabeth I re-founded the school in 1560. That history is not just a date on a timeline; it remains part of the atmosphere in which the 13-to-18 day and boarding school operates.

Academic life begins in Year 9 and becomes more specialised through GCSE and A level. Pupils moving into Year 10 can choose from 28 subjects, followed by 23 A-level subjects across arts, humanities, languages, mathematics and sciences. Debate, enquiry and independent thought are given substantial room, including through combinations of demanding subjects across those areas.

Music, drama, sport, societies, talks and expeditions give the timetable breadth, while Houses, tutors, matrons, counsellors, nursing and chaplaincy provide the pastoral framework. In 2025, 98% of GCSE grades awarded to the cohort were grades 9-7. Academic ambition is therefore accompanied by a substantial programme of activity and a close network of adult support.

Westminster is midway through a carefully staged move to full co-education. Girls are scheduled to join Year 9 in 2028, with co-education across Westminster’s schools planned for 2030; the Sixth Form has admitted girls since 1973. Day and boarding places are available at 13+ and 16+.

Key points
Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
47.5% grade 5+ in English and maths and 48.6 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 70.1% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Westminster and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Westminster School, Westminster, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
48.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
47.5%
EBacc APS
2.92
EBacc entry
0%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Westminster and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Westminster School, Westminster, and England. 60 55 50 45 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details
Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
12-19
Head Master
Dr Gary Savage
Pupil roll
780 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
Little Dean's Yard, London, Greater London
Postcode
SW1P 3PF
Area
Westminster

School leadership

Head Master
Dr Gary Savage

School contact

School phone
02079631000

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
02079631000
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
12-19
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
£16,456–£17,482 per term for 13+ and 16+ day pupils in 2026/27, inclusive of VAT
Boarding fees
£23,094 per term for 13+ and 16+ boarding pupils in 2026/27, inclusive of VAT
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries
Entrance details
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
Admissions note
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school
Papers and stages
6 stages
Format
Mixed format

Papers and rounds

  1. Round 1

    English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning

    11+ Westminster Under School online entrance assessment

    The 11+ route uses online entrance assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

  2. Round 2

    Interview

    11+ Westminster Under School interview

    Selected 11+ candidates are invited to an interview with senior staff.

  3. Round 3

    English, Maths, Other

    13+ pre-interview tests

    The 13+ route begins with ISEB Common Pre-Tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning; the school adjusts raw scores according to age.

  4. Round 4

    English, Maths, Interview

    13+ further tests and interview

    Candidates who perform well in the pre-interview tests are invited for further English and Mathematics tests and a separate interview.

  5. Round 5

    Other

    16+ Sixth Form entrance examinations

    Applicants sit a 45-minute examination in each of four selected A-level subjects.

  6. Round 6

    Interview

    16+ Sixth Form interviews

    Shortlisted candidates complete interviews in each of their four examination subjects, a general interview and an Interview Day Assessment.

Published assessment components

English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Interview are listed across the school's published assessment routes.

Published

  • English

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

    The 11+ route uses online entrance assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    The 11+ route uses online entrance assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

  • Interview

    Selected 11+ candidates are invited to an interview with senior staff.

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

  1. 11+ bursary application deadline

    23 September 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  2. 11+ application deadline

    30 September 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  3. 11+ ISEB assessment

    23 November 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027. The assessment must be completed by 7 December 2026.

  4. 11+ ISEB assessment completion deadline

    7 December 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  5. 11+ written papers

    9 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  6. 11+ interviews and classroom activities

    20 and 25 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  7. 11+ offers issued by

    1 February 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  8. 11+ music scholarship application deadline

    11 December 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027.

  9. 11+ acceptance deadline

    3 March 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry year: 2027. The published deadline is 12 noon.

  10. 16+ registration deadline

    30 September 2026

    Route: sixth form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  11. 16+ bursary application deadline

    23 September 2026

    Route: sixth form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  12. 16+ entrance examination

    7 November 2026

    Route: sixth form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  13. 16+ interviews

    28 November 2026

    Route: sixth form (16+); entry year: 2027.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
48.6 Attainment 8
GCSE results
100% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
47.5% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
2.92 EBacc APS
A-level results
70.1% AAB or better
A-level average points
53.69 A-level points per entry

Inspection
View report
Standards met

Latest inspection: 27 February 2024

Leadership, management and governance
Standards met
Quality of education, training and recreation
Standards met
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Standards met
Social and economic education and contribution to society
Standards met
Safeguarding
Standards met

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2024 records an inspection beginning 27 February 2024. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Nearby schools with similar results

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare Westminster School with DLD College Compare Westminster School with London Park School Mayfair and London Park School Sixth Compare Westminster School with The Royal Ballet School

Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Westminster School handle admissions?

Westminster School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Westminster School?

1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

When are the key dates for Westminster School?

11+ bursary application deadline: 23 September 2026. 11+ application deadline: 30 September 2026. 11+ ISEB assessment: 23 November 2026. 11+ ISEB assessment completion deadline: 7 December 2026. 11+ written papers: 9 January 2027. 11+ interviews and classroom activities: 20 and 25 January 2027. 11+ offers issued by: 1 February 2027. 11+ music scholarship application deadline: 11 December 2026. 11+ acceptance deadline: 3 March 2027. 16+ registration deadline: 30 September 2026. 16+ bursary application deadline: 23 September 2026. 16+ entrance examination: 7 November 2026. 16+ interviews: 28 November 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Westminster School?

Westminster School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 27 February 2024.