13+ Prospectus 3
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13+ PROSPECTUS 3 A BRIEF HISTORY Westminster is a long-established school on an ancient site. Its origins can be traced back to 1179, when the Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey were asked by Pope Alexander III to provide a small charity school. The School’s continuous existence is certain from the early 14th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540, Henry VIII personally ensured the School’s survival by statute and Elizabeth I confirmed royal patronage in 1560. Westminster is an exceptional place A 21st-century school with a long history of excellence, our very location between the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, which we use as the School’s chapel, is dramatic and inspirational. Westminster pupils genuinely love their academic subjects and are taught by teachers who share that love, and who inspire them. Pupils perform superbly in A Westminster Education 4 examinations and enjoy further success at leading universities, both in this country Our unique location 7 and overseas. It is their whole-hearted commitment to learning for its own sake, Boarding and Day 8 however, well beyond any examination syllabus, which marks out a true Westminster Boys and Girls 11 pupil. Their enjoyment and confidence in thinking and Debating; their enthusiasm for Music, Sport and Drama; their commitment to Charity and to Service: these holistic A Day at Westminster 12 ingredients make Westminster pupils wonderful to know and to spend time with, A place of wellbeing 14 and Westminster School such a happy, stimulating and rewarding place to be. Academic life 16 The Lower School 21 Our flexible system of boarding and day, unique in London, suits the changing The Upper School 22 needs of pupils and their families. It means that Westminster life can start at The Broader Curriculum 24 breakfast and continue into the evening, long after other schools close their doors. We value cultural understanding and exploration, and make the utmost use of the Queen’s Scholarships 25 galleries, theatres and concert halls on our metropolitan doorstep. Our thriving Adventures and Expeditions 26 co-educational Sixth Form and liberal, progressive international outlook give further Music 29 variety and dynamism to the Westminster way of life. The Art School 30 Drama 33 Please do come and visit us to experience for yourself what makes Westminster Sport for life – and to win 35 exceptional. Westminster and the community 39 You will be most welcome. After Westminster 40 How to Apply for 13+ Entry 43 Dr Gary Savage Scholarships and Bursaries 45 Head Master Fees 47 How to find your way around 48 Timeline 50 4 A Westminster Education Central to Westminster’s ethos is the rapport between teachers and their pupils. This inspires passion for the subject, Elizabethan foundation, where it is encourages confidence in learning, stated that: ‘the youth which is growing conveys knowledge and develops skills to manhood, as tender shoots in the of rational, independent thought. Our wood of our state, shall be liberally pupils’ academic success comes from instructed in good books to the greater “Pupils express delight their enjoyment of intellectual enquiry, honour of the state.’ in how the School debate and search for explanation, reaching well beyond published While academic and cultural has encouraged them syllabuses. They delight in a huge range attainments are highly prized, the to explore beyond the of opportunities to develop initiatives School is fully committed to nurture boundaries of what and to discuss their ideas. We are each pupil’s spiritual, moral, emotional a happy, busy and purposeful community. and physical wellbeing. We seek they might have thought to develop individual talent wherever they could do.” The broader ethos of the School it lies – and to prepare young people resides in the enduring values reflected for fulfilled private and public lives. ISI Report November 2016 in the 1560 Charter of Westminster’s 7 “Walking out of the school gates and seeing the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament right there… It inspires the atmosphere and the Our approach to learning.” unique location When other schools moved to the suburbs in the late 19th century, Westminster School remained on its original site at the very heart of London. Some of our buildings date back to the 11th century and, while the community comprises pupils and teachers of many different faiths and none, we retain close links with Westminster Abbey: the Dean of Westminster is a member of the Governing Body and the Abbey is the School’s chapel. Westminster School now extends beyond Dean’s Yard and into the surrounding quiet streets, having, in recent years, expanded to include: • the Weston Building for the Humanities; • state-of-the-art laboratories and an observatory in the recently refurbished Robert Hooke Science Centre; • the Sports Centre near Vincent Square; • the Manoukian Music Centre; • an inspiring new location for Purcell’s boarding House • the Millicent Fawcett Hall Theatre; • and finally, the recently opened Sir Adrian Boult Building, a new events space. 