SIXTH FORM COURSES 2020 ABBEY SERVICES The School uses Westminster Abbey as its chapel, with all pupils attending services in the Abbey on Mondays and Fridays. We also hold various concerts and special services there throughout the year, giving pupils a chance to speak and perform in this beautiful and historic building. Entry procedure and course information Sixth Form courses 2020 Head Master’s Welcome 5 Life at Westminster 6 The Sixth Form curriculum 8 Before you decide 9 Beyond the subject choices 10 The admissions procedure 14 Scholarships and Bursaries 16 Frequently asked questions 17 Information for overseas candidates 18 Choosing your Sixth Form subjects 19 Course information 23 5 Welcome Dear parents and pupils, Thank you for requesting a copy of this brochure. I hope that you will find it informative and that you will go ahead with an application to Westminster School. The co-educational Sixth Form for pupils joining us in the Sixth Once you have read this brochure at Westminster offers an exciting, Form. In September 2017, girls and explored the website, stimulating and challenging were elected as Queen’s Scholars www.westminster.org.uk, it is always environment for learning. The School for the first time, and a new floor best to have a glimpse at first hand is one of the foremost centres of and observatory have recently of what lies ahead, so I strongly academic excellence in the country – opened in our refurbished Science encourage you to come to one of our a reputation due not only to its building, which also houses the Open Days before the formal process pupils’ unrivalled examination Computer Science Department. of interviews and tests gets under results and admission to the top way. I shall look forward to meeting universities worldwide but, even Westminster pupils follow syllabi you, showing you the School and more importantly, because of their in A Levels and the Cambridge introducing you to the Heads of the enjoyment of academic enquiry, Pre-University (Pre-U) examinations, academic departments, who will debate and search for explanation depending on the subjects studied. answer any questions you might have. well beyond the published syllabus. Using both these qualifications allows scope for the choice and I know that the application procedure In addition, pupils enhance both their specialisation, on which Westminster for a change of school can sometimes intellectual and social development pupils thrive. Pupils here study four seem a stressful experience for pupils by taking full advantage of the subjects that provide both breadth (and, often, their parents), but I hope many opportunities that are offered and depth throughout the two years that, in applying for Westminster, in sport, music, drama, debating, of the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), excitement will outweigh anxiety. community service and other forms while the principle of choice fits In giving and gaining as much of civic engagement. All of this well with Westminster’s academic information as possible at this stage, and more you will read about in tradition of drawing out and nurturing I am sure that the choices eventually the following pages. individual talents and interests. made will be the right ones. One thing I can say is that new pupils who join Historically Westminster is a We find that the sheer intellectual us in the Sixth Form settle in very boarding school and approximately enjoyment that this individual quickly and happily and make a great one quarter of Sixth Form pupils, approach brings ensures that pupils success of their time here. girls and boys, are boarders. Some go on to win places at excellent boarders come from far away but universities. Those academic One final thought. In our most recent most are Londoners who prefer to departments, as you will read in inspection (2016) the Inspectors said avoid the daily grind of commuting. this brochure, that follow the Pre-U this: “The School’s liberal ethos, For day pupils also, Westminster is specifications do so because they tirelessly promoted by senior leaders very different from a conventional are more stimulating than the to the pupils’ benefit, truly engenders school. Many remain long after the equivalent A-level syllabi and, a pupil body liberated from dogma, teaching day has finished, perhaps therefore, allow Westminster pupils prejudice or unthinking conformity, to work in the library, or for extra to realise their potential more as the School’s aims envisage.” sport, to rehearse for a play or effectively. That potential is concert, or to attend a lecture. demonstrated in their examination This makes us distinctive. If this results, as elsewhere: in 2018 strikes a chord with you then we In recent years, we have opened Westminster pupils achieved more are the right school to be applying a House for girl boarders and day than 50% of their A-level and to. Good luck with the process. boys, and