The Westminster School

Overview

The Westminster School is described as a “calm, friendly and happy school” where the ethos of being “safe, happy and learning together” is evident. The report highlights an “exemplary” personal development programme and “exemplary” behaviour, noting that pupils overwhelmingly enjoy attending. Leaders provide “dedicated and compassionate leadership,” ensuring pupils are well-prepared for their next steps in education or employment.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious,” “interesting and engaging,” with practical experiences woven into everyday learning to help pupils apply knowledge.
• Personal development is “exceptional,” offering high-quality opportunities for pupils to build character, life skills, and understanding of their role in society.
• Behaviour is “exemplary,” driven by mutual kindness and clear expectations, with staff supporting pupils who need extra help coping.
• Sixth-form provision is strong, with “high-quality careers advice” and meaningful work placements that build valuable evidence for future qualifications.
• Reading is prioritised, with staff trained to teach effectively, ensuring early readers receive necessary support to progress quickly.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum is not implemented consistently well enough across all subjects; specifically, in some foundation subjects, teachers do not ensure pupils learn important knowledge, hindering progress.
• The school should ensure teachers have the necessary knowledge and expertise to implement the curriculum effectively in all subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.