Westminster City School
London, SW1E 5HJ · Westminster · secondary school
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8th of 11 secondary schools in Westminster we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.4/10 against 413 of them, against 6.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 84 | 35% | 2.93 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.0 · 62 | 30% | 1.87 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.09 · 57 | 25% | 1.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.8 · 64 | 10% | 0.64 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Westminster City School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 stood at +0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Choir, Orchestra, Wind bands, Music Club, and Cadets. Sports include cross-country running, football, basketball, handball, rugby, table tennis, and athletics. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 790 pupils against a stated capacity of 890. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities? What support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Westminster City School
Overview
Westminster City School is described as a place where pupils enjoy attending and behave with "calm and respect." Leaders provide "clear direction" and have established a "warm and positive" culture, resulting in high achievement and strong safeguarding standards.
Strengths
- Pupils "achieve highly" with "above average attainment" in national examinations that has been "sustained over time."
- Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs make "suitable progress" and are "extremely well prepared for their next steps."
- Attendance is regular, with leaders acting "early when patterns change" to support those at risk of absence.
- Behaviour is "calm and respectful," with bullying being "rare" and incidents of discriminatory language having "fallen."
- Sixth form students benefit from a "consistently well taught" curriculum and "ambitious programmes" in fields such as medicine and law.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should further develop staff expertise to ensure teaching is "appropriately adapted to the needs of all pupils" with greater consistency.
- Leaders need to "evaluate the impact" of the wider opportunities programme "more systematically" to ensure it benefits all pupils.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are "made safer and feel safe."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.7 |
| 2024/25 | 52.1 |
| 2025/26 | 48.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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