West House School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2004, Alistair Lyttle BA. Studied ancient history and archaeology at the University of Birmingham and after two years at Devonport High School for Boys returned to Birmingham to join West House in 1996, taking the helm after a spell as deputy head. Exuding energy and passion, with an open and direct manner, he is a leader whose advice parents seek out and respect. He is also fun. One of the boys told us that his mother watched all Mr Lyttle’s online assemblies over lock-down because of his jokes.

During his headship he has maintained academic vigour within a carefully balanced whole curriculum and given the expressive and visual arts more space in the timetable to flourish (he has appointed a full-time head of performing arts). While the school has always had an outstanding reputation for pastoral care, he has introduced a well-being hub that brings together pastoral, health and safety, counselling and mental health care staff under one umbrella.

Completely in tune with the well-established ethos of this boys’ school (there are girls in the nursery only), he has moved it forward without losing any of the slightly eccentric touches that parents and their sons like. No intention of increasing pupil numbers or moving to co-ed as so many boys’ preps have done.

Mr Lyttle understands how to harness and work with boys who have a highly developed competitive nature from a young age, but also knows how very sensitive and vulnerable boys can be. He tells staff and parents that boys need nurturing and should be allowed to let off steam, make mistakes and learn from them.

According to one parent, ‘You just know he really understands what it is like having a son, with all the highs and lows. When we were getting desperate about which secondary schools to try for, he managed to put it in a context that made us see everyone feels the same things.’

Well known on the Edgbaston sports club scene (‘he’s a first-rate batsman’, says an appreciative father), loves music and horse racing. He has a son at university and a daughter taking A levels.

Entrance

Boys and girls aged from one to four are admitted to the oversubscribed nursery on a first-comers basis from where there is automatic transfer to reception for the boys. Where there is space, boys can enter into other years on the basis on a satisfactory result in numeracy and literacy tests. Entry is not overly selective but ensures the school can provide an appropriate education for each boy. Higher up the age range there are more formal tests.

Exit

At age 4 girls transfer to one of a number of girls’ or mixed prep schools within five minutes of West House, so there are few logistical problems for time-pressed parents battling with city traffic in the mornings. At age 11 most boys progress to independent schools in the West Midlands or state grammar schools in the area. Boys regularly win scholarships to King Edward’s School, Birmingham, the flagship King Edward’s boys’ school, and other independent schools nearby. Parents speak highly of the school’s individually tailored advice around secondary school places. More than 70 per cent of boys go to King Edward’s School, Birmingham and grammar schools in the Birmingham Grammar School Consortium, such as Camp Hill and Five Ways.

Our view

On a quiet residential street, the white, mid-Victorian frontages of the school (originally two separate houses) are attractive and well maintained. However, the real visual appeal lies behind. The land slopes down so that classroom windows look out over flower gardens, playgrounds, cricket nets and the sports field. You would never believe that the centre of the second largest city in the UK is just a mile away.

Buildings are a glorious hotchpotch, from mid-19th century frontage and terrace to a modern IT and library block. Parents commented that some parts are well worn but most find this all part of the charm with which we would agree.

Situated in affluent, leafy Edgbaston, an area densely populated with other independent prep schools, West House has had to be clear about its niche in so competitive a market. It is single sex and not overly large with an emphasis on individual care and fosters very strong community bonds. Its success in the latter is evidenced by the exceptionally strong Old Boys’ Association.

The school has only had five heads in 126 years which gives some indication of the strong, stable community, culture and traditions of the place. Some staff stay long enough to become institutions in their own right, but young professionals are encouraged too, both as teachers, coaches and assistants. The school manages to inspire such loyalty and affection largely because of the interest it has in every single member of its community. Teaching and support staff have tremendous respect from both boys and parents.

In curriculum terms, the school offers a very strong balance with the basics covered as well as science, technology, and the creative and performing arts. The school believes strongly that the performing arts have a huge role to play in overall educational outcomes. Boys follow the WoLLoW (World of Languages and Languages of the World) scheme, which has been created to encourage children to be curious about languages, to understand the links and see the patterns between languages so they start to think about how a language works. They arrive at secondary school with a love of languages and don’t face what awaits most prep school children, a boring year of repeating what you have already learnt in French lessons.

Special educational needs support is tailored to the individual and included in the fees. The department has two SENCOs and other qualified staff. School employs a speech and language therapist as needed and we heard a very positive report from one parent about how effective this help had been. One of the boys we spoke to had required support for his maths but is now, he cheerfully told us, back in class full-time with his peers. Parents who have moved sons from other schools to West House remark on the way in which the boys have become far more motivated and engaged with their studies.

