Basic Information
1st in the UK League Tables for 5 consecutive years and awarded The Sunday Times Schools Guide, IB School of the Year 2019, Westbourne School is one of the UK’s leading academic schools. Established in 1896, Westbourne develops well-rounded students, equipped with the skills, knowledge, confidence and character to become leaders of the future in their chosen field.
Nationally recognised excellence
• 1st in the UK League Tables for the past 5 years (Daily Telegraph/ Best-Schools; smaller schools)
• IB School of the Year 2019 (Sunday Times Schools Guide)
• 1st IB Sixth Form (Sunday Times Schools Guide)
• 3rd Overall in the UK (Sunday Times Schools Guide)
• Awarded ‘excellent’ in all 5 inspection categories (Estyn National Inspectorate 2018)
“Its sixth form results last summer were beaten by just two schools in the England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Students achieved A*-B equivalent A-level grades of 97.9% in their Higher Level IB papers, the best results of any school offering only the IB in the sixth form.”
Alistair McCall, Editor, The Sunday Times Schools Guide
Gold standard programmes
IB Diploma: Internationally recognized and widely respected for its breadth of programme.
GCSE/IGCSE: Full course and 1-year GCSE/IGCSE programmes: 40% of GCSE grades are A* equivalent; (20% Grade 9 | 20% Grade 8s), 5 times the UK National average.
Pre-IB: One year, Pre-Diploma foundation course for international students, specifically designed for 15-16 year olds.
Certainty of university entry
90% of Westbourne graduates progress to study at Russell Group universities, studying highly competitive courses including Medicine, Engineering, Economics, Computer Science, Business and Law. Offering individualised academic excellence, Westbourne has a warm and highly supportive culture. Small class sizes, an 8:1 pupil-to-teacher ratio and a tutorial style ensures every student excels.
More than 50% of teachers at Westbourne have a PhD or Masters and more than 50% have taught internationally, so can quickly relate with local and international students alike.
Outstanding teachers and unparalleled support
Offering individualised academic excellence, Westbourne has a warm and highly supportive culture. Small class sizes, an 8:1 pupil-to-teacher ratio and a tutorial style ensures every student excels.
More than 50% of teachers at Westbourne have a PhD or Masters and more than 50% have taught internationally, so can quickly relate with local and international students alike.
Boarding environment
Located in the safe seaside town of Penarth, ranked as one of the Top 10 best places to live in the UK, also just minutes from the vibrant capital city of Cardiff, Westbourne is a resoundingly British school. A student body of 72% British students, complemented by 16% European, 12% Asian students drawn from 24 different countries; no one nationality dominates. Boarding students live within 2 minutes-walk of the main school building, in a modern fully-equipped boarding house, supported by live in, caring and professional House Parents.
Co-curricular activities and world-class facilities
Westbourne runs an expansive co-curricular programme, enriched with opportunities for students to test themselves through competitions, Olympiads and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Entrepreneurship, debating and drama clubs, Scientific Research and Philosophy societies, critical thinking classes and a wealth of local facilities making full use of the seaside location. Including tennis courts, gym, sailing, playing and athletics fields, an Olympic pool, white water rafting and two ice rinks to me just