an indoor sports centre Pre-U grades at A* or D1/D2. adjacent to the School’s playing Westminster is the only school to Mr P S J Derham fields at Vincent Square. Both have have achieved this feat every year Head Master significantly enhanced the facilities since the A* was introduced. June 2019 6 7 Life at Westminster Location Boarding and day pupils Situated between Parliament, The Westminster Sixth Form is The Supreme Court and Westminster unique in London as the only Abbey, the School’s inspirational co-educational Sixth Form with location has always been of day and boarding pupils. While significant influence. Politics and academic and cultural attainments the law are abiding interests among are highly prized, Westminster is the pupil body and the importance fully committed to the nurture of of spiritual and moral reflection is each pupil’s personal development. Girls at Westminster also deeply embedded. Dean’s Yard The boarding school ethos and Girls are an integral part of the is cloistered and calm, but minutes structure have been central to the intellectual and cultural vitality that away is the best of everything fulfilment of a Westminster education creates such a stimulating Sixth Form metropolitan: museums, galleries, since the School’s foundation. experience at Westminster. Since concert halls, theatres and the The School is run along boarding 1973, girls have made their mark energy of a great city – all of lines and based around a House at Westminster and former pupils which enrich our curricular and system, where the House becomes include Tessa Ross, Imogen Stubbs, co-curricular programme. a ‘home away from home’ for day and Helena Bonham-Carter, Anna boarding pupils alike. The extended Stothard, Clemency Burton-Hill, day and week enable the provision A ‘halfway-house’ Alice Eve and Martha Lane-Fox. of the overall curriculum and in between school particular ensure depth of pastoral and university care and breadth of opportunity. Before they even arrive at The Westminster Sixth Form is Westminster, all the new girls and boys joining the Sixth Form enjoy often regarded as a ‘halfway-house’ There are four mixed boarding a comprehensive induction between school and university. houses with girls-only floors, programme coordinated by the As such, it aims to provide a safe, one girls’ boarding house with Head of Upper School, and become stable and enriching community, day boys, and one boys’ boarding part of the diverse social fabric that in which pupils are encouraged to house with day girls. For those makes the School such an exciting learn about the world around them who board, Westminster allows place to live and learn. Representing in order to engage actively with it for a regular home life with the one third of the Sixth Form, girls and lead a fulfilling life beyond large majority returning home on enjoy the academic challenge Westminster. With an enviable Saturday afternoons. programme of outside speakers and debate in the classroom, an extraordinary breadth of and an ever-increasing range of Co-operation accompanies co-curricular activities and a large academic, artistic, sporting and competition at Westminster and the number of voluntary and leadership cultural expeditions, Westminster’s School shows that high-achieving opportunities within the School global dimension provides pupils individuals working together in and wider community. with every opportunity to develop a climate of mutual respect create their cultural capital and something much greater than the Further information and advice understanding. Alongside this, sum of their individual achievements. may be obtained from the Head of the School coordinates a popular In addition to teachers, Housemasters Upper School, Miss Clare Leech, and thriving civic engagement and Personal Tutors play an important at: . programme, which encourages role in the rich, relational experience [email protected] Sixth Form pupils to engage with that Westminster offers. the local community in a meaningful way, thus developing social understanding and responsibility. 8 9 The Sixth Form curriculum Before you decide Sixth Form admission to Westminster is by competitive Please read the notes below carefully as they examination and interview in November the year before entry. describe in detail what you will need to consider Candidates select the four subjects, in which they are to be when choosing your Sixth Form subjects. examined, based on their likely choice of courses for study. There is a great deal of flexibility At Westminster, most pupils study offered in the Options programme, 1 At this stage, we are asking pupils It is important that the choice in the way in which pupils may four subjects for both years and and pupils do not necessarily to choose their four entrance of subjects be related as far as approach their choice of courses at end up with four full A Levels, or continue to A Level in Year 13.