Many parents in Birmingham are very focused on 11+ exams and grammar school entry. Anxiety is fuelled by a highly active 11+ tutoring industry. West House manages the difficult balance between preparing boys for exams but not becoming an exam factory exceptionally well. By the time the boys are ten, they will have had classes that concentrate on the 11+ and encountered what they need for the exams but they will also have had huge fun on the way. Some (who have not chosen the school), regard it as too relaxed and not focusing enough on the exams. Given the school’s success rate, this seems rather unfair and is perhaps more a comment on West House’s informal feel than the actual achievements of its pupils.

Sport is genuinely for all and every boy is encouraged to believe he can do it. Some sports facilities on site, including two new all-weather pitches, and another large playing field is just five minutes away by minibus. If your son has two left feet you will find he is still a keen member of a team and they manage to win often against much bigger schools with more extensive provision.

Music and drama are well-established strengths with the majority of boys learning an instrument and lots of singing going on. In the fortnight before our visit, the school fitted in just over 100 individual musical performances by boys in assemblies, house music competitions and concerts. Both drama and music are part of the curriculum and plays, concerts and musicals are a regular feature.

Long list of other extracurricular activities in addition to sport, drama and music includes language club, gardening club, chess, board games, art and DT. One highlight has been the establishment of a nature reserve in the grounds designed with the local wildlife trust. Badger setts, small domestic animals, a pond, herb garden, vegetable patch and meadow, it’s a place to forget about the hustle and bustle of city life. The school offers this facility to local primaries who are also invited to attend other special events like plays or visits from ‘the animal man.’ Boys are reminded on a daily basis that nature is something to be valued and respected.

Food is highly rated. ‘Cook does brilliant cream cakes on Fridays,’ one boy said and another affirmed the value of the chocolate buns. No external catering here – the kitchen staff have largely been at the school for many years and parents are reminded of the delights of an old-fashioned high tea at the annual garden party and speech day, followed by a parents’ ball in the evening. Both events are hugely popular. ‘The highlight of the Parents’ Association calendar, and given how busy everyone is, the highlight of most parents’ social life anyway,’ a typical hard-pressed parent told us.

Perhaps unusually among all-boys’ schools, West House doesn’t feel like an aggressively competitive institution. The atmosphere is warm and informal - the word ‘family’ is used by many to describe it. The work displayed on the walls is no different from a co-ed school and to us there seemed to be few hang-ups about gender identity. On World Book Day, A Boy in A Dress played football with his classmates without a care in the world. The younger boys delighted everyone with the inventiveness and creativity of their Easter bonnets which they proudly modelled.

Pastoral care is undoubtably a great strength. One parent told us of her son who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at aged four and how swiftly and professionally the school responded. ‘They know boys’ was something we heard from many parents. Everything is celebrated, including out of school achievements. One four-year-old who was a picky eater, was congratulated by the Head when he tried something new. The aim is to make each boy comfortable with who he is and be independent. Boys we met were thoughtfully confident, well able to hold their own with adults and peers. They listened to each other and reflected carefully on their own answers to us.

Little in the way of bullying or other serious misdemeanours. There are warnings and sanctions for minor violations or you may have to stand on the terrace and not join in playtime fun. There was no lack of discipline that we saw, just an atmosphere of energy and exuberance.


Families reflect the ethnic diversity of Birmingham and the school is the richer for it. The head told us, ‘I don’t think the boys notice colour or accents. We encourage them to share their different experiences and it is a real strength of the school that everyone recognises and encourages. We think we have a responsibility towards a future UK where ethnic groups will need to work together more effectively than has been the case.’ One mother said, ‘I had no Muslim friends before my son started at West House, but because parents meet all the time at school events I am enjoying really getting to know parents from very different cultures.’

Most families are professional - medics from the huge Queen Elizabeth Hospital and local business people - and many share the challenges of life with both parents at work. ‘The school knows that many families are dropping children off first thing in the morning and need after-school arrangements that the boys will love. I have had to arrive late to collect my son and the school has never complained – and neither has my son!’

Money matters

The school offers Michael Pratt Scholarships to existing and prospective pupils in years 3 – 6 in recognition of significant ability or talent in eg music, sport, academics, art or drama. Stephen Lloyd Music Awards provide funding for additional specialist music teaching to be undertaken within the school. Means tested bursaries are available and there is a hardship fund for families who meet unforeseen financial difficulties.

The last word

A school that combines the best elements of a traditional boys’ prep with sensitivity and forward thinking. Charming, quirky and informal but also does the business academically. There are many good prep schools to choose from in the area but if you want your son to enjoy being gloriously boyish - annual tugs-of-war, house chants, conker championships and the rest - as well as being well prepared for entrance to Birmingham’s top independent and grammar schools, West House is a very good bet.

Special Education Needs