8 “There’s always something happening. The School doesn’t stop at 4; it goes on until I go to bed!” Boarding and Day Boarding has been central to life at Westminster since the School was founded. “I love the sense of Nowadays between a quarter and activities. The Library remains open a third of pupils choose to board until 9.00pm. having an extended and many members of staff live within family, with whom you the precincts to enable a flourishing Lessons continue on Saturday share a huge number boarding life. This means that activities mornings and on Saturday afternoons, continue into the evening, with a full pupils can enjoy a full range of sporting of experiences.” programme of society meetings, fixtures. There are often musical and lectures, school plays and concerts, theatrical rehearsals at weekends, and cultural trips to London events. as the dates of concerts and plays approach. Pupils who are not involved Day pupils are encouraged to in these activities go home at 1.00pm participate in the opportunities provided on Saturdays. by the boarding life of the School. They can join boarders for breakfast and There are approximately 760 pupils at supper, and many choose to remain at Westminster School – 120 are admitted School in the evenings too, to rehearse each year at 13+ (Year 9) and 75 at 16+ or to attend the evening programme of (Year 12). 11 Boys and Girls They have been part of the Westminster “It’s got a really Girls are an School community for over 40 years. good community integral part of the Approximately 70 girls join the Sixth Form each year, about a third living in feel to it, rather intellectual and as boarders. than just a school.” cultural vitality that All pupils, boys and girls, belong to creates such a a House. This provides them with stimulating Sixth a supportive and stable community for the duration of their time at Form experience Westminster and allows them to at Westminster. get to know pupils of different ages, genders and backgrounds. “I feel like girls have a strong voice at Westminster; the School is a very inclusive and welcoming environment. And I think the boys really like having girls around, especially the younger ones – it’s like having a whole lot of big sisters!” 12 13 A Day at Westminster The Westminster Day offers so much more than lessons from 9 to 5. The following timetable outlines the range of activities “I never stop… a pupil could enjoy on an average day. I just love everything!” Morning Lunchtime Afternoon Evening 7.50am 9.00am 12.40pm 1.30pm 4.00pm 5.45pm Breakfast is served in the medieval On Mondays and Fridays there is a short Lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays On Tuesdays and Thursdays, pupils Tea on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lower School Supper. College Hall. Day boys and girls start service in Westminster Abbey, the and Fridays. enjoy an extensive range of sports to arrive from all over London. address often given by an eminent in the afternoon, including: football, 4.10pm 6.00pm visiting speaker. On Wednesdays, there From 1.10pm, pupils can enjoy a wide cricket, rowing (Water), netball, hockey, Tea on Mondays, Wednesdays Upper School Supper. 8.40am is a short assembly called ‘Latin Prayers’. range of talks from pupil-led societies. tennis, climbing, judo, DanceFit, and Fridays. All pupils register in Houses. Lessons begin at 9.25am. Societies include the African Caribbean, Gym Fitness, cycling, basketball, 6.30pm English, Environmental, Feminist, yoga, athletics and hula-hooping. 4.30pm Supervised trips to London On Tuesdays and Thursdays, History, Huxley, Model United Nations, Every Fifth Form (Year 9) and Lower Shell events begin. lessons begin at 9.00am. Politics and many more. Pupils can also We play matches against a full (Year 10) pupil participates in at least take part in other co-curricular activities range of other schools on Tuesday, two Lower School Activities each week. 7.15pm such as drama and music rehearsals, art Thursday and Saturday afternoons. Options include: Animation, Astronomy, Boarders do their prep (homework) in club or learning an additional language. Bookbinding, Carpentry, Debating, their studies or in the Library. Day pupils 2.00pm Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Fencing, are also welcome to study in the Library. On Mondays, all pupils meet with their On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Fives, Football Training, Model Building Tutors at 1.50pm until 2.10pm. (2.10pm on Mondays): lessons begin, and Robotics. 9.00pm ending at 4.10pm (4.25pm on Mondays). Prep time ends. Pupils use the next hour 1.00pm to socialise, to play pool, chess or table Lunch on Tuesdays, Thursdays tennis in their Houses, or to play football and Saturdays.